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Below, we analyze the snap counts on defense for the Cleveland Browns' Week 7 game against the St. Louis Rams.
Defensive Line
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| DL | Randy Starks | 27 | 51% | 1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined). 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 2 quarterback hits. |
| DL | Desmond Bryant | 26 | 49% | 1 tackle (1 combined). 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 1 quarterback hit. |
| DL | Xavier Cooper |
26 | 49% | 2 assists (2 combined). |
| DL | Jamie Meder | 24 | 45% | 2 tackles, 2 assists (4 combined). |
| DL | Danny Shelton | 21 | 40% | No stats registered. |
| DL | John Hughes | 21 | 40% | 1 assist (1 combined). |
The Browns maintained a near-equal distribution of reps for their defensive linemen, but how necessary is that when there were only 53 snaps the entire game? Why is Jamie Meder on the field for more snaps than your first-round pick, Danny Shelton? Randy Starks and Desmond Bryant each logged sacks, with Starks' sack coming at an opportune time.
Outside Linebacker
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| OLB | Nate Orchard | 34 | 64% | 2 assists (2 combined). |
| OLB | Paul Kruger | 23 | 43% | 1 assist (1 combined). |
| OLB |
Armonty Bryant |
23 | 43% | 2 tackles, 1 assist (3 combined). 1 tackle for loss. |
| OLB |
Barkevious Mingo |
12 | 23% | 1 pass defended. |
Against an offensive line that gives up a lot of hits on their quarterback, Paul Kruger only saw the field for 43% of the snaps, and Barkevious Mingo is still pigeon-holed into a niche role.
Inside Linebacker
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| ILB | Karlos Dansby | 53 | 100% | 5 tackles, 2 assists (7 combined). 1 tackle for loss. |
| ILB | Christian Kirksey | 37 | 70% | 5 tackles, 2 assists (7 combined). |
| ILB | Tank Carder | 16 | 30% | 1 tackle (1 combined). |
I thought Karlos Dansby played another solid game. With Craig Robertson inactive again, Tank Carder continued to see some reps on defense. Robertson is expected back next week and could significantly eat in to Christian Kirksey's reps.
Safety
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| S | Donte Whitner | 53 | 100% | 5 tackles, 1 assist (6 combined). 1 forced fumble. |
| S | Jordan Poyer | 49 | 92% | 5 tackles, 5 assists (10 combined). 1 tackle for loss, 1 fumble recovery. |
The tackling of the Browns in general was poor at the end of the game on Todd Gurley, but Donte Whitner did force a fumble that was recovered by Jordan Poyer. Poyer led the team in tackles and also at least attempted to deliver a jarring hit on Nick Foles' only deep completion of the game.
Cornerback
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| CB |
Tramon Williams |
52 | 98% | 1 assist (1 combined). |
| CB | Pierre Desir | 52 | 98% | 1 tackle (1 combined). |
| CB | K'Waun Williams | 33 | 62% | 1 assist (1 combined). |
The Rams hardly threw to their wide receivers, and the tackling stats above indicate that. Tavon Austin did fake out Tramon Williams pretty hard on a comeback route, and Pierre Desir was victimized on back-to-back plays late in the third quarter to set up the Rams' first touchdown of the game. Hopefully Joe Haden and Tashaun Gipson can make their way back this week.
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Amount of Defensive Plays, By the Week
- Week 1: 61 plays
- Week 2: 80 plays
- Week 3: 71 plays
- Week 4: 65 plays
- Week 5: 70 plays*
- Week 6: 84 plays*
- Week 7: 53 plays