Jim Schwartz had a completely different strategy from the 49ers’ opening five opponents, and it was successful: Within the Figures.
Linebackers Sione Takitaki (right) and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (left) were key components of the Browns’ nickel-based strategy to stop Christian McCaffrey, the running back for the San Francisco 49ers, on Sunday.Gunter Joshua, cleveland.com
Columbus, Ohio — Before the Browns’ game against the 49ers on Sunday, there wasn’t much hope for the team. Experts and media celebrities alike projected that the 49ers would cruise into Cleveland and maintain their perfect season even if the injuries were piling up.
That message was clearly missed by the Browns defence.
Apart from their lengthy first-quarter touchdown drive, the 49ers were unable to muster any resistance. It was the 49ers offense’s lowest regular-season total under Kyle Shanahan, as they were limited to just 215 yards. In the worst statistical performance of his career, Brock Purdy, the 49ers’ starting quarterback, also lost for the first time in the regular season.
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Defences have attempted several tactics to slow down Purdy and the 49ers since the end of the previous season, but they haven’t been successful. However, it looks like the Browns have just established a model for how to accomplish this.
Defences used the nickel personnel grouping, which consists of two linebackers and five defensive backs on the field, just 11.1% of the time against the 49ers. Traditionally, this makes sense because the 49ers’ primary offensive weapon, the run, is supposed to be stopped by defences using three linebackers on the field.
Because of the 49ers’ propensity for running the football, putting extra tight ends and fullbacks on the field, and dominating defences with their toughness, most defensive coordinators have chosen to use more heavy personnel groupings rather than nickel against them.
Jim Schwartz, the defensive coordinator for the Browns, had a different strategy.
In contrast to the 11.1% rate the rest of the league has played against the 49ers this season, he used a nickel package and started two linebackers on the field for 76.5% of the defensive snaps against the team.
Sports Info Solutions’ figures demonstrate how much superior the Browns were on Sunday with their nickel package.
Nickel” package (5 DBs, 2 linebackers)
- 1.3 yards per rush
- 4.4 yards per cover snap
Base package (4 DBs, 3 linebackers)
Because they could move faster over the field and create havoc, the Browns were far more productive with their nickel package versus the run and the pass.
Rather than succumbing to the 49ers’ game plan and trying to outmuscle them with additional linebackers and heavy packages, Schwartz responded by sending his lightest and fastest players onto the field.
Similarly, Schwartz changed which linebackers saw the most action during the 49ers game in order to align with his overarching plan of increasing the amount of speed on the field.
The proportion of snaps each linebacker played against the 49ers is shown here, along with a comparison to the remainder of the season:
- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (79% vs. 49ers / 71% in first four games)
- Sione Takitaki (63% vs. 49ers / 52% in first four games)
- Anthony Walker (37% vs. 49ers / 70% in first four games)
At 221 pounds, Owusu-Koramoah is regarded as a small linebacker; he participated in over 80% of the defensive snaps against the 49ers.
Walker, a more conventionally built linebacker weighing almost 240 pounds, had his playing time against the 49ers slashed in half due to the lighter and faster Owusu-Koramoah and Takitaki.
The Browns had a significant speed advantage that stopped the 49ers rushing attack because to Schwartz’s choice to position up Owusu-Koramoah, Takitaki, and even defensive backs like Grant Delpit around the line of scrimmage.
The Browns’ speed and explosiveness, along with Schwartz’s aggressive gameplan, just outmatched the 49ers, who had demolished every other opponent this season.
The Browns set up JOK as an edge rusher and Delpit and Takitaki as linebackers for this run play:
After that, the 49ers’ running back Christian McCaffrey (23) is funnelled up the middle by the defensive line, and Delpit dives in to make the tackle for a 2-yard gain.
The concept of playing fewer linebackers against one of the NFL’s top running teams would make most defensive coordinators laugh. However, most defensive coordinators lack Jim Schwartz’s level of talent.
Because most teams lack a strong defensive line to free up second-tier players, they rarely have the option to utilise small linebackers against the run. When a guy like Myles Garrett is drawing a double team, it is much simpler for Owusu-Koramoah and Delpit to swoop into the backfield untouched and make tackles.
Through the first half of the season, the Browns defence has been playing at a record clip and is only now beginning to demonstrate the full breadth of their abilities. They are capable of defeating both physical rushing attacks and fast-paced passing strikes. Schwartz is making excellent use of the many chess pieces at his disposal.
The Browns defence is a nightmare for opposing offences right now, but it remains to be seen if this group has any weaknesses.
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