Mid-week thoughts
Time to address one of the Browns’ biggest problems on
offense. . . . third down. They have faced 24 of them in the first two games
and converted a measly five. That’s barely 21%, second worst in the National
Football League
A key contributor to the lifeblood of any offense is the
ability to convert third downs, which not only prolongs drives, it improves
time of possession and, most important, keeps the defense rested on the bench.
The average distance to go in those 24 instances is a little
more than 10 yards, which basically shouts to opposing defenses that a pass is
coming up. On only six occasions has the distance to go been less than seven
yards. In other words, the offense has struggled to get close to the so-called
makeable third-and-short.
It all begins with succeeding on first down and staying away
from second-and-long situations. Winning first down seems like such a simple
approach to playing at least competitive football
Only one problem there. This offense has failed abysmally at
winning arguably the most important down in the game. They have managed 10 or
more yards on first downs only 11 times in 44 opportunities covering 23
possessions. That increases the pressure to succeed on ensuing downs.
If that doesn’t change, if that doesn’t improve, if the
importance of winning that down does not penetrate the minds of those in charge
of the Cleveland offense, get used to the same results on a weekly basis.
* * *
The next three games on the schedule for the Browns are
against Indianapolis, Cincinnati and the New York Jets, teams with a combined
victory total of zero after two weeks.
So if they emerge from the Jets game still looking for their
first victory of the season, batten down the hatches. Last season’s 1-15 record
might look like a walk in the park by comparison.
They catch a break heading into Sunday’s game in Indianapolis
with news that Colts quarterback Andrew Luck still isn’t ready to make his 2017
debut because of shoulder issues related to off-season surgery,.
The Bengals, meanwhile, have not scored a touchdown. And the
Jets’ front office conducted an off-season roster purge that all but guaranteed
nailing one of the top two picks in next year’s college draft.
That is what the Browns, starving for a victory any way they
can get one, face as they attempt to blunt talk of repeating last season’s
monstrosity of a season.
Get ready for some bad football for the next three weekends.
The bar is so low, fans wont be able to really get a good feel as to whether
the Browns, depending on how well they play, are improving or just playing down
to the level of the opposition.
* * *
Danny Shelton played 35 of the defense’s 68 snaps against
the Baltimore Ravens Sunday. I know he played. His No. 55 shone brightly on the
television screen. So why was a the team’s top draft pick a couple of years ago
a no-show on the final stats sheet?
The big defensive tackle appears to have recovered from a
knee injury early in the exhibition season. Maybe. The explosion that was there
in his first two seasons, when he played nose tackle in a 3-4 scheme, is not
there anymore.
Could it be the new 4-3 look of defensive coordinator Gregg
Williams is not suitable for his talents? Instead of playing nose up on the
center, he is responsible now for only one gap.
So why nothing on the stats sheet against the Ravens? At
least an assist or two on a tackle. He had one solo tackle in the
season-opening loss to Pittsburgh, so there’s something there. It has to be a
great mystery to the coaching staff.
* * *
Another defensive lineman, Emmanuel Ogbah, is also
underperforming. The defensive end made the Ravens game stats sheet only because
of one pass defensed. Otherwise, zeroes across the board on 54 snaps. He had
one solo tackle and a pass defensed on 42 snaps in the Pittsburgh game.
That’s the total contribution the club’s second-round draft
selection a year ago has delivered. What was expected of Ogbah this season was
a strong pass rush based on 5½ sacks in his rookie season, but even that aspect
of his game seems to be missing.
Right now, the Browns do not have what even charitably could
be called a decent pass rush. Unless, of course, you consider getting close to
the opposing quarterback sufficient. In that case, never mind.
What this pass rush needs is Myles Garrett, who has missed
the first two games with a high ankle sprain that could sideline him for as
long as half the season depending on the severity. A healthy Garrett would add a
much-needed spark.
* * *
Whatever happened to the defensive plans to rely heavily on
a 4-2-5 look on a majority of the snaps this season? With the NFL becoming a
pass-heavy league, it made sense to play a lot of nickel.
So why then has Joe Schobert played every one of Cleveland’s
defensive 128 snaps this season? The middle linebacker was thought to be the
one who would leave for the nickelback.
Schobert has been a wonderful surprise at his new position in
the middle with 14 tackles (seven solo) and does not come out in obvious passing
situations, a nod from the coaching staff with regard to his ability to defend
against the pass.
Unless Williams changes his mind, which is entirely possible
for the mercurial coordinator, the 4-3 look appears to be a staple now for at
least for the first couple of downs on each series.
* * *
Why does it seem as though Browns quarterbacks line up in shotgun
formation a whole lot more than they do in a pro set? It’s because they do and
in large numbers.
In the first two games, the Browns have run 128 plays on
offense. Of those 128, only 22 (17%) were executed with either DeShone Kizer or
Kevin Hogan under center. Everything else was out of the shotgun.
Maybe those numbers are skewed in favor of the shotgun
because Kizer played nothing but shotgun throughout his entire high school and
college career and is more comfortable lined anywhere from five to seven yards
behind center JC Tretter.
Quarterbacking in the pro set requires a totally different
kind of rhythm, a rhythm that apparently Kizer has yet to master. After 15
snaps under center in the Pittsburgh game, coach Hue Jackson reduced the number
to just seven in the Baltimore loss. Hogan ran four of them.
When Kizer returned to play most of the second half after
his migraine subsided, the Browns ran 27 plays. All were from the shotgun.
Jackson apparently considers him a work in progress. Barring a sudden epiphany
for the pro set, Kizer’s problem could linger the entire season.
* * *
And finally . . . Fullback
Danny Vitale was on the field for only six of Cleveland’s 66 plays on offense
against the Ravens. Let’s try this one more time: Why is he on the roster? . .
. Pre-snap penalties continue to hurt the Browns’ offense. They are tied with
three other teams for the league lead with eight in two games. Inexcusable. . .
. Overall, they have been flagged 15 times for 126 yards. The Steelers are the
runaway leaders with 216 yards. . . . Is it time yet to label wide receiver Corey
Coleman as injury prone? The club’s top draft choice last season will miss two
months to mend a broken right hand, the same injury that caused him to miss six
games in his rookie season. . . . How long will it be before the Browns promote
wideout Jordan Leslie from the practice squad to the varsity? He led all the
wide receivers in the exhibition season with nine catches and two touchdowns.
He certainly can’t be any worse than what they are trotting out there now (with
the exception of Rashard Higgins).
Stupid penalties, turnovers, dropped passes, no running game(enough?). This is a totally undisciplined team(offense). Look for Jackson to be job hunting next season unless he can change course and put the hammer down on these guys. This is a fairly good defense, but with no offense look for them to wear down quickly.
ReplyDeleteHe needs to hire an offensive coordinator, which he won't do, pretty much sealing his fate. Unless, of course, the offense miraculously comes alive.
ReplyDelete