October 5, 2024 • 29 mins
The Washington Commanders are looking for a 4-1 start for the first time since 2008 with a home matchup against the Cleveland Browns! Senior Writer Zach Selby, Monumental Sports' Mitch Tischler and Voice of the Commanders Bram Weinstein break down the Week 5 game lookin at how to contain Deshaun Watson, Washington's third-down success on offense and much more.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
What's going on? What's happened? Everybody? This is the Beatdown Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
I am your host, Senior Wriyah for the Washington Commanders,
Zach Shelby and the vibes out here are immaculate in
ways that really haven't been in about a decade. As
the Commanders thoroughly dismantled the Arizona Cardinals forty two to fourteen,
going to three to one for the first time in
twenty eleven.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
How about that. And after doing three.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Of four road games to start the season, they are
coming back to Northwest Stadium to take on the Cleveland
Browns who are one in three, not necessarily the record
that they would want, but this is still a team
that's a little bit feistier than maybe some would think.
They've got a really strong defense to Shohn Watson is
still maybe not as maybe not now corback he was,
but still has some flashes of it here and there.
(00:53):
So the Commanders have a chance to go four and
one for the first time in two thousand and eight,
which would just be amazing for this French guys, for
this team as they get into the first year of
Dan Clinton's regime, and how do they gonna be able
to do that. Well, that's what we're gonna be talking
about today. And with me we have Mitch Tisler of
Monumental Sports and the Beltwegh Football Pot and Bran Winstein
(01:14):
and the voice of the Commanders and hosts of the
Bran Wonstein Show Boys.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
How we do It Today?
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Immaculate.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Yeah, Mitch, this is a dream come true. I don't
think I've ever done a show with you. I am
very excited about this.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
I am very excited about this too. I can't wait
at the beat you a little bit, all right?
Speaker 2 (01:30):
They all right, awesome, So they mentioned the debate this,
We're gonna be really quick about it because guys, you
know how it goes now. I mean, these guys are
gonna be debating questions, They're gonna they're gonna be given points,
and uh, there is gonna be a winner. Because it's
my podcast. I can decide who wins the who wins
and who loses. But at the same time, you know,
what you should be more focused on is what these
guys takes are rather than who wins and who loses.
(01:53):
Here because he's got some of the best of what
they do. Uh. And without further ado, let's go and
get started here starting with the Browns offense. And as
I mentioned earlier, Deshaun Watson probably not the elite MVP
caliber quarterback that he was with the Houston Texans, but
you do still see flashes of the player that he
once was as he's gone through the first couple of
(02:14):
years in his tenure with the Browns. So, Bram, I
will start with you, because the quarterback is still the
most important position for this defensive stop.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
What's the best approach to.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Limiting him as they come to him to the Commander Stadium.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
So I think this is really interesting because they don't
know whether this is by design, or it's due to injuries,
or they don't trust Watson to make plays down the field.
I mean, I think only they can really answer this.
But the vast majority of their offense is underneath. And
you'll see this in metrics, like he's like thirty first
(02:50):
in the league in pass yards per attempt, but they're
all dump offs to running backs or tight ends underneath.
There's very little plays that are thrown down the field. Obviously,
he can run and he can move, but he's not
apt to scramble all that much. He does to extend
plays you know, he's been held under two hundred yards
passing in every single one of these games. I think,
you know, like this team is concerned about giving up
(03:13):
deep passes for good reason, right, like lack of a
consistent pass rush, which maybe has taken a turn over
the last week, which hopefully happened, and you know overall
cornerback play. Are they concerned with the matchups? And you know,
the Browns do have legitimate, very good and potentially deep
threat wide receivers on this team, but they don't profile it.
(03:35):
So I want to see how Joe and Dan Quinn
play this, Like are they going to be willing to
put more people up closer to the line in this game?
Daring Cleveland to try to do something that they're not
doing right now at the risk of can you cover
Amari Cooper and Jerry Judy down the field because the
Browns aren't doing it. So that's the cat and mouse
for me here. But from what I see from Cleveland,
(03:58):
everything's underneath. So I think Washington on some level needs
to find out if they are willing to take shots
down the field.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Yeah, you know, you bring up a good point, because
the Brands do have some some really solid receivers. I
would say probably one of the better groups that they've
faced so far this year. And Mitch, you know, brand
brought up, you know, bring the secondary close to the
line of screens, playing a little bit of press and
and this seems to be where Washington has gotten beaten
a lot over the last first, you know, first couple
(04:29):
of weeks of the season and honestly most of last year.
So you know, I'll kind of pit it a little
bit and kind of ask you this so about contained
Sean Watson, like, do you feel comfortable enough with the
secondary that they are able to go up against Jerry
Judy and Amari Cooper and some of these other receivers
that they have.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
I mean, I think you look at this Brown's offense
and it has a lot of big names on it.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
You know, we keep talking.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
We've mentioned the receivers, the you know, you know about
the quarterback. But I think it's like a lot of
a lot of teams that we've seen here in Washington
going back however many years, some big names, but not
big production. And I think it starts with what Bram
was talking about, the fact that they are scared to
go down the field Deshaun Watson's top five in the
league and dropbacks and bottom five in the league in
(05:10):
yards in yards per game, and it shows you kind
of what they're trying to do on offense. They're trying
to think and dunk it and run the ball a bunch.
And even though they are trying to run the ball
a bunch, they aren't even that successful at it because
they're bottom half of the league in running the ball,
and it starts up front for them. They have a
couple pretty key injuries. They haven't played a whole lot
(05:32):
this year with Jedrick Willis. Jack Conklin looks like he's
going to be out Wyatt Teller as well as a
All Pro guard for them, and they've gotten Deshaun Watson
hit a lot. He's been hit I think it was
seventeen times in two of the first four games, including
an eight sac performance in Week one. I think you're
gonna have an opportunity to put pressure on him, and
it's gonna be incumbent on the secondary to be able
(05:53):
to cover. We know that Joe Witt likes to play
single high d he likes to play press coverage on
the outside, and there have been you know some receivers
that have beat them with it. But if this d
line and this you know, complimentary pass rush can get
to Deshaun Watson and pours them off his spot, he's
proven that he can't get the ball. He hasn't been
able to get the ball downfield, particularly when he breaks
(06:13):
the pocket, and he's had, you know, amongst the lowest
time in the in the league drop back to past year.
So it's these guys shouldn't have to run around in
the secondary for five ten seconds like we've seen you know,
other years. Other teams have to have to try and do.
