Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski oversaw one of his team’s worst efforts as Cleveland lost ugly to the Cardinals, 37-14 on the lakefront in Week 6.
It was Cleveland’s most lopsided defeat under Stefanski since the coach’s debut game, which saw the Browns fall 38-7 to the Ravens during Week 1 of the 2020 season.
In defeat, the Browns have lost back-to-back games in Stefanski’s 22 games as the team falls to 3-3. There’s still plenty of time to turn things around, but the sense of urgency has certainly ramped up after taking this L.
The Browns needed several players to step up and rise to the occasion in this one, and the opposite happened.
Normally, you could point to a short week as being a good thing for the Browns, as the team could get back on track with a winnable game this Thursday against the Broncos. But the Brown are so banged up, that you can’t count on Denver being a win.
Until we get another shot at victory, here’s five Browns who saw their stocks slip in Cleveland’s shockingly bad loss to the undefeated Cardinals.
1. Browns S Ronnie Harrison
It looked like the Browns stole Ronnie Harrison from the Jaguars ahead of the 2020 season. In desperate need a safety, Cleveland GM Andrew Berry upgraded the defensive backs room and Harrison was a contributor.
He suffered an injury late in the season, but at the very least, we had seen enough to believe he was going to be a critical piece of the puzzle this season.
Instead, he’s blowing coverages and allowing wide-open touchdowns.
John Johnson is catching a lot of heat for giving up this score to a wide-open Deandre Hopkins, but it’s really Harrison’s fault. He jumps the wrong receiver, leaving the best wide receiver in the league wide open.
Last week, it was said that Harrison is the one who muffed the coverage on another play that left Johnson looking like a goat.
Defensive coordinator has to do something, maybe something as simple as playing man-to-man because it’s getting embarrassing that the Browns are leaving opposing team wide-receivers wide open.
At the time of the Harrison trade, it was reported that he was more of a strong safety, better at stopping the run. Perhaps that’s why were seeing him struggle in 2021.
2. Browns S John Johnson
Browns safety John Johnson III is playing so poorly, he’s conjuring up the name members of Browns Town thought they’d never hear again: Andrew Sendejo.
That’s right, Sendejo was a regular here a season ago, and now, Johnson is giving last year’s goat a run for his money.
Cleveland was praised heavily for signing Johnson, especially among the ranks of the analytics sites, such as Pro Football Focus, for stealing the safety out of LA.
Defensive coordinator Joe Woods looked to be inheriting a hard-hitting, playmaking safety capable of tilting a game in the Browns favor.
Instead, the Dawg Pound continuously sees the first-year Brown blow coverage and miss tackles. Opposing teams continue to score wide-open touchdowns and Johnson is usually in the picture playing catch-up.
To be fair, he didn’t play well, but he’s catching a lot of heat for messing this one up…and it’s not deserved. Rather, Ronnie Harrisons should be catching heat. That said,
One play that comes to mind: In the second half, Deandre Hopkins was along in the back of the end zone. Johnson is seen rushing over, way too late. Hopkins is the best receiver in the league. Last week, the Browns lost the Charger’s best wideout twice.
Then, Johnson couldn’t couldn’t deliver a hit to keep a defender from crossing the goal line. It’s getting embarrassing.
3. Browns CB Troy Hill
This was another one for Browns nickel corner Troy Hill. He got beat by Christian Kirk on the Cardinals’ first score, and gave up a similar play, albeit not for a touchdown, but for a sizable chunk of yards, later in the game.
Hill gave up 46 yards receiving, with the aforementioned touchdown. Cardinals’ quarterback Kyler Murray had a quarterback rating of 152.6 throwing in his direction. The Browns secondary allowed Murray to throw for 200 yards, while surrounding three total touchdowns.
This performance follows a Chargers game in which Hill yielded a coverage grade in the 30s.
A lower-on-the-radar free-agent signing, Hill was supposed to be the type of slot-corner player who would hold down the position so well that the Browns could just forget about it.
Undoubtedly, a rough day in the secondary, and Hill will be remembered for chasing open receivers across the field.
4. Browns WR Odell Beckham
I didn’t want to put him. I’m rooting for Odell Beckham Jr. If he’s excelling, then the Browns are that much closer to winning a Super Bowl.
It felt like the Browns were forcing him the ball in this one, but this time around, the play calls were productive. He caught five balls for 72 yards. He moved the chains twice. He was contributing.
So, how does OBJ land here? You know it, the drop on 4th and 12. For the second straight game, Beckham dropped a key fourth-down pass that would’ve extended a drive and probably wold’v led to points.
The Browns really needed it there, trailing by 16 with just over 12 minutes to go. By failing to score there, Beckham’s drop basically sealed the end for his team.
He’s the No. 1 receiver, contributing shouldn’t be the bar. He’s got to make the fourth-down catch, just as he needed to last week.
I know everyone will be looking to trade him, but my guess is that Beckham will stay put, for at least the rest of this season.
5. Browns RT James Hudson
James Hudson is a really nice prospect, and he may develop into a serviceable lineman one day, but it’s clear he’s learning on the job when he should be watching from the sidelines.
Hudson was flagged for a couple of holding calls and there were times he had no chance stopping opposing pass rushers.
There was one play (Twitter link) Mayfield got sacked in which the Cardinals defender went untouched en route to the quarterback. Hudson didn’t even look his way.
Hudson started his collegiate career at UC on the Bearcats’ defensive line, so the offensive line is still a position he’s trying to perfect. He started one season. He’s a project. It’s why he was a fourth -round pick.
I’m not sure what the Browns can do here because they’re running low on bodies. Swing lineman Chris Hubbard’s season ending injury has been devastating to the group. It’s unclear if Jack Conklin will return on Thursday night.
For Baker Mayfield’s sack, I hope so.