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CLEVELAND, Ohio – Lost in the euphoria of the Browns who have sacked Justin Fields nine times, Baker Mayfield has been sacked five times by the Bears – more than in any game last season.
Two placed fourth on each of the first two drives.
That gave him nine for the season ranked fifth in the NFL. Last season, Mayfield was sacked 26 times to tie for 16th in the league, but eight have arrived in the last two games. Before that, it was kept clean most of the time.
All nine sacks put him on a pace of 51 this season, about twice as much as last year. The Browns were also lucky that Bears defenseman Khalil Mack injured his foot early in the second quarter and missed the remainder of the half. He returned in the third quarter but only played 51% of the Bears’ 81 defensive snaps. Mack finished the game with two sacks, but could have had one or two more if he hadn’t been injured.
Protecting Mayfield has been a big deal this week as the Browns head to Minnesota to face the 1-2 Vikings.
“We weren’t perfect,” Guard Wyatt Teller said. “We have to go back to the lab and fix these [issues], if it is communication or if it is in a certain way. Again, it was a very good defensive line. {Getting]215 yards of ground run was the plan. We had two fourth tries that ended with sacks, and you’re like, ‘What is this? You block your boyfriend, and all of a sudden everyone calms down and you’re like, “What’s going on?” What is happening? Ugh, Baker’s shirt is dirty, and Baker’s pants are dirty. You never want to see this.
Mayfield sometimes held the ball too long. According to Next Gen Stats, he is tied for second in the NFL with Justin Fields for taking seven sacks that took more than 4.5 seconds between the snap and the tackle.
It didn’t help things that tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. sprained his ankle in Game 1 and played injured for the past two weeks. Both games he gave way to Blake Hance, and the Browns missed a healthy Wills. It’s questionable for the Vikings game, but will probably start and see how it goes.
The Browns appreciated Wills’ effort, but pass protection suffered. It might not be easier Sunday in Minnesota, where the Vikings’ attacking front averages more than three sacks per game for a total of 10, tied for fifth in the NFL. The Browns are second with 12. Left winger Danielle Hunter leads Minnesota with four.
“It will be a good challenge for us as well,” said JC Tretter. “Another really talented front. [Nose tackle] Michael Pierce from Baltimore, so we have some experience with him, [defensive tackle] Dalvin Tomlinson coming from the Giants, we faced him last year, as well as some really good edge rushers. Just really talented on the front line and then the linebackers are another really talented group.
“A really smart group too. They have a good plan, a lot of disguises, so this will be another good challenge for our team. “
The line will also face an old friend in former Browns tackle Sheldon Richardson.
“It will be good to see him,” Tretter said. “We were locker teammates so it will be good to see him and say hello, but he will also be ready to ride. He will speak.
JOK at the top of the ranking
How’s that for a hot career start?
Browns rookie Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is the NFL’s No.1 linebacker with a 90.1 rating, according to Pro Football Focus.
He didn’t play a ton of snaps – only 66 vs. 164 and up for most of the others in the top 5 – but he made the most of his chances. Owusu-Koramoah has eight tackles, a half-sack and three missed passes.
“We try to keep the menu light, not just for him but for everyone because we want to focus on execution,” said defensive coordinator Joe Woods. “His athleticism is manifested on the pitch, not only in the running game but in space, whether it be in zone cover or in man cover. He can beat guys one on one when we blitz him. It’s nice to have him. We will continue to use it in different ways.
If it’s not bags, then swats
The Browns know Kirk Cousins (8 TDs, 0 INTs) won’t be a sitting duck like Fields was. He’s only been sacked four times this season – once in each of the last two games – despite facing Arizona’s Chandler Jones and JJ Watt two weeks ago.
“He has two pretty good passing throwers on his own team that he has to deal with every day, so he will know he has to hand the ball over to his skill guys, ”said Myles Garrett, who set the singles. Browns. match record with 4.5 last week. “Otherwise, we’ll come, whether it’s in the middle or around the edges. “
If they can’t get Cousins off, they’ll be happy with the ball.
“He has the most slaps in three years,” said Garrett. “We know he’s trying to do it fast, so we’ve been told and we’re working on raising our hands, jumping and hitting passes so we can get him to second and long and third and in – long. “
The Browns also have a good height on their D-line, with Malik McDowell (6-6) and Malik Jackson (6-5) in the middle.
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