Keys to the game: @CLE week 3

[dolphone]

Given the general mood in the forums recently I've been reticent to post lately but here goes, the keys to defeating Cleveland...

When Miami has the ball

Cleveland has a statistically good defense. They're 6th in YPG but only 16th in PPG, giving up only 19 points to the offense-impaired Colts but 27 against the much better Bengals. Their strength lies not in the front 7, where they're merely ordinary, but in their strong secondary, lead by 2nd year guys Joe Haden - by advanced stats, the best rookie CB last year - and SS T.J. Ward, a playmaker on the rise. Opposite Haden is veteran Sheldon Brown, a very solid player until 2010. From what I've seen them so far it's a very strong secondary, and advanced stats support it: Cleveland ranks 8th in pass defense, the lowest of the defenses that have been above average against the pass so far this year (yes, it's been a passing bonanza across the league).

However, there are reasons for optimism for Miami's passing game. While Brandon Marshall and Davone Bess will probably have a hard time on this one (Cleveland ranks 5th against both #1 and #3/#4 receivers) they're average against #2s (nominally handled by Hartline, since he usually lines up outside) and lousy against both TEs and RBs (23rd and 31st, respectively). Miami's best course of action is a return to Checkdown Henne: underneath routes to the RBs and testing the LBs with Fasano. While Mastrud provides little help in the passing game, 2-TE sets once again should feature prominently in the game plan.

The reasoning for this is the weakness of Cleveland's defense: the running game. Over two games, they've given up 139 yards to the Bengals and 109 to the Colts - and the latter have little running game to challenge teams with. That 124 YPG average ranks them 24th in the league, although advanced stats are a bit more forgiving (ranking them 18th overall). With the unexpected performance of Daniel Thomas last week agains the Texans, Miami should direct its main attention to this part of their D. Rankings of the Miami's rushing game are pointless - they're very much inflated by Thomas' great game last week - but the overall performance should direct the team towards a more run-oriented gameplan.

Most importantly, Cleveland has little hope to rush the edge. While Jake Long has been less than his stellar self so far this season, he's still well above most LTs, Marc Colombo is a turnstile on the RT spot, and Vernon Carey has been a liability while he struggles to handle his position change. This has been consistently exploited by the Pats and Texans, who have very good defensive lines - however, Cleveland relies on two rookies, Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard, and a veteran who most felt had a breakout year last season, Ahtyba Rubin. The rookies have looked impressive early on, each notching a sack so far. However, Sheard has yet to face a guy like Long (even after practicing with Joe Thomas) and Taylor should be double teamed by Pouncey and Carey, a matchup hard to win for the youngster. Incognito should be strong against the underwhelming Rubin, and if the Browns flip their DTs, it's an even easier matchup, with a double team of Incognito and Pouncey over the rookie.

If I'm Miami, I discard the 3 WR sets that have dominated the offensive philosophy lately. This isn't a game that's going to be won by spreading the field; rather, I come out with a base 2-TE set (which the Dolphins have also heavily used) and rely on short passes to the backs and TEs to complement what should be a dominanting ground performance. I double up Taylor, put TE support on the right side of the line, and the offense should be good for 24 points.

When Cleveland has the ball

Miami's defense has been horrid, there's no other way about it. Standard stats support it: 31st in PPG (well above KC, but tied with Indy and Atlanta), 32nd in YPG, 31st in yards per play, only above Carolina... you name it, they've been awful. The passing game appears to be the main culprit - they're 30th in passing YPG, compared to 22nd against the run - but advanced stats suggest a different story.

While Miami does rank 30th agains the pass, Football Outsiders has them ranked 28th against the run. This is a huge problem: while New England and Houston have fantastic passing offenses, and the struggles against the pass can be thus somewhat justified, the running game was supposed to be this defense's strength. They've invested heavily in talent across the front 7, and the inability of the unit to stop the run is worrisome.

Fortunately, Cleveland isn't firing in all cilinders on offense. Their rushing game has been pedestrian so far - 26th in YPA, 21st in YPG, 25th by advanced stats - and it can all be traced to problems on the OL. Tony Pashos got a nice FA contract last season, but then missed the season with an ankle injury, and hasn't played so far. He returned to practice Wednesday, but even if he plays, you bet the Dolphins will attack the right side. Which is just as well - Cleveland rarely runs to the right - but whould give Cameron Wake a whale of a day. Expect a sack or two for him on Sunday.

