:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67621381/1279709783.jpg.0.jpg)
Below, we analyze the snap counts and stats on defense for the Cleveland Browns’ Week 5 game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Defensive Line
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| DL | Myles Garrett | 53 | 93% | 3 tackles, 1 assist (4 combined). 1 sack, 1 TFL, 4 QH. |
| DL | Olivier Vernon | 48 | 86% | 1 assist (1 combined). 1 QH. |
| DL | Sheldon Richardson | 47 | 84% | 2 tackles, 1 assist (3 combined). |
| DL | Vincent Taylor | 31 | 55% | 1 assist (1 combined). |
| DL | Adrian Clayborn | 21 | 38% | No stats registered. |
| DL | Porter Gustin | 15 | 27% | No stats registered. |
| DL | Jordan Elliott | 9 | 16% | No stats registered. |
- For once, Myles Garrett wasn’t the Browns’ highest-graded defender by PFF. However, his impact on the game was still profound, as he registered a sack and had four hits on Philip Rivers. Even though the Colts were missing their left tackle, I was stunned with how often Rivers was being hit or hanging onto the ball — it was a pretty disappointing performance for him (while also being a big credit to Garrett).
- Per PFF, Garrett had five of the Browns’ 11 total pressures. Olivier Vernon had a disruption on Rivers.
- The Browns were thin at defensive tackle later in the game as Sheldon Richardson was banged up and Jordan Elliott had to leave early. Vincent Taylor ended up playing 55% of the snaps.
Linebacker
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| LB | B.J. Goodson | 47 | 84% | 3 tackles, 6 assists (9 combined). |
| LB | Malcolm Smith | 37 | 66% | 5 tackles (5 combined). 1 pass defended. |
| LB | Mack Wilson | 19 | 34% | 1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined). |
| LB | Sione Takitaki | 15 | 27% | 3 tackles, 1 assist (4 combined). |
| LB | Jacob Phillips | 9 | 16% | 1 tackle (1 combined). |
- Mack Wilson still only played 34% of the snaps.
- Malcolm Smith flashed on a couple of plays. As I said heading into the game, it’s nice to see some of the linebackers starting to show up with a key play here and there.
- B.J. Goodson led the Browns with 9 tackles. Through 5 games, he leads the team with 36 tackles.
Cornerback
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| CB | Denzel Ward | 56 | 100% | 4 tackles, 1 assist (5 combined). 1 pass defended. |
| CB | Terrance Mitchell | 56 | 100% | 1 tackle (1 combined). |
| CB | Kevin Johnson | 41 | 73% | 3 tackles, 2 assists (5 combined). |
| CB | M.J. Stewart | 1 | 2% | No stats registered. |
- I thought the Browns’ outside cornerbacks, Denzel Ward and Terrance Mitchell, continued doing a solid job in coverage, as more responsibility is being put on them to play in isolation. They’ll be in those roles a lot too, as Greedy Williams is now on injured reserve.
- I didn’t even know that Kevin Johnson was playing this week, so the biggest surprise of the snap count sheet for me was seeing that he finally became the nickelback this week. He played 73% of the snaps, and all of the playing time for Tavierre Thomas and M.J. Stewart went away.
Safety
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
| S | Andrew Sendejo | 56 | 100% | 4 tackles (4 combined). |
| S | Ronnie Harrison | 37 | 66% | 1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined). 1 INT, 2 passes defended. |
| S | Sheldrick Redwine | 19 | 34% | 1 INT, 1 pass defended. |
- The Browns’ highest-graded defender this week was...(drumroll) Ronnie Harrison! PFF gave him a grade of 79.6, as he started in place of the injured Karl Joseph. Sadly, Harrison had to leave the game with a concussion. He almost had another interception earlier in the game, and had his hands on a ball last week too.
- Sheldrick Redwine came in to replace Harrison and promptly came away with an interception. Things that make you slowly bob your head up and down...(the play of Harrison and Redwine).