A week after facing LB Micah Parsons and the dominant Cowboys pass rush, the Browns offense will match up against another stifling defensive front when they take on the Jaguars in Week 2.
Jacksonville traveled to Miami last week, where they fell 20-17 game to the Dolphins after losing a 17-7 halftime lead.
The Jaguars held a Miami offense that averaged 27.9 points per game in 2023 – the third-most in the NFL – to just 20 points, but allowed several big plays including an 80-yard touchdown pass to WR Tyreek Hill.
"The big thing is obviously they do a great job of a combination of scheme and talent," Browns offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey said. "I think they do a good job of knowing what they got and putting their guys in position to make plays. They're physical both up front and in the secondary. They've got speed over the field. They've got pass rushers and linebackers that could go sideline to sideline and then a physical group of corners with some very instinctual safeties that have range."
Led by DE Travon Walker, who had two sacks, the Jaguars got to QB Tua Tagovailoa three times, with DE Arik Armstead recording the team's other sack. DE Josh Hines-Allen, who had 17.5 sacks last season and tied for second-most in the NFL, did not have a sack but mentioned Wednesday that he is eager to catch up to his teammates who are already on the board for the 2024 season.
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 12, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 12, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 12, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 12, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 12, 2024.
Linebacker Luji Vilain (98) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 12, 2024.
Defensive tackle Siaki Ika (62) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (31) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Director of Strength and Conditioning Larry Jackson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 12, 2024.
Tight end Cameron Latu (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (31) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 12, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) and Assistant Special Teams Coach Stephen Bravo-Brown during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach Chad O'Shea during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Tight end Cameron Latu (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Offensive Line Coach Andy Dickerson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Linebacker Luji Vilain (98) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (31) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Kadarius Toney (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Bubba Ventrone during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (31) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 12, 2024.
Assistant Special Teams Coach Stephen Bravo-Brown, during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 12, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Tight end Geoff Swaim (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (31) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 13, 2024.
Walker, Armstead and Hines-Allen are part of a defensive line that could be among the most dominant in the NFL this season, earning the attention of Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski.
"I would tell you they're outstanding," Stefanski said of the Jaguars defensive front. "We played [Walker and Hines-Allen] last time, but to add length in [Armstead] to this group, I mean, it's a really talented group. We'll have our work cut out for ourselves."
The Browns were successful against the Jaguars pass rush when the two teams faced off in Week 14 last season, as the Jaguars recorded just one sack and 12 quarterback pressures, per Next Gen Stats.
However, G Joel Bitonio and the Browns offense are fully aware of the challenges the Jacksonville front will present on Sunday.
"We played them last year with a couple of those guys, and we know they're aggressive," Bitonio said. "They have power rushers on the edge. Inside they have big guys that are going to push the pocket and work the edge late. So, it's a talented group."
Bitonio noted that Miami's efforts to get the ball out quickly were effective in avoiding pressure. Tagovailoa took an average of 2.52 seconds before making a pass, the shortest among of time in the league on Sunday, per Next Gen Stats. Due to the Dolphins' ability to release the ball on time, the Jaguars recorded just seven pressures on Sunday – the fourth fewest in the league in Week 1.
Avoiding pressure will be key for a Browns offense that struggled to do so last week. The 25 pressures the Browns faced on Sunday were the most in the NFL in Week 1 and QB Deshaun Watson struggled when pressured, completing just 5 of 17 passes for 22 yards.
According to data analysis from Next Gen Stats, the likelihood of a pass being completed decreases as the duration of time increases from snap to throw, with a significant decline in completion probability after three seconds. On Sunday, Watson's average time to throw when pressured was 3.82 seconds.
Dorsey emphasized the importance of all 11 players on the field working to avoid pressures and situations in which the quarterback could be hit or sacked.
"Everybody's got to be locked in, focused on what we're doing, own the gameplan and make sure that we're doing the right things," Dorsey said. "Not only from a schematical standpoint, but a technique standpoint and from top to bottom."
A key to opening up the Browns passing attack will be their efforts on the ground. Against the Cowboys, the Browns ran 14 run plays featuring running backs Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr., tallying just 54 yards total. The Browns ran the ball on just 27.1 percent of plays, the lowest rate in the league in Week 1.
Bitonio attributed the Browns' struggles on the ground to the circumstances the offense found itself in as penalties forced them to play behind schedule.
"It's hard to be like, 'hey, let's run the ball' when it's second-and-15 or first-and-15," Bitonio said. "I think we had a first down on the first drive maybe, or we almost did and then we got a penalty, and then we just never got a first down so you couldn't get into a rhythm on the offense. I think it was more circumstantial for the game than what we're going to see for the year."
Yet, the Browns will also face a strong run defense. The Jaguars defense held a Miami team that averaged 5.1 yards per carry last season – the best mark in the league in 2023 – to just 3.2 yards per carry in Week 1.
"They have good players on all levels, their linebackers make a lot of tackles for them, their safeties help in the run game, so it's a challenge," Bitonio said.