And so I do think they're going to be able
to get up there and use Benjamin Saint Jus's size
and Jim Met the line of scrimmage a little bit.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Yeah, I mean, yeah, that is a good point.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
And you know, I think Watson is really at his
most dangerous las in the games that I've seen, you know,
over you know, when I watched it yesterday, is it
seems like he is at his most deadly whenever he's
outside of the pocket, whenever he's able.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
To extend plays.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
And you know, I know that the commanders only allowed
Cali murder for one rush for three yards. But this
is mobile quarterbacks are still I would say it's still
a bit of a challenge for this defense. So so
bram D and as good as they were able to
play against Calmber, do you think that's a little bit
of a formula for how this the Stevens the line
can contain Watson going into week five.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Last week was by far and not close, their best
collective defensive performance, and I mean by a mile, like
by a mile. And I will say this, there were
multiple occasions where they had Murray confused the fact that
he took a sack on the fourth and one on
to tell you everything, you kind of really need to
know about where he was in reading what Washington was
(07:32):
doing to them. So I do hope that there's a carryover.
There was a deficiency on the right side of their line.
Calvin Beacham played, but he was coming off the hamstring.
They didn't really have backups, and Doriance Armstrong had his
best game, you know, as a commander. Off of this.
To Mitch's point, this is a this is a really
great offensive line when they have their players together. They
(07:52):
don't they're missing two or three of their starters. They're
playing a ton of backups I think they're doing. Go
watch Chelsea. You want to go watch something interesting on
the film, Go watch on the outside. Their receivers they
barely release when they're running the ball, like I think
that they just they have kind of come into this
position of they are what they are based on the injuries,
(08:15):
and I think maybe what the coaches think the capabilities
of this offense are so they're to me in lies
a couple of things. One, are they a competent group? Right?
And if they're not, if Washington get on top of them,
maybe you can get a couple of sacks. The most
sacked quarterback in the NFL. I think there's an opportunity
here to limit them. They're having a hard time scoring points.
(08:38):
It's partially by design. They're trying to go small chunks
at a time. So if I'm Washington, you know, I
think I'm loading up the box a little bit here
and I'm daring them to throw the ball a little
bit and see if maybe we can get even bigger
mistakes than what you're getting now, which is they're not
turning the ball over a time, they're just not scoring
(08:59):
and they're not moving the ball in chunks. Can we
get a couple turnovers here, because that seems overdue and
that seems to be kind of heading in that direction.
If that's what's happening here, then I think it gives
your offense a better shot here because this is and
I know we haven't gotten another side of the ball yet,
this is gonna be arguably the best defense they have
faced up to this point in the season. Maybe maybe Tampa's,
(09:21):
but like this, in my opinion, this is, across the board,
probably the best defense they have faced. And therefore I
think they're gonna need a couple more breaks than what
they've gotten in previous weeks.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
And before we get to this side of the ball,
and you're right about that, Mitche, Like, you know, do
you think, as Brams said, that they're going to try
to load the box a little bit and try to
put some more pressure on Watson to make some of
these more difficult decisions.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
I think they need to, but it's not necessarily related
to Watson's quick decision making. It's related to stopping this
run game. If you can make this Browns team one dimensional,
especially if the offense is able to continue scoring points,
and you know that Deshaun's going to be dropping back,
then you're gonna be able to to really get after him.
But the middle of this defensive line has struggled against
(10:04):
the run. In the middle of this defense across the
hole has struggled against the run. And if you allow
this Browns team to get comfortable and start moving the
ball easily on the ground, then things are going to
open up for Deshaun because you're gonna have to start,
you know, packing it in on that side. And so
I expect that we're going to see a more concerted
effort in the middle of that defense. Like Bram said,
last week was the best defensive performance we've seen in
(10:25):
a wild year in Washington, and it was awesome to watch.
But if you there's one criticism we have of it
is that they're able to run the ball for almost
one hundred yards directly up the middle, and a lot
of that was at kind of the end of the
third quarter start of the fourth quarter, where you would
think that teams would be more apt to be throwing
the ball as they're trying to catch up. And so
I think you know Deron and John obviously we know
(10:47):
all there is to know about them. I like last
week that you started seeing some combos of Johnny Newton
and Frederian mathis playing there in the middle, and I
think Fiderian in particular, with his size and his strength,
can help them, especially as the Browns keep trying to
pound the ball twin tackles.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
You know, I'm really interested to see how this this
Commanders defensive line goes up against this Browns group, because, yeah,
if they do have the reputation for running the ball
really well, although they haven't necessarily done that so far
this year, probably because they don't have Nick Chubb and
and they're off of the line speed up, but their
averaging I think it's like ninety four yards per game
on the ground right now. But at the same time,
to your point, like they are still capable of busting
(11:25):
a long especially against a group that is really you know,
I would say struggled with quite a bit to contain
the run, which is I think it's a little bit surprising.
But either way, we're gonna go on to the next question.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
But before we do that score update, it was todd
three to three. We miss.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
I really liked the point about about the stack of
the box to south of run game, So you are
up four to three as as we get into question
two here, but it's yeah, you know, the fellow, the
fellow off the line. We got to stick together at
some point. But going into the off inside of the ball,
you know, Braymy mentioned that this is the biggest test
(12:02):
for the for for Washington offense that that they've faced
all year.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
I would also argue that this is.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Cleveland's defense, that the biggest test for the Cleveland defense
that they've faced all year two because this, this Washington
offense has been historically great over the special blast three
weeks or so, they're leading the league in third down
success rate and I forget what the exact percentage is,
but it's over I'd say it's about two thirds their
their third Act of conversion percentage. But at the same time, this,
(12:29):
this Cleveland defense is seventh right now, So Mitchell start
off with you, like, what do you think Washington do
to continue that third down success against the Cleveland defense?
Who is you know, has been has a reputation being
very solid and has some of the numbers to back
it up as well.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Yeah, I mean, you hate to be too generic here,
but Jade Daniels has done such a good job of
keeping them a third and short or third and manageable,
and they've shown different ways of being multiple in those
short third downs. And I think that kind of the
combination of Jaden the so uh so accurate and so
quick getting rid of the ball and Cliff Kingsberry kind
of having a little bit of fun on that on
(13:06):
that offense. I mean, I think we've seen a couple
of kind of different types of plays from from Cliff
in this offense. A double pass to uh in Week
one against the Bucks, and then obviously the touchdown pass
against the Trent Scott against the Bengals were you know,
two that kind of stick out. But I think their
their ability to kind of keep the keep the defense
off there on their heels goes a long way. That's
(13:28):
the end of the game against the Cardinals where they
had Elamind's the Keys kind of motioned into the backfield
and then motioned back to kind of where he came
from and caught a quick little screen and took it
for you know, eight yards and a first down. I
just think their ability to to kind of keep the
defense on their heels with a lot of different looks,
particularly I'm third and down is going to be something
that helps them a lot.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
No, I really do like how creative Cliff Kingsberry has
been with this offense. You're right, he does look like
he's having a lot of fun out there, just kind
of like some of the players that he's had are.
You know, they're so creative and so innovative in ways
that really highlights what these players do best.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Uh, brand I'll turn over to.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
You because I know, I know you really love Brian Robinson,
but like, what role did Brian Robinson is he going
to have? Do you think on Sunday kind of convert
converting these third downs.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
I was surprised to see his name on the injury list,
so like, let's just start with like assuming he's available, right,
Like that was a surprise, like seeing that on Wednesday.
