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December 4, 2014The Cleveland Browns lost to the Buffalo Bills 26-10 last week and all of the news was about the quarterback controversy. The offensive struggles of the Browns were the big news of the game, but it overshadowed the outstanding defensive performance. The Browns’ defense kept the Browns in the game even when the offense was making mistakes and putting the defense in bad field position. The defense held the Bills to no points in the first half and only 19 points in the game (The Bills’ scored a touchdown on defense). The Bills had only 287 yards of offense in the game, committed two turnovers, and had a field goal blocked. The Browns’ defense has been the backbone of the team for the past many weeks. The catalysts of the good play on defense versus the Bills was the stout red zone defense, shutdown coverage of Joe Haden, and impressive play by inside linebackers Craig Robertson and Chris Kirksey. The Cleveland Browns offensive woes have really overshadowed a defense that has really improved over the year.
So take a seat and enjoy 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!
Red Zone Defense
Because of the offensive struggles, the Browns’ defense was put in bad field position for much of the game. In the five scoring drives for the Bills, three of the drives started within Cleveland territory. In the game, Buffalo’s average starting field position was the Buffalo 38-yard line. In the five times the Bills reached the red zone, the Browns defense held Buffalo to one touchdown, three field goals, and an interception. This stout red zone defense kept the damage minimal and kept the Browns in the game for most of the day. Here is an example of the Browns red zone defense.
This interception by safety Jim Leonhard was on a 3rd-and-goal play on the seven-yard line in the second quarter of the game. The first down play started on the 10-yard line. The Browns defense held the Bills to a three-yard run gain on first down and then held the Bills to one-yard pass on second down. These plays were big in getting the Bills in a 3rd-and-long forcing them to narrow down their playcalling. And here is how the Browns were able to get a stop in the red zone on the third down play.
The Bills had three receivers, a tight end, and a running back in this shotgun formation. The Bills have a solid play called here. The focus will be on the right side of the field. Receiver Sammy Watkins runs a post route, while the tight end will run a shallow crossing route to the right. The Browns are lined up in man coverage on the receivers. The Browns are in a Cover One with Leonhard as the deep safety and the two inside linebackers and safety Donte Whitner in underneath zone coverage. It looks like the Bills could get Watkins open because of the tight end drawing in the underneath zone coverage.
The Bills play was all foiled because of this great read by safety Jim Leonhard. Leonhard is the only player who can make the play on this pass because the underneath players are drawn in by the tight end. Leonhard has perfect coverage here, reading quarterback Kyle Orton’s eyes and cutting underneath Watkins to pick off the pass.
Red zone defense is really important to the success of a team’s defense. Good defenses minimize the damage and force field goals or turnovers when an offense reaches the red zone. The key to successful red zone defense is not being too aggressive losing your assignment and also forcing the offense into long yardage down. The Browns were successful at doing both of these keys, resulting in a solid performance in the red zone.
Joe Haden
Joe Haden has been the shutdown corner who takes out the opposing offenses’ best receiving weapon. This past week, Haden was matched up with receiver Sammy Watkins for most of the game. He held Watkins to three catches for a measly 11 yards in the game. Haden can cover his man one-on-one, allowing the rest of the defense to shade to other areas that need help. Here is a great example of Haden’s impressive coverage this week.
This is a 3rd-and-5 play early in the first drive of the third quarter. Haden intercepts Kyle Orton’s pass and gives the Browns offense great field position to expand the lead (the offensive woes continue and they do not score after this). Here is how Haden makes the play.
As you can see here, Haden pretty much runs the route for receiver Sammy Watkins. Haden gets a hand on Watkins right at the snap and diverts him quite a bit. He uses the five-yard contact area to really be physical against Watkins. When Watkins makes the cut inside, Haden gains leverage and beats the rookie inside. This allows him to get his hand on the ball and get the interception. This play is great technique and coverage by Joe Haden.
Craig Robertson
Inside linebacker Craig Robertson has played well all season, but over the last few weeks with Karlos Dansby out, Robertson has been really good. In the game, Robertson had 11 tackles and one quarterback hit. He has especially been very stout in the run game. Here is an example of Robertson’s excellent performance on Sunday.
This was a 3rd-and-1 play in the second quarter that caused the Bills to punt the ball away. Here is how linebacker Craig Robertson made the stop for the no gain.
The Bills are in shotgun formation and designed a run up the middle with running back Fred Jackson. As you can see from this shot, every Browns defender will be blocked except for Robertson. He is the only one who will be free to make the big third down play.
Robertson reads the play very fast and fills in the left A gap where Jackson was running through. He meets Jackson in the hole and stands him up until he can get help from his teammates to make the tackle. It is a great read by Robertson and great technique to take on the big running back. Craig Robertson has really become a very good player for the Browns defense. He has stepped in for the Karlos Dansby and been very good in his place.
