Browns run defense remains a major liability
Sep 27, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Oakland Raiders fullback Marcel Reece (45) breaks the tackles of Cleveland Browns free safety Tashaun Gipson (39) and Cleveland Browns strong safety Donte Whitner (31) during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Raiders won 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
I wrote an article following the Week 2 win over the Tennessee Titans titled “Browns run defense still a major liability.”
Well, here we are heading into Week 4, and the run defense only seems to get worse as time goes on. This is when I shudder at the fact that the Browns have only played three games and I am writing this.
I hope this post will not become a recurring feature during the week, but it looks like it will based on how the Browns have failed to stop the run this season.
The Browns allow an average of 158.3 rush yards a game, which puts them last in the league in that category. The next closest team, the Miami Dolphins, allows an average of 145 rush yards a game.
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And while a lot of focus has been paid on inefficient play in the secondary, the Browns rank 14th in pass defense, allowing an average of 237.3 yards a game. But why throw the ball against the Browns when you are assured a 100+ yard rusher?
To compare to the rest of the NFL, 16 teams allow under 100 rushing yards on average each game.
Things seemed like they would turn around after a 2014 season in which the Browns finished, you guessed right, last in terms of run defense.
But so far the results are worst than they were a year ago.
The question now is what needs to be done to make improvements. The first obvious measure is to assist the front three with linebacker help more often by run blitzing more often and making sure the back is at least touched before he is already gaining yards.
Having a player like Danny Shelton is a major advantage, but a team can put two blockers on him if there is no rush from the linebackers or secondary.
When Latavius Murray broke off a 54-yard run on Sunday, he was past the line before anyone even had a chance to tackle him. The three lineman were engaged by blockers, and no other defender was within several yards.
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Then the arm tackling comes into play. Sometimes I imagine the Browns defense in practice, running with their arms fully extended like Randy in A Christmas Story.
“I can’t move my arms,” they scream.
“You must learn to use them and only them,” yells Mike Pettine, cigar in mouth.
This needs to stop. (The arm tackling, not my asides). There is no sophisticated way to analyze the situation except that they need to stop tackling like Pop Warner players.
I’ll stop complaining now.
The Browns go up against Melvin Gordon and my personal favorite NFL running back, Danny Woodhead this Sunday. The Chargers are 30th in the NFL in terms of rushing yards a game with 85.4, so it will be a battle to see if the Chargers can break their average against a defense who allows nearly double that average every game.