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Browns’ defensive snap counts, stats, and PFF notes: Preseason Week 3

Cleveland’s defense dominates in a shutout win.

By Chris Pokorny
Philadelphia Eagles v Cleveland Browns Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images

Below, we analyze the snap counts and stats on defense for the Cleveland Browns’ Week 3 preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Defensive Line

Pos Player Plays % Stats
Pos Player Plays % Stats
DL Caleb Brantley 35 52% 1 tackle (1 combined). 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 pass defended.
DL Nate Orchard 32 48% No stats registered.
DL Chris Smith 26 39% 1 tackle (1 combined). 1 sack, 1 TFL, 2 QH.
DL Larry Ogunjobi 26 39% 1 assist (1 combined). 1 fumble recovery.
DL Emmanuel Ogbah 24 36% 1 fumble recovery.
DL Myles Garrett 24 36% 3 tackles (3 combined). 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 2 QH, 1 safety.
DL Jamie Meder 24 36% 1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined).
DL Daniel Ekuale 18 27% 3 tackles (3 combined). 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH.
DL Carl Nassib 17 25% 2 tackles, 1 assist (3 combined). 1 QH.
DL Chad Thomas 15 22% No stats registered.
  • The Browns’ defensive line made their presence known against Philly, logging 5 sacks as a unit.
  • Per Pro Football Focus, DE Myles Garrett “recorded five pressures (two of which were sacks) in just 15 pass-rush attempts” and “has now recorded eight pressures in his 27 total preseason pass-rush attempts.”
  • Rookie DE Chad Thomas isn’t getting a lot of work in these games, so you have to wonder how much of a role the rookie third-round pick will have early on in the year.

Linebacker

Pos Player Plays % Stats
Pos Player Plays % Stats
LB B.J. Bello 26 39% 3 tackles, 1 assist (4 combined). 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH.
LB Jermaine Grace 25 37% 1 tackle (1 combined).
LB Joe Schobert 25 37% 2 tackles (2 combined).
LB Christian Kirksey 24 36% 1 tackle, 3 assists (4 combined).
LB Justin Currie 23 34% No stats registered.
LB Jamie Collins 14 21% 1 assist (1 combined). 1 QH, 1 INT.
LB Genard Avery 14 21% 1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined). 1 sack, 1 forced fumble.
LB James Burgess 11 16% 2 tackles, 1 assist (3 combined). 1 TFL.
LB Mychal Kendricks 11 16% 1 tackle (1 combined).
  • It was a big day for rookie LB Genard Avery. Per PFF, Avery had 3 pressures in 10 pass-rushing attempts; unfortunately, now an injury will keep him out for a bit.
  • Mychal Kendricks didn’t get too many snaps against his former team. Of the team’s starting linebacker, Christian Kirksey and Joe Schobert saw the most reps; Jamie Collins did have a key goal line interception to preserve the first half shutout.
  • PFF gave Collins a game grade of 94.4, the second-highest defensive mark for Cleveland. Genard Avery had the 5th-highest amount at 91.0.

Cornerback

Pos Player Plays % Stats
Pos Player Plays % Stats
CB Denzel Rice 34 51% 1 tackle (1 combined). 1 pass defended.
CB Mike Jordan 33 49% 1 tackle (1 combined).
CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun 33 49% 2 tackles, 1 assist (3 combined). 1 INT, 1 pass defended.
CB Terrance Mitchell 32 48% 1 tackle (1 combined). 1 pass defended, 1 forced fumble.
CB T.J. Carrie 31 46% 2 tackles (2 combined).
CB Jeremiah McKinnon 29 43% 2 tackles (2 combined). 1 pass defended.
CB Denzel Ward 5 7% 3 tackles (3 combined).
  • Terrance Mitchell was a machine against the Eagles, logging a grade of 95.6 by PFF:
  • We list Briean Boddy-Calhoun at cornerback, but he actually started at safety with Damarious Randall being a late scratch. Boddy-Calhoun had an interception and a game grade of 92.5, the 4th highest defensive grade on the day.

Safety

Pos Player Plays % Stats
Pos Player Plays % Stats
S Simeon Thomas 23 34% 2 tackles (2 combined).
S Jabrill Peppers 23 34% 3 tackles (3 combined). 1 TFL.
S Montrel Meander 23 34% 1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined).
S Derrick Kindred 22 33% 1 tackle (1 combined).
S Derron Smith 21 31% 1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined).
S Elijah Campbell 14 21% 1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined).
  • This PFF stat doesn’t necessarily belong with the safeties exclusively, but I’ll highlight it here:

The Browns pass coverage surrendered just a 54.9 passer rating on the night, but continued last year’s trend of allowing production over the middle of the field. Eagles quarterbacks were 10-of-11 for 82 yards and 97.7 passer rating when targeting the middle of the field.

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