Browns: 5 best defensive players through 12 games
By Chad Porto
Andrew Sendejo
Darn PFF, I’ve seen Andrew Sendejo try to make more plays on the ball than Shakespear. It’s not his fault his cornerbacks can’t contain anyone, or that his other safeties were often times out of position. Is there any wonder that when Ronnie Harrison started playing, Sendejo wasn’t involved in big plays? It’s because, with a competent safety next to him, Sendejo wasn’t forced to sprint across the field just to arrive at the last moment.
Sendejo has played 912 snaps this year, and only ever gets guff for the handful of plays he’s given up. While some fans blame him for some of the early season woes, it hasn’t been his fault, at least a large portion of the time. The Browns have seen Sendejo rock the ground game, however. No matter what you say about him as a coverage guy, he’s been able to walk up and lay some wood on running backs, and has been a great tackler in space. In an era where arm tackles and falling on ball carriers have become the norm on defense, Sendejo has really embraced the “wrap and drive” of defenses gone by.
He’s second on the team in tackles and only B.J. Goodson has racked up more tackles as the Browns middle linebacker. He’s not going to the Pro Bowl by any means but his PFF score and the criticism that fans have lobbed onto him aren’t deserved.