Factory Of Sadness
FanSided

Cleveland Browns: 4 Candidates For Week 7’s Dawg House

By Jamyson Frierson

Aug 13, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Dawg Pound flag after a touchdown during the first quarter of preseason NFL football game against the Washington Redskins at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 13, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Dawg Pound flag after a touchdown during the first quarter of preseason NFL football game against the Washington Redskins at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 2, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins running back Matt Jones (31) carries the ball as Cleveland Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) and Browns defensive back Joe Haden (23) make the tackle in the first quarter at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins running back Matt Jones (31) carries the ball as Cleveland Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) and Browns defensive back Joe Haden (23) make the tackle in the first quarter at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Linebacking Core

For once, it just isn’t Demario Davis or Christian Kirksey who played terrible; It was the whole core. Whether it was on the strong or weak side, the linebackers were unable to make any plays within the second level of the defense.

There were missed tackles, confusion, and players biting on the play-action and draw plays. It was simply a disaster.

On the bright side, they didn’t allow an opposing tight end to go off as they have the past six weeks. The Browns’ linebackers only allowed two receptions for 12 yards combined between returning Tyler Eifert, and backup, Tyler Kroft.

I’m not going to be as harsh on rookies Emmanuel Ogbah and Joe Schobert as I will Davis and Kirksey. Both rookies are still learning the NFL and reading offenses. There is no excuses for the other two.

Once again, they didn’t set the tone, and they let Hill and Gionvani Bernard run all over them. As usual, they couldn’t get off the blocks.

There was one play where Davis ran into the block while Hill ran past him. I’ve seen a lot of football in my 29 years on this Earth. I’ve played in high school and college, but I have never seen a player purposely run into a block.

They try to avoid it or get around it.

The edge was never set against anybody. Wide receiver Brandon LaFell caught numerous passes in the middle of the field where Davis or Kirksey should have been. I’ve never seen so many receivers go for open diving catches than I have the past two weeks between the Bengals and Tennessee Titans.

It doesn’t get any easier on Sunday against the New York Jets. They will have to face the running back combination of Matt Forte and Bilal Powell. I don’t see how the middle of the field is going to improve with those two as the Browns ‘backers, but hopefully, there’s progress.

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