Stefanski: Browns ‘will find ways to make sure we pressure the passer’ vs. Steelers

The last time the Pittsburgh Steelers played the Cleveland Browns, Steelers QB Russell Wilson was sacked four times. Browns DE Myles Garrett had three of those sacks. This was one of the reasons why the Steelers struggled offensively for long stretches.

However, Garrett and Co. failed to record any sacks during the Browns’ 41-32 loss to the Denver Broncos on Monday night. There was a big difference between the two games. And the Browns don’t want to repeat that performance this Sunday in Pittsburgh.

“Obviously we want to rush the passer and put pressure on him,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said during his Tuesday press conference via video from the Browns’ YouTube channel. “(The Broncos) had a good protection plan throughout the game. Got the ball out, chipped all night long. So we know that this is the plan against us. We’re going to find ways to make sure we put pressure on the passer.”

The Steelers certainly didn’t seem to have much of an answer for Garrett and his fellow pass rushers a few weeks ago. Even LT Dan Moore Jr. admits the Steelers’ plan just didn’t work.

And that simply cannot happen again on Sunday. The snowy weather two games ago was certainly a factor in neither offense producing much in the passing game. But there’s no denying that the Steelers’ offense, and Wilson in particular, had a bad night because Garrett ruined everything.

Two of Garrett’s three sacks came while facing Moore. But offensive coordinator Arthur Smith doesn’t blame Moore in any way. He says the offense needs to help Moore and has failed to do so. Garrett has 10 sacks this season. He is a proven game-wrecker at the defensive end position.

And the Steelers let him get three of those sacks in one game. This goes back to the pass protection plan. But it’s not just about the plan, it’s also about implementing the plan. The Broncos planned and executed well, which meant that Broncos QB Bo Nix wasn’t sacked at all.

It will be a tall order for the Steelers to repeat that against the Browns. After all, Monday night was the first game all season in which the Browns didn’t record a single sack. They have recorded at least three sacks in all three of their wins this season (they are 3-4 with at least three sacks).

If the Steelers want to avoid a second big disappointment against the Browns, they need to have a good protection plan and implement it. Otherwise, Russell Wilson will see a lot more of Myles Garrett than he would like.