4 Downs: Grant Delpit shines, Deshaun Watson leaves room for more as Browns beat Bengals
The Cleveland Browns have won a Week 1 home opener for the first time since Jeff Garcia was the quarterback in 2004. While it was ugly in a rain-effected duel of lackluster play between Deshaun Watson and Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals, Jim Schwartz made his name known. Myles Garrett, Grant Delpit, and others made a statement in this game against the back-to-back AFC North champs.
The Browns now start the season 1-0 in back-to-back seasons. It was not pretty offensively, but the Browns rode Nick Chubb to the finish line, as he rushed for 106 yards on 18 touches. Defensively, the Browns held the highest-paid professional athlete to just 82 yards on 14-of-31 passing as they sacked him twice as well in this slopfest.
What can we take away from this Week 1 victory today before we celebrate a victory Monday tomorrow? Welcome to the first 4 Downs of the 2023 regular season. It is good to be back.
First Down: Good things happen when these cornerbacks can just line up and play
Second Down: Weather provides leeway, but Watson needs to be better
Third Down: The defensive line lived up to the offseason hype
Fourth Down: Grant Delpit is a budding star
Extra point: We did not have to talk about the kicker until now!
Two-point conversion: Dawand Jones enters, what to make of Jedrick Wills
Point One: Dawand Jones rises to the occasion
The best way to know if an offensive lineman is having a good game without watching closely away from the football is if you did not hear his name from the broadcast. And after veteran Jack Conklin suffered what looked to be a season-ending injury, we did not hear a peep about the fourth round rookie Dawand Jones.
After a strong preseason showing, Jones carried that confidence into the regular season. Watson was sacked three times in this one, but none looked to be on Jones. Now likely starting the rest of the way out, the Browns will count on the rookie out of Ohio State to be a force right away.
Point Two: What to make of Jedrick Wills’ performance vs. Bengals
On the flip side, the Bengals exploited Jedrick Wills time and time again. And it appears that his issues came down to one area in this game: he’s oversetting. A lot.
Against a guy like Trey Hendrickson, it is completely understandable to favor the outside shoulder as he can bend with the best of them. However, in doing so, Wills set way too wide against Hendrickson, leaving a lane for the Pro Bowler to adjust and take the inside track.
Especially with a quarterback like Watson, getting beat along the outside track is not that big of an issue as it usually leaves a pocket to step up into. However, when beat inside, you are forcing your quarterback completely out of structure.
Wills looked good as a run blocker, and even threw a key block on the Watson touchdown run to end the half. But he has to narrow his set and stay on his linear track. It’s easier to adjust outside than it is to change directions and adjust inside.
He’s your starting left tackle this season. But it’s up to Wills how much money he wants to make in the future.
[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=646863720]
