Editor's note: Tony Grossi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN 850 WKNR.

Four downs on Browns (0-0) v. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0)

First down: Wet and wild.

Coaches try to simulate every potential regular-season situation during the heat of a summer training camp, and then this happens. Weather forecasts for Sunday in Cleveland call for heavy rain and high winds. These are the remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon – and we’re not talking about the launch of the new, improved Josh Gordon in a Browns uniform. Such conditions typically “level the playing field” and give the underdog a better chance of competing against a superior team. You would think the less-than-ideal throwing conditions would neutralize the Steelers’ offensive strength – Ben Roethlisberger’s passing and Antonio Brown’s receiving. The emphasis would swing to the running games, and that would play even more to the Browns’ favor. The Steelers are without star running back LeVeon Bell, who continues to be unhappy with his team’s franchise tag guarantee of $14.45 million and remains absent. Second-year back James Conner averaged 5.3 yards as the focal point of the running game in preseason. The Steelers also will compensate with a dose of Jaylen Samuels, a fifth-round rookie from North Carolina State. As for the Browns, offensive coordinator Todd Haley has been saying since June that his offense has to be able to run the ball to compete in the AFC North. The Browns ranked fifth in rushing in the practice games with four touchdowns, highlighting Carlos Hyde and Nick Chubb and keeping Duke Johnson under wraps.

Second down: Is a star born?

So it turns out the Browns are replacing future Hall of Famer Joe Thomas at left tackle with Desmond Harrison, an undrafted free agent? “He's a little overrated, huh,” Bitonio quipped about Thomas. The truth, of course, is that the physically gifted Harrison – undrafted from West Georgia, by way of Texas – has been eyed as a successor to Thomas since he was signed after the draft. Nobody could have anticipated his time to come so early, however, after he missed so much practice time in OTAs and training camp due to a toe injury. But Harrison came on strong the last two weeks of preseason, enough to win over the confidence of coaches and teammates. “He’s definitely the most athletic lineman we have,” Bitonio said. Contributing to the decision, undisputedly, was the matchup the Steelers’ defensive front presents. Either way, the Browns were going to break in a rookie lineman next to Bitonio. So it came down to pitting Harrison against edge rusher Bud Dupree, or rookie guard Austin Corbett against Pro Bowl 3-4 end Cameron Heyward. Corbett, a left tackle at Nevada, is a future mainstay – probably at center – but his conversion to guard in camp was not reassuring enough to debut him at an unfamiliar position against Heyward. Thus, Bitonio faces Heyward and Harrison stays at his natural position to oppose Dupree, who is no all-star.

Third down: Myles have passed.

Myles Garrett has been waiting to make good on his promise to “chop down” Roethlisberger since he was drafted first overall by the Browns in April of 2017. He missed the season-opening meeting against Big Ben because of a high ankle sprain suffered in practice four days before the game, and then Roethlisberger took the day off on New Year’s Eve in Pittsburgh when Garrett was finishing up a less-than-satisfying rookie season in Game 16. So this first-ever meeting against Roethlisberger has been long in the works for both Garrett and the Browns, inspiring Gordon to voice what everybody is thinking. “We’re all counting on him to get to the quarterback and make a stop and make a difference,” Gordon said. The problem is the expected wet field is not conducive to pass rushers. That doesn’t mean Garrett can’t make his presence felt in the run defense, but a dry, fast track would have been preferable.

Fourth down: Denzel’s debut.

The other end of the “how to stop Ben” equation involves rookie cornerback Denzel Ward. It’s the reason Ward was drafted No. 4 overall ahead of pass rusher Bradley Chubb. Coordinator Gregg Williams maintains he can always create a rush by scheme, but he couldn’t scheme press coverage without a competent cornerback. So Ward’s baptism by fire begins against Brown, arguably the most lethal receiver in the NFL and a notorious Browns-killer. Williams criticized Ward’s tackling technique against Eagles tight end Zach Ertz in the third preseason game – why on Earth did the coordinator scheme a 180-pound cornerback covering a 250-pound tight end on that play, anyway? – but otherwise has been complimentary of Ward’s development. This week, though, Williams pointed out Ward must be prepared for an uptick in the speed of the game from preseason to regular season. “He has got to take the next step right now of regular-season speed. I am anxious to see him do it,” Williams said. This matchup is just the first of a gauntlet awaiting the unassuming, soft-spoken Ward in his baptismal NFL season. Future assignments to follow include New Orleans’ Michael Thomas, Oakland’s Amari Cooper, the Chargers’ Keenan Allen, Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans … oh, you get the idea.

Prediction

Browns, 20-13.

My record: 16-0 (in 2017).