The return of defensive tackle/fullback Adin Huntington, after four weeks out with injuries, could help two lagging areas of the Browns -- their run defense and their run offense. (Cleveland Browns)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Myles Garrett is on the verge of breaking the NFL single-season sack record, but, otherwise, the Browns’ defense as a whole is leaking oil.
After giving up successive point totals of 26 to the 49ers, 31 to the Titans and 31 to the Bears, the Browns now rank a middling 19th in points allowed at 23.7 per game. They are third overall in total yards allowed and first in passing yards but have sunk to 14th in rushing yards at 110.1 per game.
That comes as a result of yielding 161 yards and two touchdowns to Tennessee’s Tony Pollard and 98 yards and two TDs to Chicago’s D’Andre Swift.
Now here comes the NFL’s No. 1 rushing team – the Buffalo Bills – sporting James Cook, the NFL’s No. 2 rusher (1,415 yards, 10 TDs), and Josh Allen, the NFL’s leading running quarterback (535 yards, 12 TDs).
“The biggest thing there is we have to control the game by stopping the run,” said defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
“We gave up a couple big plays against the Titans. And then last week it wasn’t big plays, it was more the consistency of the run game. And we need to be able to shed blocks a little bit better. We didn’t tackle very well in the Chicago game, particularly out on the perimeter and we paid the price for it.
“So, when it’s all said and done, defenses are judged by your ability to tackle, your ability to stop drives, and a big part of that is stopping the run. So [it’s a] great challenge this week with Buffalo, they’re the best run offense in the NFL.
“So if we don’t get it corrected, we won’t stand a chance in this game.”
About that completion percentage
Shedeur Sanders expressed disappointment on Wednesday about his league-low 52.2 completion percentage through 4 ½ games.
Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees wouldn’t pin that bad number on Sanders alone.
“The completion percentage is not solely on the quarterback,” Rees said. “There’s other areas where as an offensive unit we need to improve and help him out. And then there’s some areas there where we can take completions and find completions that are accessible, and then we got to finish the play at other spots. So, we want to be efficient, but we also want to be able to create explosives, which he’s done a nice job of. And finding that balance is something as a young player that we’re going to continue to work on.”
Rees does like Sanders’ ability to connect on the long ball. Sanders has made eight completions of 29 yards or more to wide receivers or tight ends.
“We want him to feel confident and comfortable, and when he does and he lets it rip, he’s as accurate as you’d want,” Rees said. “That’s one of his greatest strengths is his accuracy.”
Getting Q rolling
Quinshon Judkins still leads all rookie running backs with 805 rushing yards. His rushing average, though, is down to 3.6 per attempt after games of 14 attempts/26 yards against Tennessee and 12 attempts/21 yards against Chicago.
Part of the problem has been falling behind, 14-3, to the Titans and, 14-0, to the Bears. A large part also has to do with the shakeup on the offensive line due to injuries to center Ethan Pocic, right guard Wyatt Teller and right tackle Jack Conklin. There hasn't been a lot of running room.
But I wonder if Judkins also has hit the infamous “rookie wall.”
“I don’t [think so],” Rees said. “No, I think Q’s been really good for us. Mentally he’s engaged. Physically he’s doing well. You know, we got to support around him and we got to do a good job of giving him opportunities to find seams like we were doing there kind of in the mid-point of the year.”
One glimmer of hope is that the Browns should get back defensive tackle/fullback Adin Huntington after missing the last four games with injuries. They'd be advised to fashion a two-back look on situations other than short-yardage and goal line.
“I do think it helps our group,” Rees said. “You know, we’ve been effective in that personnel grouping. Adin’s done a great job for us. I’m sure that breeds confidence into those situations for the rest of the group. Adin’s got a lot of energy. He comes in the huddle, he’s ready to go, he’s hardheaded. I mean, he definitely instills some juice into the group when he’s on the field. So, we’re excited to have him back.”
Brownie bits
Rees, on the operational problems experienced by the offense in Chicago: “You know, there’s not one person at fault. There’s not one player at fault, one coach at fault. We just got to better as a collective group. I’ll shoulder the blame. That starts with me to make sure that everybody’s communicating the way we need to.”…
Guards Joel Bitonio (back) and Teven Jenkins (shoulder), and defensive end Myles Garrett (not injury related) returned to practice. DNPs were offensive tackle Jack Conklin (concussion), defensive tackle Mike Hall (illness), tight end David Njoku (knee), linebacker Winston Reid (back), running back Dylan Sampson (hand) and cornerback Denzel Ward (calf).