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Browns' Defensive Snap Counts and Stats vs. Giants

Looking at the defensive snap counts in the Browns' 27-13 loss to the Giants.

By Chris Pokorny
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Below, we analyze the snap counts and stats on defense for the Cleveland Browns' Week 12 game against the New York Giants.

Defensive Line

Pos Player Plays % Stats
DL Emmanuel Ogbah 49 88% 1 tackle, 2 assists (3 combined). 1 QH, 1 pass defended.
DL Carl Nassib 47 84% 3 tackles (3 combined).
DL Danny Shelton 36 64% 1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined).
DL Jamie Meder 31 55% 1 tackle, 4 assists (5 combined). 1 QH.
DL Stephen Paea 21 38% No stats registered.
DL Xavier Cooper
 20 36% 1 tackle, 2 assists (3 combined).

The player receiving the biggest boost (percentage wise) in playing time this week was Carl Nassib, who was on the field for the majority of the game. Cleveland's defense has gained a little bit of an edge the past two weeks, and it's nice to see both Nassib and Emmanuel Ogbah be a part of that. The Browns were beat by a wide receiver end around to allow the Giants to get over 100 yards rushing on the day, but with respect to the Giants' running backs, they were held in check.

Outside Linebacker

Pos Player Plays % Stats
OLB Jamie Collins
 56 100% 3 tackles, 5 assists (8 combined).
OLB Corey Lemonier
 11 20% 1 tackle (1 combined). 1 sack, 1 QH, 1 TFL, 1 pass defended.
OLB Cam Johnson 9 16% No stats registered.

When Odell Beckham scored his first touchdown, I noticed in live action that Jamie Collins was dogging it and not really trying to chase Beckham down. Some may think he would've had no chance to get there, but I think a hustle play could've gotten Beckham pushed out of bounds near the goal line. Corey Lemonier was active this week in favor of Tyrone Holmes, and the decision paid off. Despite having just 11 snaps, Lemonier had a sack and a pass defended. Joe Schobert did not see any defensive snaps this week.

Inside Linebacker

Pos Player Plays % Stats
ILB Christian Kirksey 56 100% 3 tackles, 7 assists (10 combined). 1 TFL.
ILB Demario Davis 9 16% 2 assists (2 combined).

The biggest decrease in playing time this week was with Demario Davis. That means Cleveland often went with a defensive unit that featured:

4 defensive linemen
2 linebackers (Kirksey & Collins)
5 defensive backs

Safety

Pos Player Plays % Stats
S Ed Reynolds
 56 100% 2 tackles, 3 assists (5 combined).
S Derrick Kindred
 54 96% 1 assist (1 combined).

Despite being limited in practice all week, Ed Reynolds started again and for the third straight game provided stability at the position. If you tell me that the Browns found a potential starting safety -- nothing spectacular, but one less urgent hole to fill -- in the final half of the season, that will be so huge for this franchise in 2017. Even Derrick Kindred seems to have settled in well, although one could argue that the two quarterbacks the teams have faced over the past two games just haven't taken advantage as they could have (Roethlisberger due to the wind, and Manning because he was off on Sunday).

Cornerback

Pos Player Plays % Stats
CB Joe Haden 56 100% 2 tackles (2 combined). 1 pass defended.
CB Jamar Taylor
 56 100% 1 tackles, 1 assist (2 combined). 1 QH.
CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun 45 80% 4 tackles (4 combined). 1 TFL, 2 passes defended.
CB Marcus Burley
 4 7% 1 tackle (1 combined).

Last year, in the few games he was healthy, I got on Joe Haden's case because he didn't "win" enough battles. The same is holding true this year. He was fortunate early on not to have been beaten twice by Odell Beckham for big plays, but as the game went on, Beckham got him for a couple of big ones including yards after the catch. Briean Boddy-Calhoun was beat for another touchdown, but had fair coverage on the play and overall displays that type of moxy and confidence I never saw from a Justin Gilbert or Pierre Desir. The Giants just flat out did not even try to target Jamar Taylor.

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