Apply pressure to QB Joe Burrow
The Browns pass rush will have a tall task on Sunday in limiting QB Joe Burrow’s success in the pass game. Burrow has completed 144 passes for 1,578 passing yards and 12 touchdowns but has been sacked 15 times for a loss of 80 yards this season.
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said Burrow is also releasing the ball quickly, which they have to account for defensively.
“He has just really good command, knows where his answers are. He’s not afraid,” Schwartz said. “He’s taking the checkdowns, he’s working through his progressions real fast, and then he’s picking and choosing his times to run, which is mainly third down and red zone.”
Burrow has also handled pressure well this season, as he holds a 100.7 passer rating when pressured – ranked fifth in the NFL. He’s thrown three touchdowns and one interception when he’s under pressure.
“We got a real challenge for our coverage and our pass rush because the ball does come out so quick particularly on first and second down,” Schwartz said. “So, trying to get him off the spot, trying to ruin the timing, that’s a big challenge this week.”
Schwartz wants to see improvement in the Browns pressure rate. This season, the Browns have pressure rate at 39.1 percent, ranked fourth in the league. However, their sack percentage is at 7.4 percent, which is 10th in the league.
“Our scheme and what we do is based on four-man pass rush and our pressure rate needs to go up. Last year, were really, really good there. Even when we didn’t get sacks, we were applying a lot of pressure,” Schwartz said. “We need to up our game a little bit in the pass rush game. I have confidence that we can. We have good players up there.”