So I'll kind of reiterate with what Mitch just said.
I really think one of the most impressive things this
team is doing here is how they're starting their drives.
They're getting Jayden in company in second and six or
(14:34):
shorter situations, and they're going to live good in that way.
Because of Jayden's ability to run, I think it keeps
a defense off balance and he opens up the playbook
immensely for them to play out of that. The one
time they punted last week, which is the one time
they punted in three weeks, was the one time that
on first down they were stunted for nothing and ended
up in a second and ten. And then oddly, I
(14:56):
thought they made an incredible call on this play. No
one's remember this one because one of the million scoring
drives that they had, they did a delayed draw to
Brian Robinson, which I haven't even seen them do, right,
I haven't really seen them do, And it just happened
that Arizona ran a double twist stunt with their two
defensive tackles, and I'm not even sure that they made
(15:18):
the right call. They just happened to have the right
thing on for this play at that moment, and he
ends up sliding away from one three hundred and fifty
pounds dude and running into another one. But it was,
honestly like it was the right play call at the
right time, which I think his timing has been on.
Doesn't mean they all work, but like he's just had
(15:38):
a feel for this. He's gotten them into very comfortable positions.
I think it's helped the comfort level of Daniels. This
is a team that blitzes among the top five in
the league. They will play a ton of man because
this is the best set of corners that Washington's going
to face up to this point in the season. Are
very comfortable blitzing and hopefully getting an advantage matchup with
(15:58):
Miles Garrett. So this is one where third and long
is death for you. I think you're going to see
a very different outcome this weekend if it's third and
eight or longer, over and over and over because of
the personnel that they're facing this weekend. So if they
can keep this model of whether it's be rob or
not be rob of getting into these second just four
yards on first down, second and six or shorter, this
(16:20):
is where they eat. And I think that that's where
they can continue. Maybe not to the degree that they
have over the last few weeks because it's historic and unprecedented,
but like, could they still be extremely effective possessing the ball,
scoring points and having a lead on a team like this.
For everything we talked about earlier about the Browns offense,
seems like the right path to a win this weekend.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Yeah, you know, Brian Robinson being on the Ajor report
was surprising to me as well, because we had just
got done hearing from Dan Quinn about how reliably is
how tough he is, and how he really doesn't really
ever need that much time to recover and get back
and back healthy. Mitch, like, I mean saying, saying Brian
Robinson maybe not wouldn't play is kind of a big
(17:06):
deal for this offense because he's by far one of
the most consistent weapons. I mean, he has the most
scrimmage jars for them. I think he's I think behind
Jane Danis's park downs produced. So you know, say, god forbid,
he's avail, he's not, he's not too badly hurt and everything.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
He is available.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
But like, what if you know Brian Robinson is ruled
out on Friday, Like, do you think this is gonna
have the dramatic effect on the offense and how do
you think they recover from that?
Speaker 3 (17:34):
I do think it would have a pretty dramatic effect
because it was one thing when Austin Eckler went out,
Because Jeremy McNichols is a similar type player in terms
of you know, catching the ball to the backfield and
being able to help him pass. Bro they don't really
have a second Brian Robinson. I guess Chris Rodriguez would
probably get called up and get a fair amount of
a fair amount of carries there. But I do think
(17:56):
that he's a very important part of this team. I
think you also have to remember that, you know, this
is week four. There by week is in what another
ten weeks from now, You're gonna start seeing some veteran
days here as we go through, and generally when those
guys sit out of practice, they don't get the designation
of vetter in days. It's a you know, an ankle
injury and the injury it did not practice for one
(18:16):
of those reasons. But regardless, I think the commanders often
should have a lot of success, particularly in the running game,
but kind of across the board. Last week against the
ram against the Raiders, the Browns defense had twenty miss tackles.
It was a most in a single game in the
NFL this year. The Raiders came in averaging fifty yards
on the ground. They ran for a buck fifty five
or something like that.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
Last week.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
I mean, there's a lot of opportunity to run the
ball here. And as impressive as Jayden Daniels has been
in the past game it's been Brian Robbins and Austin
eckler Jeremy mcnichol's on the ground, you know, opening up
things and not allowing teams to play this deep cloud
cover two that we've seen all over the NFL that
all the all the analysts are complaining about. And so
getting somebody who's gonna be able to get those tough
(18:59):
yards of the middle and turn those three four yard
runs into eight nine ten yard runs like Brian Robinson
does kind of regularly is certainly a very important part.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Now, Brandon, before we move on to the last question,
here another commander running back who is still a little
who was on the injury port, Austin Ecklery with the
cushion partival.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
He was limited, you know on Wednesday.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Seems like he's like maybe on track to to be
available for Sunday if he is able able to play.
You know, as much as we love the way Jeremy
McNichols played and everything, like, how big is that going
to be for this for this offense to get a
player like that back?
Speaker 4 (19:34):
Well, I mean, either way with Robinson, whether he plays
or not, and I'm not I don't have any information
he's not gonna play.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
I was just.
Speaker 4 (19:38):
Surprised on the injury list, like he's really the lead
running back on the team. I don't think Eckler steps
up and becomes that for this I think he can.
He maintains his role, and it's obvious it's a big
deal if he comes back and plays by the way
that he's played. But I don't think you're turning around
and giving him seventeen to twenty carries like you have
b Robs. So it does change the dynamic of the offense.
(20:00):
Maybe it limits the amount of carries that you give
to Robinson, and I think that would be sounds like
should be trending in that direction anyway at this point.
And I will say this just largely, and I think
really there's a couple of things to the success and
number five is a big part of it, obviously, and
Cliff Kingsbury's play calling is a big part of it.
(20:20):
But the buy in and overall physicality of this team
across the board is it's surprising just because of how
new it all is, and you hear coach speak and
cliches and all these things, and like we're going to
do this and we're going to do that, and everybody's
got their slogans and this team's living up to it.
And just go watch Ben Sinnett or Sam Cosmy or
(20:42):
a big time rejuvenated Andrew Wiley specifically in a run
heavy type offense. Now go watch Brandon Coleman all the
things they were saying about him, like in the summer
that they're like, you're going to see how athletic and
how aggressive he is. You're seeing this like Terry mclaurin's
blocks on the edge. Go watch Daniel's touchdown run and
where he rides his own you know, offensive lineman and
(21:04):
points out where they're almost like he was navigating to
Kentucky Derby. I mean, it's pretty wild. Like what you're saying,
Baddish is he should be in the Pro Bowl for
the way that he's played so far through four games
for them as well, like largely and I know this
is a Commander show, but like go watch them and
you will be it is. It's shocked how efficient they are,
(21:27):
how aggressive they are play to play to play to
play to play. And while you know, I think every
all the gushing over Daniels is completely deserved because what
he's doing is literally unprecedented, but everything that's happening around
him is allowing it to happen at the same time,
and it's really it's it's amazing. And you know, they
got a one to three team that at some points,
(21:48):
you know, and in some groups, doesn't look like that
they're as locked in as this group is. I think
if Washington gets on top of them, this is a
team that could fold. They could fold. And that's what
I'm hoping to kind of see on.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
Sunday, Bram when your point is so good because the
running that the offensive line gets credit for the first
three to five yards of a run, then the secondary
group of blockers, your tight ends, your wide receivers, your fullbacks,
whatever they get kind of the next couple of yards,
and then the running backs are get credit for the
rest of it. And the blocking that we've seen from
(22:21):
the non o line has been so impressive. You mentioned
Ben Sennett, Yeah, the German Jeremy McNichols first touchdown against
the against the Cardinals, you had Terry McLaurin lead blocking.
