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Below, we analyze the snap counts on offense for the Cleveland Browns' Week 3 game against the Oakland Raiders.
Quarterback
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| QB |
Josh McCown |
75 | 100% | 28-of-49 (57.1%) for 341 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT. |
It's easy to knock head coach Mike Pettine for the decision to go with the veteran quarterback. Josh McCown was definitely rusty for the first quarter and a half, and the lack of a spark offensively brought out the boo birds and the chants for Johnny Manziel. McCown played better in the second half and started to find his rhythm when Cleveland spread the receivers wide. Once McCown started going deep several times, the shorter routes started breaking for big yardage too. Cleveland should seriously consider using this offense moving forward, and handing the ball to the running back in Shotgun. Right now, the running game is a complete mess otherwise.
Running Back
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| RB | Duke Johnson | 40 | 53% | 4 carries, 3 yards, 0.8 avg. 6 catches, 32 yards (7 targets). |
| RB |
Isaiah Crowell |
33 | 44% | 10 carries, 36 yards, 3.6 avg. |
| FB | Malcolm Johnson | 20 | 27% | No stats registered. |
| RB |
Shaun Draughn |
2 | 3% | 1 catch, 2 yards (1 target). |
Can we knock the running backs too much, given what we're seeing out of the run blocking? Isaiah Crowell nearly had a touchdown run to the outside in the first half, but his dive was a yard short of the end zone and then he couldn't get a yard on two attempts from the one. Duke Johnson saw most of his work as a receiver this week, something that should be his niche moving forward.
Wide Receiver
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| WR | Travis Benjamin | 58 | 77% | 4 catches, 45 yards, 1 TD (10 targets). |
| WR | Andrew Hawkins | 55 | 73% | 2 catches, 18 yards (6 targets). |
| WR | Brian Hartline | 46 | 61% | 5 catches, 96 yards (7 targets). |
| WR | Taylor Gabriel | 24 | 32% | 3 catches, 28 yards (5 targets). |
| WR | Marlon Moore | 2 | 3% | 1 catch, 15 yards (1 target). |
The receivers stepped up big time for Josh McCown in the second half. Taylor Gabriel made a heck of a sprawling catch for a first down, Brian Hartline caught a pass with his legs, and Travis Benjamin had a nice extension-to-the-end-zone on a slant pass where he should've been stopped at the 1 yard line. Even Marlon Moore had a nice catch in traffic. Benjamin beat the defense deep several times, but McCown couldn't quite connect with him.
Tight End
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| TE | Gary Barnidge | 60 |
80% | 6 catches, 105 yards, 1 TD (10 targets). |
| TE | Jim Dray | 25 |
33% | No stats registered. |
| TE | Rob Housler | 8 |
11% | 0 catches (2 targets). |
Although he dropped a touchdown in the first half (tough catch to make in traffic), Gary Barnidge had a career day, continuing the trend of Oakland being gashed by opposing teams' No. 1 tight ends. Rob Housler doesn't seem to be offering much to the team with his roster spot -- how soon before he is cleared off the roster so E.J. Bibbs can get some reps?
Offensive Line
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| OL | Joe Thomas | 75 |
100% | |
| OL | Joel Bitonio | 75 | 100% | |
| OL | Alex Mack | 75 | 100% | |
| OL | Mitchell Schwartz | 75 | 100% | |
| OL | John Greco | 75 | 100% | |
| OL | Cameron Erving | 2 |
3% |
The Browns surrendered five sacks on the afternoon after Oakland had not logged a sack in their first two games. Just like last year, Cleveland went with the decision to often leave a fullback or tight end on the Raiders' outside linebackers, a decision that cost them. The offensive line still struggled to control the line of scrimmage and are underachieving through three games, except for LT Joe Thomas.
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Amount of Offensive Plays, By the Week
- Week 1: 71 plays
- Week 2: 49 plays
- Week 3: 75 plays
We'll have coverage on the defensive snap counts later on.