BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns boast one of the best – if not the best – offensive line in the NFL.
Four-time Pro Bowl left guard Joel Bitonio helps anchor the group that spends as much time pulling for yards as they do pushing defensive linemen and linebackers.
“Since [offensive line] coach [Bill] Callahan’s been here, we’ve pulled a lot,” Bitonio said. “You hear outside zone from coach Stefanski, and you don’t pull a bunch in a true outside zone system, but like I said, we’re pretty versatile and we have a lot of plays that there was a couple this weekend where I was pulling and was feeling like I was running for forever. So that’s always a good thing usually because it means someone’s back there running behind you.”
Bitonio, right guard Wyatt Teller and center Ethan Pocic are often seen dropping back after the snap and moving to the opposite side they lined up on to engage defenders while clearing a path for Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt or anyone else who has the ball in their hands.
This is called “pulling,” which is as Bitonio mentioned, integral to what Callahan has implemented up front as another wrinkle to their blocking scheme.
The goal is for the linemen to get out in front of the ballcarrier, essentially providing them an escort around the line of scrimmage and into the second level of the defense down field.
“It is a big part of our game, our pin-and-pull schemes where we are getting our guys out on the perimeter trying to cut the defense,” offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said. “It is a good complement to our wide-zone game. It is tough to prepare for both defensively.”
Stefanski, Van Pelt and Callahan could not have drawn Kareem Hunt’s 24-yard touchdown run Sunday up any more perfectly than it was blocked as Hunt was able to cut and maneuver effortlessly through the Panthers defense into wide open space on his way to the end zone.
“Every play’s blocked to get yards but when you block it really well and Kareem makes a great cut for you, it helps out a lot,” Bitonio said. “The front side on that play was wide and James [Hudson III], they had a little movement there but they passed it off really well, got up to the linebackers, Po [Ethan Pocic] got up to his linebacker, we kind of handled the backside and it just hit out the door. Those are the perfect plays, those are the one one’s you dream up when you draw it up on Wednesday mornings.”
The blocking scheme is similar to the one 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan installed here back in 2014 when he served as Mike Pettine’s offensive coordinator.
Bitonio believes what they’re running now might be even better when it comes to adding variety to the run game.
“I think if you look at our run game it’s probably the most multiple in the league,” Bitonio said. “We say we’re wide zone but if you look at our gap scheme numbers and some of the other, key schemes that we run, compared to like when I was on Shanahan’s team, we have a lot more variety.
“So he might have a couple more special plays where he gets guys involved in different ways, but I think our versatility kinda puts us a little bit differently.”
J-Dub on The Fan – Browns executive vice president and partner JW Johnson joined Baskin and Phelps on 92.3 The Fan Thursday afternoon.
Johnson talked about the return of Brownie, which is here to stay and will be used more by the team, an updated fan experience at FirstEnergy Stadium for this season as well as their future stadium exploration and lakefront development ambitions.
Listen to the conversation in the player above.
I love you, man – Defensive coordinator Joe Woods is a big Cade York fan after that 58-yard field goal to win it in Charlotte.
“I hugged him after the game, and I was like, ‘I love you,’” Woods said Thursday.
Woods’ defense had a touch fourth quarter that saw them surrender a 20-7 lead and the Browns fall behind 24-23 before York’s heroics which has led to a whole new line of Cade York t-shirts being made around town.
“I think it is great for him,” special teams coordinator Mike Priefer said. “I think it is great for the city. He has to keep it going. I think he said it best, if he misses one kick on Sunday, then nobody likes me. This is a very fickle business. Fans are always fickle. I am a big Cleveland Indians/Guardians fan, and I am kind of fickle at times, too.”
Unhappy returns – Demetric Felton struggled with punt returns early Sunday before settling down.
Felton bobbled his first return and muffed the second. While Priefer could do without the Maalox moments, his confidence in Felton’s return ability is unchanged.
“Sometimes he is trying to do too much before he catches the ball and thinking too much ahead – two steps ahead instead of one,” Priefer said. “We will rein it back a little bit. Ball possession: the No. 1 he knows, he knows that. I asked him in the meeting today and his answer every time, ‘Ball possession, Coach.’ He knows what I am going to ask him. When the returner or anybody in our organization has the ball in their hands, they are the most important person in our organization. I think our guys know that.”
Cool Cooper – Receiver Amari Cooper is not your typical top receiver. He’s left the diva part at the door.
Cooper doesn’t spend practice working on one-handed catches, dancing, or practicing touchdown celebrations so when he gets to the end zone at FirstEnergy Stadium, the odds of him taking a plunge into the Dawg pound aren’t great.
“I’ve never done anything like that before, so I’m not sure,” Cooper said. “It depends on how I feel, I guess.”
He doesn’t spike the ball either. His celebrations mimic those of Nick Chubb, who just drops the ball or tosses it t the officials after scoring.
Why?
“Just don’t feel the need to, I guess,” Cooper said.
Home field advantage – Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah can’t wait for Sunday’s home opener.
“I'm looking forward to fans being very, very loud, like very loud, like, very loud,” Owusu-Koramoah said.
Young guns – According to the NFL, the Browns opened the season with the youngest team in the AFC and second youngest in the league with an average age of 25.16 years and average experience of 3.76 years.
Only the Detroit Lions are younger with an average age of 25.07 and experience of 3.41 years.
Quote of the day – “Ball security, it is bad. He is not covering up the tip of the ball. That is the first thing I think of. His hand is back here, and the tip of the ball is exposed. I can’t believe they are going to put that at the 50-yard line. He will not be our returner, no.” – Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer on the original Brownie the elf painted at midfield this season.
Injury report – DNP: RT Jack Conklin (knee/rest), OT Chris Hubbard (elbow/illness), TE David Njoku (Non injury related-personal); FULL: WR Amari Cooper (rest), WR Michael Woods II (illness), DE Isaiah Thomas (hand)
Up next – Practice Friday.