4 crucial matchups in Browns home opener

Matchup No. 3: Ethan Pocic vs Quinnen Williams

The Browns are going to find out a lot about their new center on Sunday. Ethan Pocic is going to get to know Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams pretty well throughout the game. While Pocic is new to the Browns, he’s not new to the NFL, having started 40 games during his stint with the Seahawks.

While his experience could serve him well against the young Williams, the tape shows that Pocic is going to have his hands full against the massive defensive tackle. Williams is the Jets best chance to disrupt Cleveland’s explosive rushing game at the point of attack. His ability to get off the ball quickly and use his 300-plus pound frame to push the line of scrimmage back could alter the Browns pin and pull game.

Typically, Williams shades to his right side, which would give Joel Bitonio the first crack at helping Pocic if he is being overwhelmed. But if Bitonio finds himself helping Pocic too much, it could free up the Jets linebackers to get free lanes into the Browns backfield.

The trenches often come down to math just as much as it does attrition, and Williams is the type of defensive tackle that can change the math for Bill Callahan and the coaching staff. The onus of stopping, or at a bare minimum, slowing down Williams needs to be on Pocic if the Browns wish to maintain their impressive run game.