Rookie Dillon Gabriel will swimsuit up for his second NFL begin this week in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He had a advantageous first outing with the Cleveland Browns, throwing for 190 yards and one landing. Nevertheless, Pete Prisco thinks Gabriel is in for an even bigger efficiency this week.
“I believe Dillon Gabriel’s gonna play significantly better,” Prisco stated Thursday on CBS Sports activities HQ. “I believe they’re gonna enable him to do extra issues on this sport. For those who have a look at the Pittsburgh protection, they’re thirtieth in go protection.
“They’re giving up 260 yards per sport, so there’s gonna be alternatives to take some pictures down the sphere. I believe the coaching wheels are coming off. I believe Dillon Gabriel’s gonna throw for 250 [yards] and two touchdowns. And I could be a bit of low.”
The final time the Steelers performed the Browns with a rookie beginning underneath heart was in 2023. Cleveland’s quarterback in that sport was Dorian Thompson-Robinson, they usually beat Pittsburgh. Thompson-Robinson didn’t have a stellar sport, although. He accomplished 24 of his 43 go makes an attempt for 165 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception.
That loss was extra concerning the Steelers’ lack of offensive manufacturing, not Thompson-Robinson’s play. Prisco believes that Gabriel could possibly be an enormous motive why the Browns win this sport, although.
The final time the Steelers allowed a rookie quarterback to have a sport like that in opposition to them was C.J. Stroud in 2023. In that sport, Stroud picked the Steelers aside, throwing for 306 yards, two touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. The Houston Texans crushed the Steelers 30-6.
Nevertheless, Gabriel and Stroud are very completely different gamers. Stroud was the second general choose in his draft. Gabriel doesn’t have that pedigree. He was a third-round choose earlier this 12 months.
It might actually be completely different if Gabriel carved up the Steelers’ protection like Stroud did. Moreover, the Browns don’t have nice go catchers. Jerry Jeudy is their most confirmed large receiver. David Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr. are strong receiving threats at tight finish, however Gabriel doesn’t have a lot expertise to throw to outdoors of them.
The Steelers’ protection has struggled this 12 months, however it’s been higher in latest weeks. Nonetheless, they allowed too many explosive performs in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings. Gabriel might theoretically enhance his stats with some chunk performs, however which may not be the Browns’ finest path to victory. They’ve acquired a strong run sport. They’d in all probability be higher off making an attempt to heart their offense round that. Gabriel having that huge of a day may not translate to successful.
