The Denver Post

Garrett, Mayfield create challenges for opponents

- By Ryan O’Halloran Record: Last week: Next week: PLAYERS TO WATCH 1. DE Myles Garrett Statistics: The 2017 first overall

Coach: Gregg Williams (3-2 as the interim this year; 20-33 overall in four years).

5-7-1 (third in AFC North). Beat Carolina 26-20. vs. Cincinnati. draft pick, Garrett has 12½ sacks, eight more than any other Browns player. Besides his production, what stands out is his durability — 86.6 percent of the defensive snaps to lead Cleveland’s linemen.

Analysis: Garrett was limited to 11 games and seven sacks as a rookie. But he has stood out this year is his consistenc­y. He has at least a half-sack in 10 of the Browns’ 13 games. … Against Carolina last week, he had two sacks. On the second one, he quickly side-stepped a block attempt by receiver D.J. Moore and darted inside to ruin the play. … A big test for Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles. in this year’s draft, Mayfield debuted in the comeback win over the New York Jets and is 4-6 as a starter with 19 touchdowns, 10 intercepti­ons and a 93.4 passer rating.

Analysis: Mayfield can spin it. He is accurate on the short-to-intermedia­te routes and has the arm strength to power the football down the field. On the Browns’ first play against Carolina last Sunday, he hit receiver Breshad Perriman in stride for a 66-yard gain. … Mayfield’s pocket presence is befitting a veteran. He slides around the pocket looking to throw not run (29 rushing attempts for 109 yards). … On his 51yard touchdown pass to Jarvis Landry, Mayfield scrambled left but was looking downfield the entire time and threw a strike into double coverage.

three-time Pro Bowler who was traded to Cleveland in the offseason, Landry has 69 catches for 790 yards to lead the team and three touchdowns.

Analysis: Landry led the NFL with 112 catches last year, but averaged only 8.8 yards per reception. This year he has upped that average to 11.4 yards. … He has 12 catches of least 20 yards. … He has been targeted at least 10 times in seven games, but has only one touchdown in the last six games. are third on the Browns, behind linebacker­s Jamie Collins (86) and Joe Schobert (80) and his four intercepti­ons lead the team. Randall is playing 91.2 percent of the defensive snaps.

Analysis: A former first-round pick by Green Bay in 2015, Randall was flipped to Cleveland during the offseason and moved from cornerback to safety. … He has at least eight tackles in four of 13 games this year. … “The fact that he’s played multiple positions before he ever got here showed the versatilit­y of a really good athlete and showed the versatilit­y of an intelligen­t athlete,” coach Gregg Williams said. “He fit in here in a hurry.”

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