When opposing coaches are able to get a handle on what the Browns are doing, they will eventually scheme up a way to beat it. The clock ran out on the Browns defense against both the Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions. Part of what made the approach from Stefanski to be conservative late in the game was the feeling that the clock was going to run out on the defense.
The problem is that the adjustments the Browns can make are often slight. Yes, they have some coverage variations they can utilize. One of the limitations for this group is their effectiveness when it comes to zone. It's one of the reasons the Browns play so much man.
The Browns tried to utilize some zone when Wentz was able to start picking apart the man coverage. The Browns just do not play it all that well, which was illustrated on the touchdown pass to Jordan Addison. Ward tries to settle underneath hoping to potentially intercept a Wentz pass or force a throw into a window that he wasn't going to hit. Whether he wasn't deep enough or didn't do enough to force inside, Wentz was able to exploit the passing window before Ronnie Hickman was able to close over the top.
Schwartz always talks about defenses in terms of pitches like baseball. The Browns have a blazing fastball and they know how to locate it. They still haven't developed much when it comes to other pitches and too often, they still tend to hang the curve off the middle of the plate.
Special Teams, game of inches
Gage Larvadain was good when he caught punts, able to showcase the return ability he flashed in the preseason, averaging 10.3 yards per return in three opportunities. That's a good average. Unfortunately, there was one was one punt he didn't catch that ended up being downed at the one. Hopefully, he will continue to refine that with experience.
Meanwhile, the Browns were unable to down their own punt at the one. Safety Donovan McMillon was able to jump and bat a Corey Bojorquez back, ensuring it stayed in the field of play. When long snapper Rex Sunahara corralled the ball, he ended up rolling with his foot crossing the goal line. Touchback. It's a shame that Sunahara didn't pass it off to a teammate.
Given how tight the margins were in this game, that hidden yardage was costly.