There the buy in that you see across the board
from these guys, particularly when you compare it to what's
happening in Cleveland. Braham talked about the wide receivers not
looking too interested on running plays getting out there the
mistackles last week. This feels like a team that is
(22:43):
that you know, is prying to be to to crush
their souls early in the game and get out to
a lead and not have to look back.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
You know, if there's one thing I've I've come to
appreciate over the last five weeks or so, it's the
power of the buy in. Because, yeah, you hear a lot,
like you're a coach speak things and you're like, we've
all heard it, you know, like oh yeah, like you
know the cliches that every coach says for whatever is.
But like this, these players really believe in it. And
I think that's just as big of a of a
(23:11):
reason why they're three and one are now as you know,
the way Jaye Daniel is playing with offenses playing like
they really truly believe like the messages that DQ and
his staff have have implemented and that it's just that
I think it just makes it that much more fun.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
But final question, you guys are tied, so there's a
lot of stakes heading into this third question here, and
you know, there are a lot of really big matchups
across the game that's gonna happen on Sunday. We kind
of talked about a couple of them already. Uh, you know,
with the Browns receivers versus the Commanders secondary, but the
Commanders off the line for Miles Garrett and the Browns
(23:47):
deefsive line. I mean, that's probably gonna be I think
one of the more important ones, especially considered Miles Garrett
and then the reputation he has and the pedigree he's
been able to accumulate over his career. Uh So, Bram,
start with you, what will the more important matchup for
the Commanders to win on Sunday? The Commanders off the
line versus Mouth Garrett, and that even the line or
the Browns receivers versus the Commander's secondary.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
Oooh god, I want to pass because this team plays
man more than most teams do, and they will blitz
a lot. And I and assuming, unlike Arizona, who I
think tried to switch things up on Jayden to see
how he would react to it, and they forty two
points later probably regret that, I'm going to assume that,
like Cleveland is going to play to their core, which
(24:33):
is they do bring a lot of heat. They will blitz.
They're top by blitz team. They're kind of like Tampa,
so they'll put their corners on an island. And for
good reason, this is the best set of corners Washington's
face this year, like across the board collectively, So you know,
the blitz pick up is everything here again to give
Jade the time. And then do they have the receivers?
(24:54):
We've asked this a million times. Do they have the
receivers to win one on one? And not? Do they
have the receivers to win one on one just in general?
But do they against one's a pro bowler and the
other one's really really good. So let's see where they are.
To answer your question directly, I am more inclined to
believe because of the physical nature of the play and
how kind of in lockstep they've been with one another,
(25:16):
that there's not gonna be a lot of breakdowns. So
Jaden's gonna have the time to make the play. So
I'm gonna go with the receivers against the corners because
I think that is, to me, is the matchup of
the day, and that is a massive strength of Cleveland,
And I still think it's semi and open question about Washington.
Do they have the level of receivers to beat top
(25:37):
tier corners like this regularly, So that to me would
be probably the way I would lean. But it's close
because Miles Garrett might be the best defensive end in
the NFL. So you know, like it's close, all.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Right, Mitch, I a feeling you might go the direction
I think you're gonna go.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
But what do you got for me?
Speaker 3 (25:53):
I'm actually gonna agree with Brim and I think it's
wide receivers versus dbs there because I've been so impressed
with what you've seen upfront from this Washington offensive line.
Two weeks ago, they played Trey Hendrickson, who was the
second leading sacker in the NFL last year, and held
him to one late sack that was a little bit
of a miscommunication, but for the most part handled them
(26:15):
almost one on one exclusively with Brandon Coleman and Cornelius.
Speaker 1 (26:18):
Lucas out there.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
And yes, we're gonna see the Browns bring a lot
of pressure, which I think is you know, in their DNA.
But the let's pick up from this running back group
so far this season has been so impressive. You think
about that touchdown pass, the Terry and Jeremy Nichols, you know,
body slamming whoever the linebacker was that was blitzing up
the middle. Austin Eckler has been an absolute beast in
the backfield, particularly in pass pro, and I think that's
(26:41):
sort of what's helped him in those kind of quick
screen games is that these teams are now recognizing they
have to put pass rush moves on a running back
to try and get to your QB. And so to me,
I think it's gonna be about making this Browns offense
one dimensional. I want to see them pack the box
and not let the Browns run the ball in them.
Quite frankly, I'm not too scared that Deshaun Watson's going
(27:02):
to beat them over the top. But obviously if you're
throwing the wide open receivers thirty yards downfield, that can
be the case. So I do want to see what
Emmanuel Forbes and and Mikey Sanders still and Benjamin Saint
just can do. Because last week those guys had a
pretty you know, had a pretty good day. Sander's still
got beat for the touchdown early and then they kind
of locked it down on that Cardinals receiving cores and
(27:23):
they didn't get open deep and Marvin Harrison Junior ended
up with you know, very few yards. Obviously, you know
there are two guys here in uh in Cleveland who
can beat them deep, but they haven't done it so
far this season. So I want to see these corners
continue to step up, you know, get a little more
confidence and be able to cover these guys one on one.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
Now, the commons of the corners is going to be
is going to be massive, Yeah, because I think you've
seen the Stevens slowly grow a little increments by increments
over the last two weeks, and they really took a
big step forward against the Cardinals. And you're right, Jim Schwartz,
He's been known for bringing the heat throughout his career
and I think he's probably going to continue to do
that again. But after much, after all hearing all the
(28:02):
pontification that from both these guys, the final decision is
rested upon my shoulders, and I determined that Bram coming
back from down two points, you are now the winner
of this episode of the Beatdown Podcast.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
Do you have any parting words of victory for us.
Speaker 4 (28:19):
Like I said, this thing is rigged, like there's always
sing the whole thing was gonna be rigged. I was
gonna get the comeback the whole time. Sorry, Mitch, its
stacked against you.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
You called it the Beatdown Podcast.
Speaker 3 (28:30):
I'll see both of you guys in the media room
and you better believe I'll be ready for it.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Oh god, well, I think we sitting next to each other, Mitch.
I might just sit on the other end of the
room today. But guys, I really appreciate you guys doing this.
