Cleveland Browns vs Arizona Cardinals: 3 matchups to watch

Chris Johnson vs Browns run defense

Week in and week out it’s the same story for the Browns defense. The Browns have failed to stop the run all season and their problems against the run date back to last season. Not much has changed from a season ago where the Browns defense ranked dead last in run defense. This season is the same old story as the Browns rank last in rushing yards allowed. The defense can’t figure out how to stop the run, allowing an average of 151.0 yards per game. Last week, Rams rookie sensation Todd Gurley, ran through the Browns defense rushing for 128 yards and two touchdowns. This week the Browns are challenged with Arizona’s rushing attack which is averaging 125.6 yards per game.

One solution to stopping the run, is rookie defensive tackle, Danny Shelton. Shelton as had a quite start to his rookie season, as he has admitted to the difficult transition in the NFL. Shelton has been working on bending at the hips and playing with a lower pad level to gain penetration and is happy with his progress saying, “Last week was like something I never thought I could do as far as just playing with lower pad level because throughout my whole career I’ve always played high and been the guy that always tried to make plays at a high pad level. This whole week, whole last week was dedicated to having lower pads, playing lower and just dominating.” 

When it clicks for Shelton, it will be huge for the Browns run defense. The team invested the 12th overall pick in him to help stop the run. If Shelton can start to dominate at the point of attack and dominate the middle, he will help solve huge piece of the puzzle to the Browns run defense woes.