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Browns’ defensive snap counts, stats, and notes: Week 18

The defense held off Brandon Allen for most of the game.

Cincinnati Bengals v Cleveland Browns Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images

Below, we analyze the snap counts and stats on defense for the Cleveland Browns’ Week 18 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Defensive Line

Pos Player Plays % Stats
Pos Player Plays % Stats
DL Malik McDowell 39 72% 1 tackle (1 combined).
DL Jordan Elliott 36 67% 1 tackle, 2 assists (3 combined).
DL Tommy Togiai 34 63% 3 tackles (3 combined).
DL Myles Garrett 33 61% 1 tackle (1 combined). 1 sack, 1 TFL, 2 QH.
DL Jadeveon Clowney 32 59% 2 tackles (2 combined). 2 sacks, 1 TFL, 2 QH, 1 FF.
DL Ifeadi Odenigbo 24 44% 1 tackle, 2 assists (3 combined).
DL Porter Gustin 14 26% No stats registered.
DL Curtis Weaver 6 11% 1 assist (1 combined).
  • Per PFF, Jadeveon Clowney had 5 pressures and 3 knockdowns (including 2 sacks) against the Bengals. That was a big financial day for him two, because the two sacks kicked in an extra $250,000 bonus. He’ll be a free agent, and although it’d be nice to have him back, it’s not easy to always invest in certain players long-term while getting a guy like Clowney on a one-year rental.
  • With Malik Jackson out, Malik McDowell led the defensive line in snaps.
  • Myles Garrett notched his 16th sack of the season. It was a productive season for him, but having one sack in his final four games probably faded his chances of winning Defensive Player of the Year.

Linebacker

Pos Player Plays % Stats
Pos Player Plays % Stats
LB Jacob Phillips 46 85% 8 tackles, 1 assist (9 combined). 1 sack, 2 TFL, 1 QH, 2 passes defended.
LB Anthony Walker 37 69% 3 tackles, 4 assists (7 combined).
LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah 23 43% 1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined).
LB Mack Wilson 11 20% 1 tackle (1 combined).
  • JOK suffered a shin injury against the Bengals, which is why he played so few snaps. That paved the way for Jacob Phillips to see his most playing time of the season, so it was nice to get him some experience. Phillips blitzed three times, according to PFF, getting home once.

Cornerback

Pos Player Plays % Stats
Pos Player Plays % Stats
CB Greg Newsome 54 100% 2 tackles, 1 assist (3 combined).
CB A.J. Green 54 100% 3 tackles, 1 assist (4 combined).
CB Greedy Williams 41 76% 1 pass defended.
  • A.J. Green put on a solid performance, stepping in with Denzel Ward out. According to PFF, Green was targeted 7 times, but allowed only 1 catch for 2 yards. Of course, it helped that Brandon Allen was at quarterback instead of Joe Burrow.
  • To contrast, PFF says that Greg Newsome was targeted 7 times and allowed 7 catches for 55 yards and 1 touchdown.
  • Cheers to Greedy Williams for finishing out the season, and also playing at a higher level than I had predicted.

Safety

Pos Player Plays % Stats
Pos Player Plays % Stats
S Grant Delpit 54 100% 2 tackles, 1 assist (3 combined).
S John Johnson 40 74% 2 assists (2 combined).
S M.J. Stewart 16 30% 1 tackle, 2 assists (3 combined). 2 passes defended.
  • Grant Delpit also had valuable reps as the season went on, and M.J. Stewart impressed with some of the hits he was able to deliver. It’s interesting to think what Cleveland will do at the safety position — a unit that struggled to begin the year, but by the end of it, had four players playing at a decent level.