Less than a week before Halloween. Hopefully, no tricks for this Browns roster, and may the running game provide the treats. So far, it has been the defensive side of the ball that has brought the sweets.
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The New England Patriots are having a really good season after former Browns consultant Mike Vrabel took over the controls this year. Unfortunately, he is well aware of what the Browns offense’s tendencies are, and what DC Jim Schwartz likes to do in certain situations.
Could Cleveland defeat one of their own? In the end, the Browns were completely smothered for most of the contest as they were beaten up pretty badly, 32-13.
So who played well for the Browns? Who didn’t?
BROWNIES
DE Myles Garrett – With 7:31 left in the third quarter, the Patriots had a first down at the Cleveland six-yard line. QB Drake Maye dropped back to pass, but DT Shelby Harris’ pass rush sent Maye scurrying out of the pocket as he headed to the right flats. EDGE rusher Garrett caught him at the eight-yard line for a sack and a loss of two yards. At this point in the game, New England was completely in control of every aspect, yet here was Garrett still in the game, and going full out to drag down their QB. This epitomized Garrett’s relentless pursuit in this game, despite the scoreboard becoming increasingly lopsided.
Garrett would end up with five sacks, five QB hits, five tackles for loss, and six total tackles, second on the defense. RT Morgan Moses had no answer for Garrett’s inside move, and even when the Patriots placed a tight end on that side for the chip, sometimes Moses would completely lose where Garrett was headed. The third-and-goal sack in the first quarter was all-Garrett, beating his man. Great swipe of Maye to cause the fumble right before the half. On the Carson Schwesinger interception, it was Garrett who put pressure on Maye, which forced an early throw.
AFC Defensive Player of the Week (Year again?) on a team that got pummeled.
S Ronnie Hickman – All over the field, but also had the bulk of his eight tackles after Patriot receivers were left wide open and the safeties were forced to bring them down. In the first quarter, rookie RB TreVeyon Henderson hit the right side and then scampered 18 yards. Hickman was all the defense had left, who made a saving tackle. Stuffed RB Rhamondre Stevenson for no gain with 12:14 left in the game.
Stopping third down – The Patriots had plenty of opportunities to extend drives, but this Browns defense just didn’t bend on third down. New England ended up converting just three of 11 attempts for the game.
LB Carson Schwesinger – The interception was a thing of beauty as the rookie jumped up for the pick. Too bad he didn’t score because the Browns got nothing out of the turnover. Nailed Stevenson for no gain early in the fourth quarter on the Pats’ 14-yard line. Left the game with just over seven minutes to play. Finished with five tackles and one batted pass.
LG Joel Bitonio – Kept his man, DT Milton Williams, out of the pocket for most of the game and was able to move Williams on running plays. Williams ended up with one tackle, one batted pass, and, well, that was it. Nice work.
Opening drive – The Browns are the kings of successful opening drives. In today’s game, they looked like a championship offensive unit as they drove 70 yards in just six plays with 3:35 off the clock. QB Dillon Gabriel found TE Harold Fannin for 19 yards on a third-and-11. Corley ripped off his 31-yarder, and then Gabriel found Fannin for the touchdown pass from 18 yards out. Exactly how it was drawn up. Gabriel was 3-3.
FROWNIES
No run game – The Browns just could not move the ball on the ground. Malachi Corley had that 31-yard blast as the first quarter was winding down, but Cleveland finished with just 68 rushing yards. Take away Corley’s dash, and only 37 yards for the game? Quinshon Jenkins ended up with nine carries for 19 yards. And only 16 total carries for the entire offense all game. What?
Issues with finishing drives – After the Browns drove down the field and scored on their first possession, their next drives were punt, missed FG, punt, punt, punt, interception, interception, downs, touchdown, safety, downs. Only 12 first downs, 2-11 on third down conversions, 213 total yards, 2-3 in the Red Zone, two turnovers, the highest yardage gained for any player was just 62 yards (Fannin), and a mere 23:48 of possession. Take away the game’s first drive, and Cleveland’s offense was horrible in every single category.
Not keeping Vrabel – The Browns lost 14 games last year. In the third quarter, the camera cut to Patriots’ new head coach, Mike Vrabel, on the sideline jumping up and down, and high-fiving players in excitement. New England is now 6-2-0. Cleveland is 2-6-0. The franchise had the chance to keep him after last year’s debacle, but did not. Vrabel with Schwartz leading the defense? That would have been scary.
Pass coverage – Grade of an “F” to every Cleveland defensive back. All game long, receivers were given a five-yard cushion. Receivers crossed without anybody tight on them. Tight ends were open all game. Guys who hadn’t scored a touchdown all season found the end zone. Safeties made the majority of tackles because the play ended up downfield. A complete suckfest for this group. CB Tyson Campbell was smoked all game until he left the game with a concussion.
Milk Bones – Sit down. You’re just my blood type
DE Alex Wright – Made several good stops on running plays. Sacked Maye early in the second quarter when he beat LT Will Campbell to the outside. But Wright left the right side open quite a few times in this game, and the Patriots exploited the lack of contain. Wright dives inside quite a bit.
This left the corner open. First quarter: Henderson 18 yards; Third quarter: Henderson 27 yards; Third quarter, second-and-two: Henderson 4 yards; Fourth quarter, second-and-seven, Henderson 8 yards; Fourth quarter: Terrell Jennings 12 yards. All around the right end. Wright provided a good pass rush and ended up with four tackles with three of which were for a loss, one sack, and one QB hit.
WR Malachi Corley – After he ran the ball for 31 yards on Cleveland’s first drive, if you had to look up who #83 was, you aren’t alone. Corley began the season on the practice squad and was called up on September 30. This is actually the fourth game this year he has played in. One carry with a 31.0 yards per carry average? Call grandma.
