Cleveland Browns: Week 1 Film Room session
Direct snap to Duke Johnson on 4th down
still scratching my head at this. 4th & 5 own 41 yard line direct snap. Eagles have 8 on the line to the Br... https://t.co/rEp0frtTKu
— Eric Szczepinski (@eszczepinski2) September 13, 2016
This play was a head-scratcher. Early in the second quarter, Hue Jackson opened his bag of tricks and ran a fake on fourth-and-five from the Browns’ own 41-yard line. First off if the Browns were trying to catch the Eagles not expecting it, it took them to long to get set at the line.
The Eagles are prepared and have eight defenders on the line of scrimmage. The Browns have seven blockers and the left end for the Browns is the punter Britton Colquitt. The Browns do not have a mismatch or advantage on the play. The smart thing would have been realizing the Eagles were ready for this and calling a timeout and punting the ball away. The Browns run the play anyway and the snap is high from Cam Erving.
"I didn't call it off soon enough" Hue Jackson on fake punt; said guys didn't get in fast enough allowing Eagles to sniff it out
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) September 12, 2016
The timing of the play is disrupted and the Eagles quickly penetrate the backfield and make the fourth-down stop. Coach Jackson took full responsibility for the bad play call postgame.
Next: A rookie steps up