Elsewhere on the line, the big loss has been Eric Steinbach, out for the year after surgery on his back. Steinbach rounded up an excellent left side of the line, and the main source of Hillis' success last season. But with him out, rookie Jason Pinkston has been underwhelming his team's expectations. He was reportedly a strong run-blocker with pass-blocking deficiencies, but he hasn't been able to drive and thus the running game has suffered. While he will improve over time, it's still week 3, and the Dolphins should be able to hold their own. I don't expect to shut them out on the ground, but they shouldn't go over 100 yards.

These same problems in the OL will help the struggling secondary. With Vontae Davis probably out for the game, it will be up to the DL to generate enough pressure to force misfires by Colt McCoy. McCoy has shown excellent presence even under pressure, but all QBs fold if enough heat is pressed upon them. Also, Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie aren't exactly world beaters. Still, the main problem will once again be the TEs. Shurmur's staple is a strong passing to these guys, and so far it's shown: Benjamin Watson and Evan Moore are amongst the lead-leading TEs so far - one with receptions, the other with TDs.

Miami looked very vanilla against the Patriots, but had plenty of success with DB blitzes against the Texans. Nolan and his unit apparently resented the lack of OTAs more than the offense, and his unit should keep improving as time continues. Jason Taylor's proclamations aside, if they keep with these sort of designs, they should give the Cleveland offense fits.

Think of the Cleveland offense like the Patriots, with much worse blocking. We won't be shredded for 500 yards again, but unless we shut out the TEs by some miracle, expect Cleveland to score at least 17 points, all through the air.

Special teams

It goes without mentioning that Joshua Cribbs can change a game. With our lousy coverage, the only hope is that Carpenter shoots the balls OOB enough to make Cribbs useless. Brandon Fields has a cannon for a leg, but again, lousy coverage could end up negating his potential. The good news? Cleveland coverage hasn't been all that great either. We probably won't break a huge return, but we should have solid starting field position on Sunday.

I don't expect Carpenter to miss a couple of cheap shots again, and neither should anyone else.

In short

Miami should win this game handily, and the defense has a chance to come out looking much better than in weeks prior - not exactly a strong compliment, but you take what you can.

Things that can kill the game for us:

- Sticking to the 3 WR sets and test their secondary.
- The TEs, yet again.
- Joshua Cribbs.

Things that can clinch the game for us:

- Our DL, particularly Cameron Wake wide right and Randy Starks on the left A gap.
- Rushing games (ours and theirs)
- Checkdown Henne - as hard as it is to believe.

 

[NBP81]

Haha! to be honest, with the tone on this board all week, I didnt even think someone would actually take the time to do a thread like this... Thanks! I really enjoy these and appreciate posters who take the time to put them up.

 

[DuderinoN703]

4 out 10 pick the Dolphins to win on ESPN.com

 

[Kdawg954]

I want Colt McCoy to know the entire Cam Wake story by the end of the game . . . narrated by Cam Wake.

 

[dolphone]

Haha! to be honest, with the tone on this board all week, I didnt even think someone would actually take the time to do a thread like this... Thanks! I really enjoy these and appreciate posters who take the time to put them up.

Thanks! Hope you enjoy it!

 

[claytonduper]

Thanks for the write up. ALthough our Dolphins haven't lived up to our expectations, it is still football season.

 

[ckparrothead]

Dolphone, that wss very, very close to an excellent breakdown. Well, who am I kidding, it WAS an excellent breakdown, but there were some inaccuracies.

It's actually amazing how much you nailed the "When Miami has the ball" portion using all the stats and all that. I never looked at any of the stats, I just watched the games, and came up with almost exactly all the same conclusions as you did...almost to a T. Kind of scary.

Suffice it to say, film analysis confirms your conclusions about the Cleveland secondary versus front seven. The front seven is kind of ordinary, but it's a secondary-driven defense featuring really good players back there. The rankigs on #1 and #3/4 wide receivers was particularly interesting to me since from what I could tell, Joe Haden and Dimitri Patterson are two of the strong points of that secondary. It's not that Sheldon Brown is terrible, but he's probably the most targetable guy out there. On the other hand, the safeties are playing excellently right now, and if you try and challenge them deep or over the middle, you'd better be pin point with the ball because they can make you pay.

Where you have to go with the passing game on this one is exactly where you said, working your running backs and tight ends against their linebackers over the middle. You need to nickel and dime them to death, get individual matchups with guys like Reggie Bush, Anthony Fasano and Charles Clay, and rely on them to win those matchups against the linebackers.

This defense reminds me a lot of the defense Miami ran back in the day under Wannstedt.

