Below, we analyze the snap counts and stats on defense for the Cleveland Browns’ Week 3 game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Defensive Line
Pos |
Player |
Plays |
% |
Stats |
Pos |
Player |
Plays |
% |
Stats |
DL |
Oliver Vernon |
62 |
94% |
2 tackles, 2 assists (4 combined). 1 QH. |
DL |
Myles Garrett |
58 |
88% |
1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined). 1 sack, 1 QH, 1 forced fumble. |
DL |
Larry Ogunjobi |
53 |
80% |
2 tackles, 1 assist (3 combined). 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH. |
DL |
Sheldon Richardson |
48 |
73% |
2 tackles, 2 assists (4 combined). |
DL |
Daniel Ekuale |
16 |
24% |
No stats registered. |
DL |
Devaroe Lawrence |
13 |
20% |
1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined). |
DL |
Chad Thomas |
12 |
18% |
2 assists (2 combined). |
DL |
Genard Avery |
2 |
3% |
1 tackle (1 combined). |
- The Browns and their defensive line did a solid job stopping the Rams’ running game, as Todd Gurley and Malcolm Brown combined for 17 carries for 50 yards (2.94 YPC).
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Myles Garrett had a tougher assignment this week in veteran Andrew Whitworth, but the Browns wisely let him go over to the other side on certain downs. That paid off big at the end of the first half, when Garrett just got a piece of Jared Goff from behind, leading to a fumble (and a field goal) that gave Cleveland a halftime lead.
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Chris Smith did not play this week. Genard Avery was active for the first time and played two snaps; he made one tackle.
Linebacker
Pos |
Player |
Plays |
% |
Stats |
Pos |
Player |
Plays |
% |
Stats |
LB |
Joe Schobert |
66 |
100% |
3 tackles, 3 assists (6 combined). 1 pass defended, 1 fumble recovery. |
LB |
Mack Wilson |
66 |
100% |
3 tackles, 2 assists (5 combined). |
- Right off the bat, the Browns threw Mack Wilson into Christian Kirksey’s spot for all 66 snaps of the game. The rookie did a very good job, as PFF points out; and nearly came away with an athletic diving interception.
Mack Wilson earned some positive marks in the run game and should finish reviews with a solid overall grade. He recorded multiple defensive stops and zero missed tackles on first review.
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Joe Schobert also had another solid game. He scooped up the first half fumble in stride to set Cleveland up in field goal range; and then when the Rams were trying to seal the game in the fourth quarter, his drop in zone coverage forced a tip, which led to an interception that gave the offense a chance to tie it.
Cornerback
Pos |
Player |
Plays |
% |
Stats |
Pos |
Player |
Plays |
% |
Stats |
CB |
T.J. Carrie |
66 |
100% |
6 tackles, 1 assist (7 combined). 1 INT, 2 passes defended. |
CB |
Terrance Mitchell |
66 |
100% |
4 tackles (4 combined). 2 TFL. |
CB |
Juston Burris |
66 |
100% |
4 tackles (4 combined). 1 INT, 1 pass defended. |
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T.J. Carrie, Terrance Mitchell, and Juston Burris played every snap. It is particularly noteworthy for Burris, who wasn’t signed to the team until Friday (although he was with the team during the offseason). Burris came away with the late interception off of Schobert’s tip.
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Carrie was beat once by Cooper Kupp for a touchdown, where he was clearly frozen. However, later on, he continued fighting and made a diving interception that, in an ideal world, would have been the turning point of the game.
Safety
Pos |
Player |
Plays |
% |
Stats |
Pos |
Player |
Plays |
% |
Stats |
S |
Jermaine Whitehead |
66 |
100% |
3 tackles, 1 assist (4 combined). 1 pass defended. |
S |
Eric Murray |
66 |
100% |
3 tackles, 2 assists (5 combined). |
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Eric Murray and Jermaine Whitehead also played every snap on defense. Whitehead has gained the reputation of being the player who fans seem to hate on defense, and he did himself no favors this week with a late personal foul hit on Goff, and then getting beat by Kupp for his second touchdown of the game.