Browns Must Solve Patriots Cover-0 Defense; One Possible Answer

The Cleveland Browns have had two weeks to study for an incredibly difficult test in the New England Patriots defense. The New York Jets were overmatched in talent, but they also didn't have an answer for the Cover-0 scheme the Patriots employed in that game, which had Sam Darnold completely confused, seeing ghosts. The Browns coaching staff has to have a plan to deal with this scheme if the Patriots utilize it again on Sunday.

Bill Belichick has an almost flawless record facing off against younger quarterbacks. He possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of the game and particularly defense, so he can come up with a scheme that will have a young quarterback completely confused while still playing to the strengths of his defense. Oddly enough, one of the few flaws in his record is courtesy of Colt McCoy as a member of the Browns.

Against the Jets, the Patriots played a Cover-0 scheme. No safety help over the top and trusting the players can do the job in man coverage, so they can send everyone else at the quarterback. Part of the challenge for the offense is determining which players are blitzing and which are in coverage.

Part of the reason the Patriots can run this scheme is they have two phenomenal defensive backs playing at the peak of their powers in cornerback Stephon Gilmore and free safety Devin McCourty. McCourty is a free safety that was moved there not because he couldn't play corner, but he was so smart and instinctive, he could be a top safety with true corner coverage skills.

Everything starts with the protection up front, be it in the running game or the passing game. The Patriots appear to be at least fallible as a run defense, so running Nick Chubb effectively will be critical. When they do pass, they have to be able to account for the fact the Patriots will be sending more than the offensive line can block.

One potential answer to this problem would be to motion receivers or tight ends from the slot or out wide and snap the ball while they are on the move and it lines up a block for them. In the running game, this can be a simple crack block or a pull into a particular gap. In the passing game, it's to account for an extra declared rusher or add an extra blocker to a side, enabling the offensive line to extend to an extra man on the other side, giving them the ability to account for one more pass rusher when they blitz.

The key here is that when the player motions, someone is responsible for them and has to follow. They also can't be sure they aren't going to simply motion across the formation to create a numbers advantage, which the offense should also do. The net result is that the player who's motioning to help block is also effectively blocking the player responsible for them in coverage. It's a 2-for-1 trade.

The Browns have the personnel to do this with Jarvis Landry and a player like Ricky Seals-Jones. And the offense can allow the motioning player to reset, but only briefly. Anything that has them reset for an extended period of time likely results in a check from the defense that enables them to maintain their advantage.

The quarterback theoretically has better protection up front and has now one less defender to account for in coverage. They should then be able to identify the best one on one matchup and make the right throw.

If the offense is successful executing this protection scheme, the defense should be exposed and ultimately abandon the scheme in favor of something more traditional that doesn't lose two defenders on every snap.

The problem is Belichick obviously good enough to come up with a second look that's just as problematic as the Cover-0 look, but one problem at a time. It'll be interesting to see how the Browns deal with the Patriots defense, because they can't just expect Mayfield to essentially do it himself and how they try to help him will be key in determining their chances to be successful and win on Sunday. By the way, one person who utilized this protection scheme to defeat an opposing Cover-0? Bill Belichick.