Browns run defense still a major liability
Aug 20, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Danny Shelton (71) at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
A Browns victory on Sunday makes Monday morning just that much better. One can wake up and realize that 15-1 is still a possibility, a record the Baltimore Ravens will have to wait another year to try and achieve.
The talk all week is going to focus on the quarterback situation. Johnny Manziel recorded his first career victory yesterday against the Tennessee Titans, but he did not play well enough to steal the job from Josh McCown. And when McCown gets cleared to return, he will likely return to his starting role.
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But the focus on the quarterbacks and the general elation from the win is drawing attention away from the weakest part of the team.
The run defense.
Without taking the Colts and Jets into account as they play tonight, the Browns head toward Week 3 at the bottom of the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game, with an average of 160 yards allowed in the first two games.
The Packers are just above the Browns with 154 rushing yards allowed per game, but they can get away with that. Having Aaron Rodgers and an explosive offense makes up for the lack of a strong run defense.
The Packers also went up against Matt Forte and Marshawn Lynch to start the season. The Browns got torched by the likes of Chris Ivory and Dexter McCluster. Nothing against the Ivory and McCluster, but the competition is only going to get more difficult.
After Oakland and Latavius Murray, the Browns will face the combo of Melvin Gordon and Danny Woodhead in San Diego. Then comes Justin Forsett in Baltimore, followed by Denver’s combo of C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman.
The only big name on that list is Gordon, but the Browns defense has had a knack for getting run all over by people with any name on the back of their jersey.
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Improvement must come fast, forcing teams to throw when they would rather march down the field by rushing the ball. There is no need to make things easier for Peyton Manning or Phillip Rivers.
While the run defense is an issue, some may point to Joe Haden’s struggles to start the season. The difference is that Haden is bound to give up touchdowns as he is matching up with the top receiver on each team. His performance against the Jets may have been the worst of his career, so that is an anomaly (I hope) more than anything else. Him giving up a touchdown or two is better than having the other team run for seven to ten first downs in a game.
The improvement starts up front, so when the camera showed Danny Shelton laying hurt on the ground, it looked to be the beginning of a disaster. Luckily, he rose and was shown with a smile on his face on the sideline before returning to the game.
Though blame can be put on the front three, it is tough to expect them, along with blitzing linebackers, to handle what seems to be an issue in planning. There is no way to know without being with the team during the week, but the coaches will have to share some of the blame for the way the run defense has been thus far.
The main thing to understand is that only two games have been played, so it is possible for the defense to improve and rise from the basement of the NFL.
I said it’s possible.