Cleveland Browns: 5 reason Browns will stun Russell Willson, Seattle Seahawks in Week 6
3. Mayfield will have time in the pocket
The Browns look like a mess on offense. Baker Mayfield spent Monday night double-clutching and acting as though he was hearing footsteps all night look. Nick Bosa wondered how he could see over the 49ers’ massive defensive linemen.
Bad news for Mayfield: Seattle’s defense boasts names in edge rushers Ziggy Ansah and Jadeveon Clowney. They’re both listed at 6-foot-5.
Mayfield’s been sacked 16 times through five games, which is sixth-most in the NFL.
“Isn’t the headline here, ‘Mayfield will have time in the pocket’?”
Despite boasting those recognizable pass rushers, Ansah and Clowney both only have one sack a piece this season. Clowney hasn’t recorded a takedown since Week 1, when he caught a scrambling Andy Dalton, who threw for 418 yards by the way, albeit in a losing effort.
Seattle is 22nd in the NFL with just 10 total team sacks. Myles Garrett, Cleveland’s star EDGE rusher, has seven.
The Seahawks also only have 17 quarterback hits through five games. Compare that to last year before Ansah and Clowney got there and Seattle had 26 quarterback hits by this time last year. Jarran Reed was a big reason why the Seahawks rushed the passer more efficiently, as he had 10 1/2 sacks in a breakout year.
He’s serving a six-game suspension for violating the league’s domestic violence policy and won’t play in this game.
Former Brown Mychal Kendricks, who admitted to Insider Trading and was released before the start of the 2018 season is still playing and contributing. He’s the one boosting Seattle’s sack total, as he notched two against the dreadful Cardinals two weeks ago.
Leave it to the Browns to give up three sacks a piece to these guys, but in theory, Baker should have the time he needs to get comfortable in the pocket.
And confidence is everything for the second-year struggling star. When he’s able to get into rhythm and doesn’t feel like he’s got to run for his life, we’ll get what we saw in Baltimore.
When tackles Greg Robinson and Chris Hubbard fold like an 8-year-old making a paper airplane, then he’s doomed.
Be sure to keep an eye out on Seattle’s pass rush. The lack of one may be the advantage the Browns need to win this game.