Browns’ hype irks players
Ravens grew tired of trendy AFC North champion pick
The Browns were the talk of the NFL during the offseason after a number of high-profile acquisitions, most notably trading for star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Cleveland also signed former Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt, defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson and brought in former Giant Olivier Vernon, adding key pieces to an already young, ascending roster.
Pundits applauded the new-look Browns, who on paper appeared to be the most talented team in the AFC North. Many went as far as to crown Cleveland the team to beat in the division.
Lost in the shuffle of Browns mania were the Ravens, the reigning AFC North champions.
“We have a lot of free time and the media,” safety Earl Thomas III said. “They were talking about OBJ and that tandem [with former LSU teammate and Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry] and Baker Mayfield, the next savior, he had a hot start. And to add on to that, coach [John Harbaugh] talked about it a couple times in meetings, so guys kind of got tired of it.”
The Browns have struggled to start the season, sitting second in the division with a 1-2 record. A win against the Ravens would put them in a tie for first place, with the tiebreaker giving them the edge.
“That’s just kind of the narrative the media created,” running back Mark Ingram II said. “You have to play football at the end of the day. You can have as many players as you want to on paper, but if the guys don’t mesh and they don’t communicate well, they don’t play well together, it really doesn’t mean anything.
“We’re going to have to see them twice. That’s why you line up and kick it off. That’s why you line up and play football, to settle the score.”
Thomas adjusting to defense
Coverage issues continued Sunday against the Chiefs, as the defense allowed an 83-yard touchdown reception to wide receiver Mecole Hardman, who ran past the secondary and went unaccounted for.
Thomas reiterated a common talking point for the secondary, saying they need to improve their communication.
“We just got to be on the same page,” Thomas said. “We can’t be thinking different things versus concepts that we need to stop. The communication wasn’t there and that’s what we need to continue to work on.”
Thomas, who spent nine seasons with the Seahawks before signing with the Ravens in the offseason, also admitted that he is still getting acclimated to the new defensive scheme.
The Seahawks primarily run a Cover-3 zone defense, where Thomas’ role in that scheme was to cover a deep third portion of the field and use his range to prevent big plays.
The Ravens utilize a more complex defense, which asks more of their safeties, forcing Thomas to line up all over the field and take on different roles.
“I feel like I’ve played pretty solid,” Thomas said. “The split safety stuff, I’m still getting used to that. Being in zero [coverage] in crucial situations, I’m still getting used to that. But with practice, I think I’ll get the hang of it.”
Ingram has made an instant impact for the Ravens through three games. The two-time Pro Bowler is off to the best three-game start of his career, rushing for 257 yards and five touchdowns.
“We’re just running well, playing well,” Ingram said. “Offensive line is blocking great, receivers downfield blocking great. [Fullback-defensive lineman Patrick Ricard], all the tight ends, they’re doing a great job. We’re scheming up a lot of different runs. I’ve been able to run, [they
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