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Featuring Dawgs By Nature’s Chris Pokorny
The Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2) are coming off an emotional victory over the Baltimore Ravens that gaven them sole possession of first place in the division. This week, they will have to play on short rest against the Cleveland Browns (2-8) on Thursday Night Football. I spoke with Chris Pokorny of Dawgs By Nature to get a better idea of what to expect in this week’s matchup.
You can read my questions and his answers below:
1. The season hasn’t gone how Browns fans would have wanted. From the outside looking in, the team seems too talented for their 2-8 record. What’s been the biggest reason for the way this season has gone? Is it all on the quarterback play? Injuries? The staff?
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Initially, I think a lot of it was on the quarterback play. Deshaun Watson’s play was so uninspiring, so limiting, that it got to the point where I think it was just tough for anyone to believe the team could win. It’s insane that in all the games Watson played this season, the Browns didn’t score 20 points once, and he didn’t throw for over 200 yards passing once. And yet, as soon as Jameis Winston plays, he’s thrown for 300+ yards in two of his three games, and not having much of an issue putting at least some drives together.
Unfortunately, the Browns are still 1-2 without Watson, and I think that is where the disappointment of the defense shines brighter. So I don’t spoil one of your later questions, I’ll address the defense in a bit.
As far as coaching goes, I think the team was also hurt by hiring Ken Dorsey as their offensive coordinator. He was hired to try to put together an offense that was more fit for Watson, despite it going against the strengths of the rest of the personnel on offense. It just didn’t work, and the team has had a lot of special teams lapses too, aside from the punter. Now it’s frustrating because there’s still a lot of season left, but we have nothing to look forward to and now all of the big salary cap numbers look dreadful heading into 2025.
2. What’s been the biggest change on offense since the change at quarterback?
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The offense has looked potent in two of three games since Jameis Winston became the quarterback. To a degree, it’s tough to judge because he’s succeeded against two bad defenses (Baltimore and New Orleans), but struggled by throwing three interceptions against a Chargers defense that allows the fewest points in the NFL. He just has the presence of an NFL-caliber quarterback. That might sound so basic, but the reason I phrase it light that is to show just how far Watson had fallen in terms of productivity.
Watson was so slow with his dropback and decision-making, didn’t anticipate throws, and didn’t have a feel for the pocket, but was really too slow to escape rushes. Winston is giving these wide receivers a chance to shine, which has probably become the best unit on the team to watch over the past three weeks despite having traded Amari Cooper away. I think the receivers were getting open before (with Watson), but now they’re actually getting the ball on timed routes, and also being able to have some yards after the catch too since Winston isn’t staring everything down like Watson was.
3. Second-year receiver Cedric Tillman has been having a breakout performance over the past month. The Steelers didn’t see him much during his rookie season. What can you tell us about the young wideout?
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Cedric Tillman was not utilized much in his first six games this season, catching 3 passes for 9 yards. After Amari Cooper was traded, in his last four games, Tillman has 35 catches for 302 yards and 3 touchdowns. He has benefited both from Watson being gone, and now being a starter, finally getting a chance to shine after being behind three higher-paid receivers previously.
If this season is a wash, then the development of Tillman is one of the things we hope can continue blossoming in these final seven games. I wouldn’t say he is doing anything exceptional yet per se, but you can see the hunger, confidence, and route running ability on display when he’s getting 8+ targets a game instead of spinning his wheels hoping that the ball comes his way once. Tillman has been able to shine more, but the same has been true for more established receivers in Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore, which again points back to the change in quarterback.
4. The defense is still able to pressure the quarterback at a high rate, but the Browns have regressed in other areas from last year’s elite unit. Can you give us the state of Cleveand’s defense at this point in the season?
I think it’s a combination of things. First, last year in these Q&A’s, I kept telling opposing blogs that teams that utilize misdirection, end arounds, or find ways to take advantage of the Browns’ aggressiveness on defense can make them look nothing like a top defense in the league. I feel one of the top reasons the Browns’ defense ranked so well last year was because they played so aggressive in every facet that teams were just shocked by it and didn’t know what to do. Before they knew it, they were sacked, or turning the ball over. It struck fear in them.
Then, smart offensive coordinators used that aggressiveness against them, and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz didn’t adjust: he still wants Cleveland to attack, attack, attack. What we’ve found is that against teams like Jacksonville and Cincinnati, which are too stubborn to adjust and just have their quarterback drop back against this defense, the Browns’ defense looks like it can still thrive. Other teams know the blueprint and take advantage of it.
And then, against other offenses that are bad, Cleveland has had issues this year in which they dominate on 90% of the snaps, but those other 10% of the snaps, they have a big communication issue that leads to an easy touchdown. By the end of the game, we’re thinking, “We should have owned that team, but those three lapses led to three big touchdown plays out of no where.” And they haven’t been able to fix it. Frustrating.
5. Fan Duel has the Steelers as 4.5-point road favorites. Any fan of a team in this division knows the sportsbooks are no match for the chaos that is AFC North Football™, but what’s your best guess at how this game goes?
That’s right about AFC North football — anything goes; just look at the Browns upsetting the Ravens a couple of weeks ago. I am taking the Steelers to win this game, though.
Pittsburgh has found a good formula, and if they saw Taysom Hill run for three touchdowns in the Wildcat on Sunday, then they’d probably love to try the same with an even faster Justin Fields on some plays. I can’t imagine Cleveland’s defense corrects that issue so quickly.
And then offensively, even though Jameis Winston gives this team a chance to move the ball, he struggled with turnovers against the Chargers two games ago, so I expect a similar setback against a good Steelers defense. The weather could be something that makes the game up-for-grabs, but we’re also talking about a Browns kicker in Dustin Hopkins who missed a 32- and 27-yard field goal this past Sunday in a dome.