Apologies go to Browns’ defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. Before the season began, it was implied here that the defense was the weak point of the Browns, However, they keep teams out of the end zone for the most part, and they really only allowed 21 points today in a 28-10 loss to Pittsburgh at Heinz Field.
However, they aren’t perfect. Ryan schemes to hide the personnel shortages he has on his unit, such as the play of his secondary, where his two best players may just be rookies, first round pick Joe Haden, and second rounder T. J. Ward.
Veteran Eric Wright continues to get picked on by opposing passers, and Sheldon Brown has given up big plays in each of the last two weeks. Another starter, safety Abe Elam is average at best and isn’t a proficient tackler.
You don’t hear about Haden often, and when you do, it’s usually something good, like his 50 yard return of an interception of Ben Roethlisberger, which resulted in a Phil Dawson field goal to give Cleveland a 3-0 lead in the first quarter.
When you hear about Ward, it’s usually because of a big hit he’s put on an opposing player.
The Browns managed the Steelers’ running attack, holding them to 121 yards on 35 carries, an average of 3.5 per rush. That’s acceptable. However, they couldn’t sack Roethlisberger, meaning the secondary was exposed. Mike Wallace caught three balls for 90 yards, including a 50-yard catch when Cleveland blitzed and he was single covered.
In fact, that drive killed the Browns, when Pittsburgh went 96 yards in basically three plays: the pass to Wallace, a 36-yard reception by Heath Miller, and then an eight yard catch for a TD by Hines Ward, who should have been tackled by Wright at the 4-yard line. That drive turned a close 7-3 contest into a commanding 11 point Steeler lead.
Offensively, the worry was that rookie QB Colt McCoy was being fed to the wolves, but he showed great poise, just like his college coach, Mack Brown said he would. He completed 23 of 33 passes for 281 yards and a touchdown, with two interceptions, the last one coming late in the fourth quarter and the Browns in desperation mode.
He earned another opportunity, which he will get against New Orleans next Sunday. Another performance in that game might be enough to let him go the rest of the year, particularly because this team is not a playoff contender.
McCoy’s game came in spite of an injury to Josh Cribbs early in the game which knocked him out for the game early in the first half. They also lost Mohammed Massaquoi to a possible concussion in the first half, as well, but based on his recent performance, that wasn’t as critical of a loss.
Cribbs being out meant that Chansi Stuckey had to return punts, and he looked shaky all day, and his fumble of a punt inside the Cleveland 20 with the score still 14-3, basically ended the game for the Browns. That’s too bad, because he caught 4 passes for 46 yards on the day.
TE’s Benjamin Watson and Evan Moore combined for 1o receptions for 172 yards and a touchdown, as they were McCoy’s favorite targets. Probably because the wide receiver play has been a weakness from day one.
A disturbing thing about the Browns’ roster is that it is one of the oldest in the NFL, and they are 1-5. The only thing worse than being a bad team is being a bad, old team.
At this point, maybe it’s time to start turning over things to the McCoys, Hadens, and Wards on this team. They have played well when given the opportunity. By the way, that comment isn’t canonizing McCoy, but he played well enough that we should see more.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 