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Below, we analyze the snap counts on defense for the Cleveland Browns' Week 3 game against the Oakland Raiders.
Defensive Line
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| DL | Danny Shelton | 44 |
62% | 1 tackle, 4 assists (5 combined). |
| DL | John Hughes | 40 |
56% | 1 fumble recovery. |
| DL | Randy Starks | 34 |
48% | 1 assist (1 combined). |
| DL | Xavier Cooper | 30 |
42% | 1 tackle (1 combined). |
| DL | Jamie Meder | 26 |
37% | 2 assists (2 combined). |
The Browns committed to stopping the run early, and I thought they did a fair job at it. As I'll mention later, the big issue in my opinion continues to be the safeties being way out of position or missing tackles at the second- and third-levels. With Desmond Bryant inactive, the linemen were unable to generate a pass rush.
Outside Linebacker
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| OLB | Paul Kruger | 56 |
79% | 2 assists (2 combined). |
| OLB | Armonty Bryant |
39 |
55% | 2 tackles, 1 assist (3 combined). 1 tackle for loss. |
| OLB | Barkevious Mingo | 26 |
37% | 2 tackles, 1 assist (3 combined). |
| OLB | Nate Orchard |
20 |
28% | 1 tackle (1 combined). |
Can somebody please find Paul Kruger? Anybody? He's looking like he did in his first year with the club instead of the man who was possessed in the preseason. Armonty Bryant had a couple of nice run stops early.
Inside Linebacker
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| ILB | Karlos Dansby | 71 |
100% | 5 tackles, 4 assists (9 combined). |
| ILB | Christian Kirksey | 44 |
62% | 2 tackles, 2 assists (4 combined). 1 forced fumble. |
| ILB | Craig Robertson | 18 |
25% | 2 tackles, 1 assist (3 combined). |
Christian Kirksey had the biggest defensive play of the game, forcing a fumble on WR Amari Cooper in the fourth quarter that allowed Cleveland to get back in the game.
Safety
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| S | Donte Whitner | 71 |
100% | 4 tackles, 1 assist (5 combined). 2 passes defended. |
| S | Tashaun Gipson | 64 |
90% | 3 tackles, 3 assists (6 combined). |
| S |
Jordan Poyer |
29 |
41% | 2 tackles (2 combined). |
The worst position on the team through three games is the safety position. Donte Whitner made another critical error on the Raiders' big run, and then Whitner and Tashaun Gipson combined to miss a tackle on fullback Marcell Reece's big catch-and-run. That's over 100 yards of offense by the Raiders in the second half that really should've just been a total of about 20 yards.
Cornerback
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| CB |
Tramon Williams |
71 |
100% |
3 tackles, 2 assists (5 combined). 1 pass defended. |
| CB | Joe Haden | 64 |
90% | 4 tackles (4 combined). |
| CB | Pierre Desir | 29 |
41% | 2 tackles (2 combined). 1 pass defended. |
| CB | Johnson Bademosi |
5 |
7% | No stats registered. |
Joe Haden claims that he hurt his ribs on the first play of the game and battled the rest of the way. Amari Cooper had his way with him early. When Haden had to leave briefly, Johnson Bademosi received snaps at cornerback before Justin Gilbert.
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Amount of Defensive Plays, By the Week
- Week 1: 61 plays
- Week 2: 80 plays
- Week 3: 71 plays