BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Through two games the Browns’ rebuilt defense hasn’t exactly lived up to the hype.
Therein lies the rub, it’s been two games, one of which was the opener against former NFL and Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes.
While fans might be worried, the Browns don’t seem to be.
“You just have to take it for what it is. We have a lot of new starters and it’s Week Two,” safety John Johnson III said Thursday. “I don’t think anyone remembers the first two weeks of any season. It’s usually that stretch in November and December and the playoffs people will remember. It’s early on. We’re still building. I think we’re moving in the right direction and we’re fine.”
Through two games the Browns are statistically in the middle of the pack.
The 27.0 points per game allowed ranks 21st, and they are 23rd against the pass giving up 272.0 yards through the air. They’re 14th in total defensive yards allowed (349.5 yards per game) and ninth against the run allowing 77.5 rushing yards per game.
When he watches the tape, it’s not all bad to defensive coordinator Joe Woods.
“There are moments where guys execute, we are making plays and we are doing what we are supposed to do, and then you see the inconsistencies,” Woods said. “You are just trying to eliminate those, and now, you are playing at a higher level. We are doing it. You see it. We just need to do it more often and better.”
Yes, it is early in the season and entirely too early to write the unit off, but one area of concern is the third down defense. The trend is alarming – opponents are converting 63% (17 of 27) on third down.
Woods shares the concern after watching the Texans convert 7 of 13 opportunities last week, including five on the same drive.
“Third down when they had the long [16] play drive was really disappointing,” Woods said. “We had five third down opportunities to get off [of the field]. You look at each one of them, if we play a little bit better, we are off of the field, especially the first one and then the other four ones do not happen. It is what happened. It is on tape. You have to fix it.”
With six new starters, and injuries at linebacker, there are mitigating factors and we’re learning that it will take time for the new faces to gel on that side of the ball.
Becoming a dominating defense in today’s game though isn’t easy.
“It’s extremely difficult,” Johnson said. “It’s a passing league. It’s a speed league, all types of schemes on offense. It’s extremely difficult. Going into each week you want to have a game plan, really buy into it, really trust it. I think we’ll get there.”
How do the Browns fix what ails them? For Woods, the solution is simple.
“It is consistency,” Woods said. “Sometimes, the rush is there and you look, and the coverage is not there. Sometimes you look and the coverage is there, but the rush is not there. It just seemed like it was a different thing every time when I looked at it.
“When you look at it overall, it is a little bit of everything, including me making a couple of better calls.”
Doing too much – To say that cornerback Denzel Ward had a tough time against the Texans last week would be an understatement.
Ward was targeted six times and he allowed five catches and 90 yards, and 34 of those yards came after the catch.
“I just think right now, he is probably trying to do too much,” Woods said. “He is trying to go out and make a play, and when you play DB, you execute your technique and the plays will come. I have talked to him about that so he just has to settle down and just do his job. He is good enough to make plays when he does that.”
Unwritten rule – With Justin Fields making his first NFL start Sunday, the Browns will likely bring the house, and heat.
A loss to a rookie QB in his first start is a no no for defenders.
“I think it’s an unwritten rule,” Johnson said. “Kinda like, we want to attack the game plan, have a routine, pretty much the same thing but I think it is in the back of our minds like, ‘Hey this guy, he’s new. We kinda want to play our style of football and don’t let him get off’ so I think it is kind of something in the back of our minds but we want to attack each week the same pretty much.”
Mack attack – Right tackle jack Conklin is going to have his hands full Sunday.
Conklin will square off with Bears linebacker Khalil Mack, who typically lines up on the left side of the defense, opposite the right side of the offensive line.
“Jack has played them all. He has played well against good players,” offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said. “We expect Jack to come out and be productive. We obviously know what Mack is and who is he is. Part of our gameplan will have him in mind at times when we do things. We expect Jack to come out and block him one on one, and we will give him help when we can.”
Last week against the Texans, Conklin was called for holding twice.
“That is going to happen,” Van Pelt said. “I am not worried about Jack at all. Jack is a true pro. He is a great right tackle for us, and you will have a play or two and everybody will have a play or two, so I am not concerned at all.”
While the attention is on Mack, left guard Joel Bitonio recognizes the challenge Chicago’s defensive front will present.
“They have some really, really talented players up front,” left guard Joel Bitonio said. “You know that you have to put a game plan in for those guys and trust your fundamentals and your coaching and just get ready. I think another thing on their front is they’re so relentless and they finish blocks.
“A lot of times you double team a guy like Khalil Mack and he might slow down a little bit, but he finds ways to win, and he’ll work his way around to make that extra play.”
Quote of the day – “I would say it’s a lot better than his tackling technique.” Left guard Joel Bitonio on Baker Mayfield’s one-handed block against the Texans.
Injury report – FULL: WR Odell Beckham Jr. (knee), QB Baker Mayfield (left shoulder), WR Anthony Schwartz (knee), LB Malcolm Smith (knee); LIMITED: LG Joel Bitonio (back), DE Jadeveon Clowney (knee), RT Jack Conklin (knee), LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (knee), RB Demetric Felton (hip); DNP: C J.C. Tretter (knee), LT Jedrick Wills (ankle), OT Chris Hubbard (triceps), LB Sione Takitaki (hamstring), LB Tony Fields II (illness)
Up next – Practice Friday