You identified a weakness in run defense. That's true, although it is a mixed weakness. There are times in the game when Ahtyba Rubin is just plain unblockable. He has stretches where he reminds me of Kyle Williams of the Bills, and how he could cominate on the defensive line. Phil Taylor is just a rookie, but an absolute load to handle up front, and he combines well with Rubin for now, although not as good a player. The problem is two-fold. For one thing, Jabaal Sheard can be had in the running game. You can attack him straight on and get away with it. For another, the combination of Taylor and Rubin, which I would insist is a strength for the Cleveland defense, has to be out on the field the entire game. There's no active rotation. When they try and put Schaffering and Paxson out there to give them a spell, the Browns usually pay the price, because those two are not near as good. So basically, you can tire out Rubin and Taylor, and that's when you'll start to hit bigger runs. In the mean time, D'Qwell Jackson is a guy that lets Centers get out on him and stick to him like glue, so this could be another big game for Pouncey in run blocking.

But there was one inaccuracy in your "When Miami has the ball" section. Jabaal Sheard will line up over Marc Colombo, not Jake Long. That's where he will rush the passer from, and yes Marc Colombo could have trouble with him IF Miami gets into situations where the Browns defense can pin their ears back. He doesn't use his hands great yet, but he's got the athleticism to beat Colombo around the corner, and to out-athlete him on second and third moves, if Chad Henne holds onto the ball against their tight man coverage.

Where I think we disagree a little is in the characterization of "When Cleveland has the ball".

I don't think of their offense as like New England's offense but with worse pass protection. I think of it more like Miami's offense under Dan Henning, though there are some obvious differences. The key is in the timing. In Henning's offense the quarterback was asked to get the ball out of his hands quickly. Colt McCoy does that. He is ultra-decisive. Tom Brady on the other hand, he knows what he's doing out there, but allows the play to mature properly before releasing the ball, and he's been known to sit back there for even 6 or 7 seconds if his pass protection is holding up and he's having trouble finding an open target.

I don't think the key on Colt McCoy will be pressure at all. In fact, if I were Miami's coaching staff, I would coach my DLs and OLBs to NOT focus so much on the pass rush. The Cleveland Browns are a screen offense. They will screen you to death with Josh Cribbs and Peyton Hillis, or even Ben Watson. I would watch out personally for a double-screen to Owen Marecic, whom they like a lot. With Vontae Davis out of the game, and Benny Sapp having been fired, Miami's perimeter and screen defense is vulnerable. They will take advantage of that all day long and if your pass rushers are too focused on getting to Colt McCoy, you'll be hurting. They'll get chunk plays on you without having really earned them.

Those chunk plays are what you need to avoid. They're an offense that will focus on execution by throwing dink and dunk passes underneath on you, and then rely on Peyton Hillis' ability to always fall forward for extra yards. It's hard to get him for a loss or even a zero gain, though this year they have also had some trouble springing him for big gains because he doesn't look as agile as he was last year. Still, he's a load, and he has that knack for always being able to get 2 or 3 more yards out of a solid hit than you thought he should have. That and the screen plays and check downs are the engine that drives the offense. They string together 15 play drives to score. That's their weakness, it's tough to keep stringing that many plays together reliably, as Sparano found out from 2009 to 2010. But, in the red zone, it could also be their strength, because execution-oriented power offenses with RAC ability tend to actually produce fairly well from inside the red zone. Miami's red zone woes last year were a little overblown in that their biggest problem was they weren't even getting into the tight red area. That will be the same problem for the Browns...UNLESS you give up chunk plays on screens because you pinned your ears back trying to pass rush Colt McCoy...or you did the same and McCoy broke pocket on you and found someone uncovered.

Don't focus on the pass rush. Colt McCoy gets rid of the ball so quickly, it's basically like he's pass rushing himself for you. Focus on being disciplined on the defensive line and outside linebackers. Do not force the ILBs to think constantly about the screen pass or containment on McCoy, because that is how they could open up the ground game and get bigger production hitting their TE and RB short options over the middle. Make the DLs and OLBs more responsible for that stuff.

Their receivers, as you say, should not pose too much of a threat. But, they have to stay disciplined when Colt breaks contain. McCoy is more prone to trying to hit his short options off the scramble, but that doesn't mean he couldn't find a big deep option if you left him wide open.

The Browns are a team that would like to turn those early 3-4 yard runs with Hillis into 6-7 yard runs later in the game. Miami's defense has faded from conditioning issues in two games now. They are susceptible to what the Browns would like to do. If you allow the score to remain close, you could find that they're coming on you like an avalanche at the end of the game, and you can't stop it.

