Browns: 3 bad things and 3 worse things from Week 6
By Chad Porto
The Worse
Kevin Stefanski’s play-calling and gameplan
Kevin Stefanski was the first to cop to this, so that’s a good thing. It shows he’s aware that it was his strategy that failed the team and not the other way around. There was no stopping the Steelers pass rush, and Stefanski left Baker Mayfield out to dry 11 times in the game (four sacks, seven QB hits), mostly because he kept releasing tight ends and giving the Steelers outside linebackers a clear path at the quarterback.
The Browns defense
This is the normal for this team. Don’t kid yourself. The Browns defense was brutalized today. Jordan Elliot is playing poorly. “He’s a rookie”, ok. He’s an NFL rookie which means it’s time to step up. If he can’t, bye. Sheldon Richardson hasn’t been making any plays since Washington (no sacks, TFL’s or hits on QB), Olivier Vernon is almost making plays, so he’s almost useful. Myles Garrett had one play all day, and then disappeared like he had done his job (of stat padding.) Even Denzel Ward got spanked. And when the heck are the Browns going to bench Terrence Mitchell? Good golly, call Ross Fichtner and have him start because at 81, it’s fair to say he’s an upgrade.
Where were the playmakers?
Myles Garrett, Odell Beckham Jr. Jarvis Landry, Baker Mayfield, and Denzel Ward were absolutely awful today. “But Garrett had a pressure and a sack!” and that translated to what? 38 points? So then it’s fair to say that a player like Garrett needs to do more than make one play a game to actually be worth talking about? Ok good. Ward almost had a good game. He had some nice deflections and didn’t let many plays happen. Except as a defensive back, you’re the defense’s version of an 0-linemen, just one bad play warps how good you were all day. Ward gave up one egregious touchdown.