Browns vs. Titans: Full Report Card Grades for Cleveland
Optimistic fans of the Cleveland Browns can feel proud about the Browns giving the Tennessee Titans a battle up through the final minute of Sunday's game. Pessimistic followers of the club, though, only care that Cleveland's 28-26 loss to Tennessee put the Browns at 0-6.
The Browns seemed to be headed for another disappointing double-digit defeat when the Titans found the end zone with under seven minutes left in the game to expand their lead to 28-13. Rookie quarterback Cody Kessler, who will be lucky to be on the active roster and not on injured reserve come December at this rate, refused to lay down and allow his teammates to sulk, and he twice brought the Browns to within striking distance in the last 127 seconds of play.
Just as was the case in three of Cleveland's games already played this season, the Browns could not come up with the necessary defensive stop or noteworthy offensive play to get over the figurative hump and even the score. Yes, the Browns earned additional moral victories against the Titans, but Cleveland remains the only winless team in the NFL and the worst team in the league.
Losing becomes exhausting over time, even for the toughest of professionals.
Quarterback
1 of 10
Cody Kessler completed 26 of 41 pass attempts for 336 yards, he tossed a pair of touchdowns to wide receiver Terrelle Pryor and the rookie QB didn't throw a single interception. Those numbers are impressive, but they don't tell somebody reading a box score how heroic and poised Kessler was throughout the afternoon.
The first-year pro who injured his chest and ribs in the loss to the New England Patriots last Sunday visibly fought through pain and discomfort, particularly during the second half. Kessler routinely used his legs to escape danger while keeping his eyes down the field, he remained strong and steady in the pocket despite being rocked by multiple massive hits, and he kept his teammates motivated and in the action when the Browns trailed by 15 points in the last six minutes of the contest.
Kessler's limitations must be mentioned. He had almost no zip on his passes throughout the final three quarters of play, and his lack of arm strength was mentioned by television commentators more than once. While fans and analysts could blame Kessler's injury for some of his passes hanging in air seemingly for days, nobody should pretend the rookie is Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan or even Josh McCown when healthy.
There's still more to like than dislike about Kessler, but the Browns may want to think about sitting him for a week or two until he is fully recovered.
Grade: B+
Running Back
2 of 10
The Tennessee coaching staff clearly learned something from watching film from last week's game involving the Browns and Patriots. A week after New England limited the Browns to only 27 rushing yards, the Titans held the Browns to only 40 yards on 15 rushing attempts. Duke Johnson Jr. picked up 18 yards on four carries, while Isaiah Crowell gained a paltry 16 yards on nine runs.
The trend of head coach Hue Jackson abandoning the run is becoming worrisome, and it's something others on his staff need to address before the Browns play another game. With that said, there was never a moment in the game when it felt as if either Crowell or Jackson had any momentum. The Titans were happy to sit back and force Kessler to beat them on Sunday.
Grade: F
Wide Receiver and Tight End
3 of 10
Terrelle Pryor is no longer just Cleveland's best offensive weapon. Pryor is now a safety blanket for a rookie QB who continues to develop. Kessler missed an open read on his first touchdown pass to Pryor late in the second quarter, but Kessler nevertheless threw a perfect pass to Pryor on the play. Pryor rewarded his QB by rising above two defenders and catching the ball in the back of the end zone.
Pryor ended the game with nine catches, 75 receiving yards and a pair of TDs.
Kessler connected with tight end Gary Barnidge for a gain of 43 yards on Cleveland's first offensive play of the game. Kessler only threw to Barnidge four additional times, however, and the TE finished the afternoon with three catches and 59 receiving yards.
Rookie wide receiver Ricardo Louis caught five passes for 65 yards, but a pair of drops may cost him playing time next week. Kessler missed injured rookie Corey Coleman on those two plays that ended with Louis dropping passes any NFL receiver has to catch.
Grade: B
Offensive Line
4 of 10
Center Cameron Erving seems to be a nice young man who works hard and wants to play better. But Erving, simply put, is a liability on the Cleveland offensive line as of October 16, and the Browns will be better for it the sooner somebody realizes this and makes a change.
Erving whiffed on blocking assignments no fewer than three times. Two of those plays occurred in third-down situations, and one nearly resulted in Kessler being crushed by a pass-rusher. There may, at some point in the future, come a day when the Browns can discuss moving Erving to a different position. Remember, though, that Erving largely appeared lost playing at guard during his rookie season.
An offensive line can only play so well when its center is a weak link. Kessler needs and deserves better from somebody playing that position. Erving deserves time to work on his craft and improve, but he shouldn't be in the starting lineup at this time.
Grade: C
Defensive Line
5 of 10
Danny Shelton had himself a banner day against the Titans. Shelton earned the first sack of his NFL career, he accumulated five tackles during the afternoon and he routinely won battles and disrupted blockers up front. The lights may be coming on for the second-year pro, as Shelton was a big positive in Cleveland's loss to Tennessee.