Chris Kirksey
Inside linebacker Chris Kirksey has had a very solid rookie season. In this game, he showed off his talents by notching seven tackles, one tackle for a loss, and two tackles on special teams. Kirksey has been deemed an excellent coverage linebacker coming out of college, but this week he showed his solid run defense. Here is an example of his very good performance versus the Bills.
This run play was a 1st-and-10 play late in the fourth quarter. Here is how Chris Kirksey stopped running back Fred Jackson for a one-yard loss.
As you can see here, the Bills line up in an I-Formation with the running back Fred Jackson running to the right. The blocking assignments are shown here, so it shows that someone will need to beat his blocker to stop this play.
As you can see on this play, Kirksey is able to shed his blocker and make the tackle on Jackson in the backfield. He showed off his ability to get away from a block and be productive in the run defense. Kirksey is an athletic linebacker who has shown this season that he can be a centerpiece for the Browns defense. He has the coverage ability and is improving on run defense to be an all-around inside linebacker for the Browns.
Defensive Highlight
The defensive highlight for this week is inside linebacker Craig Robertson. Robertson has filled in nicely for the injured Karlos Dansby. As I noted earlier in the piece, he had 11 tackles and one quarterback hit versus the Bills. Robertson, Kirksey, and Dansby have all had a very good year and has made the inside linebacker unit a position of strength. He has rebounded from a tough season last year to having a pretty good year this season. He has made himself into a player who the Browns may look at signing to a long term contract his offseason.
Defensive Lowlight
The defensive lowlight for this week is the lack of offense that negated the strong performance by the defense. The offense could not capitalize on the scoreless half the Browns defense had in the first half. In the third quarter, Haden makes a great interception play that gives the offense a big chance to expand the lead, but the offense loses ground and does not score on that possession. The Browns wasted the great defensive performance because of the struggling offense.
11 Comments
Can you (or someone in the Nerd Club) please explain what exactly is meant by its (now frequent) usage of the term “stout” defense?
Obviously it’s taken on a different meaning than fat, wide, substantial, etc. Is it now just a generic amplifier like really good defense?
(PS. Don’t mean to pick on you, Joe. I’ve been wondering this for a while)
It means they’re a well hopped defense made from brown malt.
Stouts were traditionally the generic term for the strongest or stoutest defenses, typically the top 7% or 8%, produced by the NFL.
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or, it’s the 2nd adjective meaning in the dictionary…
stout
stout/
adjective
1. (of a person) somewhat fat or of heavy build.
“stout middle-aged men”
synonyms:fat, plump, portly, rotund, dumpy, chunky, corpulent; More
2. (of an act, quality, or person) brave and determined.
“he put up a stout defense in court”
synonyms:determined, vigorous, forceful, spirited;
Actually though, those two meanings of stout (strong or wide bodied in a physical sense vs. fierce, resolute, brave) have both existed since the 1300’s. Neither is new or the original “accepted” definition of the word. So it’s always been a valid amplifier. OED 4life.
“…made his stout-defended cause appeare With such a face of Right…”
Great job as usual Joe. Appreciate the efforts.
Kirksey is really starting to grow on me. Like I was with Gipson, I focused on his flaws and what he couldn’t do for a long time. Tashaun was able to win me over by continuing to improve and get himself into position to take advantage of his strengths. Christian seems to be doing the same thing. As the season has unfolded, he has improved as much or more than any other Brown.
Also, it scared me to have Leonard as a starting safety. Postgame pressers seemed to indicate he was making the defensive calls though and he looked pretty good overall (even outside that clutch INT).
The defense has been ridiculously injured all year. They truly have continued to step up and it has gone from a team weakness in the beginning of the season to the strength. Not surprising it’s better since a new defense takes time to learn, but surprising it’s gotten better even with all of the injuries.
Oh, and I hear that Dansby practiced full-go today. *fingers-crossed* that we get him back too.
Well done. Nerd points awarded to house Beowulf!
Now drink up and enjoy your stout (or mead)
Yeah, Kirksey!
http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s–NgV0xh1N–/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/sbebj2tmpl7n563163bz.gif
maybe all the players are just that small…
https://waitingfornextyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/3rd-down-pursuit-compressor.gif
Browns need to sign this guy to anchor the line:
http://tinyurl.com/3mu2gxm
6’9″, 400 lbs., 26 years old.
The more film I see on the Browns’ D, the more I suspect that they’re going to seek a stud DL or two in the offseason. The Browns have a lot of solid but not spectacular DL, and the Browns rarely blitz, relying on the line to create pressure which creates opportunities for the secondary. Even with the current DL this often works, but even 2-3 more serious pressures a game would have a huge impact and potentially have game-changing ramifications (with a stopped possession via sack or even a turnover).
Yeah I think the Browns will look at DL high in the draft and in free agency. Pettine wants to build the line like he did in Buffalo