I still feel pretty confident in the Browns’ defense for the regular season. We’ve heard about the piling up of injuries in the secondary, though, throughout camp. When the preseason game happened, the depth after the first couple of units was pretty bad in some aspects. It makes sense, as many of the guys playing defensive back were just signed recently. Half of the names were ones that even I did not recognize, and that never happens in a training camp for me.
Cleveland was also the only team to give up more than 30+ points in the first full week of the preseason. Not that that matters much, but still.
Below, we analyze the snap counts and stats on defense for the [Cleveland Browns](/)’ first preseason game against the Chicago Bears.
DL
Khordae Sydnor
39
61%
1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined). 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH.
DL
Tyreak Sapp
35
55%
1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined). 1 QH.
DL
Julian Okwara
31
48%
1 tackle (1 combined). 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH.
DL
Adin Huntington
31
48%
1 tackle (1 combined).
DL
Logan Fano
26
41%
No stats registered.
DL
Benton Whitley
23
36%
1 assist (1 combined). 1 QH.
DL
Patrick Jenkins
22
34%
1 pass defended.
DL
Travis Bell
22
34%
2 tackles, 1 assist (3 combined).
DL
Coziah Izzard
15
23%
1 tackle (1 combined). 1 TFL.
DL
Mason Graham
3
5%
1 QH.
DL
Jared Verse
3
5%
No stats registered.
DL
Isaiah McGuire
3
5%
1 tackle (1 combined).
DL
Alex Wright
3
5%
No stats registered.
* While the offensive starters played two series (10 snaps), the defensive starters played just three snaps. A three-and-out, and they were done.
* When you think about the fact that **Maleik Collins**, **Mike Hall**, and **Sam Kamara** were idle with injuries, it’s hard to evaluate too much of the defensive tackle depth from this game, aside from maybe **Adin Huntington**. The defensive end depth is a little more questionable, which is why Cleveland has been trying to add a veteran to the mix.
LB
Justin Jefferson
38
59%
2 tackles, 1 assist (3 combined).
LB
Easton Mascarenas-Arnold
35
55%
2 tackles, 2 assists (4 combined).
LB
Winston Reid
32
50%
3 tackles, 2 assists (5 combined). 3 passes defended.
LB
Nathaniel Watson
29
45%
1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined).
LB
Edefuan Ulofoshio
13
20%
1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined). 1 TFL.
LB
Quincy Williams
3
5%
1 tackle (1 combined).
* **Quincy Williams** made a nice tackle in his one series.
* On both sides of the ball, there weren’t too many players who stood out on the back-end of the roster. But one of those players who did stand out was LB **Winston Reid**, who is fighting to make the roster again. He did well for himself, and was also PFF’s second-highest graded defender for Cleveland with an 89.7.
* LB **Justin Jefferson** was on the opposite end of grades, receiving a PFF grade of 35.5.
CB
Nate Evans
44
69%
1 tackle (1 combined). 1 pass defended.
CB
Tre Avery
35
55%
No stats registered.
CB
Jeadyn Lukus
25
39%
2 tackles (2 combined).
CB
Tyler Hall
22
34%
2 tackles (2 combined). 1 pass defended.
CB
Michael Coats
18
22%
2 tackles (2 combined). 1 INT, 2 passes defended.
CB
Myles Harden
5
8%
No stats registered.
* The lack of experience at cornerback was evident, with **Denzel Ward** and **Tyson Campbell** sitting out.
* The player who stood out was rookie **Michael Coats**, having tight coverage to defend a pass and also jumping a pass for an interception. Coats received the highest defensive grade from PFF for Cleveland (90.0). In a matter of two days, he went from off my radar to me putting him on the roster if I had to choose between back-end depth.
S
Christopher Edmonds
48
75%
6 tackles (6 combined). 1 TFL.
S
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
36
56%
3 tackles, 1 assist (4 combined).
S
Jeremiah McClendon
20
31%
1 tackle (1 combined). 1 pass defended.
S
Donovan McMillon
18
28%
1 tackle (1 combined).
S
Daniel Thomas
13
20%
No stats registered.
S
Zion Washington
7
11%
1 assist (1 combined).
S
Ronnie Hickman
3
5%
1 tackle (1 combined).
S
Grant Delpit
3
5%
No stats registered.
* We know that **Grant Delpit**, **Ronnie Hickman**, and **Emmanuel McNeil-Warren** are the top three safeties.
* Next up in that competition would be **Donovan McMillon** and **Christopher Edmonds**, but neither one did anything to distance themselves. Edmonds fell down on one of the Bears’ touchdown passes.
See More:
* [Cleveland Browns Analysis](/cleveland-browns-analysis)