Browns: Four Players Are In The Dawg House Heading Into Week 2
Cameron Erving
Cameron Erving, you are in the Dawg House.
Writing that “Erving has struggled” would be too nice. He’s been atrocious. Ever since he was given the spot in preseason, Erving has not been able to adapt to playing center.
Coming out of Florida State, Erving was able to play every position on the offensive line, but center was his strongest spot.
It’s been anything but that with the Browns. Opposing defenses have recognized that Erving is easily confused. He can get bull-rushed and has trouble pass blocking. Week 1 was a disaster for Erving, compounded by the fact he had to block two of the top defensive tackles in the NFL in Fletcher Cox and Bennie Logan.
Excellent blocking here by Telfer and big play opportunity missed when Cam Erving fails to find safety pic.twitter.com/EhSEpSTQ04
— Surviving The Season Podcast (@StSPodcasts) September 12, 2016
He only gave up one sack to Cox, but Nigel Bradham and Connor Barwin were able to stop the run or get to RG3. But worst of all were the snaps. Browns fans had to hold their breath every time Griffin went into shotgun.
A lot of them were either high or low, and it messed up any kind of momentum or flow that Griffin might of had.
Hue Jackson on Cam Erving's snap issues. pic.twitter.com/i0LPX8DNo1
— Dan Labbe (@dan_labbe) September 12, 2016
Erving’s rough day came to a head in the third quarter when the 2015 first-round pick snapped the ball over Griffin’s head, leading to a safety. That destroyed any momentum and chance the Browns had of making a comeback against the Eagles.
In Erving’s defense, the whole offensive line is abysmal. But as the center, it’s his job to be the quarterback of the line. He’s looked upon to make the right calls,and to figure out what formation the opposing defense is in.
Those instincts come with time, but if he’s struggling to snap the ball correctly on a majority of the plays, how can he learn?
Moving him to a different position might not make a difference. Toward the end of last season, he started games at guard and struggled.
Erving isn’t the answer at center. Coach Hue Jackson has all the confidence in him, but how much longer can he allow him to miss assignments and badly snap the ball?
Next: Will It Get Worse For The Browns?
If he doesn’t play better within these next few games, Jackson might have to consider a change or else Browns fans will be seeing Cody Kessler much sooner than they wanted.