:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/4773895/158030499.0.jpg)
The Browns' defense only had 54 snaps this week, which, off the top of my head, seems like the lowest amount they've had all season. That's a great sign for them; the Browns were already healthy heading into the game, and they didn't have to get overworked this week. Hopefully that means they can come out fresh against the Redskins this Sunday. The snap count distributions for the Browns' defenders against the Chiefs are listed below. [Week 14 offensive snap counts for Cleveland can be found here]
| Defensive Tackle |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahtyba Rubin | Billy Winn | Phil Taylor | John Hughes | Ishmaa'ily Kitchen |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 61% 33/54 plays |
63% 34/54 plays |
50% 27/54 plays |
35% 19/54 plays |
4% 2/54 plays |
Ahtyba Rubin: 1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined). 1 tackle for loss.
Phil Taylor: 1 tackle (1 combined). 1 tackle for loss.
John Hughes: 2 tackles, 1 assist (3 combined). 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 1 quarterback hit.
Billy Winn: 2 tackles, 1 assist (3 combined). 1 quarterback hit.
Ishmaa'ily Kitchen: 1 tackle (1 combined).
Thoughts: All of the defensive tackles got some nice production. Even Ishmaa'ily Kitchen, who was only in for two plays, registered a tackle on one of them. Phil Taylor hurt his ankle in the first quarter, but didn't end up missing much time before he returned. John Hughes was very active when he was in the game, displaying the type of energy that makes him worth a third-round rotational player.
| Defensive End |
||
|---|---|---|
| Jabaal Sheard | Juqua Parker | Frostee Rucker |
 |
 |
 |
| 96% 52/54 plays |
46% 25/54 plays |
44% 24/54 plays |
Jabaal Sheard: 1 tackle, 3 assists (4 combined). 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 2 quarterback hits.
Frostee Rucker: 4 tackles, 3 assists (7 combined). 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 1 quarterback hit.
Juqua Parker: 1 tackle (1 combined). 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 1 quarterback hit.
Thoughts: When the defensive ends were allowed to pin their ears back and feast on the quarterback in the second half, they delivered a lot of pressure. Together, the defensive ends combined for two sacks, three tackles for losses, and four quarterback hits. Juqua Parker had another sack that was taken away due to one of the worst roughing the passer calls by an official that you'll ever see.
| Linebacker |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| D'Qwell Jackson | Kaluka Maiava | James-Michael Johnson | Craig Robertson |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 100% 54/54 plays |
54% 29/54 plays |
54% 29/54 plays |
46% 25/54 plays |
D'Qwell Jackson: 4 tackles, 3 assists (7 combined). 0.5 sacks, 2 quarterback hits.
Craig Robertson: 1 tackle, 4 assists (5 combined).
Kaluka Maiava: 1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined). 0.5 sacks, 1 quarterback hit.
James-Michael Johnson: 2 assists (2 combined).
Thoughts: I loved seeing Craig Robertson deliver a legal stick to a Chiefs receiver who caught a pass and was hoping to lean forward for a first down. You can see the distribution of the Browns using the 4-3 vs. the nickel on almost an even split.
| Cornerback |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Haden | Sheldon Brown | Dimitri Patterson | Buster Skrine |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 100% 54/54 plays |
80% 43/54 plays |
46% 25/54 plays |
22% 12/54 plays |
Sheldon Brown: 1 pass defended.
Joe Haden: 3 tackles, 1 assist (4 combined).
Dimitri Patterson: 1 assist (1 combined).
Buster Skrine: 1 tackle (1 combined).
Thoughts: Based the amount of reps that Dimitri Patterson had, I would say that he automatically resumed his post as the team's nickel cornerback. The Browns seemed to use Buster Skrine a bit more later in the game; I'll have to check whether he replaced Brown, or if something else happened. Either way, once Dwayne Bowe went out early to an injury, the cornerbacks had good enough coverage to force Brady Quinn to eat it or throw incompletions.
| Safety |
||
|---|---|---|
| T.J. Ward | Usama Young | Tashaun Gipson |
 |
 |
 |
| 100% 54/54 plays |
52% 28/54 plays |
46% 25/54 plays |
Tashaun Gipson: 1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined). 1 interception, 1 pass defended.
T.J. Ward: 2 tackles, 2 assist (4 combined). 1 pass defended.
Usama Young: 2 tackles (2 combined).
Thoughts: I can't figure out what the Browns are doing with the other safety position this year. Usama Young was back as the starter this week, although he basically split reps with Tashaun Gipson. Gipson had a nice interception and return. T.J. Ward will get an unpleasant award in tomorrow's game review.
History of Snap Counts on Defense:
-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