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Browns’ offensive snap counts & stats: Preseason Week 3

More good reviews on DeShone Kizer and Kevin Hogan, and an update on how the wide receiver competition is doing.

NFL: Cleveland Browns at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Below, we analyze the snap counts and stats on offense for the Cleveland Browns' Week 3 preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Quarterback

Pos Player Plays % Stats
Pos Player Plays % Stats
QB DeShone Kizer 36 47% 6-of-18 for 93 yards, 1 INT.
QB Kevin Hogan 21 28% 7-of-13 for 82 yards, 1 TD. 5 rushes, 19 yards.
QB Cody Kessler 18 24% 6-of-10 for 48 yards. 1 rush, 5 yards.

Notes:

  • Just about every person I’ve talked to had the same perception about DeShone Kizer’s stat line at the end of the half: it was not even close to being a good indicator as to how well he played. Think of the dropped pass by Kenny Britt, and the well-placed ball that Randall Telfer couldn’t bring in along the sideline. There were also a couple of smart throwaways.
  • There are still teaching points in this one, such as what he did on the interception and a couple of times when he was a hair late in getting the snap off (the quarter ran out once, and a timeout was called another time).
  • This was Cody Kessler’s chance to show he could be an enticing backup, but instead he was a source of frustration again. He also took an 11-yard sack to take the team out of makeable field goal range in the third quarter.
  • Kevin Hogan has the distinct advantage of being a mobile quarterback, and his arm motion (as I’ve said before) is leaps and bounds better than a year ago. You still have to consider the type of competition he was going against, but good for him leading the team to victory. He might remember this game for a long time, depending on how his career goes.

Running Back

Pos Player Plays % Stats
Pos Player Plays % Stats
RB Terrence Magee 28 37% 5 carries, 14 yards (2.8 YPC). 2 catches, 14 yards (5 targets).
RB Isaiah Crowell 25 33% 11 carries, 40 yards (3.6 YPC).
RB Duke Johnson 13 17% 3 carries, 43 yards (14.3 YPC). 1 fumble.
RB Matthew Dayes 11 14% 3 carries, 13 yards (4.3 YPC).
RB Danny Vitale 4 5% No stats registered.

Notes:

  • The Browns’ gameplan for what they wanted to see in the third preseason game was clear: the intermediate and deep passing game, combined with a better commitment to the run. Mission accomplished.
  • It was a little frustrating seeing Isaiah Crowell be tripped up on a few plays like we’re so used to seeing, but he finished the day with a decent stat line.
  • Duke Johnson had the team’s biggest run of the preseason, coming on a 3rd-and-2 handoff from Shotgun. Unfortunately, he fumbled a little bit later. We’ll give him the excuse of a slick ball in the rain.

Wide Receiver

Pos Player Plays % Stats
Pos Player Plays % Stats
WR Corey Coleman 30 39% 4 catches, 66 yards (8 targets).
WR Kenny Britt 30 39% 1 catch, 13 yards (2 targets).
WR Rashard Higgins 24 32% 0 catches (1 target).
WR Josh Boyce 23 30% 0 catches (1 target).
WR Rannell Hall 19 25% 2 catches, 17 yards (5 targets).
WR Ricardo Louis 15 20% No stats registered.
WR Jordan Leslie 15 20% 4 catches, 34 yards (6 targets). 1 TD.
WR Jordan Payton 9 12% 0 catches (2 targets).
WR Rasheed Bailey 8 11% No stats registered.
WR Richard Mullaney 7 9% 1 catch, 10 yards (2 targets).
WR Mario Alford 6 8% No stats registered.

Notes:

  • This was a breakout game for Corey Coleman. I thought he was known for his work after the catch, but against the Buccaneers, he made several very nice grabs for a player of his size. He also had a 16-yard catch that was called off due to offensive pass interference, which turned out to be a bad call upon review.
  • Kenny Britt has had a terrible preseason, and it continued with a red zone drop and then a 15-yard personal foul penalty in the second quarter.
  • Ricardo Louis didn’t get on the stat sheet, but remember that he was held on a post pattern. Kizer delivered a pass right on the money, and without the holding, Louis might have been off for the races for a long touchdown.
  • Rannell Hall got some early playing time and delivered well. Although he was out of bounds, he made a great effort on an early pass from Kizer in the end zone. Later on, he finished his block well on a defensive back during Duke Johnson’s big run.
  • Jordan Leslie made some nice grabs later, and it’s clear that quarterbacks are comfortable with him on the back end of the depth chart.

Tight End

Pos Player Plays % Stats
Pos Player Plays % Stats
TE Seth DeValve 39 51% 4 catches, 57 yards (4 targets).
TE Randall Telfer 35 46% 0 catches (2 targets).
TE David Njoku 28 37% 1 catch, 12 yards (2 targets).
TE J.P. Holtz 6 8% No stats registered.

Notes:

  • This preseason, Seth DeValve has been the most consistent receiving tight end. David Njoku is still trying to find his pocket and has only caught a couple of tight end screen passes.
  • The Browns should not be sending Randall Telfer on so many deep routes during the regular season. It hasn’t worked out this preseason for him; it’s no fault of his own, though, as the passes are intended for a very athletic receiving tight end, which he is not.

Offensive Line

Pos Player Plays % Stats
Pos Player Plays % Stats
OL Shon Coleman 45 59%
OL Marcus Martin 39 51%
OL Austin Reiter 39 51%
OL Spencer Drango 39 51%
OL J.C. Tretter 36 47%
OL John Greco 36 47%
OL Kevin Zeitler 36 47%
OL Rod Johnson 36 47%
OL Joe Thomas 30 39%
OL Anthony Fabiano 21 28%
OL Zach Sterup 18 24%

Notes:

  • The Buccaneers registered 2 sacks and 3 quarterback hits.
  • Joe Thomas made his first start of the preseason and was called for a false start. He was not sent for a lap.