Odell Beckham Jr.

Browns explosive play disparity is alarming

The Cleveland Browns differential in explosive plays on the ground versus through the air is becoming a major cause of concern.

Coming into the season everyone knew that the Cleveland Browns rushing attack was going to be the strength of their offense. When it comes to explosive plays on the ground, Cleveland is leading the league with 22 rushes of 10 yards or more. Considering the Cleveland backfield features Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, explosive plays on the ground are the norm multiple times per game, not at all an issue. The issue is that a passing attack which showed so much promise down the stretch last season is near the bottom of the league in explosive plays through the air with just 11. While nobody was expecting the Browns passing game to be elite by any means, nobody could have guessed they would be where they currently are. 

Whether some people want to admit it or not, the majority of the lack of effectiveness through the air falls on Baker Mayfield. Mayfield has struggled for most of the season and has been a liability to the Browns passing attack. Baker is not completing passes downfield and a large portion of those attempts are completely off target. While there was a game where Mayfield did not have Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry (minus two plays), Landry or Beckham have been in the lineup the other three games. Beckham is certainly someone who could help in the explosive pass play department, but Mayfield actually has to throw an accurate pass downfield first. 

So far the Browns have been winning ugly with a lackluster passing attack and an impressive running game. At some point the gap between explosive plays through the air and on the ground needs to close. If that is unable to happen, any postseason run in Cleveland will be short lived.

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