BEREA, Ohio -- The Browns couldn’t take the top off the defense the last time they ventured into Arrowhead, but they can now give the Chiefs a taste of their own medicine: a lethal double dose of speed.
For Kansas City, speed comes in the form of receivers Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman, two of the NFL’s fastest receivers, who have both been clocked in the 4.2s in the 40. Hardman turned in a lightning-fast 4.22 in a race against other NFL speedsters in May to promote a product.
But when the Browns line up against the Chiefs on Sunday at Arrowhead, it will be ‘right back at ‘ya’ in the deep-threat department.
Odell Beckham Jr. noted in July that he felt he could’ve been the difference in January’s playoff game. In addition to a healthy Beckham, freakishly recovered from his torn ACL only 10 months out of surgery, the Browns have a Hardman-like world-class speedster in third-round pick Anthony Schwartz out of Auburn, who’s been clocked in 4.25.
The forgotten man in training camp because of a hamstring injury, Schwartz caught up enough to give Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo plenty to worry about.
“He’s a smart guy,” offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said of Schwartz. “I know he studies his butt off. Rarely makes mistakes. In the last few weeks, he’s been out there enough. I feel comfortable putting him in and asking him to contribute in this game.”
Schwartz’ hands have been the question, but he’s improved considerably. After dropping a few routes on air on the first day of rookie camp, he turned himself around. It’s partly because he spent plenty of time working out with Jarvis Landry in Florida, and attended Camp Mayfield in Austin, Texas.
He’s also flourished under the tutelage of accomplished receivers coach Chad O’Shea, and has caught almost everything thrown his way. He looks ready for action despite his limited reps. He’s also benefitted greatly from practicing alongside Beckham every day. A quick study, he’s earned at least a small package of plays in this game, and if the Browns follow the Chiefs’ model, they’ll pair him with Beckham.
Even Mayfield felt the need to remind folks on Wednesday that Beckham’s speed kills.
“Obviously, his catching ability speaks for itself, but I think people forget how truly fast he is and to be able to take the top off defenses,’’ Mayfield said. “Safeties have to worry about that. Teams will have to defend it and pick their poison because we’re a physical, run-first mentality team, and that’s not going to change, no matter who we have out there at receiver. He adds an element to where teams are going to have to decide.’’
Despite the ACL surgery and two other procedures since 2017, one on his ankle and one to repair his core, Beckham can still leave defensive backs in his wake.
“Yeah, he definitely still has it,’’ Van Pelt said. “There’s no question. He’s powerful and explosive when he starts to run, and he digs in. He can fly. Having that speed back on the field, we’re looking forward to that.”
The Browns have copied other aspects of the Chiefs’ explosive offense, but now they have something that can’t be coached — two guys who can streak behind the defense and make huge plays. In the playoff victory, Hill caught eight of 10 targets for 110 yards, and Hardman was 4-of-4 for 58. The Browns now have cornerback Greg Newsome II and other defensive backs who can keep up, and two receivers who can fly.
“It definitely helps,’’ Van Pelt said. “You can’t play short on those guys or they can run right past you, and that’s always a threat. That’s something that we have in our offense is the ability to go right by you, as well. It definitely helps when you have multiple people who can do that.”
The Browns hope their double trouble does the trick.
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