Where’s the Browns pass rush? How about the Ground Play and Baker’s Grain! Terry pluto

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Doodles in my notebook after the Browns’ 31-21 win over Houston:

1. Coaches sometimes say, “The NFL is a pass / fail league. If you win the game, you pass. If you lose, you fail. The score or the margin of victory means little or nothing. The Browns therefore passed this test, earning their first victory of the season. My take is they played better in their 33-29 loss to Kansas City, but it was a loss, period. And yes, it was a victory.

2. Before we take a closer look at the game, let’s take a look at how Kevin Stefanski and QB Baker Mayfield came together. Mayfield received a blow to the left shoulder and “it kind of jumped out,” he said. He stayed in the game. Coaches and other players praised his tenacity, Stefanski said: “He emptied it.”

3. Now look at Mayfield’s stats: 19 of 21 for 213 yards. He threw an interception, but it was a game where rookie Anthony Schwartz seemed to break his pattern. Stefanski spoke to Schwartz when Auburn’s rookie was left on the sidelines. Mayfield was injured in this play, trying to make a tackle.

4. Mayfield on Schwartz during interception: “I trust him to be in a certain place and he has to roll it over there. It’s gonna be a bang-bang play. That’s what this league is. We will learn from it. “

5. Mayfield was upset by the Browns’ two turnovers – his interception and Donovan Peoples-Jones catching a pass then fumbling when he was hit hard: “We just have to take care of the ball. It is clear and simple.

6. The Browns had two turnovers in the Chiefs loss. A third mistake was punter Jamie Gillan who dropped a snap and was tackled for a loss. That’s five in two games.

7. Not wanting his QB to take more hits, Stefanski stuck to his running game. When Mayfield threw it was often quick throws to tight ends and running backs. His passage was precise, the offensive had a sense of rhythm and confidence. The Browns have only kicked twice.

8. They’ve been so good since they’ve been paired up, but my god Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt are something special. They combined for 146 yards on 24 carries (6.1 average). Some of Chubb’s tracks remind those of us of a certain age of Jim Brown: Mighty. Fast. Determined. Tirelessly. Almost impossible to approach.

9. Chubb was quick to compliment his offensive line: “Coach (Bill Callahan) gets these guys moving. … As a running back all we have to do is hit our track, have good eyes and it opens up for us.

10. Chubb on his 26-yard TD: “It was a great decision. It was well blocked. I don’t think I was touched by this room.

11. Former Brown-turned-Houston linebacker Christian Kirksey: “An exceptional offensive line… as individuals, they’re Pro Bowl type guys. They play so well together and that’s what makes them so good. And they have these two guys behind them (Hunt and Chubb). It is a fatal offense.

12. Mayfield completed 11 of 12 assists at tight ends Austin Hooper, Harrison Bryant and David Njoku. The Browns have often used Bryant as a wideout – one of his receptions was 29 yards.

13. Mayfield said rookie running back Demetric Felton was ordered to study some of the pieces used for Jarvis Landry. When Landry left early with a knee injury, Felton made some good plays. The most dynamic was a screen pass that turned into a 33-yard touchdown. Felton pulled away from a tackle, then broke two more tackles.

14. Liking to praise his teammates, Chubb said about Felton’s touchdown: “It was an amazing game. He broke tackles, made the guys miss. I always knew he could do it – I’m glad he showed everyone he could do it.

15. There are different elements of the problems in defense, but I circled this – they didn’t have a sack or even a hit until rookie Grant Delpit crushed Houston rookie QB Davis Mills with 2:32 to play. Jadeveon Clowney had two late QB hits.

16. Profootballfocus (PFF) on Clowney: “He hasn’t had a ton of top-level wins with rushed passes, but he did hit multiple tackles for a loss or no gain. Clowney had three tackles in total, one for a loss according to official stats.

17. PFF said Houston pitched at Denzel Ward seven times, completing six. The cornerback typically covered Houston’s top receiver – Brandin Cooks (nine catches). Rookie cornerback Greg Newsome II was only targeted twice, allowing a two-yard reception. Newsome also performed well in KC

18. The Browns have dealt with two moving QBs in the first two games – Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs) and Tyrod Taylor playing the first half for Houston. So that could be part of the lack of rush.

19. Nonetheless, more is to be expected, especially on the defensive line. Myles Garrett said, “The D line is pretty much new except for me and Porter (Gustin, a replacement). It’s hard to get this chemistry right away.

20. Patience is always the order of the day for the defense, which sometimes feels like these guys barely know each other. Most of the time they face at least seven guys who weren’t on the squad a year ago. But they have to start to understand.

RATHER RECENT TERRY COLUMNS

Large crowd. It is a victory. Problems for the Browns’ defense.

Browns pre-game doodles: A cool get-together with the wives.

Terry’s Talkin ‘Browns: Stefanski’s Hope, Njoku’s Rise

What I hear about the tribe’s outlook as roster decisions loom

Can we have a healthy discussion about Odell Beckham’s comeback?

Terry Pluto’s new podcast, watching Browns KC / moving forward. The future of the tribe

What about Joe Woods and the defense? Baker at the end of the game? Browns scribbles

My post-game KC scribbles

A frustrating loss, but Browns fans should be encouraged

Paul Depodesta, Part 2: How Browns Found a Shared Vision

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