Cleveland Browns: Studs and duds from Week 16 win
By Randy Gurzi
Stud: Avery, Schobert, Ogunjobi
Picking one stud on defense is impossible because too many guys made key plays. Early on, it was Joe Schobert who got into the backfield on an early blitz. That led to a sack on third down, which ended the Bengals first drive.
That play was set up by defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, who made an open field tackle on running back Joe Mixon to set up the third and long. Schobert then nearly took Jeff Driskel down again on third-and-1 to end the second drive. Driskel escaped but threw it incomplete to set up another punt, so Schobert did at least do enough to kill the drive.
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Besides Schobert, there was also Genard Avery making plays. He blew up a run attempt from Mixon up for a 6-yard loss to set up third-and-nine on the second drive. Avery added a sack in the second quarter on third down which set up another punt. He showed up again on a three-yard loss when he tackled Mixon on the edge later in the game.
Although, not all was perfect for Avery. He did mess up what should have been a pick for T.J. Carrie on a third down in the Bengals first possession of the second half — but that’s being nitpicky at that point.
Ogunjobi showed his skill as well. Not only did he make the play to set up Schobert’s moment early in the game, but he also had a big tackle for a loss on the first drive of the second half to set up a 3rd and 12 — which became a 3rd and 17 with a penalty. He also ended the third quarter with a sack on Driskel.
The defense again gave up a lot of yards, but they continue to make stops thanks to huge individual performances like all these mentioned.