On the other hand, if you can put together good drives early in the game where you run a bunch of plays on the ground and nickel and diming them through the air, and you do it from a HURRY-UP pace...you have a real chance of wearing out Ahtyba Rubin and Phil Taylor early, which could help you execute well enough in the red zone to score touchdowns and put their offense in situations they don't like to be in.

Turnover margin will be a key stat. The Browns should be favored to win the turnover battle. Their secondary victimizes QBs who aren't patient enough, and New Henne may not like the idea of reverting to Old Henne for this game. If he plays fast and loose, he'll throw interceptions. Meanwhile their offense takes so few chances it's hard to imagine getting turnovers out of them unless you manage to pop the ball loose from Hillis' hands.

 

[dolphone]

Dolphone, that wss very, very close to an excellent breakdown. Well, who am I kidding, it WAS an excellent breakdown, but there were some inaccuracies.

It's actually amazing how much you nailed the "When Miami has the ball" portion using all the stats and all that. I never looked at any of the stats, I just watched the games, and came up with almost exactly all the same conclusions as you did...almost to a T. Kind of scary.

Suffice it to say, film analysis confirms your conclusions about the Cleveland secondary versus front seven. The front seven is kind of ordinary, but it's a secondary-driven defense featuring really good players back there. The rankigs on #1 and #3/4 wide receivers was particularly interesting to me since from what I could tell, Joe Haden and Dimitri Patterson are two of the strong points of that secondary. It's not that Sheldon Brown is terrible, but he's probably the most targetable guy out there. On the other hand, the safeties are playing excellently right now, and if you try and challenge them deep or over the middle, you'd better be pin point with the ball because they can make you pay.

Where you have to go with the passing game on this one is exactly where you said, working your running backs and tight ends against their linebackers over the middle. You need to nickel and dime them to death, get individual matchups with guys like Reggie Bush, Anthony Fasano and Charles Clay, and rely on them to win those matchups against the linebackers.

This defense reminds me a lot of the defense Miami ran back in the day under Wannstedt.

You identified a weakness in run defense. That's true, although it is a mixed weakness. There are times in the game when Ahtyba Rubin is just plain unblockable. He has stretches where he reminds me of Kyle Williams of the Bills, and how he could cominate on the defensive line. Phil Taylor is just a rookie, but an absolute load to handle up front, and he combines well with Rubin for now, although not as good a player. The problem is two-fold. For one thing, Jabaal Sheard can be had in the running game. You can attack him straight on and get away with it. For another, the combination of Taylor and Rubin, which I would insist is a strength for the Cleveland defense, has to be out on the field the entire game. There's no active rotation. When they try and put Schaffering and Paxson out there to give them a spell, the Browns usually pay the price, because those two are not near as good. So basically, you can tire out Rubin and Taylor, and that's when you'll start to hit bigger runs. In the mean time, D'Qwell Jackson is a guy that lets Centers get out on him and stick to him like glue, so this could be another big game for Pouncey in run blocking.

But there was one inaccuracy in your "When Miami has the ball" section. Jabaal Sheard will line up over Marc Colombo, not Jake Long. That's where he will rush the passer from, and yes Marc Colombo could have trouble with him IF Miami gets into situations where the Browns defense can pin their ears back. He doesn't use his hands great yet, but he's got the athleticism to beat Colombo around the corner, and to out-athlete him on second and third moves, if Chad Henne holds onto the ball against their tight man coverage.

Where I think we disagree a little is in the characterization of "When Cleveland has the ball".

I don't think of their offense as like New England's offense but with worse pass protection. I think of it more like Miami's offense under Dan Henning, though there are some obvious differences. The key is in the timing. In Henning's offense the quarterback was asked to get the ball out of his hands quickly. Colt McCoy does that. He is ultra-decisive. Tom Brady on the other hand, he knows what he's doing out there, but allows the play to mature properly before releasing the ball, and he's been known to sit back there for even 6 or 7 seconds if his pass protection is holding up and he's having trouble finding an open target.

I don't think the key on Colt McCoy will be pressure at all. In fact, if I were Miami's coaching staff, I would coach my DLs and OLBs to NOT focus so much on the pass rush. The Cleveland Browns are a screen offense. They will screen you to death with Josh Cribbs and Peyton Hillis, or even Ben Watson. I would watch out personally for a double-screen to Owen Marecic, whom they like a lot. With Vontae Davis out of the game, and Benny Sapp having been fired, Miami's perimeter and screen defense is vulnerable. They will take advantage of that all day long and if your pass rushers are too focused on getting to Colt McCoy, you'll be hurting. They'll get chunk plays on you without having really earned them.

