After Dillon Gabriel was sacked six times and took 16 quarterback hits in his second NFL start, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin wondered Monday why the Browns and general manager Andrew Berry were so quick to send Joe Flacco to Cincinnati last week and go with the rookie after four games.
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“Andrew Berry must be a lot smarter than me or us, because it doesn’t make sense to me to trade a quarterback that you think enough to be an opening day starter to a divisional opponent that’s struggling in that area. But those are just my personal feelings,” Tomlin said.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said last Wednesday that the trade caught him by surprise, but he declined to address Tomlin’s comments.
Frankly, Stefanski has more important things to worry about.
Although the Browns were within one score for two and a half quarters, the game plan was very pass-oriented despite moving the ball under a balanced attack a week earlier against the Vikings.
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Cleveland was starting its fifth different offensive line combination with Cam Robinson at left tackle. Robinson and starting right tackle Jack Conklin were injured during the second half, making Gabriel an easy target for the attack of TJ Watt, Nick Herbig and the rest of the Steelers defense.
Despite the committed offensive line, Stefanski did not decide to go with an additional offensive lineman to help rookie KT Leveston on the right side.
Gabriel had 52 pass attempts, tied for the second most by a Browns rookie since the merger. Even though he completed 29 passes for 221 yards, it didn’t help Gabriel that his receivers had dropouts. The third-round pick has thrown primarily short passes in his two starts and is 1-for-5 on throws of 20 air yards or more.
An overwhelmed offensive line, a rookie quarterback making his first start in the AFC North and a game plan that failed to mask the offense’s deficiencies accounted for a season-low nine points, and Cleveland failed to reach the end zone for the first time this season.
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The Browns (1-5 for the second straight season) have scored 17 points or fewer in 11 consecutive games, the NFL’s second-longest offensive drought since 2000. The Arizona Cardinals had a 13-game streak in 2000 and 2001.
“Yeah, it’s frustrating,” All-Pro pass rusher Myles Garrett said after the game. “Always losing in the same way is very frustrating.”
Stefanski said Monday that he would continue calling offensive plays, rather than handing the duties to coordinator Tommy Rees.
“I think for us the focus is on being better as an offense, and that covers a lot of different areas. I know I could be better for this football team. I know I certainly can be better for this offense, but our focus is making sure we all do our part to make this work,” Stefanski said. “We trust our guys. We just have to be better.”
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What is working?
Andre Szmyt made all three of his field goal attempts, including a 53-yarder, on what was a difficult playing surface between the marks. The rookie kicker has made nine of his last 10 kicks since missing in Week 1 against Cincinnati.
What needs help?
Run defense. The Browns are allowing an average of 102 rushing yards over the last three games after having the league’s best run defense through the first three weeks. Opponents are averaging 3.88 yards after contact, seventh-highest in the league since Week 4.
Supply
TE Harold Fannin Jr. had his second game this season with seven catches and 81 receiving yards. The third-round pick leads the team with 28 receptions, also the most by a Browns rookie through the first six games.
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Stock down
All-Pro DE Myles Garrett, who was hoping to add Aaron Rodgers to his roster of quarterbacks, went without a sack for the third straight week and pressured Rodgers just three times.
Injuries
Stefanski had no updates on OT Jack Conklin (concussion), WR Gage Larvadain (concussion), TE David Njoku (knee), OT Cam Robinson (knee) and DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (hip), all of whom were injured in Sunday’s game and did not return.
Key numbers
11: Consecutive road losses, tied for the team’s third-longest streak since the merger. The franchise record is 25 from 2015 to 2018.
15-19: Stefanski’s record against the AFC North, including playoffs. The Browns are 0-3 this season and on a six-game losing streak in divisional play.
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What’s next?
The Browns host the Miami Dolphins next Sunday in a 1-5 team matchup. Cleveland has lost its last two games against Miami, including a 20-3 loss in Week 17 of last season.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL