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December 18, 2014Columbus thinks it’s getting Cleveland Browns Training Camp
December 18, 2014The Cleveland Browns were blown out this week in the home finale versus in-state rival Cincinnati Bengals, 30-0. The team was completely outplayed by the Bengals in all phases of the game. The offense was shutdown, unable to score and even move the ball. But the real surprise was the fall of the Browns’ defense.
Over the past four or five games, the Browns’ defense had really turned into a tough defense that enabled a struggling offense to stay in the game. But this week, the Browns’ defense was unable to stop the Bengals’ offense, especially on the ground. The Bengals rushed for 244 yards in the game, including 148 yards and two touchdowns on the ground for running back Jeremy Hill. So what happened? The Browns early-season struggles defending the run arose again and was the main culprit for the decrease in performance by the defense. The lack of push by the defensive line, the poor play of the linebackers, and the lack of contain were three big reasons for the absence of the run defense in the game.
Take a seat and take a look through this week’s defensive film room. After you have read through my thoughts on this week’s game, let me know what you saw from the Browns’ defense this week. Roll the tape!
Lack of Push by the Defensive Line
The Browns’ defensive line has played better over the last few weeks, but on Sunday, they reverted back to their poor play of early in the season. The defensive line was unable to pressure the backfield and blowup the running game for the Bengals. According to ProFootballFocus, the Bengals rushed 19 times between the tackles for 88 yards. That is a 4.6 yards per carry average for rushes between the tackles. The lack of push of the defensive line was a huge reason the Bengals were successful rushing up the middle. Here is an example of the lack of push the defensive line had versus the Bengals.
This touchdown run by running back Jeremy Hill was a 2nd and 5 play early in the second quarter. Here is how the play transpired.
The play is a designed run to the right by Hill out of the right I-Formation. The Browns have three defensive linemen down with an outside linebacker rushing on the ends of both sides of the line. The Browns also have two inside linebackers in the box to defend the run.
As you can see here, the Browns’ defensive line of Desmond Bryant, Ishmaa’ily Kitchen, and Sione Fua are completely pushed out of the way by the Bengals’ offensive line. There is no penetration and the line does not stay firm to stuff the gaps, allowing Hill to not be touched for six yards. Some of the blame can be placed on the injuries that the line has suffered this season, causing the depth to take a big hit. But, it was still a complete dominating performance by the Bengals’ offensive line. The Browns’ defensive line was unable to stay strong and be disruptive, making the whole defense vulnerable in run defense.
Poor Play of the Inside Linebackers
The inside linebackers have really played well in place of the injured Karlos Dansby over the last few weeks, but this week was not the case. Craig Robertson and Chris Kirksey both struggled in run defense, grading out negatively in that area by ProFootballFocus. They were unable to get through the line and bring down the ball carrier in many instances. They were sometimes late in reading the play and got stuck on blocks. Here is an example of their poor play.
This 13 yard run by running back Giovani Bernard was a 2nd and 9 play late in the fourth quarter. Here is how the play transpired.
This was a designed run by Bernard up the middle out of the Single Back set. The Browns have defensive linemen with their hands in the dirt and an outside linebacker rushing off the edges on both ends of the line. The Browns also have two inside linebackers in the box to defend the run.
As you can see here, the Browns’ two inside linebackers become blocked and allow Bernard to get past them. Craig Robertson immediately goes to the right and fills the wrong gap. This initial move to the right gets him caught in the line and causes him to get blocked from getting to the ball carrier.
Chris Kirksey is too patient in defending this run play. He sits back too long, allowing a blocker to get to him and block him from making the tackle. He should have hit the hole quicker. Robertson and Kirksey struggled getting to the backfield for most of the game, getting stuck on blocks in many instances.
Lack of Contain
Early in the season, the Browns struggled mightily in keeping contain on run plays. The defense shored up this area over the last couple weeks, but it sprouted up as a problem again this week. The Bengals rushed 24 times towards the outside of the tackles for 153 yards, an average of 6.3 yards per carry. A lot of that was given up because of the lack of contain by the edge defenders. Here is an example of the lack of contain.
This 20 yard run by running back Jeremy Hill was a 2nd and 7 play late in the first quarter of the game. Here is how the play transpired.
The play is a designed pitch by Hill out of the I-Formation. The Browns have three defensive linemen down with an outside linebacker rushing off the right edge and two linebackers rushing on the end of the left end. The Browns also have an inside linebacker and a safety in the box to defend the run.
The key to this long run is outside linebacker Jabaal Sheard getting caught with the fake, causing him to go inside a little and then stumble to try to regain contain. Sheard loses the contain on edge allowing Hill to have a huge open space for the long run. The Browns struggled throughout the game defending rushes on the edges. Losing contain was the big contributor to this this problem for the Browns’ defense.
Defensive Highlight
My defensive highlight of the game is cornerback Pierre Desir. Desir received his first real playing time this week after the multiple injuries in the secondary. He played pretty well in the game, displaying the promise he had coming out of college. According to ProFootballFocus, Desir was targeted once in his 40 snaps and did not give up that reception. He also had two tackles in the game. It was definitely a good start for the small school corner.
Defensive Lowlight
My defensive lowlight of the game was the decline in play from the previous weeks. The Browns’ defense had been pretty good over the last four or five games and was really turning into a top ten defense. But this Sunday’s game was a huge setback for the defense, returning to their early season woes of the defending the run. It was a big letdown after coming off one of the best performances of the year versus the Indianapolis Colts.
16 Comments
What happened to our defense is injuries;
IR: Phil Taylor, J. Hughes, A. Bryant (basically half our DL)
Out: Karlos Dansby, T. Gipson, K. Williams, R. Nelson
Left game: Joe Haden, J. Gilbert
Injured/Playing: J. Sheard, B. Mingo, A. Rubin, B. Wynn (they’ve all been nursing various injuries and are playing like it)
So, most of our front seven is either missing or playing injured, and now our secondary is decimated too. Excuses don’t fly in the NFL but we clearly have a different defense when everyone, or at least most, is healthy.
What happened to the defense was Johnny Football. It was a poorly executed offensive game that gave a lot of short fields to the Bengals, who are not slouches. Dalton was completely held in check, but Cinci controlled the time of possession like pros and obliterated a fairly injured browns D because of the opportunities they were given. I think the bengals started in their own 30 only twice? Not a recipe for success
please explain the opening drive before Johnny Football ever had the ball.
I agree that the offense didn’t help the defense, but the defense sure didn’t help the offense either. It was a terrible game for the rush defense (pass defense played well despite injury).
yeah, injuries certainly played into it to some degree. but, it was just a week ago where most of those names were also there that we held the Colts pretty well. of course, Indy is a pass-first, struggle to run team, which helped.
What happened was that the same group as the previous week played with a fraction of the intensity. Except for the corners, they let the Indy heartbreaker seep into the next game.
Other than against Indianapolis our run defense has been terrible all year. Even against Indianapolis, who has the worst rushing offense in the league, we didn’t look great. It is a mistatement to claim we have regressed against the run because we have never been good at stopping it.
Last 3 games, the Browns D gave up just one game over 100 yards rushing. The run defense was improved over the horrible start to the season. Wasn’t saying that they were perfect on run defense, but they had played better lately. They reverted back to their early season form versus CIN.
excellent point. I don’t like the “offense is bad” argument that much. If the defense is good, it seems they could get off the field when they need to, regardless of the offense.
PHIL TAYLOR.
0-3 with Gordon this year.
Even the best defenses in the league give up drives to every team, this is the NFL and all of these players are “the best” (at least theoretically). Seattle, Green Bay, whomever defense they still will have drives where their opponent simply makes the right calls and plays on Offense. Not to mention, even the most inept offenses can, and do, go 30-40 yards on drives, but when your offense has put you in a position that 30-40 yards is now a score, you’re destined for failure. Maybe the AllPro defense could stop a team with that short of a field, but I doubt it. The browns did not manage the ball well here and that’s the biggest loss.
in summary, our 4th and 5th string back-ups just aren’t very good.
Also forgot to mention that we stayed in cover 2 most of the day when Andy Dalton couldn’t throw a ball within 10 yards of a receiver. Rarely saw the defense stack the box.
1st drive, the defense gave up 81yds on over 7 minutes of game clock and a TD. No offense involved. The next drive, Cinci didn’t have field position, but still drove across the field for a FG. Near the end of the game, the defense gave up any shot at a comeback with a nearly a 9minute drive for 86yards and a touchdown.
Yeah, the Bengals tagged on 10pts on terrible field position that the offense gave them in the 2nd quarter, but the defense didn’t do anything to stop the Cinci offense at all until a late 2nd quarter interception.
Cinci was pretty much doing whatever they wanted to us on the ground and the only times we even hinted at stopping them are when Hue Jackson would call a couple pass plays in a row.
Cinci Drives:
Cinci 19 – 81yds, TD
Cinci 27 – 46yds, FG
Cle 36 – 36yds, TD
Cle 33 – 7yds, FG
Cinci 33 – 26yds, INT
Cinci 20 – 7yds, Halftime
——-0 punts in 1st half——-
Cinci 37 – 18yds, Punt
Cle 46 – 31yds, FG
Cinci 17 – 13yds, Punt
Cinci 14 – 86yds, TD
I’m not making excuses for the Browns’ poor defensive game, but take another look at that example of poor inside linebacker play. I see Kirksey (#58) getting tackled.
I would suggest going back to your DVR and re-watch the game. Gordon was open downfield a lot and had one on one coverage a lot. Hoyer had a ton of success with Gordon last year when he was left one on one. Manziel must see match ups at the line of scrimmage. We have not seen PIs called on the opposing team much this year. Almost all PIs have been called on Skrine or Haden. The Browns have not thrown down field much. Even in games like home against Pitt, Hoyer threw the ball only 17 times but had some down fired throws, it was mainly a rushing victory. Norv Turner’s O threw downfield to Cameron and Gordon more.
I agree get Gordon the ball. I don’t know why they didn’t let Johnny go deep. In the NFL, too many good things can happen going deep especially with the PI calls now. The plays Gordon made last year, he isn’t making this year. He isn’t winning the 1 on 1s and for the jump balls, he needs to get in there and be a part of them. It is almost like he isn’t quite seeing the ball, or just isn’t reacting to it, and that probaly comes with reps with the QB and more time on the field. I believe the WR has a lot to do with PI calls. It is sometimes an art to make the DB look like he is interfering with you whether you slow down alter your path a little. Not saying he is the problem, but the first game he was back, Hoyer was going to him a LOT (not a problem) but he wasn’t having the success like he was having last year.