Browns Cornerbacks Providing Lockdown Coverage with Multiple Guys
Cleveland is coming off two straight home wins and are sitting at 9-5, thanks in part to the Browns cornerbacks. As the offense has worked through injuries especially on the line, the defense has held steady. They have also experienced injuries, but have flown around the field every game.
The Browns cornerbacks have arguably been the biggest surprise this year. They have been one of the most consistent units not just on the team, but in the league. The room features three guys that have been in the statsheet every week they play.
Browns Cornerbacks By The Numbers
Another week brought another new statistic for the stingy Browns defense. The NFL Next Gen Stats just released another graphic further showing the defensive dominance, especially amongst the Browns cornerbacks this season.
Amongst cornerbacks that have seen a minimum of 40 targets on the 2023 NFL season, three Browns ranked in the top five for coverage success rate. This stat shows how often a wide receiver is able to get open against the man guarding them. Cornerback Martin Emerson ranks first in the NFL amongst cornerbacks with a coverage success rate 67.7 percent.
His teammates Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome were just below him in a three-way tie for second in the league with a coverage success rate of 66.7 percent. Not only have they prevented big plays, but they have not allowed easy catches. Teams have had to earn every yard through the air, and this young trio has kept the team afloat.
You know Greg Newsome will be ready to go tomorrow 💪🐶#Browns#DawgPound pic.twitter.com/8CWiJqqlYT
— ⛄️🎄Cleveland Elves GM🎄⛄️ (@fakebrownsgm1) December 17, 2023
The Browns defense as a whole has allowed a league low negative six percent CPOE which is nearly two percent better than the next best team. The group deemed “the lockdown on the lake”, the Browns cornerback room has been scary good and is only going to get better.
The Featured Three
Denzel Ward is the oldest of the three but is still 26, and is in his sixth professional season. He has spent all six seasons with the Browns starting in 2018, where he burst onto the scene as a rookie. Ward has accumulated 268 total tackles, five fumble recoveries, and 15 interceptions in his career.
He has played in 11 of the 14 games this season and returned last week after missing the previous few outings. This year he has made some solid plays and has one forced fumble, two interceptions, and 10 passes defended.
Greg Newsome II is in his third NFL season and has spent all of them in the orange and brown since his 2021 debut. He already has 123 tackles, 26 passes defended, and two interceptions in his young career.
Both his interceptions have been this year, and no play was bigger than his pick-six of Lamar Jackson to help the Browns earn a comeback, upset win. The undersized playmaker has made some veteran plays even at just 23 years old, and will lock down one half of the field for years to come.
Martin Emerson Jr with the INT! #Browns pic.twitter.com/qvtNVJ8qsq
— Browns fan UK (@brownsfanuk) October 29, 2023
The third of the triplet is Martin Emerson Jr., who is also just 23 but in his second season in the league. The newest member of the Browns cornerbacks, Emerson showed flashes and played a good amount his rookie campaign. This year he has snagged his first four interceptions of his career, and has added 53 tackles and 11 passes defended. The Emerson Island nickname has been deserved and one of the brightest spots on the team this season.
Main Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
