Lost in the poor quarterback play and the question of who should start this Sunday for the Cleveland Browns, is how ineffective the defense has been since the first half of the season opener against Minnesota. Rob Ryan’s defense is allowing over 150 yards per game on the ground and has just one sack in the last two games.
Yes, the offense scored only three points against the Ravens, bringing the heat down on the quarterback and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. However, the defense allowed 34 points. It isn’t as though Cleveland lost 10-3 to Baltimore. The Ravens did anything they wanted offensively.
After the Browns first possession that ended in a Quinn interception, the Ravens went 31 yards in six plays, the last 18 yards on the ground, in taking a 7-0 lead.
The Browns got the ball back, gained one first down before punting the pigskin away. Baltimore took over on their own 14-yard line and marched 68 yards in 11 plays before settling for a field goal. There were only two third down plays on the entire drive, a 17-yard completion to Kerry Washington on a 3rd and 8 from the Raven 42-yard line. The other was the last play of the drive that resulted in Cleveland’s only sack on 3rd and 7 from the Browns 9.
Down 10-0, Quinn directed a drive, which started on their own 24 and stalled out after moving into Baltimore territory at the Ravens’ 44-yard line. The possession took almost six minutes off the clock. Baltimore took over on their own 3, and promptly moved 82 yards in 15 plays for another field goal to make the score 13-0. The defense forced only three third downs on this drive, none of less than five yards to go.
The defense had a decent rest and still couldn’t stop the Raven attack.
After a three and out offensive possession by the Browns, Baltimore took over on their own 20 and moved 80 yards in eight plays, all passes accept the 15-yard run for a touchdown by Willis McGahee that made the score 20-0 at the half.
Notice that one word was missing in describing the Ravens first half plays: Punt.
In fact, the Ravens’ punter Sam Koch did not appear until two minutes into the second half.
The defense could not stop drives of 11 and 15 plays in the first half, thus causing the game to get out of hand. To repeat, the first half! It wasn’t a case of the unit being worn down by a lopsided time of possession statistic. The defense couldn’t get a stop and couldn’t get off the field.
That has to change just as much the offense has to improve. Even if the Browns can score more points, they will not be a prolific offense this season. That means the defense has to keep the team in games. They did not against the Vikings and Broncos, but last Sunday, they failed miserably.
Can’t run the ball, can’t stop the run. Being deficient in these two areas mean a football team cannot control a game. Until the Browns improve in these two areas, it will be difficult to win consistently. The lack of decisiveness at quarterback is one problem, but not being able to stop teams defensively will lead to blowouts and embarrassing defeats.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 