Many fans and experts expect a lot out of the Cleveland Browns this year, but so far they’ve been anything but a curious oddity.
The oddity stems from their offensive struggles as the big plays they’ve been seeking haven’t been there and they’d been forced to chip away at defenses. Last night’s game against the defending NFC champions, Los Angeles Rams, was a perfect showcase for the Browns’ continuing struggles.
Seven of the eleven drives lasted four plays or less, and they averaged 4.3 yards per play as they leaned on Chubb to lead the way instead of their franchise quarterback Baker Mayfield.
While it’s understandable give they were facing another high-powered offense, the gameplan fell to the wayside in the final 43 seconds as they drove to the Los Angeles four yard line. Needed a touchdown to tie the game.
For four straight plays, they went five wide, splitting Chubb way out to the left and effectively taking away any playaction passing that could’ve worked. With Chubb’s 23 carries for 96 yards a non factor, Mayfield threw three incompletions before rolling right on 4th down. With Clay Mathews pressuring him, his pass was intercepted by Rams safety John Johnson to close the game.
The Browns fans then let the team know their impatience with a cascade of boos for coming so close yet falling short.
After the game, Browns coach Freddie Kitchens admitted that he, “should’ve called more of a direct run.”
The fact that the Browns survived eight penalties against a team as talented as the Rams shows they’ve come a long way, but the climb to respectability is never easy.
The Los Angeles Rams
On the flip side, while the Rams are off to a fast start with three wins, their offense has been lackluster so far this season scoring wise. At least, early in games. For the second time in three games, the Rams offence failed to score a first half touchdown. This has allowed their opponents to stay close in the game and, as with this game, nearly cost them a loss. It’s not what we’re used to seeing from them, and it can be attributed to how the Patriots’ defense frustrated them in last year’s Super Bowl.
Despite what players and coaches claim, a loss in the big game stays with them. It’s been proven time and again, and as with other teams, the Rams’ coaching staff worked toward correcting that issue by tweaking their system. While it could be this tweak that’s slowing the offense as they’re adjusting, it could just as easily be the fact other teams are targeting. Just because they lost the Super Bowl doesn’t mean they aren’t a benchmark teams use to measure themselves against.
As they’ve done so far this season, the offense found its footing in the second half, and behind tough running by Gurley (14 carries for 43 yards) they hit on their play action attempts to Brandin Cooks and Cooper Kupp.
The last two weeks, Kupp has found a way to be open on nearly every play, building a reputation in a league that’s currently receiver and quarterback run. His totals for the night were 11 catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns.
While many things could be blamed for their offensive struggles thus far, as long as they continue to find wins and stay at the top in the competitive NFC West, things will fall into place.
