Cleveland Browns: How bad was the OL vs Buccaneers?

The fifth sacked occurred with thirty-eight seconds left in the second quarter. The Browns had a first-and-ten on their own 15-yard line. The Browns had a three receiver set with Barnidge at tight end with Duke Johnson in the backfield.

The play began as well as could be. The receivers and the tight end went out on routes. Duke Johnson chipped Joel Bitonio’s man en route to the middle of the field as the safety valve. Unfortunately, before Johnson could set, Griffin was already sacked.

In what sounds like a broken record, both Austin Pasztor and Dan France struggled to protect Griffin. In a rare occurrence of misery in symmetry, both Pasztor and France used a slide protection technique. Once set, both were completely overwhelmed by their man and pushed back into Griffin.  Ironically, they looked like mirror images of each other getting pushed back into Griffin.

Griffin stepped up into the pocket. Almost in unison, the defenders shed Pasztor and France stepped into the pocket and sacked Griffin. It was identical to the point of disturbing.

The offensive line is to blame for this sack. The tackles need work on their slide protection techniques.

Next: Fixing the Issues