Week 1 Takeaways from Browns Defense: Grant Delpit Dominated
The Cleveland Browns defense had an outstanding performance to kick off the season and helped deliver a lopsided victory against the Cincinnati Bengals. Much of what the Browns did on that side of the ball was expected, but defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz did provide some answers to unanswered questions.
The defensive line was expected to be a force for the Browns and from the first snap of the game, they delivered. Za'Darius Smith and Myles Garrett terrorized Joe Burrow throughout the game and the Browns controlled the line of scrimmage, limiting the Bengals running game. Shelby Harris and Dalvin Tomlinson showed why they were such important additions.
Schwartz moved players all over the defensive line, most notably Garrett who played a handful of snaps basically as a linebacker over the center. The depth the Browns have built on their front allows Schwartz to move Garrett all over the place without fear.
Whether Garrett was off the ball or on, the Browns peppered in their 50 front throughout the game and the Bengals had no answer for it. The Browns coverage was effective enough that Burrow often just threw the ball away harmlessly.
The opponent they were playing certainly was a factor, but the Browns defense wants to use three safeties. Even without Juan Thornhill, who missed the game with a calf injury, Ronnie Hickman was on the field as a safety, playing deep over the top. The Browns used Grant Delpit as a nickel linebacker at points.
Speaking of Delpit, he played perhaps the best game of his career. He did not miss. Delpit played all three safety spots as well as linebacker and did everything right. He came downhill to make a number of key tackles, including one for loss and timed up a blitz from safety depth that caused a Burrow incompletion. Delpit's angles both in pursuit and in coverage were on point and he made the biggest play of the game.
Down 10-3 and driving in Browns territory, the Bengals were on the Browns 33 facing 3rd-and-5. With Tee Higgins lined up in the slot against Delpit in man coverage, Burrow tried to hit him on the slot fade. Delpit with his eyes on Higgins played it perfectly, punching the ball away. If the Bengals hit that play, they perhaps score and tie the game. Instead, they missed a field goal and were effectively taken out of the game from that point.
If this is an indication of the level Delpit is going to play this year, he's going to have his best season. When Thornhill is back, expect to see those two along with Rodney McLeod on the field a decent amount.
Browns corners played well. Save for an early rub route that enabled Ja'Marr Chase to get a 12-yard reception, they contested every throw down the field. Martin Emerson Jr. ran two routes better than Bengal receivers, in position to intercept both.
The speed of the Browns defense consistently stood out. They rally to the ball, rarely asking any one player to make tackles and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah flew around. He had a couple of nice plays in the backfield that had nothing to do with making tackles. On a couple occasions, he was able to dent a would-be puller and halt the running back's progress allowing his teammates to rally to the ball.
The depth on this defense allows Schwartz a ton of flexibility. In this game, they limited their linebacker use in favor of more defensive linemen and defensive backs. That's the strength of their team and they leaned into it whenever possible.
Against the Pittsburgh Steelers in week two, a team that likes to run multiple tight end sets and wants to pound the football, the Browns may utilize more of their linebackers. Whether it's a gameplan or situationally within a game, the Browns can change up their lineup to give themselves the best possible matchups, which makes them difficult to out-personnel.
