Former Buckeye Chase Young, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 draft, joins a Washington front four that already included four first-round draft picks. (SI.com)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is an analyst on the Cleveland Browns for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Browns v. Washington Football Team
Sunday, 1 p.m., in FirstEnergy Stadium
Record: 1-1.
Last game: Lost to Arizona Cardinals, 30-15, Sept. 20, in Phoenix, AZ.
Coach: Ron Rivera, 1-1, first season; 80-68 overall.
Series record: Browns lead, 33-12-1.
Last meeting: Washington won, 31-20, Oct. 2, 2016, in Landover, MD.
League rankings: Offense is 31st overall (24th rushing, 31st passing), defense is 13th overall (12th rushing, 17th passing) and turnover differential is plus-2.
Things to watch
1.Clearly the strength of Washington is its defensive front. It boasts four first-round starters, and the first off the bench was a first-round pick, too. Ends Chase Young (No. 2 overall in 2020) and Montez Sweat (No. 26, 2019) will flip to either side. Tackles Jonathan Allen (No. 17, 2017) and Daron Payne (No. 13, 2018) were teammates at Alabama. Ryan Kerrigan (No. 16, 2011), who in his 10th year has the longest term of service with the team, is now a designated rusher and backup at end. Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio is trying to control games with his front four. He was able to do it against the Eagles, whose offensive line was missing two key starters. Through two games, the defense leads the NFL with 11 sacks and has three interceptions and three forced fumbles.
2.Second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins, 15th overall pick of the 2019 draft, is in the difficult position of having to prove himself to a coaching staff that didn’t draft him while learning his second offensive system in two years. Haskins has no explosive playmakers around him. Offensive coordinator Scott Turner, son of long-time NFL coach Norv Turner, is trying to combat Haskins’ lack of accuracy with quick, one-read looks off play-action. Haskins is 3-6 in his nine NFL starts with a 58.1 completion percentage and 78.3 passer rating. Under no pressure this season to win, coach Ron Rivera is expected to give Haskins a long look this year. If Haskins doesn’t show improvement, it’s very possible Washington will pursue one of the top three quarterbacks in the 2021 draft.
3.When Browns line coach Bill Callahan held the same position with Washington, he had All-Pro mainstays Trent Williams at left tackle and Brandon Scherff at right guard. Well, Williams was traded to the 49ers on draft weekend and Scherff is on injured reserve with a sprained knee ligament. Replacements Geron Christian (at left tackle) and Wes Schweitzer (right guard) make Haskins’ job all the more difficult.
4.Receiver Terry McLaurin is the team’s best offensive player. A third-round pick from Ohio State last year, McLaurin has four 100-yard receiving games in the first 16 of his career. He had 919 receiving yards and seven TDs as a rookie. Most observers feel McLaurin should get at least 10 targets a game.
Did you know … ?
1.Dan Snyder’s ownership is under siege after at least 15 former female employees brought forth serious sexual harassment allegations. The allegations resulted in the dismissal of several team executives. The NFL has summoned an independent investigation of the toxic culture alleged of Snyder’s organization. On another front, Snyder finally relented to public pressure and agreed to drop the team’s racist Redskins nickname. Into this vortex of dysfunction steps Jason Wright, 38, a former Browns running back and business prodigy who was named president of the club on Aug. 17. While Wright and Rivera steady the ship, Snyder is embroiled in a fight for ownership of the club. Minority partners who own 40 percent of the franchise reportedly are trying to distance themselves from the franchise. The 40 percent minority ownership is worth about $1 billion. Know of anybody who wants to spend that coin for no voice in how things are run?
2.Veteran quarterback Alex Smith might have already locked up the comeback player of the year award for recovering from a grotesque leg injury in November of 2018. Smith, the former 49ers No. 1 overall pick and mentor to Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, was traded to the Redskins in 2018. Former Browns GM John Dorsey inquired about him as the mentor to Baker Mayfield, but Smith let Chiefs coach Andy Reid know he had no interest in going to Cleveland. Smith survived 17 surgeries and near amputation of his right leg and made the Washington active roster at the roster cutdown. Smith is listed third behind starter Dwayne Haskins and No. 2 Kyle Allen. Smith’s chances of playing are limited probably to injuries to the two quarterbacks ahead of him. But his courageous recovery, which was highlighted in the ESPN documentary Project 11 in May of 2020, was inspirational and earned Smith widespread respect.
3.The Browns’ 33-12-1 record (.728) against Washington is their second-best mark against opponents all time behind the Falcons (12-3, .800).
Small world: President Jason Wright was a running back for the Browns in 2015-18 … Offensive coordinator Scott Turner was Browns receivers coach in 2013 … quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese had the same job with the Browns in 2018 … assistant linebackers coach Ben Jacobs played for the Browns in 2011-12 … offensive line coach John Matsko is a Cleveland native and played at Kent State in 1970-72.