Those chunk plays are what you need to avoid. They're an offense that will focus on execution by throwing dink and dunk passes underneath on you, and then rely on Peyton Hillis' ability to always fall forward for extra yards. It's hard to get him for a loss or even a zero gain, though this year they have also had some trouble springing him for big gains because he doesn't look as agile as he was last year. Still, he's a load, and he has that knack for always being able to get 2 or 3 more yards out of a solid hit than you thought he should have. That and the screen plays and check downs are the engine that drives the offense. They string together 15 play drives to score. That's their weakness, it's tough to keep stringing that many plays together reliably, as Sparano found out from 2009 to 2010. But, in the red zone, it could also be their strength, because execution-oriented power offenses with RAC ability tend to actually produce fairly well from inside the red zone. Miami's red zone woes last year were a little overblown in that their biggest problem was they weren't even getting into the tight red area. That will be the same problem for the Browns...UNLESS you give up chunk plays on screens because you pinned your ears back trying to pass rush Colt McCoy...or you did the same and McCoy broke pocket on you and found someone uncovered.

Don't focus on the pass rush. Colt McCoy gets rid of the ball so quickly, it's basically like he's pass rushing himself for you. Focus on being disciplined on the defensive line and outside linebackers. Do not force the ILBs to think constantly about the screen pass or containment on McCoy, because that is how they could open up the ground game and get bigger production hitting their TE and RB short options over the middle. Make the DLs and OLBs more responsible for that stuff.

Their receivers, as you say, should not pose too much of a threat. But, they have to stay disciplined when Colt breaks contain. McCoy is more prone to trying to hit his short options off the scramble, but that doesn't mean he couldn't find a big deep option if you left him wide open.

The Browns are a team that would like to turn those early 3-4 yard runs with Hillis into 6-7 yard runs later in the game. Miami's defense has faded from conditioning issues in two games now. They are susceptible to what the Browns would like to do. If you allow the score to remain close, you could find that they're coming on you like an avalanche at the end of the game, and you can't stop it.

On the other hand, if you can put together good drives early in the game where you run a bunch of plays on the ground and nickel and diming them through the air, and you do it from a HURRY-UP pace...you have a real chance of wearing out Ahtyba Rubin and Phil Taylor early, which could help you execute well enough in the red zone to score touchdowns and put their offense in situations they don't like to be in.

Turnover margin will be a key stat. The Browns should be favored to win the turnover battle. Their secondary victimizes QBs who aren't patient enough, and New Henne may not like the idea of reverting to Old Henne for this game. If he plays fast and loose, he'll throw interceptions. Meanwhile their offense takes so few chances it's hard to imagine getting turnovers out of them unless you manage to pop the ball loose from Hillis' hands.

CK, thanks for the feedback.

I was comparing Cleveland and NE only as far as the TE usage. Thy have become the focal point of the offense, and I'd disagree with comparing them with a Henning offense since they're much more west coast oriented, while Henning focused more on the rushing game and the big passing play.

Cleveland indeed loves to fire quick and timing is critical to their offense. If you disrupt that timing you're half way home. Since we don't have much of a prayer of pressing the receivers, much less the TEs, pressure is the name of the game. McCoy is extremely sharp with short passes, if you sit back he will absolutely shred you. Also you have to play to your strength, and we're much better towards the DL.

If Sheard lines up over Colombo, you have to pin Mastrud over there the entire game. Sheard isn't great but as you say, he's a much better athlete.

 

[finfan54]

i appreciate all the knowledge guys, really do.

dont turn the ball over and score points in red zone and convert 3rd downs. I dont care how its done but a mix of reggie to thomas run pass run pass run pass all day helps our defense stay unwinded. this ones on you chad! you have to win it for all the shortcomings.

 

[ckparrothead]

CK, thanks for the feedback.

I was comparing Cleveland and NE only as far as the TE usage. Thy have become the focal point of the offense, and I'd disagree with comparing them with a Henning offense since they're much more west coast oriented, while Henning focused more on the rushing game and the big passing play.

Cleveland indeed loves to fire quick and timing is critical to their offense. If you disrupt that timing you're half way home. Since we don't have much of a prayer of pressing the receivers, much less the TEs, pressure is the name of the game. McCoy is extremely sharp with short passes, if you sit back he will absolutely shred you. Also you have to play to your strength, and we're much better towards the DL.

