Browns at Vikings Depth Chart Preview 2021

Injury Report

Browns
LT Wills - Questionable
C Tretter - Questionable
CB Newsome II - Out
T Hubbard - Out
LB Takitaki - Questionable

Vikings
WR Smith-Marsette - Out
RB Cook - Questionable
CB Boyd - Questionable
LB Barr - Questionable
DT Pierce - Questionable

Line: Browns -2 (61% of bets on Cleveland)

* My Thoughts *

QB - Mayfield doesn't scare me compared to many other QBs out there. The Browns made a jump to the next level in 2020 when Stefanski made Mayfield a glorified game manager QB, while the run game was the main threat of the offense. That's not to say that he's a bad QB, but he's needed a lot of support. He thrives in play action scenarios and has the mobility to avoid sacks, making life hard for defenses that are unsure whether this offense is going to run or pass.

RB - This is one of the best RB combos of all time, in my humble opinion. Nick Chubb is a stud who has notched nearly 3000 yards since 2019. Averaging 87+ yards a game in that stretch, Chubb is a bruiser with more speed than you'd expect. Kareem Hunt acts as the lightning to Chubb's thunder, providing a dangerous weapon in the passing game, and a slippery runner when he gets ground work. This combo is incredibly hard to stop, and with the way the Vikings have poorly handled opposing run games, I don't see us slowing them down very much.

WR - With Jarvis Landry on the IR, this team is a bit short on receiving talent. Odell is finally good to go after an ACL tear, but he's not close to as dangerous as he was with the Giants. They've used Donovan Peoples-Jones as their #2 WR, an inexperienced receiver who flopped at Michigan after being a 5 star recruit out of high school. He's provided a few big plays for the Browns, but has been inconsistent. Rashard Higgins, a fine slot receiver, and Anthony Schwartz, a rookie burner will fill in occasionally.

TE - Stefanski has continued the heavy usage of 2 TE sets, and is rotating all 3 of his guys. Hooper is getting paid the big bucks but hasn't been the productive guy he was for Atlanta, but he's not bad. Njoku, a former 1st rounder, is a strong blocker and is a quick runner, but he's never put a good season together. Harrison Bryant is a receiving-focused TE, but has also never been that productive.

OL - Yikes, it's been a long time since I've seen an OL as sturdy as this one. As a full unit, the starting OL has given up 14 pressures in 3 games - allowing for a clean pocket for Baker more often than not. Wills might be the only "weak" link, which is more because he's been banged up. The interior has been rock solid, and Conklin has been worth every cent of his FA deal. I see everyone not named Hunter having problems creating pressure.

DL - With the additions of Clowney and McKinley to pair up with Garrett, this D-line has powered a defensive turnaround for Cleveland. PFF has Garrett at a near-elite level, but has been down on Clowney since he left Houston. At DT, the Browns gave Malik McDowell, a Seattle 2nd rounder whose career was thought to be over after a serious ATV accident, a chance and he's run with it. McDowell has lived up to scouting reports of old by being a strong run stuffer and providing a bit of pressure. Malik Jackson, manning the other DT spot, has not graded well in either category, as his career is on a downturn.

LB - The Browns landed a steal in the 2nd round by landing JOK, and he's graded out as an elite player. They'd be wise to play him ahead of Mack Wilson (Week 1 Wilson started over him), as Owusu-Koramoah has been a fierce run stopper and has the speed to handle RBs in coverage. I was surprised to see that Malcolm Smith - the Super Bowl MVP for Seattle despite being their 3rd LB - is still in the NFL and he hasn't been half bad. Takitaki has been banged up, but when healthy he's the unit's best run stuffer.

CB - With their 1st rounder Newsome hurt, Greedy Williams will have to pick up the slack next to Ward. Williams has been a poor player when not injured, which hasn't been very often. Ward, who's shown flashes of being a shutdown #1 CB, has had a rocky start to the year, as Week 2 against Houston, he got bodied by Brandin Cooks several times. Cleveland paid up for a top notch nickel CB in Troy Hill, who has handled himself well.

S - Johnson was the big FA addition, but he's played poorly thus far. Ronnie Harrison seems to have salvaged his career having escaped from the Jaguars, posting strong grades as a tackler and does not get picked on in coverage much.

Prediction: Browns 31, Vikings 23

The Vikings haven't played a good defense yet, so this will be a test worth watching. However, I am concerned with the mismatches on defense, as the Vikings haven't shown the ability to consistently stop the run, which would exacerbated by Pierce's absence. Stefanski has the Browns running like a well oiled machine, and while the Vikings also have a solid roster, they've always struggled against good teams.


Any thoughts?