CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Miami Dolphins came to Cleveland in a generous mood, to hear Grant Delpit tell it.
In the Browns’ 31-6 win on Sunday, Cleveland took the ball away four times, doubling their takeaway total (now at eight) for the season.
“They were giving out donations,” safety Grant Delpit said. “They were giving out donations and everybody was getting in on them. But that just happens when you put the pressure on the quarterback and execute what you got to do and catch the ones they throw to you.”
The main guys benefiting from those “donations?” Delpit and fellow safety Rayshawn Jenkins, who played his most defensive snaps of the season so far because the coaching staff liked the matchup he could provide against a struggling Miami offense.
Delpit and Jenkins teamed up on the first takeaway, with Delpit punching the ball out on a Dee Eskridge kick return in the second quarter; Jenkins recovered it at the Miami 46.
It was a key sequence as the turnover led to a 3-yard touchdown run by rookie running back Quinshon Judkins 10 plays later.
The Browns have been embattled on special teams for most of the year, so getting a play like that from Delpit was a morale boost early in a tied game.
“I take pride in special teams, man,” Delpit said. “And especially making plays for a coach like Bubba (Ventrone). Special teams, it’s not something that we take lightly over here, and we haven’t been as good as we wanted to be. It was a big emphasis on getting the ball back for our offense in all phases, so we were able to do that. And touchdown.”
But the duo caused so much havoc, Jenkins joked after the game that had almost forgotten about his recovery until a reporter reminded him by asking about it.
“I almost forgot about that, actually,” he said. “But it was great because our team needed it in that moment. And then to have it come from not offense, not defense, but special teams, it goes to show you how guys were really embracing their role this game.”
Jenkins helped Cleveland get its next takeaway too, when he hit De’Von Achane as the Miami running back was trying to corral a pass down the left sideline on the first play of the third quarter.
The hit caused him to lose control of the ball, and it popped up in the air and straight into the hands of Cleveland’s newest cornerback, Tyson Campbell, who the Browns traded for last week.
Campbell ran the ball back for a 34-yard TD.
“Man, ballers, man, all phases,” Campbell said of Jenkins’ and Delpit’s afternoon. “Guys that are just really hungry to make a play and be responsible for themselves and their role and trying to make their teammates proud. You love to go to war with guys like that.”
For the third takeaway, Delpit and Jenkins once again teamed up in the fourth quarter.
With Miami backed up at their own 3 and facing third-and-12, Delpit came up the middle as the Browns blitzed four. He hit Tagovailoa towards the back of the end zone, but the QB got the throw off first — straight into the hands of Jenkins.
“Alley-oop, D-Wade to LeBron on the Heat,” Delpit quipped.
Jenkins returned the ball 7 yards, but his only regret was that he was two yards short of the end zone.
“When the ball came out, I didn’t believe it,” he said. “Like I was just standing in one spot on the field, and the ball literally just came right at me and I said, you know what? I’m gonna take it. Should have scored. I tried to go overly highlight play with the cutback, but I should have just kept it to the sideline and scored. But, it was nice to see, I think 10 (Judkins) got in the end zone right? So it’s nice to see stuff like that.”
The fourth takeaway came from their fellow safety, Ronnie Hickman, who picked off Tagovailoa at the Cleveland 42 and returned it to the Miami 42. It was the only takeaway the Browns didn’t convert to points.
But overall, Delpit and Jenkins helped show what this defense could look like when it’s at its best, and when they are able to play with a lead and take more chances.
Delpit also took advantage of his blitz opportunities, including a sack when he came unblocked off the edge on a first-and-15 in the second quarter.
“This is the scheme,” Delpit said. “Executed the scheme, man. And you know, you see what happened. We’re a dominant defense.”
In the end, Cleveland’s didn’t just take what Miami gave — they earned it.
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