Cleveland Browns studs and duds from Week 10 victory over Bills
By Dan Justik
Dud: Morgan Burnett
Following the release of Jermaine Whitehead, the Cleveland Browns defense was going to need change up their safety personnel. Without Whitehead, Morgan Burnett was on the field often against the Bills.
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However, Burnett struggled to keep up with the Buffalo Bills receivers as he was stuck trailing most of their routes. Burnett could not stay in tight coverage and allowed several receptions by being out of position.
The 10-year veteran showed signs of his mileage as he simply did not have the speed to keep up with the Bills receivers, as well as the tight ends. With Burnett playing more in the box, he is going to be put into coverage more often, especially against tight ends and running backs.
Cleveland has had issues covering in the middle of the field and they need their safeties to step up and make plays. However, Burnett is better suited in run support instead of being into man coverage.
The Browns had solid coverage on the outside and limited the Bills’ passing attack. But once Josh Allen found the advantage in the middle of the defense, he started to pick apart Cleveland’s defense. If the Browns want to continue to be an aggressive blitzing defense, Burnett and the safeties are going to need to be better in coverage.