Dawgs By Nature
The Cleveland Browns will be at home on Sunday for the first time in almost a month as they take on the Miami Dolphins.
The last time the home faithful got to see the Browns in person, they were treated to a surprising win over the Green Bay Packers. Since then, it has been three weeks of frustration.
It has been a similar situation for the Dolphins, who have seen their season slip away in the wake of consecutive losses to the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Chargers.
On Thursday, Cleveland’s coordinators held their weekly meeting with the press, and here are the key takeaways from what they had to say about the upcoming game against the Dolphins.
Cleveland’s defense is near the top of the rankings in several categories, but is at No. 32 in red zone defense. So what gives?
“Generally, the best run teams play good red zone defense, and we’ve allowed some rushing touchdowns in there close, like Minnesota just shoved it right up in the A gap. And then early in the year, I thought there were sometimes where it’s hard to stop them in the red zone, but we took the field after some turnovers or things like that, and we played like three really good plays, they go for it on fourth down and make it.
“We just got to keep grinding it, we got to play physical down there, we got to take the run away and get back on the right side of that, because having a chance to hold them the field goals or force long field goals is paramount to keeping the score down, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Defensive end Myles Garrett voiced his frustration after the loss to Pittsburgh, which rubbed some people the wrong way. Any issues with Garrett from Schwartz’s perspective?
“Myles is one of our key players, and he certainly has a voice and certainly has his opinion. And I think anybody that wants to stand behind their statements and speak up, I don’t see any issue with that.”
The forecast for Sunday’s game is currently calling for rain and windy weather. How does that impact the offensive game planning?
“To go into all the specifics probably wouldn’t be an advantage for us, but you definitely plan for it and account for it. You know, you put the ball security part at a premium. You look at maybe certain things that you might need more of or less of based on the plan. Weather’s part of the game, and shoot, you saw it Monday night at the end of that game, weather playing a factor there.
“You gotta spin it in the wind. Dillon does that pretty well (as he) throws a pretty tight ball. Obviously, you got to play on time, you know, some balls that maybe get away with it late, but if...
