The Browns will have to contend with intense crowd noise inside the Vikings' glassy U.S. Bank Stadium. (Minnesota Vikings)
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski hopes to put his time inside the Vikings to good use in first meeting against them
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Four downs on Browns (2-1) v. Minnesota Vikings (1-2)
First down: Check, mate.
Kevin Stefanski’s professional life always has been analytical, not emotional. Thus, his return to Minnesota is more about using the insight he acquired in 14 years with the Vikings than exacting revenge or thumping his chest. Stefanski worked six years under head coach Mike Zimmer, coaching every offensive position but offensive line. In Stefanski’s last season as offensive coordinator in 2019, his quarterbacks coach was Klint Kubiak, now the Vikings OC. Both of them learned the fundamentals of each team’s offense under Gary Kubiak, Klint’s father, now retired. So Stefanksi knows the nuances and tendencies of how Zimmer calls a game defensively – what frustrates him offensively, etc. – and what disrupts Kubiak defensively. Zimmer was careful not to tip off anything about this coaching matchup during the week, except, perhaps, for one observation about the Browns’ defense. “They rush the quarterback on the way to stop the run,” Zimmer said. Stefanski knows Zimmer as a head coach wants to run the ball as much as he can. His frustration with his offensive coordinators – four in eight years – often stems from not running the ball enough. So, even though quarterback Kirk Cousins is off to the best start of his 10-year career – 73.9 percent completions, 8 touchdowns v. 0 interceptions, 118.3 passer rating – I think deep down Stefanski expects Zimmer to focus his offense on elite back Dalvin Cook and take advantage of the Browns’ new-found emphasis on rushing the quarterback. In Cook’s absence last week, backup Alexander Mattison rushed for a career-high 112 yards. Despite their proficient passing game, Cook still leads the Vikings in third-down conversions with 16 even though he missed the last game with an ankle injury. Containing Cook, who is questionable but expected to play, has to be the Browns’ No. 1 priority on defense.
Second down: Defensive next level.
Nine sacks and 47 total net yards allowed against the Bears were unreal achievements for the Browns’ defense, but Chicago’s ineptness in preparing and supporting rookie quarterback Justin Fields had much to do with it. Cousins is a 10-year pro who knows how to use pre-snap reads to manipulate a defense and he is protecting the ball as well as any quarterback. He is flourishing playing off a strong running game and throwing to a threesome of receivers – Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen and K.J. Osborn. The next level of the Browns’ defense must focus on takeaways. Through three games, it lags with only two defensive turnovers – one interception and one fumble recovery. “We pride ourselves on wanting to take away the football, and we have not really gotten that done the first three weeks, so we have to get better in that area,” said coordinator Joe Woods. Cousins has thrown 200 consecutive passes without an interception. Stopping Cook early and forcing Cousins into third-and-long situations would seem to be the right formula.
Third down: Greedy’s turn.
Rookie cornerback Greg Newsome’s calf injury has put Greedy Williams into the starting lineup for the first time since the last game of the 2019 season. After missing all of 2020 with a shoulder injury, watching the Browns draft Newsome in the first round, and then losing a training camp battle to Newsome, Williams dived into an unfamiliar role on special teams until his opportunity on defense came. The loser of the Newsome-Williams battle figured to get his share of snaps over the course of the long season. Now, Williams’ time has come. He pronounced himself ready and eager during the practice week. “I feel like I am ready. That is all that matters,” Williams said. “I do not let emotions get the best of me. I just take it day by day. As the time comes and the game approaches, that is when my mind is clicked in. I am already mentally prepared for anything.”
Fourth down: Pack the ear plugs.
The Vikings’ former home, the Metrodome, was always a tough venue for visiting teams because of the noise generated inside the cramped confines under the bubble roof. The new place, U.S. Bank Stadium, is larger and did not reduce the home team’s advantage. Built on the same location as the Metrodome and completed in 2016 at a cost of $1.061 billion, U.S. Bank Stadium is a palace of glass that seems to catch the high-decibel crowd noise at the ceiling and then throws it down to the field. “We talked about it already this morning with the team,” Stefanski said on Wednesday. [U.S. Bank Stadium] is a glass building, and the noise reverberates in there. It will be the loudest, likely the loudest place, that we play this year.” The noise level will stress the offensive line, in particular. Fortunately for the Browns, this will be the only indoor venue on their regular-season schedule. But they showed in the season opener in Arrowhead Stadium that noise and energy from the home crowd can unravel them. Keeping his team poised figures to be one of the challenges for Stefanski – and quarterback Baker Mayfield – on Sunday.
The pick: Browns 31, Vikings 28.
My record: 2-1.
