The Cleveland Browns have shocked with their ability to remain in games and their inability to win them. Looking at some shocking statistical observations.
While I firmly believe that statistics, while beneficial to a degree, in no way tell the whole story. The story of the Cleveland Browns thus far in the 2018 season, is one that is not easily told, statistically or otherwise.
Regardless of the importance, stats are a fun way to compare players and teams to their peers and competition. Every once in a while you come across some that offer a bit of a surprise.
Let’s take a look at some statiscical observations after two weeks of regular season play snd see what we can find.
– Zane Gonzalez missed on 60 percent of his field goal attempts. He also missed 40 percent of his extra point attempts. That statline left him jobless.
– Tyrod Taylor is on pace to collect 80 sacks this season, accumulating 10 in a two game period. I think we will see Baker Mayfield at some point. The human body can only take so much.
– The Browns are fourth in the NFL in rushing yardage with an average of 135 per game. The running backs, however, have combined for only 80 yards per game.
– Denzel Ward has more interception return yards than Duke Johnson has rushing.
– Josh Gordon finished his 2018 season with the Browns with a grand total of 17 receiving yards. That is however, more than 2015 and 2016 combined.
– Terrance Mitchell has three more solo tackles than anyone else on the team.
– David Njoku, Duke Johnson and Josh Gordon combined have 20 less receiving yards than Rashard Higgins. They are also one reception shy of doubling his total amount of catches.
– Duke Johnson is on pace to have 160 rushing yards and 120 receiving yards — for the season.
– Larry Ogunjobi is on pace to collect 24 sacks this season.
– The Browns are tied with the Bears for the league lead in forced fumbles with five. The combined efforts of Myles Garrett and Terrance Mitchell alone, have forced more fumbles than 28 NFL teams.
– Fourth-overall draft pick, Denzel Ward, has more interceptions than 16 NFL teams.
– Taking that last one a step farther, in the other direction, only nine NFL teams have a higher number of interceptions than Ward. That is, of course, including his own, the Cleveland Browns.
– Lets do the same with them fumbles and we get only one NFL team, the Chicago Bears, have forced more fumbles than the duo of Cleveland Browns, Myles Garrett and Terrance Mitchell.
Well folks, that’s all I’ve got for now. Perhaps the Thursday Night showdown with the New York Jets will provide some more juicy tidbits of information to examine.
As you may have noticed, some of the stats and observations are extremely positive, while others were extremely…not. There is one statistical category that the Cleveland Browns need to vastly improve upon: Wins.
If the defense can show more remarkable numbers and the offense can add some of their own, I think Thursday may indeed be the day we have long been waiting for.