Quote:
Originally Posted by TEX
(Post 15468586)
True, but Cleveland can throw it also, and that's the key. IF they can combine their solid run game with an efficient passing one, and HIT their downfield shots (Like the Raiders did at Arrowhead) they will be a problem.
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True.
However,
Baker can throw efficiently if they can operate through PA. Take that away, and Baker's numbers aren't nearly as good. Part of the reason that they were able to to do what they did last night was PIT could never take away that option.
CLE has a decent receiving corps, but they're not great. Landry is their best receiver, and then it's Higgins, who isn't fast, doesn't run good routes, has trouble getting separation, and has okay hands. Then it's Hooper, who's a nice TE, but he's not a whole lot better than NFL average. After that, it's probably Kareem. Who, in some ways, is the most dangerous receiver they have, because of his incredible ability to RAC.
But that's it.
Also, this is Stenfaski's offense, which we've already faced before. But Baker is still really getting comfortable in it, and there's no chance it's completely installed. In reality, Baker and the offense just began getting comfortable in it around week 11 or 12. And you could see that last night in the middle part of the game when they had several drives stall and they had to punt.
The fact is that CLE wasn't anymore efficient than they've been, even allowing for their recent success, which is about 50%. They scored on 6 drives out of 12. And two of those drives were facilitated by short fields gifted to them by PIT.
Spags will take away Chubb, Hunt, and Landry, like how he took away Cook and Diggs last season when we played MIN. They'll make some plays, but Spags will plan to keep them contained, and force Baker to try and win using Higgins and Hooper.
Let's talk about the Cleveland Browns (Divisional Round)
(https://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=336223)