Coach ,

I hope your weekend is going well. Last year during the season we began featuring match-ups between college coaches who have appeared as presenters in our clinics. 

Now with over 20 teams and NFL 50 coaches represented, we will be featuring an NFL match-up of the week that shares coaching points from those coaches which may be a factor in the game.

Our own Alec Burris will be sharing insight from the actual coaches themselves competing. Today he takes a look at the Cleveland Browns vs. the Carolina Panthers. Enjoy

Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season is finally here and the Cleveland Browns vs. Carolina Panthers is an intriguing matchup to keep an eye on. 

We will see Baker Mayfield take on his former team and will get the first look on how he produces in Matt Rhule's offense. 

The Browns come into Carolina with one of the best offensive lines in the league and a two-headed monster at the running back position. 

Which team will have the edge in this matchup?

Let’s take a look at Carolina first.

Carolina Panthers

Matt Rhule is entering his third season as Carolina’s head coach. In 2021 he had the Panthers start 3-0 before injuries decimated the team's chances at a playoff berth. This year he is able to start fresh with the return of Christian McCaffrey at running back and Baker Mayfield as the team's starting quarterback. 

Since his time at Baylor, Coach Rhule has preached winning in the red zone. In the clip below, he explains the goals he sets for his team each season in the red zone and the different statistics he uses to implement this into his team (click image for video).

Video: Winning in the Red Zone

Coach Rhule’s goal for the team is to convert 70% of the time in the red zone and not have to kick field goals until the 4th quarter. The plan starts with running the ball in, but with a quarterback like Baker Mayfield, his chances of scoring improve drastically over last season being paired with a healthy McCaffrey. 

When Coach Rhule has his team in the high red zone, the Panthers main focus is keeping their points in hand. Waiting until the 4th quarter to kick field goals is a tall task, so they are willing to take the three points when the ball doesn’t cross the line.  

This starts with limiting sacks and penalties. Baker has to realize when he drops back that his options are either a touchdown or a checkdown. This includes using RPO’s, and taking the run play over the sack so the Panthers can keep their position in the high red zone. Coach Rhule talks about this in the video below.

Video: High Red

The Panthers best chances of winning against Cleveland revolves around converting these red zone opportunities. Coach Rhule has the talent back on his offense to put up points, but it starts with limiting their mistakes and preventing the loss of yards in crucial situations when the team has points in hand. If they are not able to stop Myles Garrett off the edge, they will be in for a long day.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns opportunities to win against Carolina revolve around their offensive line play and running game. They are coming into the 2022 season with one of the best offensive lines in the NFL and a pro bowl level running back committee with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Offensive line coaches Bill Callahan and Scott Peters will have to rely heavily on these two, as their starting quarterback is out until week 11. 

In 2021, the Browns had the fewest head impacts of any offensive line unit in the NFL. They pride themselves on using hands in both phases of blocking to mitigate head injuries and optimize player performance. Technique is a key factor in the success of the Browns offensive line play. 

In the clip below we will see Coach Callahan talk about technique in the Browns offense and how they use it in their half man wide zone combo (click image for video).

Video: Half Man Wide Zone Combo pt. 1

The coaching points the Browns emphasize to their o-line in wide zone combos include: 

• Assess Location, Depth, and Demeanor of the Linebackers
• Win First Touch
• Play Long with Fast Hands and Arms
• Beat the Buckboard
• Precision Striking
• Square Shoulder strike disruption
• Explosive Movement off the Ball
• Perfect Angle to second-level LB
• Positional Leverage on Overtakes

The Browns need their offensive line to show off these techniques on Sunday against Carolina. Controlling the clock with their stellar run game will limit the chances of Carolina’s playmakers, and it all starts with the offensive line play. 

Week 1 often determines the trajectory of a season in the NFL. This matchup between Matt Rhule’s offense led by a Baker Mayfield seeking revenge against his former team will come head to head with Bill Callahan and Scott Peters league-leading offensive line.

Enjoy the game and keep learning!

Alec Burris

The Community of Coaches Helping Coaches