Film Review: Browns’ first half vs. Jets, Part 2

In Part 1 of our film review of the first half of the Browns vs. Jets game, we left off with QB DeShone Kizer’s first interception (and second red zone turnover). That was with about four minutes left in the first half.

Play 7 - Missing DeValve in the Seam

After the interception, Cleveland’s defense forced another three-and-out, allowing QB DeShone Kizer and the offense to operate in the two-minute drill. This is a 1st-and-10 play that Kizer throws incomplete to WR Ricardo Louis on the right side. I understand that Kizer was going for here -- Cleveland was going no huddle, Louis had a one-on-one, and the throw isn’t terrible. In fact, I’d say that Louis does a very poor job coming back to the sideline. Out of his break, he turns around and stands motionless.

But this is similar to the play in Part 1, where Kizer missed TE David Njoku on a hitch and go. This time, it’s TE Seth DeValve who basically just runs straight up the seam. The single safety follows Kizer’s eyes, vacating the middle again while the Jets’ linebackers stay shallow, perhaps worried about Kizer scrambling again. Whether you blame Louis or Kizer, it feels like another missed opportunity here.

Play 8 - Nowhere to Throw It

On second down, QB DeShone Kizer hit TE Seth DeValve for a 6 yard gain. The play above is a 3rd-and-4. My emphasis here includes two things. First, we have three receivers all converging at the same spot, which I kind of hate.

Second, the Jets bring a three-man rush, and it looks like one of those Tom Brady plays where Kizer could’ve sat in the pocket for 10 seconds if he really wanted to. Instead, he rolls right and has to throw it away. If Kizer had recognized the lack of rushers here, he could’ve held on a little longer and maybe found a breakdown in coverage along the left side of the field (there was an extra receiver, not pictured, who was wide left).

Cleveland brought out K Zane Gonzalez, who pulled the 39-yard field goal, keeping it 0-0 with 0:31 in the half. You just knew the Jets were going to find a way to score before the half, didn’t you?

Play 9 - Missing on the Blitz

Cleveland was very aggressive all game with the blitz. This is a 2nd-and-10 play from the Jets 40 yard line with 0:17 to go. ILB Christian Kirksey lines up over the right guard and blitzes the center. This encourages the left guard to initially go to double team DE Emmanuel Ogbah on the edge, as LB James Burgess and S Jabrill Peppers blitz from the other side right up the middle. The right guard sees this at the last second and makes a last-second save, diving at the legs of Burgess, disrupting both he and Peppers’ blitz at McCown.

The only thing I could maybe say here is that Burgess or Peppers were a little undisciplined. They should not be taking the same exact path up the middle. Either Burgess should have angled more toward the right guard (leaving Peppers free), or Peppers should’ve wrapped around Burgess to the left side. Instead, it’s a 10-yard completion to the sideline (catch and preserving a timeout).

Play 10 - The Unnecessary Blitz

This is a situational blitz that I don’t get. The Jets had a 2nd-and-7 from the 47 yard line with 1 timeout left and 0:06 on the clock. Despite having that timeout, it was going to be tough for them to complete a 10-yard pass in the field of play and have time to call their final timeout. Therefore, I felt the Jets had two options: the Hail Mary, or throwing a quick pass to the sidelines.

We have to cover both situations, so I get the reason for not just bringing a three-man rush (i.e. leaves you vulnerable to the Hail Mary, where only three deep defenders were in the end zone). However, we decided to bring a double corner blitz from the spot where the three Jets’ receivers were, leaving them uncovered. Of course that’s going to be QB Josh McCown’s first ready, so the double blitz wasn’t going to catch him off guard.

On top of that, we ended up dropping a cornerback in zone coverage on the other side of the field, where no receivers were present. Shouldn’t that have been where we brought the blitzer? The Jets executed the play well, gaining 8 yards with 0:01 left on the clock. It was still surprising to see the Jets nail a 57-yard field goal, but I feel like the Browns should’ve made it more difficult for the Jets to get in range for that attempt given the time on the clock.

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Hopefully these two film review sessions have helped convey some of the reasons why QB DeShone Kizer was demoted Wednesday morning — QB Kevin Hogan will start this Sunday against the Texans.