Browns scouting report: Seattle Seahawks
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is an analyst on the Cleveland Browns for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Browns v. Seattle Seahawks
Sunday, 4:05 p.m., in Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
Record: 4-2.
Last game: Defeated Arizona Cardinals, 20-10, October 22, in Seattle.
Coach: Pete Carroll, 142-92-1, 14th year; 176-125-1 overall.
Series record: Seahawks lead, 13-6.
Last meeting: Seahawks won, 32-28, October 12, 2019, in Cleveland.
League rankings: Offense is 15th overall (20th rushing, 13th passing), defense is 12th overall (sixth rushing, 21st passing) and turnover differential is plus-1.
Things to watch
1. After an inexplicable opening loss to the Rams, the Seahawks have won four of five, losing only by four points on the road in Cincinnati. After two straight losses by the 49ers, the Seahawks are emboldened to challenge for the NFC West title. They’re one-half game behind the 49ers and have their meetings with them in Games 11 and 13.
2. The big question about this team is whether their offensive line can hold up. Because of injuries, they have used five different starting combinations in six games. Right tackle Abe Lucas has been out since the first game. In fact, every starter has missed at least one game with an injury. They get a boost this week with the expected return of center Evan Brown.
Quarterback Geno Smith's career reincarnation after the age of 32 has continued in the 2023 season.
3. The line inconsistencies are partly responsible for Geno Smith so far not duplicating his comeback player-of-the-year performance in 2022 (100.9 passer rating) at the age of 32. Smith has been better than just OK in his 10th NFL season (68.6 completion percentage, 7 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 93.6 rating), but his play has leveled off from the MVP-candidate numbers he posted in his first six games last year. Smith has been 69.4 percent accurate in his 23 starts the past two seasons . He has a strong arm and is agile enough to escape pressure but offensive coordinator Shane Waldon, a Sean McVay disciple, does not incorporate designed QB runs in Smith’s game.
4. Smith has a formidable trio of receivers in D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxson Smith-Njigba. Combined, they have 69 receptions and five touchdowns. Metcalf, however, has played through hip and rib injuries, and is expected back after missing the last game.
5. The defense, a 3-4 base, has gotten 23 sacks out of 11 different players. It received a blow when edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu, their leading sacker last year, was lost for the season with a pectoral muscle injury. While venerable linebacker Bobby Wagner, 33, remains the unit’s leader and leading tackler, the top playmakers that coach Pete Carroll tries to feature are safety Jamal Adams and cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who’s been a beast in his rookie season with two sacks, eight passes defensed and one interception.
Did you know … ?
1. Defensive end Dre’Mont Jones chose the Seahawks over the Browns in free agency. He has been effective in the Seahawks’ No. 6-ranked run defense, and has added two sacks.
2. Bobby Wagner has been named to nine All-Pro teams. Only six other linebackers in NFL history can match or exceed that record, and all are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Ray Lewis, Lawrence Taylor, Chuck Bednarik, Derrick Brooks, Joe Schmidt and Junior Seau).
3. Australian-native punter Michael Dickson owns the league’s all-time best punting average (47.7 yards). He’s fifth this year in gross average (50.2 yards) and second in net (45.4).
4. When the Seahawks gave Geno Smith a three-year contract for $75 million in March, it was constructed with limited guarantees because the Seahawks were eyeing one of the top three quarterbacks in the draft, mostly Anthony Richardson. Now, the Seahawks most likely will pick up Smith’s option in 2024 and continue their search for their quarterback of the future.
5. The Seahawks’ trade of erstwhile franchise quarterback Russell Wilson in 2022 has now been regarded as one of the great heists in NFL history. The Seahawks received five draft picks and three players from Denver for Wilson. The veteran players were backup quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant, and defensive tackle Shelby Harris (now with the Browns). The draft picks turned out to be starting left tackle Charles Cross, edge rusher Boye Mafe, edge rusher Tyreke Smith (practice squad), starting cornerback Devon Witherspoon, and edge rusher Derick Hall.6. The Browns’ only wins in 11 meetings in Seattle came in 1980, 1982, and 1989.
Small world: Center Evan Brown was on the Browns’ roster in 2020 … Offensive line coach Andy Dickerson was a defensive quality control coach and assistant offensive line coach for the Browns in 2009-2010 … Special teams assistant coach Tracy Smith was on the Browns’ coaching staff in 2010 … Defensive end Dre’Mont Jones is a native of Cleveland, attended St. Ignatius HS and Ohio State.
