5 Studs and duds from Cleveland Browns loss to Steelers in Week 6

Dud: Linebackers

Based on the performance Sunday, the entire team was truthfully a dud. The Browns organization has let down fans a ton of times over the last two decades, but I’m not sure anywhere as tough as the one yesterday. And while fans won’t be socked, the Browns linebackers continue to be problematic.

Coming into the season it was a known issue, but at least the team had a promising second-year linebacker, Mack Wilson, to lead the squad. An injury in training camp would sideline Wilson the first three weeks of the season, and since he just doesn’t look like the same guy. His lateral speed isn’t the same, and he looks hesitant about making tackles.

Sione Takitkai, Malcolm Smith, and B.J. Goodson have all been serviceable, but have still been gashed in the running and passing game. Multiple times on Sunday the linebackers would have a shot at a tackle for loss and they would whiff and end up giving up 10 plus yards to the Steelers.

There is hope that Phillips will get healthy and return and Wilson will continue to heal, but at this point, it’s looking to be a tough road forward for this defense with so many limitations at the position. When you struggle with stopping the run and short passing game over the middle, it is tough to get off the field.

I haven’t forgotten that I said the defense played decently today, but that was digging deep for just one positive from today. The position still had time to get better but needs to do so in a hurry for the Browns to have any shot at the playoffs.