Hearing from the Browns ahead of Week Six Game Vs Steelers

The Cleveland Browns are looking forward to their rematch this Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.  One, the Browns believe they have improved while the Steelers have struggled.  Two, the Browns feel that they have the answer at quarterback with Brian Hoyer.  We go around the league with news from the Browns ahead of their week six meeting with the Steelers.

From Kevin Jones, “Dawg Pound Journal” (Oct. 8, 2014)

Last Sunday, the Steelers may have responded, but it wasn’t a thing of beauty. In their 17-9 victory at Jacksonville, Pittsburgh finally flexed their defensive muscles, but again they let the winless Jaguars hang around. With 5:28 left in the fourth quarter, Blake Bortles had the football and a chance to force the game to overtime. The rookie quarterback faltered and Steelers fans collectively breathed a sigh of relief.

Statistically and record wise, the Steelers seem to be having a solid first half of the season. They’re 3-2 and ranked 4th in the NFL in offense and 9th on defense. But the last three games have been troublesome. The Steelers have not buried two of the NFL’s weaker teams – FootballOutsiders.com rank Tampa and Jacksonville as the two least efficient teams in the pro football.

All of this bodes well for the Cleveland Browns. Since their Week 1, 30-27, last second loss to Pittsburgh, the Browns have strengthened their identity and mental toughness in the fourth quarter. Plus, this game is at FirstEnergy Stadium. Outside of a few plays here and there, Cleveland’s defense has been thriving at home.

Pittsburgh will have to play a game much closer to the one they did against Carolina to leave Ohio with a win, because the Browns have proven they can now elevate their play when the game is on the line.

Browns linebacker Tank Carder wins AFC special teams player of the week

In a 29-28 victory at Tennessee Sunday, Carder blocked a punt out of the end zone for a safety in the fourth quarter and added one special teams tackle that dropped the Titans at their own 11-yard line on the second half’s opening kick.

His fourth quarter play was the Browns’ first blocked punt since Nov. 30, 2003 (at Seattle) and first safety since Nov. 22, 2009 (at Detroit).

Carder’s efforts helped the Browns overcome a 28-3 deficit, the largest comeback victory by a road team in NFL history.

Carder also earned a game ball from Head Coach Mike Pettine. “It wasn’t just for the block,” Pettine said. “Tank had a real nice tackle on a kickoff and blocked really well. He had one of his best games as a core-teamer for us.”

This is the first AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award for Carder, who is the first Browns player to win the award since Travis Benjamin in Week 5 in 2013.

Since special teams coordinator Chris Tabor and special teams assistant Shawn Mennenga joined the Browns in 2011, the team has won five AFC Special Teams Player of the Week awards.

On the season, the Browns lead the NFL in opposing starting field position on kickoffs with an average start of 17.8 and have six tackles inside the 20-yard line.

From Kevin Jones, “Dawg Pound Journal” (Oct. 6, 2014)

 

Some who follow the Browns are under the impression Cleveland is only a solid run blocking offensive line. That just isn’t true. The Browns legitimately may have the best offensive line in the league.

Here are a few numbers for you to digest how fantastic the unit is playing from ProFootballFocus.com

• The Browns have allowed 15 quarterback pressures in five games, the best in the league. By comparison, the San Diego Chargers have given up a league leading 69. The median number is 46.
• Brian Hoyer has only been “hit” (not touched, but hit hard), two times. The only quarterback who’s stayed upright more is Ben Roethlisberger.
• Hoyer has only been sacked five times and routinely has a clean pocket to throw from. The only fulltime starting quarterbacks with less are Drew Brees and Peyton Manning.