Like Shelton, rookie Emmanuel Ogbah picked up the first sack of his career on Sunday. That sack occurred largely because Marcus Mariota twirled into Ogbah, and Ogbah had only two other tackles during the contest. Fellow rookie Carl Nassib was dropped back into coverage, and he had his name called by commentators only once.
The Browns held Tennessee running back DeMarco Murray to 3.1 yards per carry and 65 total yards on 21 carries, and he was a non-factor for most of the first half. Cleveland's defensive line dismantling blocking schemes was a big reason for Murray's lack of production.
Grade: B
Linebacker
6 of 10
Two concerns about the Browns leading into Sunday's game at Tennessee involved Cleveland having to deal with DeMarco Murray and tight end Delanie Walker. Murray found the end zone once, but he wasn't a big reason for Tennessee's victory over the Browns. Walker, meanwhile, had only one catch against Cleveland.
The run defense of the Browns played as well as at any previous point of the current campaign, and all involved deserve praise for that. Demario Davis finished the day with seven tackles, and Christian Kirksey accumulated five tackles and one stop for a loss.
One thing Cleveland linebackers failed to do was get to Mariota. No linebacker on the Browns registered a single hit, let alone of sack, of Mariota behind the line of scrimmage. Cleveland's defensive line and linebacker units played well, but the team's lack of a consistent pass rush made life too easy too often for Mariota.
Grade: B
Secondary
7 of 10
A better quarterback would've torched the Cleveland secondary on Sunday. Marcus Mariota made several terrible decisions during Sunday's game, including one that resulted in cornerback Tramon Williams intercepting the Tennessee QB early in the fourth quarter after Mariota attempted to force a throw when no passing window existed.
Williams made it up to Mariota and the Titans on Tennessee's next offensive drive, however, as he was beaten in coverage multiple times before the hosts scored what proved to be a vital touchdown.
Rookie safety Derrick Kindred won't want to review game film from this contest. Kindred allowed Tennessee wide receiver Kendall Wright to run right past him and into open field on a play that resulted in a 48-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter. That was only one time Kindred looked lost in coverage against the Titans.
Joe Haden was sidelined on Sunday because of a groin injury. Haden has now played in nine meaningful games since the start of the 2015 season. Per Spotrac, Haden carries a cap hit of $13.4 million this year. That number goes up to $14.4 million the following season.
Grade: D-
Special Teams
8 of 10
One couldn't have asked for much more from Browns punter Britton Colquitt on Sunday. Colquitt booted the ball seven times, and he averaged 50.9 yards per punt. Cleveland lost the battle for field position throughout the afternoon, but nobody can blame Colquitt for that.
Cody Parkey converted both of his field-goal attempts. Parkey has not missed a kick since his disastrous performance against the Miami Dolphins on September 25.
Duke Johnson receiving more opportunities to make plays while carrying the football makes sense...on paper. Risking such an offensive weapon on kick returns may come back to bite the Browns, as Johnson does not routinely earn chunks of yards on such plays. Johnson did little in his two returns against the Titans.
Grade: B
Coaching
9 of 10
Cleveland head coach Hue Jackson can credit analytics, a chart, advice given to him or his horoscope for his decision to go for a two-point conversion with the score at 28-19 and 2:07 left in the game. Football logic says to kick the extra point and keep the contest a one-score game for as long as possible, especially with so little time left on the clock.
The Browns didn't convert on the two-point play, and thus it didn't matter all that much when they recovered an onside kick and then scored a touchdown with 27 seconds left on the clock.
Jackson going for two there was no different than a QB trying to force a pass for a touchdown on a first-down play in the red zone with plenty of time left on the clock when he could throw the ball away, keep other options open and extend the drive.
Jackson must at least reconsider deferring when his team wins a coin toss before a game. The Browns have lost the first quarter in five of six games, which means they've played behind in those five contests. Maybe, just maybe, Jackson's players would benefit from not trailing during the first quarter in over 80 percent of their games.
It's something Jackson and his staff should think about.
Grade: C
Final Grade
10 of 10
As ESPN.com's Pat McManamon explained, the Browns "need a near-perfect game" to earn a victory, even when playing a Tennessee team that entered Sunday afternoon at 2-3. Cleveland's roster is filled with holes and with players who wouldn't start for contenders. The Browns don't have the goods to overcome a myriad of miscues against any opponent.
Kessler is learning on the job. Pryor is learning on the job. The same can be said about Nassib, Ogbah, Kindred and other young players. Even Hue Jackson is still finding his feet as a head coach. Every game presents lessons and learning opportunities for Cleveland players and for the team's coaching staff.
"We're going to be bad for two years and hope that doing so helps us become a team that can eventually make the playoffs" is not a motto any club can use while attempting to sell tickets and merchandise to fans. But it's one the Browns adopted, intentionally or not, when the club began its latest rebuilding process. Cleveland fans must cling to the hope that better days are coming.
The Browns are traveling down the right path, even if you can't see any light at the end of the tunnel halfway through October.
Final grade: C-
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