Rookie WRs highlight Cleveland Browns’ growing offense
The quarterback position has been at the forefront of every conversation regarding the Cleveland Browns for so long that the amount of young talent currently on the roster has been overshadowed. After Thursday’s win and Deshaun Watson playing well for three straight games, everyone is going to get a lot more attention.
General manager Andrew Berry drafted receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston within 15 picks of each other. They have already shown themselves to be high-end targets in their first year. So much so that Jerry Jeudy became an afterthought.
Concepcion and Boston combined for 153 yards Thursday as Cleveland’s top two receivers. Concepcion provides important juice to create after the catch, while Boston, who led all rookies in receiving yardage heading into Week 4, is a legitimate tall target at X receiver.
Watson may be playing better than expected, but he’s getting a lot of help from two young, talented pass catchers.
Injury derails Mason Graham’s rise to stardom
The fifth overall pick in last year’s draft had been nearly unblockable through the first three weeks of play. Unfortunately, he left Thursday’s contest after straining his left leg and did not return.
The potential loss of Graham for a period of time will reorganize Cleveland’s defensive front. With Myles Garrett no longer in the lineup, the second-year inside tackle has always been a disruptive presence. Maliek Collins and Mike Hall Jr. both played throughout the night, but Graham had played at an elite level to start the campaign.
Any absence will also highlight Jared Verse, who has yet to record a sack and has failed to establish himself as the team’s defensive tone-setter.
Aaron Rodgers needs help from his WRs
The inability of wide receivers to create easy throws for 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been a recurring theme through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first four games. Almost everything in their passing game has been difficult to generate, as the team’s targets lack explosive characteristics.
Outside of DK Metcalf, who opponents use to limit his options, the Steelers are looking for someone to play. Pittsburgh’s offense had the same problem last season. General manager Omar Khan added veteran Michael Pittman Jr. and drafted Germie Bernard to rectify the situation. These two produced a combined 26 yards against Cleveland.
As Sam Bruchhaus of Sumer Sports noted after three quarters of play, Steelers receivers created separation on just 14.7 percent of their routes. Rodgers is essentially being asked to make a perfect throw every time he drops back to pass.
RB Jaylen Warren remains a positive point
As bad as the Steelers’ passing game has been at times, Pittsburgh’s running game has been impressive, especially over the last two games.
Jaylen Warren has always had a spring in his step, with the ability to create after contact and produce big plays. The 27-year-old running back followed up last weekend’s 127-yard outing with 93 against a stingy Browns defense. Warren averaged 5.5 yards per carry.
The Steelers couldn’t really stick to their running game, as they trailed for most of the second half. Despite this, Warren should clearly be the team’s offensive focal point as the season progresses.
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