/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48496231/usa-today-9035649.0.jpg)
Below, we analyze the snap counts on offense for the Cleveland Browns' Week 17 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Defensive Line
Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
DL | Danny Shelton | 28 | 50% | 1 assist (1 combined). |
DL | Desmond Bryant | 28 | 50% | 1 tackle (1 combined). |
DL | Randy Starks | 27 | 48% | 2 tackles (2 combined). |
DL | Xavier Cooper | 25 | 45% | No stats registered. |
DL | Jamie Meder | 15 | 27% | 1 assist (1 combined). |
DL | John Hughes | 7 | 12% | 1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined). |
In the finale, John Hughes and Jamie Meder drew the short stick in terms of playing time. As a whole, the Steelers only had 19 carries for 30 yards (1.9 YPC). The team's improved run defense will not even register as a footnote to fans, but there were some marginal improvements over the past month or so.
Outside Linebacker
Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
OLB | Armonty Bryant Armonty BryantNate Orchard | 43 | 77% | 2 tackles, 1 assist (3 combined). |
OLB | Armonty Bryant Armonty BryantNate Orchard Armonty Bryant Armonty BryantNate OrchardPaul Kruger | 29 | 52% | No stats registered. |
OLB | Cam Johnson |
28 | 50% | 2 tackles, 1 assist (3 combined). |
OLB | Barkevious Mingo | 12 | 21% | No stats registered. |
I know it's tough to sack Ben Roethlisberger, but for the entire game, the Browns only got 1 quarterback hit on him, and that came from an inside linebacker. The fact that Cam Johnson, promoted from the practice squad this week, played more % snaps in a game than Barkevious Mingo did all year tells you all you need to know about what the coaching staff thought of Mingo.
Inside Linebacker
Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
ILB | Karlos Dansby | 54 | 96% | 5 tackle, 2 assists (7 combined). 1 quarterback hit, 1 forced fumble. |
ILB | Christian Kirksey | 34 | 61% | 1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined). |
ILB | Craig Robertson | 22 | 39% | 3 tackles (3 combined). 1 interception, 1 pass defended, 1 fumble recovery. |
ILB | Tank Carder | 2 |
4% | No stats registered. |
The Browns' linebackers did a good job in pass coverage, and Craig Robertson had himself a heck of a game, twice setting the offense up with great field position off of turnovers. Incredibly, his efforts led to zero points off of turnovers, as Austin Davis couldn't convert a fourth down conversion and was intercepted on the other drive.
Safety
Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
S | Tashaun Gipson | 54 | 96% | 3 tackles (3 combined). |
S | Donte Whitner |
52 | 93% | 1 tackle (1 combined). |
S | Jordan Poyer |
35 | 62% | 3 tackles (3 combined). 1 interception, 2 passes defended. |
S | Ibraheim Campbell |
2 | 4% | No stats registered. |
With the cornerback position thin, the Browns had either Tashaun Gipson or Jordan Poyer playing some cornerback. Poyer looked impressive when he had the ability to jump some routes, but he also allowed Antonio Brown to catch two very well-thrown passes when he was the underneath double coverage defender.
Cornerback
Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
CB | Pierre Desir | 56 | 100% | 5 tackles (5 combined). |
CB | K'Waun Williams | 38 | 68% | 4 tackles (4 combined). |
CB | Johnson Bademosi |
25 | 45% | 1 pass defended. |
No defensive snaps for Justin Gilbert. Pierre Desir was the only player to see 100% of the snaps on defense, but it was out of necessity. Johnson Bademosi finally broke up a pass, which I was glad to see because there have been so many times where he's had tight coverage yet still allowed a big completion.
---
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
- Week 8: 81 plays
- Week 9: 67 plays
- Week 10: 66 plays
- Week 11: Bye Week
- Week 12: 59 plays
- Week 13: 57 plays
- Week 14: 56 plays
- Week 15: 71 plays
- Week 16: 54 plays
- Week 17: 56 plays