Browns need to stay in their lane to contain Marcus Mariota
By Thomas Moore
Sep 13, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) looks on against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Tennessee Titans defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 42-14. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns will get a front-row look at the NFL’s newest sensation when they host the Tennessee Titans and quarterback Marcus Mariota on Sunday.
All Mariota did in his debut against Tampa Bay was throw four first-half touchdowns, post a perfect quarterback rating and be named the AFC’s Offensive Player of the Week.
Meanwhile, at MetLife Stadium, the Browns were letting New York quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick have an effort-free day on the field.
Related: Johnny Manziel to start at QB on Sunday
If the Browns’ defense can’t stop a journeyman like Fitzpatrick, what are they going to do against a talented quarterback like Mariota?
The best thing they can do, possibly, is just remember that as talented as Mariota is, he is still a rookie quarterback making just his second NFL start.
“He is like a Polynesian rabbit.” – Danny Shelton on Marcus Mariota
“He’s not quite (Broncos QB) Peyton Manning yet so there are a lot of things that we can do that we can control,” safety Tashaun Gipson said this week. “I know Tampa Bay had a pretty vanilla defensive game plan – that’s nothing against those guys – they had a pretty vanilla game plan. He was able to sit back that read, pick his throws and go for it.
“We definitely don’t plan on being very vanilla with him this week. We want to make sure we give him a bunch of different looks, probably something he’s never seen before and try to get in his face, try to get hits on him and go from there. He showed composure, and anytime you have a quarterback like that, I don’t think it would be easy to rattle him, but if we can rattle him, get some disguises, get him thinking we’re in one coverage then roll to another coverage, that will be huge for us.”
One area that has us a bit concerned is if Mariota breaks out of the pocket he may be able to draw the attention of the defensive backs away from the Titans’ receivers, which could result in some big plays for Tennessee.
It is a concern that is shared by Gipson.
“He’s definitely a dangerous runner, as well, so we’re going to have to bring our A game for sure because he can beat us with his arm, he can beat us with his leg,” Gipson said. “If we hold up our end on the back end, those front seven guys are going to hold up their end when he tries to get out and run, I think we’ll have a successful day. If not, then it’ll be a long Sunday afternoon for us.”
In Browns’ speak, it may be as simple as “staying in your own lane.”
“Everyone stay in their (pass) lanes,” rookie linebacker Nate Orchard told the team’s website. “You have to keep him in the pocket and not let him get that edge.”
While Orchard, who faced Mariota in college last season when Utah played Oregon, should see more playing time on Sunday with linebacker Scott Solomon out with an ankle injury, it may be another linebacker that holds the key to corralling Mariota.
Sunday’s game against the Titans could provide a perfect opportunity for the Browns to capitalize on Barkevious Mingo’s versatility.
Even though he was only on the field for 13 plays, Mingo’s talents in pass coverage were on full display during a third-quarter drive by the Jets. Dropping back into coverage, Mingo was able to deflect what would have been a touchdown pass to running back Bilal Powell, leaving the Jets to settle for a field goal.
While the play did not ultimately turn the game in the Browns’ favor — three second-half turnovers by quarterback Johnny Manziel helped to see to that — it was a play that few other players on the Browns could make.
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Mingo is always going to have trouble consistently rushing the passer because of his weight, a point that head coach Mike Pettine reiterated earlier this week, but against the Titans Mingo’s speed could be an asset in helping to keep Mariota in the pocket. (Or run Mariota down if he breaks containment, as the case may be.)
“A lot of the throws were play action or on the move, and he did an outstanding job executing them,” Pettine said of Mariota. “He can make plays with his feet, he’s extremely accurate with the football and it’s going to be a challenge for us to be able to negate some of that.
“When teams have to honor the run, good hard run fake and guys are going to be much more open than when it is a predictable passing down. He played extremely well. It is going to be a challenge for us because anytime you face a quarterback that is accurate and can run that puts stress on a defense.”
While far too much is going to be made out of the game being a “Manziel vs. Mariota” matchup, how the Browns’ defense performs is going to be a bigger key to the game.
If they do their job, it should be a much tougher day for Mariota than the one he experienced in Tampa.
If not? Well, then Gibson is right and will be another long day for the guys in Orange and Brown.
What do you think the keys are for the Browns against Tennessee on Sunday?