Dawg Pound Daily
FanSided

Cleveland Browns: Studs and duds from Week 15 meltdown

By Randy Gurzi

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 15: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns gets ready to run onto the field prior to a game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 15: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns gets ready to run onto the field prior to a game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 7
Next
SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 30: head coach Steve Wilks of the Arizona Cardinals on the sidelines in the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on December 30, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 30: head coach Steve Wilks of the Arizona Cardinals on the sidelines in the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on December 30, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

Dud: Steve Wilks

Cleveland defensive coordinator Steve Wilks continues to struggle to find ways to consistently slow opponents down, which was shown on the opening series in this game.

The Cleveland defense allowed Kyler Murray and the Cardinals to carve them up easily on the first drive. After receiving the ball first, Arizona was able to move it 90 yards on just 10 plays.

More from Dawg Pound Daily

What was most frustrating was how they had no answers for 36-year-old Larry Fitzgerald. On that opening drive, Fitzgerald had 42 yards on three receptions. Things were capped off by Kenyan Drake who went five yards for the opening touchdown.

After a solid showing following Baker Mayfield’s interception, the defense once again showed holes. This time, they gave up a 67-yard drive that took just six plays and again ended with Drake running it in for a touchdown.

The issues didn’t stop there as they allowed Murray and the Cardinals offense to remain in control throughout the game — not even finding a way to steal the momentum when Mack Wilson made an athletic interception to try and get them back in the game.

Wilks’ biggest mistake was not getting after Murray, who has struggled mightily this season with the blitz. The rookie, who even has admitted to struggling with that, was given far too much time as Wilks didn’t dial up the pressure nearly enough times.

Wilk also had no answers for Kenyan Drake. It was just an all-around bad performance for the entire defense, something that has happened far too often under Wilks.

Home/Browns News