3 Cleveland Browns who need to step up heading into New York

Three Cleveland Browns need big bounce-back games against the New York Jets

The Cleveland Browns are looking at an undefeated season after Week 1, which is the first time that’s been possible since Jeff Garcia was in Cleveland. That season didn’t go the way for the Browns we had wanted it to, but fans are optimistic about 2022. Especially with the New York Jets on the docket next.

The Jets are a flat-out bad football team and are missing their starting quarterback for the upcoming matchup withe Browns. This is a good game to work out kinks and get things in order for Week 3. Execution is still necessary and should player struggle here, then it may be time to panic about those players specifically.

There are three players that can’t afford another bad game and if they have one, it may be time to sound the alarm bells.

For those wondering, Jacoby Brissett isn’t on this list because I don’t think he can “step up”.  I believe the season debut of Brissett is the best Brissett we’re going to get.

Three Cleveland Browns who need to step up

Ethan Pocic (PFF Grade: 51.3)

Ethan Pocic is a good run blocker but he’s not a good pass blocker. When Brissett got lit up, that was on Pocic. Instead of staying home and watching out for any delayed blitzes, Pocic moved to his left and helped Joel Bitonio with his man. Nick Chubb, who was rotating to his left already, missed the blitz, and Brissett got leveled. Had Pocic stayed home, he’d of been there to pick up the blitz. This wasn’t the only mistake he made but it was the most obvious.

Grant Delpit (PFF Grade: 49.1)

The young third-year safety has a history of getting beat deep, and he showed that off again. Safeties are the last line of defense, and in zone coverages, which the Browns run a lot, their duty is to not let anyone behind them. Delpit allowed two big plays to happen behind him. Had he been more aware, he would’ve been ready for it. Sure, maybe the pass goes through but if he at least contests it, and he just gets beat, fair. That’s not what happened. He was just out of position both times.

Amari Cooper (PFF Grade: 53.4)

Some people think it’s impossible for a receiver to play badly if a quarterback does, but guess what, not true. Amari Cooper had two passes in his hand he should’ve caught with at least one going down as a drop. For someone who’s making as much money as he is, there isn’t an excuse for why Donovan Peoples-Jones was seemingly open every play and able to catch everything thrown to him, and Cooper wasn’t. If he were getting paid the same as Peoples-Jones, then fair. He’s not. So many people thought Cooper was going to break 1,200 yards and 10+ touchdowns regardless of who his quarterback was. So if he’s as good as everyone kept claiming he was throughout the off-season, then he needs to be that good. Great receivers can still make plays off of bad quarterbacks.