We'll see what happens on Sunday. Should be a really
exciting game. And for everyone listening, please you should to rate, review, subscribe,
and this has been the Beatdown Podcast.
What's going on? What's happened? Everybody? This is the Beatdown Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
I am your host, Senior Wriyah for the Washington Commanders,
Zach Shelby and the vibes out here are immaculate in
ways that really haven't been in about a decade. As
the Commanders thoroughly dismantled the Arizona Cardinals forty two to fourteen,
going to three to one for the first time in
twenty eleven.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
How about that. And after doing three.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Of four road games to start the season, they are
coming back to Northwest Stadium to take on the Cleveland
Browns who are one in three, not necessarily the record
that they would want, but this is still a team
that's a little bit feistier than maybe some would think.
They've got a really strong defense to Shohn Watson is
still maybe not as maybe not now corback he was,
but still has some flashes of it here and there.
(00:53):
So the Commanders have a chance to go four and
one for the first time in two thousand and eight,
which would just be amazing for this French guys, for
this team as they get into the first year of
Dan Clinton's regime, and how do they gonna be able
to do that. Well, that's what we're gonna be talking
about today. And with me we have Mitch Tisler of
Monumental Sports and the Beltwegh Football Pot and Bran Winstein
(01:14):
and the voice of the Commanders and hosts of the
Bran Wonstein Show Boys.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
How we do It Today?
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Immaculate.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Yeah, Mitch, this is a dream come true. I don't
think I've ever done a show with you. I am
very excited about this.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
I am very excited about this too. I can't wait
at the beat you a little bit, all right?
Speaker 2 (01:30):
They all right, awesome, So they mentioned the debate this,
We're gonna be really quick about it because guys, you
know how it goes now. I mean, these guys are
gonna be debating questions, They're gonna they're gonna be given points,
and uh, there is gonna be a winner. Because it's
my podcast. I can decide who wins the who wins
and who loses. But at the same time, you know,
what you should be more focused on is what these
guys takes are rather than who wins and who loses.
(01:53):
Here because he's got some of the best of what
they do. Uh. And without further ado, let's go and
get started here starting with the Browns offense. And as
I mentioned earlier, Deshaun Watson probably not the elite MVP
caliber quarterback that he was with the Houston Texans, but
you do still see flashes of the player that he
once was as he's gone through the first couple of
(02:14):
years in his tenure with the Browns. So, Bram, I
will start with you, because the quarterback is still the
most important position for this defensive stop.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
What's the best approach to.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Limiting him as they come to him to the Commander Stadium.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
So I think this is really interesting because they don't
know whether this is by design, or it's due to injuries,
or they don't trust Watson to make plays down the field.
I mean, I think only they can really answer this.
But the vast majority of their offense is underneath. And
you'll see this in metrics, like he's like thirty first
(02:50):
in the league in pass yards per attempt, but they're
all dump offs to running backs or tight ends underneath.
There's very little plays that are thrown down the field. Obviously,
he can run and he can move, but he's not
apt to scramble all that much. He does to extend
plays you know, he's been held under two hundred yards
passing in every single one of these games. I think,
you know, like this team is concerned about giving up
(03:13):
deep passes for good reason, right, like lack of a
consistent pass rush, which maybe has taken a turn over
the last week, which hopefully happened, and you know overall
cornerback play. Are they concerned with the matchups? And you know,
the Browns do have legitimate, very good and potentially deep
threat wide receivers on this team, but they don't profile it.
(03:35):
So I want to see how Joe and Dan Quinn
play this, Like are they going to be willing to
put more people up closer to the line in this game?
Daring Cleveland to try to do something that they're not
doing right now at the risk of can you cover
Amari Cooper and Jerry Judy down the field because the
Browns aren't doing it. So that's the cat and mouse
for me here. But from what I see from Cleveland,
(03:58):
everything's underneath. So I think Washington on some level needs
to find out if they are willing to take shots
down the field.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Yeah, you know, you bring up a good point, because
the Brands do have some some really solid receivers. I
would say probably one of the better groups that they've
faced so far this year. And Mitch, you know, brand
brought up, you know, bring the secondary close to the
line of screens, playing a little bit of press and
and this seems to be where Washington has gotten beaten
a lot over the last first, you know, first couple
(04:29):
of weeks of the season and honestly most of last year.
So you know, I'll kind of pit it a little
bit and kind of ask you this so about contained
Sean Watson, like, do you feel comfortable enough with the
secondary that they are able to go up against Jerry
Judy and Amari Cooper and some of these other receivers
that they have.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
I mean, I think you look at this Brown's offense
and it has a lot of big names on it.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
You know, we keep talking.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
We've mentioned the receivers, the you know, you know about
the quarterback. But I think it's like a lot of
a lot of teams that we've seen here in Washington
going back however many years, some big names, but not
big production. And I think it starts with what Bram
was talking about, the fact that they are scared to
go down the field Deshaun Watson's top five in the
league and dropbacks and bottom five in the league in
(05:10):
yards in yards per game, and it shows you kind
of what they're trying to do on offense. They're trying
to think and dunk it and run the ball a bunch.
And even though they are trying to run the ball
a bunch, they aren't even that successful at it because
they're bottom half of the league in running the ball,
and it starts up front for them. They have a
couple pretty key injuries. They haven't played a whole lot
(05:32):
this year with Jedrick Willis. Jack Conklin looks like he's
going to be out Wyatt Teller as well as a
All Pro guard for them, and they've gotten Deshaun Watson
hit a lot. He's been hit I think it was
seventeen times in two of the first four games, including
an eight sac performance in Week one. I think you're
gonna have an opportunity to put pressure on him, and
it's gonna be incumbent on the secondary to be able
(05:53):
to cover. We know that Joe Witt likes to play
single high d he likes to play press coverage on
the outside, and there have been you know some receivers
that have beat them with it. But if this d
line and this you know, complimentary pass rush can get
to Deshaun Watson and pours them off his spot, he's
proven that he can't get the ball. He hasn't been
able to get the ball downfield, particularly when he breaks
(06:13):
the pocket, and he's had, you know, amongst the lowest
time in the in the league drop back to past year.
So it's these guys shouldn't have to run around in
the secondary for five ten seconds like we've seen you know,
other years. Other teams have to have to try and do.
And so I do think they're going to be able
to get up there and use Benjamin Saint Jus's size
and Jim Met the line of scrimmage a little bit.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Yeah, I mean, yeah, that is a good point.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
And you know, I think Watson is really at his
most dangerous las in the games that I've seen, you know,
over you know, when I watched it yesterday, is it
seems like he is at his most deadly whenever he's
outside of the pocket, whenever he's able.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
To extend plays.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
And you know, I know that the commanders only allowed
Cali murder for one rush for three yards. But this
is mobile quarterbacks are still I would say it's still
a bit of a challenge for this defense. So so
bram D and as good as they were able to
play against Calmber, do you think that's a little bit
of a formula for how this the Stevens the line
can contain Watson going into week five.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Last week was by far and not close, their best
collective defensive performance, and I mean by a mile, like
by a mile. And I will say this, there were
multiple occasions where they had Murray confused the fact that
he took a sack on the fourth and one on
to tell you everything, you kind of really need to
know about where he was in reading what Washington was
(07:32):
doing to them. So I do hope that there's a carryover.
