Browns loss to Giants comes with concerning problem that could derail Cleveland’s season
Week 3 was not a friendly one for the Cleveland Browns. The Browns were handed a loss at the hands of the New York Giants by a score of 21-15 and there are bigger issues coming away from the game. Things are bad up front for Cleveland on offense right now and it had a […]
Week 3 was not a friendly one for the Cleveland Browns. The Browns were handed a loss at the hands of the New York Giants by a score of 21-15 and there are bigger issues coming away from the game.
Things are bad up front for Cleveland on offense right now and it had a large impact on Week 3.
The Cleveland offensive line is a major issue right now and it has been through the first three weeks of the season. Not only are the Browns playing poorly up front, but they are dealing with injuries they can not afford as well. Cleveland’s offensive line was once the identity of the team but that is no longer the case.
Against New York, the Browns lost right guard Wyatt Teller to a knee injury that he was ruled out with. Backup tackle James Hudson and left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. also had to deal with injuries. It was Wills’ first game since last season due to the knee injury he suffered last season that only allowed him to play in eight games.
Cleveland gave up eight sacks to the Giants and that just can’t happen if you want to have a successful offense. Deshaun Watson player fine for the most part and finished 21-of-37 for 196 yards and two passing touchdowns. If it isn’t giving up pressure, the offensive line has a real penalty issue that is hurting them as well.
The Browns had to play a serious amount of snaps with left guard Joel Bitonio going to left tackle, Ethan Pocic going to left guard, Nick Harris filling in at center, and rookie Zak Zinter at right guard.
It is worth noting that the Browns lost their previous offensive line coach Bill Callahan this past offseason when he took the same job with the Tennessee Titans to coach under his son. Cleveland hired Andy Dickerson to take over for him and the offensive line has not been the same since.
Cleveland has just 69 yards rushing against New York, a mark they would like to see a lot higher. The run game isn’t working with this offensive line and Nick Chubb isn’t going to magically make it better.
The Browns losing a game they had no business losing falls in large part on the offensive line and how Cleveland is operating upfront. It has to improve and improve quickly, or the season could be lost.
Browns’ Deshaun Watson answers the big question regarding Amari Cooper’s start to the season
It has not worked out early in the season.
