The Cleveland Browns are heading into a big game against the New Orleans Saints in Week 9. The Browns dropped to third in the division last week and need to rebound this weekend.
One of the biggest things that needs to change for the Browns is the run defense. They need to clean it up this weekend after some bad showings recently. Recently, analyst Lance Reisland broke down what needs to change for the Browns’ run defense this Sunday.
“The Browns’ response comes down to scheme and technique, displacement and tackling. Sometimes one breaks down. Sometimes all three contribute to the same explosive run. Understanding how they connect explains what the Browns must do better and how that improvement can help them win Sunday,” Reisland wrote. “Stopping the run takes sound technique, holding your gap, and finishing tackles. Against the Saints, the Browns must control the line, keep the linebackers clean and tackle Kamara and Miller to force Shough into longer passing situations.”
Heading into this game, the Browns rank 24th in the league in rushing defense. They’ve allowed 126.9 rushing yards per game heading into this Week 9 contest. They’ve also allowed seven rushing touchdowns, so something needs to change this weekend.
The Browns defense has struggled to contain opposing backs this season. They’ve allowed Tony Pollard and Braelon Allen to rush for over 100 yards on them. This defense also struggled to contain Bucky Irving, Chuba Hubbard, and Jaylen Warren. We’ll see if things can change against Alvin Kamara this weekend.
The good news for Cleveland is that the Saints rank 28th in the league in rushing offense. They average 3.5 yards per carry, which is 30th in the league. They also average 86.0 yards per game, which ranks them 28th in the league right now.
The Browns have talented players on the defensive side, but it might come down to better technique and scheme. If they can shut down the run game, then that’ll force the Saints to pass the ball. It’s going to be a team effort, but the Browns need to do it to win on Sunday.
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