There was a deficiency on the right side of their line.
Calvin Beacham played, but he was coming off the hamstring.
They didn't really have backups, and Doriance Armstrong had his
best game, you know, as a commander. Off of this.
To Mitch's point, this is a this is a really
great offensive line when they have their players together. They
(07:52):
don't they're missing two or three of their starters. They're
playing a ton of backups I think they're doing. Go
watch Chelsea. You want to go watch something interesting on
the film, Go watch on the outside. Their receivers they
barely release when they're running the ball, like I think
that they just they have kind of come into this
position of they are what they are based on the injuries,
(08:15):
and I think maybe what the coaches think the capabilities
of this offense are so they're to me in lies
a couple of things. One, are they a competent group? Right?
And if they're not, if Washington get on top of them,
maybe you can get a couple of sacks. The most
sacked quarterback in the NFL. I think there's an opportunity
here to limit them. They're having a hard time scoring points.
(08:38):
It's partially by design. They're trying to go small chunks
at a time. So if I'm Washington, you know, I
think I'm loading up the box a little bit here
and I'm daring them to throw the ball a little
bit and see if maybe we can get even bigger
mistakes than what you're getting now, which is they're not
turning the ball over a time, they're just not scoring
(08:59):
and they're not moving the ball in chunks. Can we
get a couple turnovers here, because that seems overdue and
that seems to be kind of heading in that direction.
If that's what's happening here, then I think it gives
your offense a better shot here because this is and
I know we haven't gotten another side of the ball yet,
this is gonna be arguably the best defense they have
faced up to this point in the season. Maybe maybe Tampa's,
(09:21):
but like this, in my opinion, this is, across the board,
probably the best defense they have faced. And therefore I
think they're gonna need a couple more breaks than what
they've gotten in previous weeks.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
And before we get to this side of the ball,
and you're right about that, Mitche, Like, you know, do
you think, as Brams said, that they're going to try
to load the box a little bit and try to
put some more pressure on Watson to make some of
these more difficult decisions.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
I think they need to, but it's not necessarily related
to Watson's quick decision making. It's related to stopping this
run game. If you can make this Browns team one dimensional,
especially if the offense is able to continue scoring points,
and you know that Deshaun's going to be dropping back,
then you're gonna be able to to really get after him.
But the middle of this defensive line has struggled against
(10:04):
the run. In the middle of this defense across the
hole has struggled against the run. And if you allow
this Browns team to get comfortable and start moving the
ball easily on the ground, then things are going to
open up for Deshaun because you're gonna have to start,
you know, packing it in on that side. And so
I expect that we're going to see a more concerted
effort in the middle of that defense. Like Bram said,
last week was the best defensive performance we've seen in
(10:25):
a wild year in Washington, and it was awesome to watch.
But if you there's one criticism we have of it
is that they're able to run the ball for almost
one hundred yards directly up the middle, and a lot
of that was at kind of the end of the
third quarter start of the fourth quarter, where you would
think that teams would be more apt to be throwing
the ball as they're trying to catch up. And so
I think you know Deron and John obviously we know
(10:47):
all there is to know about them. I like last
week that you started seeing some combos of Johnny Newton
and Frederian mathis playing there in the middle, and I
think Fiderian in particular, with his size and his strength,
can help them, especially as the Browns keep trying to
pound the ball twin tackles.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
You know, I'm really interested to see how this this
Commanders defensive line goes up against this Browns group, because, yeah,
if they do have the reputation for running the ball
really well, although they haven't necessarily done that so far
this year, probably because they don't have Nick Chubb and
and they're off of the line speed up, but their
averaging I think it's like ninety four yards per game
on the ground right now. But at the same time,
to your point, like they are still capable of busting
(11:25):
a long especially against a group that is really you know,
I would say struggled with quite a bit to contain
the run, which is I think it's a little bit surprising.
But either way, we're gonna go on to the next question.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
But before we do that score update, it was todd
three to three. We miss.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
I really liked the point about about the stack of
the box to south of run game, So you are
up four to three as as we get into question
two here, but it's yeah, you know, the fellow, the
fellow off the line. We got to stick together at
some point. But going into the off inside of the ball,
you know, Braymy mentioned that this is the biggest test
(12:02):
for the for for Washington offense that that they've faced
all year.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
I would also argue that this is.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Cleveland's defense, that the biggest test for the Cleveland defense
that they've faced all year two because this, this Washington
offense has been historically great over the special blast three
weeks or so, they're leading the league in third down
success rate and I forget what the exact percentage is,
but it's over I'd say it's about two thirds their
their third Act of conversion percentage. But at the same time, this,
(12:29):
this Cleveland defense is seventh right now, So Mitchell start
off with you, like, what do you think Washington do
to continue that third down success against the Cleveland defense?
Who is you know, has been has a reputation being
very solid and has some of the numbers to back
it up as well.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Yeah, I mean, you hate to be too generic here,
but Jade Daniels has done such a good job of
keeping them a third and short or third and manageable,
and they've shown different ways of being multiple in those
short third downs. And I think that kind of the
combination of Jaden the so uh so accurate and so
quick getting rid of the ball and Cliff Kingsberry kind
of having a little bit of fun on that on
(13:06):
that offense. I mean, I think we've seen a couple
of kind of different types of plays from from Cliff
in this offense. A double pass to uh in Week
one against the Bucks, and then obviously the touchdown pass
against the Trent Scott against the Bengals were you know,
two that kind of stick out. But I think their
their ability to kind of keep the keep the defense
off there on their heels goes a long way. That's
(13:28):
the end of the game against the Cardinals where they
had Elamind's the Keys kind of motioned into the backfield
and then motioned back to kind of where he came
from and caught a quick little screen and took it
for you know, eight yards and a first down. I
just think their ability to to kind of keep the
defense on their heels with a lot of different looks,
particularly I'm third and down is going to be something
that helps them a lot.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
No, I really do like how creative Cliff Kingsberry has
been with this offense. You're right, he does look like
he's having a lot of fun out there, just kind
of like some of the players that he's had are.
You know, they're so creative and so innovative in ways
that really highlights what these players do best.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Uh, brand I'll turn over to.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
You because I know, I know you really love Brian Robinson,
but like, what role did Brian Robinson is he going
to have? Do you think on Sunday kind of convert
converting these third downs.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
I was surprised to see his name on the injury list,
so like, let's just start with like assuming he's available, right,
Like that was a surprise, like seeing that on Wednesday.
So I'll kind of reiterate with what Mitch just said.
