Buffalo Bills vs Cleveland Browns: Getting to know the enemy

As the Buffalo Bills prepare to take on the Cleveland Browns, it can’t hurt to have some knowledge of the opposition

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Buffalo Bills fans will be mainly focused on their own team, when they face off against the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night. And rightly so, especially with the uncertainty at quarterback, and the current concern over all the injuries at running back.

However, it’s always good to have at least some idea of what you’re going to be up against. As such, we asked Dawg Pound Daily editor Thomas Moore a few questions about the Browns:

1) At one point last season, the Browns were 7-4 and very much in the playoff race. What is the main obstacle to returning to the postseason?

The biggest obstacles are that they play in the AFC North – the NFL’s Group of Death – a division that sent three teams to the playoffs last season. Since returning to the NFL in 1999, the Browns are 27-69 against Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Cincinnati, and have never won more than three games in a single season against those teams.

People will want to point to the quarterback position as holding the Browns back, and there is some truth to that. However, until the Browns start winning games in the division the playoffs are nothing more than a summer dream.

2) Mike Pettine came in to help secure the Browns first season without double-digit losses, since 2007. What does the former Bills defensive coordinator bring to the team?

Nov 30, 2014; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine (R) talks to outside linebacker Eric Martin (52) during the first half against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

A no BS attitude and an open attitude with the players. Pettine and the coaching staff have made it clear to the team that if you work hard in practice and do everything it takes to be a pro, you will have an opportunity to contribute on Sundays – no matter what round you were drafted in.

It may not sound like a big deal, but Pettine is the first Browns coach since the team returned, that has brought that attitude to town and the competition that drives the players during the week will start paying off on Sundays.

3) With the exception of the Browns first round selections, which 2015 draft pick or picks are you most intrigued by and why?

Linebacker Nate Orchard and running back Duke Johnson.

Orchard is an interesting player after leading the nation in sacks last year at Utah. He doesn’t really have any idea about how to stop the run, but if he can get after the quarterback the way he did in college, he should be a big addition to the defense.

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Johnson somehow finished up his college career at the leading rusher at the University of Miami (take a look at some of the names he is ahead of on the list) and brings a different dimension to the offense — especially in the passing game.

Last season, the Browns were last in the NFL with only 29 receptions by their running backs and Johnson, who may be the most dynamic backfield threat the Browns have had since Eric Metcalf, should help change that total. Of course, he needs to get on the field first.

4) What area of the team gives you most optimism for the upcoming season?

The defensive secondary, which has the potential to be one of the best in the league.

Among the starters are three returning Pro Bowlers in Joe Haden, (former Bills first round draft pick) Donte Whitner and Tashaun Gipson, along with talented veteran Tramon Williams. Add in nickleback K’Waun Williams and backup corner Pierre Desir, and the secondary is going to be something else. (Let’s not get started on Justin Gilbert just right now.)

Of course, it may not matter if the Browns can’t stop the run, but that is a topic for another day.

5) And finally, purely ripping off the question you asked us, what can we expect from the Browns in Thursday’s game against the Bills?

Hopefully an improvement in running the ball and stopping the run.

In the preseason opener against Washington, the Browns only ran for 45 yards and an average of 2.4 yards per carry. When your backup quarterback is your leading rusher for the game, you have problems.

Defensively, the Browns allowed the Redskins to run for 153 yards — a dozen more than the Browns allowed last year when they were last in the NFL against the run — and the first-team defense gave up 5.5 yards per carry.

Outside of that, while Pettine hasn’t announced his plans yet, we would imagine this would be a typical second preseason game. The starters will play into the second quarter (maybe a little more, maybe a little less for quarterback Josh McCown, depending on how the offensive series go) before the backups take over.

Next: Don't count out EJ Manuel just yet

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