Tag: Jordan Elliott

Chargers’ reasons for optimism vs. Browns in Week 5

Here are four reasons why the Chargers should feel optimistic about winning when they face the Browns.

The Chargers will head to Cleveland this weekend. This game will be between two 2-2 teams with vastly different narratives thus far this season.

The Browns are mostly just trying to stay in the race until Deshaun Watson returns from his suspension, while Los Angeles has to be disappointed to have dropped two games this early in the season.

Here are four reasons the Bolts should be confident that they’ll move to 3-2.

Weak defensive front

With Taven Bryan missing Week 4 with a hamstring injury, Cleveland started Jordan Elliott and Tommy Togiai at defensive tackle against the Falcons. Those two are two of the three worst defensive tackles in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. It’s unclear if Bryan will be ready to go by Sunday, but even if he is, he’s 70th in PFF grade among defensive tackles. With Corey Linsley back on the field after missing Week 3 with knee tendinitis, L.A. should be able to move bodies on the interior. Jadeveon Clowney (ankle) is also questionable for this game on the edge, leaving rookies Alex Wright and Isaiah Thomas as the next men up. That’s a favorable matchup for Jamaree Salyer and Trey Pipkins, who have played well above expectations this season.

Underperforming defensive backs

The Browns’ best corner per PFF has been rookie Martin Emerson Jr., a surprising outcome considering big names Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II have been taking their normal complement of snaps. Greedy Williams is also eligible to return from injured reserve this week, which could give Cleveland a boost. But overall, the defensive backs are simply not playing to expectation. The Browns are 18th in pass defense DVOA, despite playing Baker Mayfield, Joe Flacco, Mitchell Trubisky, and Marcus Mariota. The best of those quarterbacks by DVOA is Mariota at 17th, and he only completed seven passes against Cleveland. Flacco (25th) and Trubisky (27th) have already been benched. Mayfield (31st) is likely on his way if Sam Darnold can return from injured reserve soon. All this is to say, Justin Herbert (5th in DVOA) should be able to carve this secondary up.

Talent advantage

Injuries for both teams have hampered the star power of this matchup. Clowney’s status is, as we mentioned, up in the air. Myles Garrett will play, but there’s a chance he could be hindered by the shoulder injury that held him out last week. Joey Bosa is on injured reserve with his groin injury. But Los Angeles, on paper, is a more talented team than Cleveland. Despite giving up 27 points a game, the Chargers have the offensive firepower to compensate for their defensive deficiencies. If the game becomes a shootout, you have to think Hebert can outduel Jacoby Brissett, even if the latter is playing like a top-12 QB, per DVOA. Cleveland wants to lean on Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt in the run game, but if L.A. can get off to a good start the way they have in every other game, they should have the talent edge to close things out.

Fourth quarter flops

One of the biggest discourse points around the Chargers is their inability to finish games. Los Angeles has given up 75 points in the second half this season, the second worst in the NFL behind only the Lions. Compare that to 33 points allowed in the first half, tied for fourth-best behind San Francisco, Dallas, and Carolina. But Cleveland is dead last in fourth-quarter points allowed at 50, a full point and a half per game worse than the next worst team. Neither of these defenses has come to play later in games so far this season, and again, if that’s the case, Herbert gives the Bolts an edge.

WATCH: Jordan Elliott picks up first career solo sack vs. Falcons

Jordan Elliott has racked up his first career solo sack #Browns

In a game where the entire defensive line is missing, third-year defensive tackle Jordan Elliott is the elder statesman up for the Cleveland Browns. And he just came away with his first career solo sack as he has stepped up in the absense of Myles Garrett, Jadeveon Clowney, and Taven Bryan.

The sack came on a third down as the Browns’ defense stacked up their third straight three-and-out against the Falcons. With the game still locked at 10 (with a Jacoby Brissett scramble as the only Cleveland touchdown), both the Browns and the Falcons have a chance to grab ahold of this one.

Andrew Berry draft review: Jordan Elliott could start, could fight to make team

As we continue reviewing Berry’s drafts so far, Elliott is in a unique position of fighting for a starting role and, perhaps, a roster spot at the same time:

With training camp just a couple of weeks away, it is a perfect time to do some reviews for the Cleveland Browns. This offseason has been the third for GM Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski together. While their tenures are going to be marked primarily by their decision to trade for Deshaun Watson and move on from Baker Mayfield, there is more to review.