I really think one of the most impressive things this
team is doing here is how they're starting their drives.
They're getting Jayden in company in second and six or
(14:34):
shorter situations, and they're going to live good in that way.
Because of Jayden's ability to run, I think it keeps
a defense off balance and he opens up the playbook
immensely for them to play out of that. The one
time they punted last week, which is the one time
they punted in three weeks, was the one time that
on first down they were stunted for nothing and ended
up in a second and ten. And then oddly, I
(14:56):
thought they made an incredible call on this play. No
one's remember this one because one of the million scoring
drives that they had, they did a delayed draw to
Brian Robinson, which I haven't even seen them do, right,
I haven't really seen them do, And it just happened
that Arizona ran a double twist stunt with their two
defensive tackles, and I'm not even sure that they made
(15:18):
the right call. They just happened to have the right
thing on for this play at that moment, and he
ends up sliding away from one three hundred and fifty
pounds dude and running into another one. But it was,
honestly like it was the right play call at the
right time, which I think his timing has been on.
Doesn't mean they all work, but like he's just had
(15:38):
a feel for this. He's gotten them into very comfortable positions.
I think it's helped the comfort level of Daniels. This
is a team that blitzes among the top five in
the league. They will play a ton of man because
this is the best set of corners that Washington's going
to face up to this point in the season. Are
very comfortable blitzing and hopefully getting an advantage matchup with
(15:58):
Miles Garrett. So this is one where third and long
is death for you. I think you're going to see
a very different outcome this weekend if it's third and
eight or longer, over and over and over because of
the personnel that they're facing this weekend. So if they
can keep this model of whether it's be rob or
not be rob of getting into these second just four
yards on first down, second and six or shorter, this
(16:20):
is where they eat. And I think that that's where
they can continue. Maybe not to the degree that they
have over the last few weeks because it's historic and unprecedented,
but like, could they still be extremely effective possessing the ball,
scoring points and having a lead on a team like this.
For everything we talked about earlier about the Browns offense,
seems like the right path to a win this weekend.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Yeah, you know, Brian Robinson being on the Ajor report
was surprising to me as well, because we had just
got done hearing from Dan Quinn about how reliably is
how tough he is, and how he really doesn't really
ever need that much time to recover and get back
and back healthy. Mitch, like, I mean saying, saying Brian
Robinson maybe not wouldn't play is kind of a big
(17:06):
deal for this offense because he's by far one of
the most consistent weapons. I mean, he has the most
scrimmage jars for them. I think he's I think behind
Jane Danis's park downs produced. So you know, say, god forbid,
he's avail, he's not, he's not too badly hurt and everything.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
He is available.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
But like, what if you know Brian Robinson is ruled
out on Friday, Like, do you think this is gonna
have the dramatic effect on the offense and how do
you think they recover from that?
Speaker 3 (17:34):
I do think it would have a pretty dramatic effect
because it was one thing when Austin Eckler went out,
Because Jeremy McNichols is a similar type player in terms
of you know, catching the ball to the backfield and
being able to help him pass. Bro they don't really
have a second Brian Robinson. I guess Chris Rodriguez would
probably get called up and get a fair amount of
a fair amount of carries there. But I do think
(17:56):
that he's a very important part of this team. I
think you also have to remember that, you know, this
is week four. There by week is in what another
ten weeks from now, You're gonna start seeing some veteran
days here as we go through, and generally when those
guys sit out of practice, they don't get the designation
of vetter in days. It's a you know, an ankle
injury and the injury it did not practice for one
(18:16):
of those reasons. But regardless, I think the commanders often
should have a lot of success, particularly in the running game,
but kind of across the board. Last week against the
ram against the Raiders, the Browns defense had twenty miss tackles.
It was a most in a single game in the
NFL this year. The Raiders came in averaging fifty yards
on the ground. They ran for a buck fifty five
or something like that.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
Last week.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
I mean, there's a lot of opportunity to run the
ball here. And as impressive as Jayden Daniels has been
in the past game it's been Brian Robbins and Austin
eckler Jeremy mcnichol's on the ground, you know, opening up
things and not allowing teams to play this deep cloud
cover two that we've seen all over the NFL that
all the all the analysts are complaining about. And so
getting somebody who's gonna be able to get those tough
(18:59):
yards of the middle and turn those three four yard
runs into eight nine ten yard runs like Brian Robinson
does kind of regularly is certainly a very important part.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Now, Brandon, before we move on to the last question,
here another commander running back who is still a little
who was on the injury port, Austin Ecklery with the
cushion partival.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
He was limited, you know on Wednesday.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Seems like he's like maybe on track to to be
available for Sunday if he is able able to play.
You know, as much as we love the way Jeremy
McNichols played and everything, like, how big is that going
to be for this for this offense to get a
player like that back?
Speaker 4 (19:34):
Well, I mean, either way with Robinson, whether he plays
or not, and I'm not I don't have any information
he's not gonna play.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
I was just.
Speaker 4 (19:38):
Surprised on the injury list, like he's really the lead
running back on the team. I don't think Eckler steps
up and becomes that for this I think he can.
He maintains his role, and it's obvious it's a big
deal if he comes back and plays by the way
that he's played. But I don't think you're turning around
and giving him seventeen to twenty carries like you have
b Robs. So it does change the dynamic of the offense.
(20:00):
Maybe it limits the amount of carries that you give
to Robinson, and I think that would be sounds like
should be trending in that direction anyway at this point.
And I will say this just largely, and I think
really there's a couple of things to the success and
number five is a big part of it, obviously, and
Cliff Kingsbury's play calling is a big part of it.
(20:20):
But the buy in and overall physicality of this team
across the board is it's surprising just because of how
new it all is, and you hear coach speak and
cliches and all these things, and like we're going to
do this and we're going to do that, and everybody's
got their slogans and this team's living up to it.
And just go watch Ben Sinnett or Sam Cosmy or
(20:42):
a big time rejuvenated Andrew Wiley specifically in a run
heavy type offense. Now go watch Brandon Coleman all the
things they were saying about him, like in the summer
that they're like, you're going to see how athletic and
how aggressive he is. You're seeing this like Terry mclaurin's
blocks on the edge. Go watch Daniel's touchdown run and
where he rides his own you know, offensive lineman and
(21:04):
points out where they're almost like he was navigating to
Kentucky Derby. I mean, it's pretty wild. Like what you're saying,
Baddish is he should be in the Pro Bowl for
the way that he's played so far through four games
for them as well, like largely and I know this
is a Commander show, but like go watch them and
you will be it is. It's shocked how efficient they are,
(21:27):
how aggressive they are play to play to play to
play to play. And while you know, I think every
all the gushing over Daniels is completely deserved because what
he's doing is literally unprecedented, but everything that's happening around
him is allowing it to happen at the same time,
and it's really it's it's amazing. And you know, they
got a one to three team that at some points,
(21:48):
you know, and in some groups, doesn't look like that
they're as locked in as this group is. I think
if Washington gets on top of them, this is a
team that could fold. They could fold. And that's what
I'm hoping to kind of see on.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
Sunday, Bram when your point is so good because the
running that the offensive line gets credit for the first
three to five yards of a run, then the secondary
group of blockers, your tight ends, your wide receivers, your fullbacks,
whatever they get kind of the next couple of yards,
and then the running backs are get credit for the
rest of it. And the blocking that we've seen from
(22:21):
the non o line has been so impressive. You mentioned
Ben Sennett, Yeah, the German Jeremy McNichols first touchdown against
the against the Cardinals, you had Terry McLaurin lead blocking.
