Jaylen Warren turned a third-and-13 handoff into a 51-yard gain against the Browns on Sunday. Pittsburgh's 117 first-quarter rushing yards accounted for 58.5% of its total, and its run game produced three touchdowns and 14 rushing first downs.
After the game, Todd Monken identified Warren's run as a trap, a concept Cleveland expected to face. "they hit us on some schemed-up runs that we know we're going to get from teams," he said.
Cleveland allowed a season-high 200 rushing yards, adding to its problems on the field.
The runs Cleveland expected
Defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg had praised Warren and Rico Dowdle Thursday. He singled out how hard both backs ran and their ability to make defenders miss, while crediting Pittsburgh's offensive line and the coaching behind its run game.
Monken's postgame answers included moving the defensive front, bringing pressure off the edge and defeating blocks as counters to the runs Cleveland was allowing.
Warren's long gain helped set up Pittsburgh's ensuing field goal.
The early trouble reached a season high
Cleveland allowed a season-high 160 first-half rushing yards in the 27-6 loss in Pittsburgh.
Sunday's early defensive trouble followed pregame questions about slow starts for both coaches. Monken had acknowledged the problem the previous Monday, citing opponents' opening scripts and in-game adjustments. He conceded that Cleveland had responded poorly at the beginning of games.
Cleveland's preparation failed at the line of scrimmage, against a run concept its coach said it expected and in a situation that favored the defense.
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