If Sheard lines up over Colombo, you have to pin Mastrud over there the entire game. Sheard isn't great but as you say, he's a much better athlete.

1. I don't agree with your characterization of Henning's offense. He gave up on the run easily, especially at home, and the offense was notorious for not focusing enough on creating big pass plays. Very low percentage of shots down the field.

2. To that end, Shurmur's offense is similar. They're extremely focused on the ground game, and they don't take very many shots down the field.

3. I'm not sure why we don't have a prayer of pressing the receivers or playing them tight and physically and throwing off the timing that way.

4. Hard to get pressure on a guy that gets the ball out in under 3 seconds constantly. You're better off staying disciplined and making sure he doesn't get his chunk yards off screen plays and when he breaks contain.

5. Jabaal Sheard lined up at Right End against the Bengals but they switched him up in Indianapolis to the Left End position he played at Pittsburgh, and that appears to be where they're committed to playing him from now on. And yes, I think you do need to get Anthony Fasano, Mastrud or Clay out there on that side on obvious passing downs. Make it harder for him to beat Colombo.

 

[NBP81]

If you keep searching FH long enough, you WILL find a thread thats worth reading... Thanks guys!

 

[Gadsden86]

Nice read and great wright up.

 

[fishfanmiami]

You guys did a great job.

Now fax a copy of this to Tony.

And please make it in crayon and take out the big words.

 

[dolphone]

1. I don't agree with your characterization of Henning's offense. He gave up on the run easily, especially at home, and the offense was notorious for not focusing enough on creating big pass plays. Very low percentage of shots down the field.

2. To that end, Shurmur's offense is similar. They're extremely focused on the ground game, and they don't take very many shots down the field.

3. I'm not sure why we don't have a prayer of pressing the receivers or playing them tight and physically and throwing off the timing that way.

4. Hard to get pressure on a guy that gets the ball out in under 3 seconds constantly. You're better off staying disciplined and making sure he doesn't get his chunk yards off screen plays and when he breaks contain.

5. Jabaal Sheard lined up at Right End against the Bengals but they switched him up in Indianapolis to the Left End position he played at Pittsburgh, and that appears to be where they're committed to playing him from now on. And yes, I think you do need to get Anthony Fasano, Mastrud or Clay out there on that side on obvious passing downs. Make it harder for him to beat Colombo.

WRT Henning, you're forgetting his entire body of work. Just because for the past two seasons he gave up easily on the run (which IMO had more to do with its effectiveness than anything else), it was no secret the rushing game was his mainstay. Remember his years @CAR, my description fits his offense to a T.

Shurmur comes from Philly, where he made his chops under WC disciple Andy Reid. Holmgren liked him for HC because he has a very similar philosophy than him, short quick passes with a lot of timing built in. The ground game is more an accessory than anything else, their "thing" is the passing game and use RBs as important elements in this scheme. The numbers support this: they've spread the ball to 9 different receivers, and Hillis is far and away the leader in catches so far with 10. This is also why Hillis only has 44 rushing attempts so far, despite leading basically the entire game against the Colts. His offense couldn't be more different than Henning's, who tended to fixate on one or two receivers.

As far as our defense goes, the problem with pressing is that a) our DBs aren't very physical, for whatever reason, and b) they just aren't instructed to do this. I've only charted the 1H of the Patriots game and the 2H against the Texans, and I can't recall a single instance of pressing at the LOS by any of our DBs. Obviously a) and b) are intertwined, and may be just one single reason (either they don't use them despite them being able, or they don't use them *because* they're not able), but whatever it is, it's just not in our scheme. I can *wish* for them to use that strategy, but it's not realistically going to happen...

As for the pressure, you can do a lot with overload and zone blitzes. If you manage to confuse the OL - which is easy to do with a rookie and a replacement RT - you're definitely going to win some matchups. And after a couple of good licks, you can generate pressure just by getting close to the QB - everybody gets jumpy when sacked repeteadly, even if you have generated successful plays.

 

[mialuv13]

Great write up. Even though I somehow see us beating ourselves late in the game, I agree on the points you made. I really hope we try to play the Browns weaknesses. I always feel like we stick to our gameplan even when it is not working so well. Of course, it's easy to watch film, not be on the field and play Monday morning QB. It's probably ridiculous to execute their plans to a tee. Unfortunately we are not an elite team and have yet to get our footing this season.

Other than that great post man. This is a game we can and should win.