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Browns’ defensive snap counts, stats, and notes: Week 2

Malcolm Smith plays well at linebacker, and Grant Delpit makes his NFL debut.

By Chris Pokorny
/ new
Houston Texans v Cleveland Browns Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Below, we analyze the snap counts and stats on defense for the Cleveland Browns’ Week 2 game against the Houston Texans.

Defensive Line

Pos Player Plays % Stats
Pos Player Plays % Stats
DL Myles Garrett 49 80% 4 assists (4 combined).
DL Jadeveon Clowney 46 75% 1 tackle, 2 assists (3 combined). 1 TFL, 2 QH.
DL Malik Jackson 46 75% 4 assists (4 combined).
DL Malik McDowell 37 61% 2 tackles (2 combined).
DL Takk McKinley 30 49% 1 tackle, 2 assists (3 combined). 1 TFL.
DL Jordan Elliott 24 39% 1 tackle (1 combined).
DL Joe Jackson 8 13% 1 tackle (1 combined).
DL Andrew Billings 6 10% No stats registered.
  • It was an underwhelming day for Myles Garrett, who couldn’t get the best of Laremy Tunsil. I know that Tunsil is good, but with how much the Browns move Garrett around, Cleveland’s defense has been desperately missing having a better sense of pressure from the defensive line for these first two weeks.
  • Jadeveon Clowney seems to be playing the late-season Olivier Vernon role from a year ago: he’s not necessarily making highlight-reel plays, but he’s solid, including against the run.
  • Per PFF, “Malik Jackson was the Browns’ most impressive pass rusher, notching three pressures in 24 pass-rushing snaps on PFF’s first-run analysis.” Malik McDowell also had another good outing:

Linebacker

Pos Player Plays % Stats
Pos Player Plays % Stats
LB Malcolm Smith 58 95% 4 tackles, 4 assists (8 combined). 1 TFL, 1 INT, 1 pass defended.
LB Mack Wilson 25 41% 2 tackles, 2 assists (4 combined).
LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah 18 30% 2 tackles (2 combined). 1 pass defended.
LB Sione Takitaki 16 26% 1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined). 1 TFL.
LB Elijah Lee 11 18% 1 tackle (1 combined).
  • With Anthony Walker down, veteran Malcolm Smith got the start and delivered the best defensive performance of the game for the Browns. He received a grade of 78.7 from PFF, the highest mark on defense, and led the team in tackles. He also had a key interception in the second half to set Cleveland up for a two-possession lead.
  • Rookie Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah only played 18 snaps, and PFF says that all of those snaps came inside the box.
  • Mack Wilson received a grade of 77.8 from PFF, second-best on defense.

Cornerback

Pos Player Plays % Stats
Pos Player Plays % Stats
CB Greg Newsome 60 98% 1 tackle, 2 assists (3 combined). 1 pass defended.
CB Denzel Ward 60 98% 4 tackles (4 combined).
CB Troy Hill 37 61% 1 tackle (1 combined). 1 TFL.
  • Denzel Ward (45.4) and Troy Hill (48.3) both graded poorly at cornerback by PFF. It’s rough to see a lot of highly-drafted talent or highly-signed free agents performing at an underwhelming level to begin the year.
  • PFF says that Ward was targeted 7 times, allowing 6 catches for 99 yards. Hill was targeted 4 times, allowing 3 catches for 44 yards.
  • Rookie Greg Newsome was targeted twice, allowing 1 catch for 2 yards.
  • Greedy Williams only played on special teams.

Safety

Pos Player Plays % Stats
Pos Player Plays % Stats
S John Johnson 61 100% 2 tackles, 2 assists (4 combined).
S Ronnie Harrison 53 87% 5 tackles, 2 assists (7 combined). 1 TFL.
S Grant Delpit 26 43% 3 tackles, 2 assists (5 combined). 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 FF.
  • John Johnson III (42.4) was among the Browns’ worst-graded defenders. Two weeks in, and Johnson has yet to find his footing despite a solid camp.
  • The player who did have a nice impact was Grant Delpit, making his NFL debut. He was a big part of the Browns’ defensive gameplan, playing 43% of the snaps and showing great closing speed on a few plays, including a sack.
  • M.J. Stewart did not see any defensive snaps this week.

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