Dawgs By Nature
The Cleveland Browns are currently in the worst portion of their schedule, having played the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens, and now the NFC powerhouse Green Bay Packers. The next three games are also against very good teams until the schedule loosens up a bit. The Browns want to end their losing streak despite playing one of the best teams in the league. Several media outlets had Green Bay rated #2 in NFL power rankings.
There are several bright spots on this Cleveland team. The Browns are ranked #1 in pass attempts and #1 in pass completions. This is basically because they have almost no run game to speak of, so the offense is forced to air it out. Punter Corey Bojorquez is having another tremendous year and is ranked fourth with punts downed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
And the defense is playing lights out with a #1 overall ranking through the first two weeks of play. They possess the #1 run defense and are #3 against the pass. And the defense played extremely well against the Packers as did special teams.
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Against the Packers, Cleveland’s offense was horrible for three quarters, but gained yardage at the end of the contest when it mattered as the Browns surprised one of the best teams in the league 13-10 as time expired.
So who played well for the Browns? Who didn’t?
Special teams – For the first two games, the special teams had plenty of issues. Against the Packers, they came to play. The punt coverage team was spectacular with tacklers such as Rayshawn Jenkins, Carson Schwesinger, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, and Blake Whiteheart. Green Bay only had eight return yards on punts for the game.
The blocked 43-yard field goal was the most pivotal play of the game, as Green Bay essentially wins the game if that kick is made. Shelby Harris got a big paw up in the air, and the ball was struck a bit low. Then, not only did it hit Harris’ mitt, but it also had a huge ricochet that gave Cleveland additional yardage. Most folks thought Denzel Ward, coming off the right corner and diving attempt was who blocked the attempt. P Corey Bojorquez averaged 48.5 yards per kick, including rolling one to the two-yard line. K Andre Szymt nailed both of his field goal attempts, one being the 55-yard game-winner.
LB Carson Schwesinger – Better get used to this stat: Schwesinger was the Browns’ leading tackler with 10 total tackles. This young man makes up his mind instantly when he recognizes the running play. On a third-and-15 in the second quarter, Schwesinger nailed RB Josh Jacobs for a short three-yard gain before he could head up field. As the third quarter clicked off its last second, the Packers snapped the ball then QB Jordan Love rolled out to his right as Schwesinger gave chase. Love pump faked, but to no avail, as Schwesinger blasted him instead of...
