Browns say lack of takeaways not bugging them
You must have an active subscription to read this story.
Click Here to subscribe Now!
Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from Browns practice and interviews …
The Browns are good in everything on defense except turnovers.
Does it bother the mastermind of the Browns’ attack defense that it ranks 31st with two measly turnovers through three games?
“You guys are really scraping for criticisms,” Jim Schwartz said. “We're trying to win the game. We're trying to keep the points down, trying to set our offense up in good field position.”
OK, fine. Then why is it that when the Browns ransacked four opponents for eight turnovers in the preseason games, everybody – Schwartz included – harped about turnovers being the single biggest statistic that determines wins and losses?
The Browns are playing the Ravens for first place in the AFC North on Sunday despite ranking 29th in turnover differential at minus-5.
Part of the problem might be the Browns haven’t run a lot of plays on defense because of their historic third-down efficiency. They’re limiting opponents to 8-of-41 third-down conversions, resulting in a lot of punts. That 19.5 percentage would be an NFL record over the course of a full season.
The Browns’ 152 defensive snaps rank second-fewest in the league. Buffalo is first with only 143 snaps. Yet the Bills lead the NFL with nine takeaways. The Cowboys are third with 164 snaps and have seven takeaways. The Eagles are fifth with 177 snaps and have eight takeaways.
Nevertheless, Schwartz isn’t about to fix something that’s not broke.
“You can over-correct on turnovers and you can give up a lot more big plays,” he said. “The big play we’ve given up the whole year [a 71-yard catch-and-run touchdown by Pittsburgh’s George Pickens] was probably a result of guys that were trying to jump a play, feeling that they need to make a play instead of letting the defense work.
“So we’re just going to let the defense work. We’re going to try to play physical, we’re going to try to play fast, and then we’ll see what happens after that. But we’re going to be around the football, and good things will happen when you’re around the football.”
Cornerback Denzel Ward said, “I think those turnovers will come. But as long as we're still locking guys down, getting pressure on quarterback, getting sacks, doing what we're supposed to do to help the team win, I think we'll be good.”
Linebacker Anthony Walker said he’s surprised at the turnover number, but added, “We could be giving up 28 points and having five turnovers, or we could be giving up three and having none. So as long as they don't score, I'm excited.”
Greg Newsome returned to practice this week after missing a game with an elbow injury. Is his first career interception on the docket this week? (Cleveland Browns)
Don’t read your press clippings
With all the accolades being heaped on the Browns’ defense, Schwartz is getting proactive in not letting them get in his players’ heads.
“I think that you can get derailed a little bit in this league,” he said. “Sometimes success is harder to deal with than failure. A lot of guys can bounce back really quickly from failure. There's a human nature to your pride and you get beat and you want to come back and you want to correct that and things like that.
“But sometimes it's hardest when you are experiencing success to not get off track. And that's my job. My job is to make sure that we stay focused on what we have to do in that moment as opposed to what our stats are and everything else. "Because when it's all said and done, our stats are 2-1, right? I mean, that's what it is. Our stats are 2-1 and we're playing a 2-1 team. Some team is going to be 3-1. Let's keep our eyes on that and let's let league rankings and Pro Football Focus and all that stuff [say what they want].”
Injury report
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (right shoulder) tossed the ball lightly in the portion of practice open to media and remained listed as limited. Running back Kareem Hunt (ribs, groin) returned to the field and was limited.
In Baltimore, the Ravens continue to miss a lot of key players.
First, they did get safety Kyle Hamilton (back) and running back Justice Hill (foot) back on the field on a limited basis.
But the following players continued to be out: Receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle), receiver Rashod Bateman (hamstring), cornerback Marlon Humphrey (foot), edge rusher Odafe Oweh (ankle), and edge rusher David Ojabo (ankle, knee).
Brownie bits
The Pro Football Hall of Fame formally will deliver the Rings of Excellence to recent Browns inductees Mac Speedie and Joe Thomas in a halftime ceremony at Sunday’s game. Speedie’s son-in-law Rod Walker will represent his family. Thomas is expected to be on hand to accept his ring …
All of Odell Beckham Jr.’s former Cleveland teammates still love him. I get the feeling they wish he were healthy enough to play. “Odell is my dude, man,” safety Grant Delpit said. “He's a great dude. Love him to death. He's been battling injuries, but he's still like that. He still got routes, still catch the ball. New offense for him, new quarterback and everything, but he's still explosive. So if he comes back, he's going to be on our radar for sure.” …
Asked if Baltimore’s Justin Tucker is the NFL’s greatest kicker ever, special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone hedged. “I think I coached arguably the best guy as well in [Adam] Vinatieri. So I think Adam has had the most clutch kicks in his career, but as far as accuracy and being able to hit from distance, I would say Tucker probably has him in, you know, edges him there.” …
Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt confirmed that Watson played with more composure against Tennessee than the week before in Pittsburgh. “I can help [calm him],” Van Pelt said. “I can definitely help. I didn't do a great job in Pittsburgh, and that's something I learned from, you know, but moving forward, I think he has that understanding. You can't play the position like a linebacker all the time. You know, holding your emotions and just really resetting and moving on to the next play, the next series. That's something we all learn from.”
