Analyzing the Snap Counts in Chiefs vs. Browns (Offense)

The Browns blew out the Chiefs 30-7, which is the type of win we're not used to. Now it's time to reflect back on the playing time distributions for the offense. Before you look at the snap counts, ask yourself the following questions:

-Did the Browns really use a sixth offensive lineman for 10% of their snaps?
-How many offensive plays were Travis Benjamin and Joshua Cribbs utilized for?

Check out the snap distributions below, and let us know what your reactions are in the comments section.

Offensive Line
Joe Thomas	John Greco	Alex Mack	Shawn Lauvao	Mitchell Schwartz
100% 70/70 plays	100% 70/70 plays	100% 70/70 plays	100% 70/70 plays	100% 70/70 plays
Oniel Cousins
10% 7/70 plays

Thoughts: The entire starting unit played 100 percent of the snaps this week, with Oniel Cousins serving as an extra blocker on seven plays. The offensive line yielded three sacks and four quarterback hits. A couple of those sacks appeared to be coverage sacks.

Running Back / Fullback
Trent Richardson	Alex Smith	Montario Hardesty
70% 49/70 plays	53% 37/70 plays	27% 19/70 plays

Trent Richardson: 18 carries, 42 yards, 2.3 average, 2 touchdowns. 1 catch, 9 yards (2 targets).
Montario Hardesty: 10 carries, 52 yards, 5.2 average. 0 catches (1 target).
Alex Smith: No stats registered.

Thoughts: It was a mixed day for the Browns' running game. Upon my initial viewing, I'm not going to jump on Trent Richardson's back for another game with a low yards-per-carry average. There were a couple of plays where he gets hit in the backfield before he can really do anything. Sure, Montario Hardesty is the hot hand right now, but that's how I like him: he delivers in the opportunities the team gives him.

Pat Shurmur was upset about not giving Hardesty another goal line carry on one drive after there was a potential fumble (Hardesty claimed he didn't lose the ball). Hardesty also dropped a pass in the flat with a lot of room to run. For the second week in a row, I approve of the distribution rate between Richardson and Hardesty.

Wide Receiver
Josh Gordon	Greg Little	Mohamed Massaquoi	Travis Benjamin	Joshua Cribbs
81% 57/70 plays	79% 55/70 plays	29% 20/70 plays	7% 5/70 plays	7% 5/70 plays

Josh Gordon: 8 catches, 86 yards (12 targets).
Greg Little: 4 catch, 69 yards (7 targets). 1 carry, 17 yards.
Joshua Cribbs: 2 carries, 15 yards.
Travis Benjamin: 1 carry, 15 yard.
Mohamed Massaquoi: 0 catches (1 targets).

Thoughts: It's amazing how well Josh Gordon and Greg Little have been catching the ball and looking more polished over the past several weeks. Suddenly, I really don't care how much playing time guys like Mohamed Massaquoi, Travis Benjamin, Joshua Cribbs, Josh Cooper, or Jordan Norwood get. That doesn't mean we don't need any of those guys, but right now, Gordon and Little have helped eradicate the thought of the wide receiver position being a weakness. The Browns obviously got creative with the playbook this week, which is why three different receivers combined for 47 yards on 4 carries, an 11.75 yards per carry average.

Tight End
Benjamin Watson	Jordan Cameron
86% 60/70 plays	51% 36/70 plays

Benjamin Watson: 3 catches, 43 yards (5 targets).
Jordan Cameron: 1 catch, 10 yards (2 targets).

Thoughts: I'll try to mention this a little bit more in my game review, but one of the plays of the game came when Benjamin Watson fought to break up what looked to be a sure interception by the Chiefs. Watson had another productive game catching the ball, and Cameron got a nice reception too.

Quarterback
Brandon Weeden	Colt McCoy
93% 65/70 plays	7% 5/70 plays

Brandon Weeden: 17-of-30 for 217 yards. 1 carry, 15 yards.
Colt McCoy: 2 carries, -2 yards.

Thoughts: Awful stats for Colt McCoy against the Chiefs /sarc. McCoy came in for a couple of handoffs and kneeldowns on the final drive when the game was well out of reach. Brandon Weeden still faced a couple of the struggles he's had as of late (overthrow, tipped pass, holding onto the ball too long), but at the end of the day, he didn't turn the ball over and made enough of the right throws to contribute to a decisive 30-7 win. Weeden actually threw touchdown passes on back-to-back plays in the third quarter, but both plays were called back due to phantom officiating calls.

History of Snap Counts on Offense:

-Week 1: Philadelphia vs. Cleveland
-Week 2: Cleveland vs. Cincinnati
-Week 3: Buffalo vs. Cleveland
-Week 4: Cleveland vs. Baltimore
-Week 5: Cleveland vs. New York Giants
-Week 6: Cincinnati vs. Cleveland
-Week 7: Cleveland vs. Indianapolis
-Week 8: San Diego vs. Cleveland
-Week 9: Baltimore vs. Cleveland
-Week 11: Cleveland vs. Dallas
-Week 12: Pittsburgh vs. Cleveland
-Week 13: Cleveland vs. Oakland