There the buy in that you see across the board
from these guys, particularly when you compare it to what's
happening in Cleveland. Braham talked about the wide receivers not
looking too interested on running plays getting out there the
mistackles last week. This feels like a team that is
(22:43):
that you know, is prying to be to to crush
their souls early in the game and get out to
a lead and not have to look back.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
You know, if there's one thing I've I've come to
appreciate over the last five weeks or so, it's the
power of the buy in. Because, yeah, you hear a lot,
like you're a coach speak things and you're like, we've
all heard it, you know, like oh yeah, like you
know the cliches that every coach says for whatever is.
But like this, these players really believe in it. And
I think that's just as big of a of a
(23:11):
reason why they're three and one are now as you know,
the way Jaye Daniel is playing with offenses playing like
they really truly believe like the messages that DQ and
his staff have have implemented and that it's just that
I think it just makes it that much more fun.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
But final question, you guys are tied, so there's a
lot of stakes heading into this third question here, and
you know, there are a lot of really big matchups
across the game that's gonna happen on Sunday. We kind
of talked about a couple of them already. Uh, you know,
with the Browns receivers versus the Commanders secondary, but the
Commanders off the line for Miles Garrett and the Browns
(23:47):
deefsive line. I mean, that's probably gonna be I think
one of the more important ones, especially considered Miles Garrett
and then the reputation he has and the pedigree he's
been able to accumulate over his career. Uh So, Bram,
start with you, what will the more important matchup for
the Commanders to win on Sunday? The Commanders off the
line versus Mouth Garrett, and that even the line or
the Browns receivers versus the Commander's secondary.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
Oooh god, I want to pass because this team plays
man more than most teams do, and they will blitz
a lot. And I and assuming, unlike Arizona, who I
think tried to switch things up on Jayden to see
how he would react to it, and they forty two
points later probably regret that, I'm going to assume that,
like Cleveland is going to play to their core, which
(24:33):
is they do bring a lot of heat. They will blitz.
They're top by blitz team. They're kind of like Tampa,
so they'll put their corners on an island. And for
good reason, this is the best set of corners Washington's
face this year, like across the board collectively, So you know,
the blitz pick up is everything here again to give
Jade the time. And then do they have the receivers?
(24:54):
We've asked this a million times. Do they have the
receivers to win one on one? And not? Do they
have the receivers to win one on one just in general?
But do they against one's a pro bowler and the
other one's really really good. So let's see where they are.
To answer your question directly, I am more inclined to
believe because of the physical nature of the play and
how kind of in lockstep they've been with one another,
(25:16):
that there's not gonna be a lot of breakdowns. So
Jaden's gonna have the time to make the play. So
I'm gonna go with the receivers against the corners because
I think that is, to me, is the matchup of
the day, and that is a massive strength of Cleveland,
And I still think it's semi and open question about Washington.
Do they have the level of receivers to beat top
(25:37):
tier corners like this regularly, So that to me would
be probably the way I would lean. But it's close
because Miles Garrett might be the best defensive end in
the NFL. So you know, like it's close, all.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Right, Mitch, I a feeling you might go the direction
I think you're gonna go.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
But what do you got for me?
Speaker 3 (25:53):
I'm actually gonna agree with Brim and I think it's
wide receivers versus dbs there because I've been so impressed
with what you've seen upfront from this Washington offensive line.
Two weeks ago, they played Trey Hendrickson, who was the
second leading sacker in the NFL last year, and held
him to one late sack that was a little bit
of a miscommunication, but for the most part handled them
(26:15):
almost one on one exclusively with Brandon Coleman and Cornelius.
Speaker 1 (26:18):
Lucas out there.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
And yes, we're gonna see the Browns bring a lot
of pressure, which I think is you know, in their DNA.
But the let's pick up from this running back group
so far this season has been so impressive. You think
about that touchdown pass, the Terry and Jeremy Nichols, you know,
body slamming whoever the linebacker was that was blitzing up
the middle. Austin Eckler has been an absolute beast in
the backfield, particularly in pass pro, and I think that's
(26:41):
sort of what's helped him in those kind of quick
screen games is that these teams are now recognizing they
have to put pass rush moves on a running back
to try and get to your QB. And so to me,
I think it's gonna be about making this Browns offense
one dimensional. I want to see them pack the box
and not let the Browns run the ball in them.
Quite frankly, I'm not too scared that Deshaun Watson's going
(27:02):
to beat them over the top. But obviously if you're
throwing the wide open receivers thirty yards downfield, that can
be the case. So I do want to see what
Emmanuel Forbes and and Mikey Sanders still and Benjamin Saint
just can do. Because last week those guys had a
pretty you know, had a pretty good day. Sander's still
got beat for the touchdown early and then they kind
of locked it down on that Cardinals receiving cores and
(27:23):
they didn't get open deep and Marvin Harrison Junior ended
up with you know, very few yards. Obviously, you know
there are two guys here in uh in Cleveland who
can beat them deep, but they haven't done it so
far this season. So I want to see these corners
continue to step up, you know, get a little more
confidence and be able to cover these guys one on one.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
Now, the commons of the corners is going to be
is going to be massive, Yeah, because I think you've
seen the Stevens slowly grow a little increments by increments
over the last two weeks, and they really took a
big step forward against the Cardinals. And you're right, Jim Schwartz,
He's been known for bringing the heat throughout his career
and I think he's probably going to continue to do
that again. But after much, after all hearing all the
(28:02):
pontification that from both these guys, the final decision is
rested upon my shoulders, and I determined that Bram coming
back from down two points, you are now the winner
of this episode of the Beatdown Podcast.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
Do you have any parting words of victory for us.
Speaker 4 (28:19):
Like I said, this thing is rigged, like there's always
sing the whole thing was gonna be rigged. I was
gonna get the comeback the whole time. Sorry, Mitch, its
stacked against you.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
You called it the Beatdown Podcast.
Speaker 3 (28:30):
I'll see both of you guys in the media room
and you better believe I'll be ready for it.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Oh god, well, I think we sitting next to each other, Mitch.
I might just sit on the other end of the
room today. But guys, I really appreciate you guys doing this.
We'll see what happens on Sunday. Should be a really
exciting game. And for everyone listening, please you should to rate, review, subscribe,
and this has been the Beatdown Podcast.
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