Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns: Week 1 Film Room session

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:54 p.m. ET

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Several plays stood out as difference-makers in the 29-10 loss suffered by the Cleveland Browns this past Sunday.

The Cleveland Browns organization simply can’t catch a break. Not only did the team look overmatched in all three phases of their loss Sunday, but starting quarterback Robert Griffin III suffered a serious injury to his non-throwing shoulder. Griffin was placed on the IR and will not be able to return until at least Week 10. The Browns will turn to their journeyman veteran Josh McCown to be the starting quarterback for the foreseeable future this season.

However, in Griffin’s Browns debut there was very little evidence to suggest he could be the answer at the position for the team. It is unfortunate for Griffin and the Browns as he won’t be able to build and grow this season and make the most of his opportunity to start this season.

The Browns also are put in a bad situation as the team won’t have the time to accurately assess his play and get an evaluation for next season on him. The Browns are now put in a position where they need to get through the 2016 season with McCown at the helm and draft their quarterback of the future in the first round in the 2017 draft. The Browns took a gamble on a career revival of Griffin and his inability to stay healthy backfired on the Browns in Week 1.

In this segment I will dissect key plays from the previous weeks game using the coaches film view (All 22) and highlight on what went right or wrong. This segment is to bring understanding and teaching to the things missed when watching the game on the live telecast. The eyes in the sky never lie.

Nelson Agholor’s 35 yard touchdown vs. Joe Haden

On the Eagles’ drive following Cam Erving’s bad snap for a safety, they had all the momentum and were looking for a score to go up two touchdowns on the Browns. It was first-and-ten from the Browns’ 35, and Carson Wentz recognized the press man coverage on the right side. The matchup was second-year receiver Nelson Agholor vs. Joe Haden. The defense blitzed four and dropped seven into coverage. The Browns use two high safetys and it appears the corners are playing man-coverage with the linebackers in a zone.

Ibraheim Campbell is the Browns’ deep safety on the right side of the field. He recognizes the play late and is late getting over the top in help coverage for Haden. The result is a 35-yard strike by the rookie quarterback, exploiting the secondary.

Haden simply had awful technique on the play. He failed to get a hand or bump on Agholor at the line and failed to keep Agholor to his inside. He fell for a simple stutter step and it cost the Browns big time. This score was the dagger in the Browns hopes of winning Sunday. Overall, Haden had a decent performance Sunday. However, the Browns defense is weak in many areas and need Haden to be on point in coverage week in and week out.

Aug 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium, the Atlanta Falcons defeated the Cleveland Browns 24-13. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Direct snap to Duke Johnson on 4th down 

The Eagles are prepared and have eight defenders on the line of scrimmage. The Browns have seven blockers and the left end for the Browns is the punter Britton Colquitt. The Browns do not have a mismatch or advantage on the play. The smart thing would have been realizing the Eagles were ready for this and calling a timeout and punting the ball away. The Browns run the play anyway and the snap is high from Cam Erving.

The timing of the play is disrupted and the Eagles quickly penetrate the backfield and make the fourth-down stop. Coach Jackson took full responsibility for the bad play call postgame.

Sep 1, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Corey Coleman (19) is defended by Chicago Bears cornerback Sherrick McManis (27) during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Corey Coleman’s 58 yard reception 

On the first play to begin the third quarter the Browns line up in a single-back formation. The Browns have trips on the right side with the two receivers, Terrelle Pryor and Andrew Hawkins, and a tight end, Randall Telfer. Corey Coleman is the lone receiver on the left side. The Eagles defense is playing cover 3, meaning there is only one high safety and that the field is spilt into thirds for coverage. The left corner has a third, the safety has the middle third and the right corner has a third.

On the play, the Browns use play-action to freeze the linebackers dropping into coverage, allowing both Pryor and Hawkins to run open over the middle. Griffin feels pressure from the outside and does a good job of stepping up into the pocket. However, he is locked and loaded to throw the deep ball to Corey Coleman. Coleman is in tight coverage from Eagles corner Nolan Carroll and does not have separation. The safety reads Griffin’s throw and the opposite corner also breaks on the deep ball.

While the ball is in the air there are three defenders around Coleman. The ball should easily be intercepted or batted down by the Eagles secondary. However, the ball is under thrown the secondary is unable to locate the ball as Coleman makes an adjustment to secure the long bomb.

The result of the play is huge for the Browns but the process in which they got there was poor. The correct decision by the quarterback Griffin would be recognizing his first read Coleman deep was covered well and immediately look towards the left sideline where Pryor and Hawkins ran crossing routes wide open across the middle from right to left.

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