Washington Football Team’s Week 3 Opponent: Cleveland Browns

Offense

Quarterback

For the second consecutive week, the Washington Football Team is facing a team led by a Heisman Trophy-winning QB from Oklahoma. Baker Mayfield is now in his third season, and his regression in year two (a completion percentage under 60 percent and an almost 1:1 touchdown to interception ratio) has some fans beginning to question whether he is indeed Cleveland’s savior.

This concern stems from the fact that during Mayfield’s glorious collegiate career, he was essentially surrounded by a professional offensive line and was throwing to the likes of Marquise Brown, CeeDee Lamb, and Mark Andrews. He made a lot of great throws, and clearly has arm talent, but he also showed very poor pocket presence in 2019 and made a number of questionable decisions. His ability to excel when the talent on both sides is more even is currently in question.

Cleveland is banking on yet another new coach helping solve Mayfield’s sophomore issues. After the team failed to meet its lofty expectations last year, coach Freddie Kitchens was jettisoned and the latest young offensive genius, Kevin Stefanski, was brought in. Stefanski worked wonders with Kirk Cousins in Minnesota, so there is reason to be optimistic he can get the best out of Baker.

Should Mayfield go down, old Washington Football Team friend Case Keenum serves as his backup. Keenum had his greatest success when Stefanski was his QB coach in Minnesota in 2017.

Running Back

Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt form the best one-two running back punch in the league. Unlike other teams, which have a clear early-down runner and a clear change-of-pace pass catcher, Chubb and Hunt are virtually interchangeable.

Chubb is a little bigger and faster, and one of the best pure runners in the game today. Hunt may be a slightly better pass catcher. But both are big and fast, and both are violent runners who are equally likely to break a long run as to get tough yards. They should pose a great matchup for the strong interior of the Washington Football Team line as well as the linebackers and safeties.

In Andy Janovich, Cleveland has one of the best blocking backs in the league. Game flow will probably dictate how much Janovich plays. If Cleveland gets out to an early lead, he will likely see more action as they pound the ball. If Washington can grab a lead (which has not even been close to happening in the first two games) Janovich will be on the bench more.

Wide Receiver

This was thought to be a real strength for Cleveland heading into the 2019 season. When they acquired Odell Beckham, Jr. in the 2019 offseason, many prognosticators put Cleveland in the playoffs. It did not work that way. Beckham struggled in his first year in Cleveland. But he remains a dynamic talent who can change momentum in a heartbeat. Getting him back on track – along with Mayfield – is at the top of the Browns’ to-do list.

Beckham’s LSU Tiger teammate Jarvis Landry would seem to be the perfect complement to Beckham’s game-break ability. Landry is a very tough, reliable possession receiver, who is unlikely to blow past defenders, but is very likely to convert a 3rd and 7.

Third-year receiver KhaDarel Hodge appears to have supplanted Rashard Higgins as the Browns’ No. 3 receiver. He has good size and has been on the field for about half of Cleveland’s plays so far in 2020.

Tight End

Cleveland signed Austin Hooper as a free agent this offseason. Hooper was a player many Washington fans had targeted. And Hooper is a reasonably good tight end. But he also may have come along at the right time, being the best free agent TE in a weak year at the position. Through two games, Hooper and Mayfield do not seem to be on the same page, and he has scarcely been a factor. Hooper is still potentially dangerous, but he is not even close to the threat that Philadelphia’s tight ends posed in Week 1.

Rookie Harrison Bryant has mostly served as a blocker in his first two games. And David Njoku – well, he’s back on the IR. But you probably already knew that.

Offensive Line

Cleveland’s offensive line should develop into one of the best in the league. They have been strong on the interior for the past few years, and they addressed concerns at the tackle position this offseason. Injury and inexperience may be slowing their progression down a bit, and it may be good to be catching them early in the season.

Center J.C. Tretter, and guards Wyatt Teller and Joel Bitonio, are all quality blockers. Bitonio has been a Pro Bowler in each of the last two years. They are the ideal blockers for the power running game of Chubb and Hunt.

At tackle, Cleveland signed Jack Conklin to a big contract – especially for a right tackle – and drafted Jedrick Wills Jr. with the No. 10 selection in the 2020 draft. Wills has acclimated himself rather well in his first two games, though he is still very young. Conklin was hurt in Cleveland’s Week 2 matchup with Cincinnati, but veteran Chris Hubbard filled in adequately. The Browns offensive line versus the Washington Football Team’s defensive front should be a great battle all day.