Cleveland Browns: How Jarvis Landry will help Josh Gordon

When the Cleveland Browns acquired Jarvis Landry, there were questions about how well he would mesh with Josh Gordon. But Landry will do nothing but help Gordon and vice versa.

When Josh Gordon returned to the Cleveland Browns last year, he instantly became the best receiver on the team, even though he had not played in three years.

But when the Browns traded for Jarvis Landry this offseason, it was obvious that Gordon will have competition as the best receiver. But Landry will help Gordon became a better receiver, and Gordon will do the same for Landry.

Looking at the Browns roster today, it appears that Gordon and Corey Coleman will be the starting receivers on the outside with Landry starting in the slot.

Landry will see time as an outside receiver when the Browns are in 12 personnel – one running back, two tight ends on the field – or in 21 personnel – two running backs, one tight end on the field.

But most of the time Landry will be in the slot. Of Landry’s league-leading 112 receptions last season, 68 of those receptions came when he was in the slot, according to Pro Football Focus.

With that said, how is Landry going to help Gordon on the field? First it must be pointed out what Landry will primarily be doing.

Landry lives in the middle of the field, whether he is running short or intermediate routes. But he also excels running out routes. In 2017, quarterbacks had a 119.3 quarterback rating when throwing to Landry running out routes, according to Pro Football Focus.

So when Landry is making an impact in the middle of the field, particularly in the intermediate part of the field, the opposing safeties will have to make a play on Landry. Landry is a very reliable pass catcher, so defenders will have to make a play on the ball to force an incompletion. Landry is not a receiver that drops passes or has focus drops.

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With the safeties paying close attention to what Landry is doing in front of them, it could allow Gordon to get vertical and get behind the safety. A lot will depend on how Tyrod Taylor or Baker Mayfield or whoever is playing quarterback manipulates the safety with his eyes. By using their eyes, the quarterback can freeze the safety by looking at Landry underneath the safety, allowing one-on-one coverage outside for Gordon.

Another way the quarterback could manipulate the safety is by eyeing Gordon down the sideline or in a deep post, forcing the safety to shade Gordon’s way. Thus, Landry will sit in the open space created by the safety shading Gordon’s side and have room to make an easy completion.

But the Browns can also use Landry’s strength running out routes to help Gordon, especially against teams that like to run Cover 2 coverage. When Gordon and Landry are on the same side of the field, they can manipulate the defender that is responsible for the flat in the Cover 2 coverage.

If Landry were to run a 3-5 yard out, the cornerback covering the flat will be forced to pass off Gordon to the safety as he goes to cover Landry. If the safety were late to react to the pass off, the quarterback will be able to hit an open Gordon down the sideline. But if the corner does not pass off Gordon, Landry will be an easy completion for 10-15 yards.

It seems very simple, but very rarely does a NFL defense give up easy completions. But with the talent of Landry and Gordon, it will make it very hard for defenses to stop both players. It will be difficult to key in on both players without giving up easy completions to the other receivers on the team. Defenses will have to rely on strong communication and good instincts to contain Gordon and Landry.

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Since both are different types of receivers and do different things on the football field, they can use each other’s strengths to improve their play. Sooner or later, Gordon and Landry could be one of the best 1-2 combos in the NFL.