The Cleveland Browns' Week 3 home opener against the Carolina Panthers was an absolute slopfest.
Neither quarterback could crack the low bar of 55 percent completion on their throws, despite the fact that there were a combined 78 attempts. There were 19 accepted penalties, 12 of which were assessed on the home team. The Browns couldn't even break 300 yards on the day. Yet, Todd Monken and his litter of scrappy pups were able to sneak away with a victory.
Cleveland did it by making clutch conversions, playing hard-nosed defense, and avoiding the back-breaking plays that have been the calling card for Browns teams of yesteryear. There are things to correct after every game, and there's certainly no shortage in this one. Still, just as fans had been hoping, the Browns are seeing tangible development from their rookie class.
The Browns' second straight victory comes with legitimate signs that Todd Monken is changing the culture in Cleveland
Left tackle Spencer Fano
After playing a rock-solid game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Fano had a tough time dealing with the Panthers' pass rush. He allowed five hurries, one sack, and had a penalty on the day to boot. Despite the humbling effort in pass protection, Fano led the team with a 71.0 run block grade, courtesy of Pro Football Focus.
Fano's 63.6 overall grade for the day ranked fourth out of the 17 players to log a snap on offense. It's clear that he is not out of his depth at the professional level. Still, it doesn't get any easier in Week 4, as he will be tasked with dealing with the Steelers' three-headed monster of pass rush connoisseurs, T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig.
Verdict: Stock facing adversity, but showing encouraging signs nonetheless
Wide receiver KC Concepcion
Thankfully, in the NFL it's a marathon, not a sprint. Concepcion had his quietest day as a pro against Carolina, notching just two receptions for nine yards despite being peppered with a team-leading nine targets (tied with Harold Fannin Jr.). He also made a minimal difference on special teams, returning his lone punt for a single yard.
For the day, his 56.9 offensive grade ranked just ninth. It's obviously early, so none of this should be taken as some kind of final judgment on the playmaker. He'll try to rebound against the Steelers' mediocre secondary, though this game proved it will be slightly more challenging for Concepcion and fellow rookie wideout Denzel Boston to consistently shine as the Browns pursue a balanced, if not run-heavy, offense.
Verdict: Stock going through a lull
Wide receiver Denzel Boston
Denzel Boston had spoiled fans with splash plays in his first two weeks. While he didn't haul in a 40-plus-yard bomb in this one, he still made his mark with two receptions for 41 yards as well as a conversion on the Browns' fateful two-point try. Boston led the pack on offense with a 73.8 overall grade on the afternoon.
Signs continue to point to the Browns having struck gold with their second-round wideout. Just as with Concepcion, the hope is that more consistent quarterback play will send a steadier stream of targets their way. The Steelers have allowed a 102.4 passer rating this season, which ranks 16th in the league. The Panthers' 86.3 passer rating allowed ranks sixth.
Perhaps the Browns will be able to find more space this week.
Verdict: Stock steady
Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
After playing 14 snaps in Week 1 and 10 in Week 2, EMW saw his usage increase to 20 snaps on Sunday. He rewarded the coaching staff's trust by producing three combined tackles on defense and finishing as PFF's fourth-ranked defender (out of the 17 who played) with a 73.3 grade. He also added two special teams tackles.
McNeil-Warren wasn't targeted in coverage, and his snap allocation continues to point to a Swiss army knife role for the former Toledo Rocket. He wound up playing 12 snaps at free safety, seven in the box, and one at the nickel cornerback spot. Good things seem to happen when he's on the field, so it's safe to assume the increase in playing time will continue.
Verdict: Stock rising
Right guard Austin Barber
Barber had a standout performance in Week 1. Replicating it over the past two weeks has proven difficult. He struggled while allowing three pressures and was penalized once again. His below-average 57.1 run block grade indicated he had a tough time getting movement in that department, as well.
All told, Barber's 48.2 overall grade ranked 16th on the offense. It was a day to forget, but the bright side is obvious — he's still only 23 years old. If the Browns are able to develop their youngsters along the offensive line while winning?! That's having your cake and eating it too.
Verdict: Stock falling
Tight end Carsen Ryan
Carsen Ryan is still learning the ropes, and that's to be expected for a Day 3 draft pick. He didn't play any snaps on offense after making a one-snap cameo in Week 2. He did contribute 16 snaps on special teams, though his 38.9 grade on those snaps ranked 34th out of the 35 players to contribute in that phase. He, too, was penalized on the day.
Ryan's in a thankless role right now. The hope should simply be that he's chopping wood in practice and making headway on a more prominent role as the season goes on.
Verdict: Stock falling
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