For Berry, returning to the Browns was a chance to make his name outside of that of Sashi Brown. Brown brought Berry to the Browns but proceeded with one of the biggest tear-downs and rebuilds that had ever been seen in the NFL.

When Berry was hired, he made it clear that he would be aggressive in running the front office and that much has been clear.

With his third draft having just been completed, we take a look back at the first two drafts and what has been seen so far. His first selection was LT Jedrick Wills, who we looked at earlier this weekend. This second selection was safety Grant Delpit out of LSU, who we have also covered.

That leads us to the team’s third pick, and first of two in the third round, DT Jordan Elliott. Elliott enters a big season with some interesting possible outcomes:

Perrion Winfrey taken No.108 overall by the Cleveland Browns

Perrion Winfrey finally comes off the board in the fourth round.

After a shockingly long wait to hear his name called, Perrion Winfrey can finally breathe easy. He’s officially been drafted and will be headed to the Cleveland Browns after being drafted in the fourth round.

Winfrey’s fall was one of the draft’s more notable drops as Winfrey’s drop was not related to medical red flags. The expressive defensive tackle is a fireplug in the locker room and is highly disruptive. His performance during the Senior Bowl practice week and the Senior bowl itself seemed like it would cement him as a top 100 selection but that didn’t manifest as he was drafted right outside the top 100.

Winfrey automatically slots into the Browns’ defensive tackle depth chart almost immediately with a real chance to compete for meaningful snaps as the Browns’ defensive line save that of superstar Myles Garrett is largely unproven. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Winfrey outplays his draft slot considerably as long as he keeps his motor running and becomes a better run defender in the NFL.

2020 Third-round defensive tackle Jordan Elliott is due to return to the team, heading into his third season with the Browns. Elliott still has two years left on his current contract. The other returning defensive tackle is Tommy Togiai. Togiai, like Winfrey, was selected in the fourth round but was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Winfrey was an All-Big 12 Second Team selection and totaled 23 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two QB hurries, and one forced fumble in his final year in the Crimson and Cream.

Can Jordan Elliott take a big step in year two?

The Cleveland Browns need Jordan Elliott to fill a bigger role in 2021 after the departure of Sheldon Richardson. His coach believes he can.

The Cleveland Browns made their biggest subtraction from their roster with the release of veteran defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. While Richardson could return still, the Browns need to replace his production in the middle of their defensive line.

Veteran Malik Jackson was brought in during free agency and Andrew Billings returns from opting out during COVID-19. Tommy Togiai was drafted in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft and Marvin Wilson was signed quickly after the draft as a priority undrafted free agent.

Both of the rookies were considered “steals” when the Browns acquired them.

A player that is not discussed often in the middle of the defensive line is second-year man Jordan Elliott.

Drafted in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft, Elliott came out of Missouri with the idea that he could become a starter within his first three years in the league. He presented a good blend of power and speed along with quality technique.

Concerns related to his motor and ability to impact in the passing game allowed him to slide to the Browns late in the third round.

As a rookie, behind Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi, Elliott played in all 16 games but only racked up 15 combined tackles with Pro Football Focus giving him a 55.3 overall grade.

Elliott had 350 snaps as a rookie, significantly less Richardson and Ogunjobi.

Many players take big jumps after their first year in the league and the Browns are expecting that from Elliott this year, according to defensive line coach Chris Kiffin:

“I don’t want to be that guy to sit here and sound super excited about everybody,” Kiffin, the Browns’ defensive line coach, said in a recent interview on Cleveland Browns Daily, “but I’m just telling you, the guy I’m most excited about is Jordan Elliott.

“He’s going into that sophomore year everybody talks about and has made the most improvements from Year 1 to Year 2.”

If Cleveland is going to take their next steps as a team, the defense has to improve. While additions at the edge position can also bump inside, the Browns will need interior defensive lineman to step up in place of Richardson and, to a lesser extent, Ogunjobi.

As a third-round pick with upside, and given the endorsement of his line coach, Elliott could be the guy to give Cleveland just what they need.

