Stefanski has Cleveland Browns playing the right way heading into Pittsburgh

Stop the run

We’ve come to the last pillar of a good football team. Stopping the run is a must. Andrew Berry signed players like B.J. Goodson, Karl Joseph, and Andrew Billings in free agency for this purpose. Billings opted out of the season, and both Goodson and Joseph have left something to be desired so far this season. Luckily the Browns have had some of their homegrown talents step up and lead the way.

Larry Ogunjobi ranks third overall among interior linemen in run defense per PFF. Myles Garrett has been solid and ranks 46th out of 115 edge defenders. Sionne Takitaki is the seventh-best run defender among 74 linebackers. While the Browns have a handful of other players than have been solid, this has been a sum is better than the parts kind of run defense.

So, where do they stand?

The Cleveland Browns have the fifth-best run defense in the NFL. They have given up 435 yards through five games. Want more here also?

• The Browns give up 3.9 yards per carry (No.10 in the NFL)
• 30 first downs allowed (No.12)
• 87.0 yards allowed per game (No.4)

A top-five run defense, check. The last pillar has been marked off. Coaches everywhere would have to agree that this team is for real. Well, through the first five games anyway. Any coach will also tell you there is a long road ahead, and keeping this up is not easy.

It’s just nice for all of us fans to watch our team playing sound football and winning games. Here is to more of that same over the next 11.