Even the best blockers in the Vikings fell short of the Browns. here’s why

Kirk Cousins ​​and the Vikings offense were grounded in Sunday’s 14-7 loss to the Browns in a way that rekindled their worst moments together, from last year’s loss to the Colts to most trips to Soldier Field, or a playoff game in San Francisco.

The culprits were as obvious as Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney crossing your screen, repeatedly, in the Vikings’ backfield. The Vikings’ light attacking front was outclassed by a stronger defensive line, a story that again played out in front of coach Mike Zimmer regardless of how many extra blockers they organized.

“Did we get pushed around today?” Zimmer said Sunday after the game. “Probably.”

Below, we’ll take a more detailed look at how the Browns shaved the Vikings’ forehead, rejecting their timing and creases in the running game while crushing Cousins ​​and affecting his ability to find the target open. No quarterback has been under more pressure than Cousins ​​- on 53.7% of his losses, according to Pro Football Focus – during Week 4 games (excluding Monday night). The Winless Lions arriving in town this week are exactly what the doctor ordered.

“You see guys who just cripple people with the ball,” Browns safety John Johnson told reporters in Cleveland on Monday. “The offensive linemen are out there. It’s just awesome.

1. The problems were present even during the opening landing practice, which required a long touchdown pass on Cousins’ third base. Before full-back CJ Ham needed to move the chains in the fourth and short, coordinator Klint Kubiak called in a power on the third down that should have resulted in a score – or at least the first down.

Left guard Ezra Cleveland (# 72) shoots as the second main blocker for running back Dalvin Cook, who starts behind Ham. The Browns are squeezing nine defensemen on the line. Note that right tackle Brian O’Neill “blocks down” the defensive tackle, forming a double first team with right guard Oli Udoh.

It was well blocked at the start. Ham takes on the aggressive defensive back, while tight end Tyler Conklin has had enough of Clowney in a tough one-block task. There is an alley.

Cleveland (# 72) and wide receiver Adam Thielen double linebacker Mack Wilson (# 51), but the problem seems to arise when O’Neill (# 75) doesn’t take off his double team quickly enough to block linebacker Malcolm Smith (# 56 ).

Smith sneaks up behind O’Neill and finishes Cook for a gain of one yard. If O’Neill blocks Smith, Cook simply has to dodge a cornerback for a score.

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2. Clowney pulled off a tackle, but canceled the timing of the blocks, even from Pro Bowl back CJ Ham. The Vikings finished this one with 65 rushing yards, the least offense with Cook since losing the playoffs to San Francisco to end the 2019 season. It was that kind of domination up front, and their best blockers have sometimes been rejected.

O’Neill (# 75) lines up in front of Clowney (# 90) on this second try. Coordinator Klint Kubiak calls a side header area on the strong side, where tight end Ben Ellefson is next to O’Neill. They will try to find the hole between O’Neill and Ellefson.

Clowney attacks O’Neill’s inner shoulder, quickly climbing up. O’Neill appears to be doing a great job of salvaging and walling up Clowney.

But Ham (# 30), the lead blocker, hesitates when he sees Clowney’s jersey break through. This half-second stop disrupted the timing ahead of Cook.

Cook (# 33) and Ham (# 30) arrive at the same time at the hole, where they meet two defensemen of the Browns. Ham should be in the lead to block one defender, leaving the other for Cook to shake, but instead Cook jumps back and is tackled for a gain of one yard.

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3. The Browns varied the pressure patterns, twisting defensive linemen to produce free runners at Cousins ​​and force the throws. But sometimes Garrett just used brute force to get past left tackle Rashod Hill, who had perhaps the roughest game of all linemen.

The Vikings adjusted late in the third quarter, putting up to three blockers on Garrett (# 95) on a maximum protection call to produce a shooter.

Below, the Browns lead a five-man run with corner corner Denzel Ward (# 21) performing a “green dog blitz” out of the man-to-man blanket. It’s a technique where a defender blitz after his mission – tight end Tyler Conklin (# 83) – stays in the block to pass. Ward forces Cousins ​​to climb into the pocket, where he is met by Garrett for the sack.

The cousins ​​actually did well against the blitz. It was at this point that he confidently attacked the pitch with no security hiding on both sides of the pitch. He completed three of his longest passes to gain 20, 20 and 22 yards against an extra rusher, including touchdowns for Justin Jefferson and KJ Osborn. When the Browns lost seven yards and rushed just four (or less), Cousins ​​averaged just 4.6 yards on 30 passes.

The Vikings are trying to produce a shooter for receivers Adam Thielen or Jefferson; these are Cousins’ only options downstream. Cleveland (# 72) assists Hill on the inside, while Ham (# 30) assists on the outside, theoretically. It’s a three-team block on Garrett.

But Garrett uses a “long arm” technique in a bull rush, using his strength to throw Hill off balance. Cleveland barely seems to affect Garrett. Ham is of no help as an outside chip, as Garrett goes through Hill – not around him.

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4. The cousins ​​did not have a good feeling in the pocket in the second half, when he missed a wide-open Osborn on a manageable third-and-3. What’s confusing is the Browns’ straightforward and high safety roster, albeit in a dime set that has six defensive backs set to stop the pass.

But Deep Security cheats to Cousins’ right, where Cousins ​​looks towards Jefferson on a starting road. They’ve had success on these roads, but Cousins ​​may have stuck with his guy here too long.

Hill (# 69) is selected over Garrett (# 95), Conklin not offering any chips before he sets off on a road. As the game develops, Thielen (# 19) draws too much attention to a cross route as the Browns attempt to defend the short third down. Two defensive backs, including safety half MJ Stewart who ends up jumping to catch up with Osborn, jump on the road to Thielen. Missing the mistake, Cousins ​​looks to his right as Osborn (# 17) runs down the field.

Cousins ​​doesn’t make any subtle moves to buy pocket space, instead he comes in and runs when he feels the pressure from Garrett to his left. Udoh is also pulled back onto his knees, but Cousins ​​probably could have made that throw if he had pulled the trigger right away. Instead, it’s a bag of effort for on-board rusher Takk McKinley.

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5. Kubiak’s reliable counters to a strong pass rush – like screen play – didn’t work against the Browns, because the first two attempts were incomplete. The first try, which opened the Vikings’ second drive, was missed by Clowney (# 90) defeating O’Neill (# 75).

After an opening practice in which the Browns played exclusively two-depth sureties on passing, Kubiak attempted to hit them below with that Cook screen (# 33). Receiver Justin Jefferson (# 18) gets in motion before the snap, and the Browns linebackers move away from where Cook will set up for the catch and run.

O’Neill decides to use a 45 degree pass against Clowney, apparently trying to establish quick contact with the rusher on board and buy Cousins ​​some precious seconds.

But O’Neill’s ensemble is vulnerable to inner movement, which Clowney demonstrates with a jab to his left and a quick rush on the inside that lets O’Neill reach right away. Cousins ​​doesn’t stand a chance of ending this without somehow avoiding Clowney.