Rookie Jordan Elliott expected to start at DT vs. the Colts in Week 5

Elliott will start with Larry Ogunjobi sidelined

Rookie Jordan Elliott will be in the starting lineup at defensive tackle in Week 5. Cleveland’s third-round rookie from Missouri will take over for injured starter Larry Ogunjobi, who will miss the game with an oblique strain.

In his Friday Zoom session with reporters, head coach Kevin Stefanski indicated Elliott will make his first career start on Sunday when the Indianapolis Colts come to FirstEnergy Stadium.

“He’s played pretty well so far,” Stefanski said of Elliott. “We’re counting on him. He’s pretty responsible, follows through on studying to make sure he’s in the right spot, the right place. We just need him to go out there and do whatever is asked of him and do a good job.”

Elliott has consistently played between 33 and 45 percent of the defensive snaps as part of the Browns’ tackle rotation. In four games he has recorded three tackles.

Stefanski deferred on a follow-up question if the team would seek external help to bolster the wounded defensive line depth.

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Jordan Elliott has changed his jersey number

Elliott dumped the No. 61

Cleveland Browns third-round draft pick Jordan Elliott has a new uniform number. The defensive tackle from Missouri is now wearing No. 90 in the new brown and orange uniforms.

Elliott started out as No. 61 but changed upon his arrival for training camp. Interestingly, the No. 90 has been available since the team cut Brandin Bryant shortly after the draft. Bryant rocked the No. 90 in 2019. Elliott has even changed his Twitter handle to “90”.

Elliott wore No. 95 and No. 1 during his college career at Missouri. Neither of those were an option in Cleveland; Myles Garrett owns 95 and linemen are forbidden from wearing single digits in the NFL.

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Browns sign 3rd round DT Jordan Elliott to his rookie contract

The 3rd round DT out of Missouri is now officially a Cleveland Brown

The Cleveland Browns have officially signed third-round draft pick Jordan Elliott to his rookie contract. The defensive tackle from Missouri put pen to paper on Thursday and joins the Browns defense.

Terms of the deal have yet to be fully disclosed, but Elliott’s contract is for four years and commensurate with the slot for the 88th overall draft pick.

Elliott has a path to play right away as an interior pass rusher along the Browns defensive line. He was a 2-year starter at Missouri after transferring from Texas and earned All-SEC honors in 2018.

5 bold predictions for the Browns’ 2020 NFL Draft class

5 bold predictions for the Browns’ 2020 NFL Draft class, from Jedrick Wills to Jacob Phillips and beyond

Now that we’ve had a few weeks to digest the 2020 NFL Draft and look a little deeper at the Cleveland Browns’ selections, it’s time to spin them forward towards actually playing football. What will they offer on the field?

After watching some more film and evaluating the roster, both now and beyond 2020, here are a few predictions on what happens with some of the rookie class.

Grant Delpit becomes a fixture at safety right away

Cleveland’s second-round pick was often projected as a top-10 overall player early in the 2019 college season. Delpit played through an injury and struggled more than expected with tackling and pursuit angles in coverage. The Browns are banking on Delpit returning to the form he showed at LSU prior to that.

Their faith will be rewarded. Delpit will play a significant role in Week 1 and emerges as a long-term, above-average fixture at a position where the Browns have struggled for years with continuous competence. He might not begin 2020 as the starter, but Delpit will take over quickly.

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The Hurry Up Podcast: Danny Kelly of The Ringer on Browns, Seahawks Rumors

Danny Kelly of The Ringer joins host Mac Robinson to discuss the Browns-Seahawks trade rumors and more

Host Mac Robinson is joined by Danny Kelly from The Ringer to talk all of the Browns-Seahawks rumors, from Superstar Russell Wilson possibly traded to the Browns in 2018 to Myles Garrett’s rumored trade to Seattle earlier in the week. Kelly also broke down the Browns draft and some of his favorite picks, along with some of the best storylines for the Browns schedule heading into the 2020 season.

Mac also breaks down the offseason comparisons of players, Browns offensive line coach Bill Callahan’s comments regarding the offseason and Jedrick Wills’ transition from right tackle to left tackle, as well as the Baker Boot Camp taking place in Texas!

Be sure to follow Mac (@MacRobinson95) and the podcast (@HurryUpPodcast) on Twitter for all of the latest news and notes surrounding the podcast, the Browns, and all things football! Feel free to support the podcast today by becoming a patron!

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