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Cleveland Browns vs. Steelers: 3 X-Factors in Week 6

By Elliot Kennel

Oct 28, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) throws under pressure against the Cleveland Browns in the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) throws under pressure against the Cleveland Browns in the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Ray-Ray McCloud vs Browns fifth DB

It is not just about how good the Steelers’ wide receivers are, but how good is the matchup? The Steelers might be interested in matching up their number five wide receiver, Ray-Ray McCloud, against the Browns fifth-best defensive back. McCloud is an elusive 5-foot-9, 190-pound wide receiver from Clemson who also is putting up scary numbers as a punt returner and kick returner.

The Steelers coaching staff no doubt reads Dawg Pound Daily and is aware that the Browns are short of healthy safeties this week. Rookie safety Grant Delpit is on IR with a career-threatening injury, joined by cornerback Greedy Williams with a nerve injury in his shoulder. Also, safeties  Ronnie Harrison (concussion) and Karl Joseph (hamstring) are not practicing so far this week.

Andrew Sendejo was probably hired to be an extra DB in nickel situations, but he has had to be an every-down defender so far this season. Sheldrick Redwine is the only other experienced safety known to be healthy.

So Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner and head coach Mike Tomlin are drawing up a game plan this week against the Browns.

They may want to try some four and five wide receiver formations on the field to see how the Browns cover them, from among JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chase Claypool, James Washington, Diontae Johnson, and Ray-Ray McCloud.

Denzel Ward, Terrance Mitchell, and Kevin Johnson are very good cornerbacks, but the safeties will be covering the likes of Johnson and McCloud. McCloud may be the greater home run threat. If they get McCloud isolated against a slow Browns safety, Big Ben’s bionic elbow is programmed for radar lock-on.

McCloud is averaging 27.54 yards per kickoff return and 12.5 yards per punt return. Those are Josh Cribbs-like numbers. Last week against Philadelphia, he had a 58-yard run as well as three catches for 12 yards. He wasn’t noticed because of the monster day by Chase Claypool, but the Steelers have two young receivers who might actually be more dangerous than the veterans. The Browns are no doubt going to pay great attention to Claypool after four touchdowns last week, but McCloud is also problematic.

The Steelers might be willing to expose Roethlisberger in the shotgun and see if they can get a man open in about two seconds, i.e., the time it takes for either Myles Garrett or Olivier Vernon to disrupt his pass. If last week’s game is any indication, Roethlisberger may be more likely to target his younger wide receivers anyway, because his veterans are not as effective right now.

Who are the Browns going to use to cover McCloud?

Since we do not know the answer to that question,  McCloud is an X-Factor. He could score on a punt return, kickoff return, or on a Roethlisberger pass against a very thin Browns secondary. It’s not that McCloud is necessarily a great receiver at this point in his career, but the Browns may not have anyone to cover him if he heads straight down the field and looks up for the bomb.

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