The Cleveland Browns will be at home on Sunday for the first time in almost a month as they take on the Miami Dolphins.
The last time the home faithful got to see the Browns in person, they were treated to a surprising win over the Green Bay Packers. Since then, it has been three weeks of frustration.
It has been a similar situation for the Dolphins, who have seen their season slip away in the wake of consecutive losses to the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Chargers.
On Thursday, Cleveland’s coordinators
held their weekly meeting with the press, and here are the key takeaways from what they had to say about the upcoming game against the Dolphins.
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz
Cleveland’s defense is near the top of the rankings in several categories, but is at No. 32 in red zone defense. So what gives?
“Generally, the best run teams play good red zone defense, and we’ve allowed some rushing touchdowns in there close, like Minnesota just shoved it right up in the A gap. And then early in the year, I thought there were sometimes where it’s hard to stop them in the red zone, but we took the field after some turnovers or things like that, and we played like three really good plays, they go for it on fourth down and make it.
“We just got to keep grinding it, we got to play physical down there, we got to take the run away and get back on the right side of that, because having a chance to hold them the field goals or force long field goals is paramount to keeping the score down, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Defensive end Myles Garrett voiced his frustration after the loss to Pittsburgh, which rubbed some people the wrong way. Any issues with Garrett from Schwartz’s perspective?
“Myles is one of our key players, and he certainly has a voice and certainly has his opinion. And I think anybody that wants to stand behind their statements and speak up, I don’t see any issue with that.”
Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees
The forecast for Sunday’s game is currently calling for rain and windy weather. How does that impact the offensive game planning?
“To go into all the specifics probably wouldn’t be an advantage for us, but you definitely plan for it and account for it. You know, you put the ball security part at a premium. You look at maybe certain things that you might need more of or less of based on the plan. Weather’s part of the game, and shoot, you saw it Monday night at the end of that game, weather playing a factor there.
“You gotta spin it in the wind. Dillon does that pretty well (as he) throws a pretty tight ball. Obviously, you got to play on time, you know, some balls that maybe get away with it late, but if you’re playing on time, playing on rhythm, hopefully you’re pretty efficient still. And then there’s probably some things, if the wind’s really blowing, and you’re going into it, maybe you’re waiting until the field flips, but try not to focus too much on the exterior factors there.”
The wide receivers and tight ends have had trouble catching the pass this season, primarily Jerry Jeudy, who leads the league with eight dropped passes. What are the Browns doing to correct that?
“We try to focus on the fundamental parts. I think when you look at the drops that show up consistently across guys sometimes, you know, certain guys have tendencies when they’re trying to catch a ball in traffic or trying to catch a ball on the sideline that show up. And our job as coaches is to coach those fundamentals and make sure we get those balls.”
Special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone
Is there anything the coaches can do to prepare kicker Andre Szmyt for the possibility of bad weather on Sunday?
“I don’t know if you can do anything to truly recreate that type of situation. We work on wet ball stuff with our operation. I know we’ll do that here later this week with our offense and defensive players. I think that you prepare your team through these weather situations that can happen by practicing outside, practicing in the elements, practicing in the wind, the rain, the snow, all that stuff, because ultimately you’re going to play in it at some point.
“So, I think all the training that you’re doing in the offseason program, training camp, and having the opportunity to practice in those elements, helps you in those situations.”
What about that 1-5 start? Is the season lost, or is there still hope?
“When we’re talking about the players and the coaches, how we interact with each other and how the offense interacts with the defense, with the special teams, players, and specialists. I just think that we get along, we are a connected team, and I do think that we have the ability to right the ship. A couple of things happen, a few things happen a little bit differently, we’re looking at a different record. Now, you obviously can’t change those things, and that’s just inevitable. Stuff happens in sports and in football.
“But I do think that, if a team can get it right, it’s a team that’s connected and is doing things that teams do and stick together. I think that we’re all supporting one another, and I think we all understand the situation. And I think I’ve referenced this before, I’ve referenced it to our players. I was on a staff on a 1-5 team my first year in Indy, and we turned it around. So, I believe that we can do it. We just honestly, we just gotta, we gotta play complementary football, we gotta play clean football, we gotta protect the football.”
The Browns and the Dolphins kick off on Sunday at 1 p.m. from Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland. Stay tuned to Dawgs By Nature for coverage throughout the weekend and all day on Sunday.
