Browns vs. Jets: 5 players to watch on Sunday

Aug 20, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Danny Shelton (71) takes on Buffalo Bills offensive guard John Miller (76) during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

The Browns have spent a lot of time working to fix the run defense, which finished the 2014 season as the NFL’s worst.

While Cleveland brought in veteran defensive end Randy Starks in free agency to help, the biggest difference comes in the form of first-round draft pick Danny Shelton.

The 6-foot-2, 339-pound Shelton has been an active force throughout the preseason, taking up multiple blockers and showing up all over the field.

Even though Sunday will be Shelton’s first real NFL game, he doesn’t play like a rookie.

“He’s done a nice job executing his job within the scheme,” defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil said. “He does have some flexibility because we don’t talk as much as gap control as some defenses. There’s two levels of defense behind them. He’s a big ol’ guy that every once in a while you want to let him roll off and see if he can cut a play in half or cause some penetration and wreck it in the backfield. His discipline has been really good.”

Shelton will get a good test on Sunday as he will be going up against New York center Nick Mangold, a six-time Pro Bowler and two-time First Team All Pro selection.

“It’ll be a good one. That’s why I was glad we got to go against Buffalo because I think (Bills center) Eric Wood, he and Nick, having been with those guys in consecutive years, I think there’s a lot of similarities in that style of play,” Pettine said. “Nick is a very intelligent veteran player, knows a lot of the tricks of the trade and that’s why it’ll be a real good test for Danny.”

Speaking of Wood, if Shelton’s work against the Bills is any indication, Mangold could be in for a long day:

Next: The two-headed running attack