Subpar receiving group hurts Browns offense

Sep 26, 2017 - 5:35 AM BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns ignored wide receivers in the 2017 draft and signed no undrafted rookie wide receivers, and now those decisions are haunting them with no way of rectifying the problem.

Eight passes were dropped by Browns receivers in the 31-28 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Two were dropped by veteran Kenny Britt, whom the Browns signed in free agency after Terrelle Pryor Sr. used free agency to sign with the Washington Redskins.

The problem for the Browns is there's no help on the horizon.

"We have the group that we have," head coach Hue Jackson said at his Monday press conference. "These guys are working hard and are trying to be the best they can be. We're going to keep working with these guys. We're going to get them better.

"We're going to make sure that when we go out there in our next opportunity that we play even better than we did this past week."

Browns rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer blamed himself for the drops, but he was clearly taking one for the team. The Browns (0-3) host the Cincinnati Bengals (0-3) next Sunday.

Kizer is doing everything he can to hold the team together. There are no signs of splintering this early in the season, but it could happen if the quarterback starts pointing fingers.

"There were a lot of opportunities for me to put the ball in better places and allow our receivers to have better opportunities to catch it," Kizer said. "In order for us to move forward as an offense, I have to make sure the ball is in the right spot at the right time."

The issues at wide receiver became magnified when second-year receiver Corey Coleman suffered a broken hand in the game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 17.

Though the Browns did nothing in the draft at wide receiver this year after drafting four of them in 2016, they have been very busy at the position in September.

Cleveland traded a sixth-round draft choice to the Pittsburgh Steelers for Sammie Coates on Sept. 2. The next day they claimed Kasen Williams (Seattle Seahawks) and Reggie Davis (Atlanta Falcons) on waivers.

The next they elevated 2016 fifth-round draft pick Rashard Higgins (he was waived by the Browns on Sept. 2) from the practice squad.

After Coleman was injured, the Browns signed wide receiver Jordan Leslie, who was with the Browns in training camp, to the practice squad. They then activated Leslie in time to face the Colts and waived Davis to create a roster spot.

The net result of the revolving wide receivers is Kizer hasn't had time to develop chemistry, and that results in eight dropped passes, though Kizer isn't making excuses.

"We're pros," Kizer said. "We're supposed to be on the same page after one day of practice, and we've gone out there and got quite a few reps.

"We're spending the extra time. I'm very confident in all the guys around me. I just got to make sure that, once again, the ball's in the right spot at the right time."

Jackson on Monday said the Browns incurred no injuries in the loss to the Colts.



REPORT CARD VS. COLTS

--PASSING OFFENSE: D -- Quarterback DeShone Kizer threw three interceptions and his wide receivers dropped eight passes. Not all eight drops hit the receivers squarely in the hands. The timing was off on some throws. The fact is the Browns look like they are in the second week of training camp. Kizer was sacked only once, but that in part was because he ran seven times because his receivers weren't open.

--RUSHING OFFENSE: C -- Kizer tied running back Isaiah Crowell for the team rushing lead with 44 yards. Crowell had 12 carries and Kizer seven. Kizer won't last long if he keeps that up. Under-used Duke Johnson carried twice for 23 yards. He is the Browns' shiftiest runner, but he doesn't get enough opportunity to showcase his talent.

--PASS DEFENSE: D-plus -- The Colts did not need quarterback Andrew Luck against the Browns. Jacoby Brissett posted a 120.0 passer rating while completing 17 of 24 passes for 259 yards and a touchdown, Brissett picked on cornerback Jamar Taylor all day. Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton caught seven passes for 153 yards, including a 61-yard catch and run for a touchdown. The D-plus grade would be lower if the Browns didn't sack Brissett three times.

--RUSH DEFENSE: B-minus - The Browns had to play without linebacker Jamie Collins, who sat out the game with a concussion, but they still held the Colts to just 92 yards on 36 carries - a 2.6 average. The run defense failed at the goal line, however. Brissett rushed for two touchdowns and running back Frank Gore one. It was more a case of good blocking by the Colts than sloppy tackling by the Browns.

--SPECIAL TEAMS: C-plus - The return game was virtually non-existent for both teams. Browns punter Britton Colquitt punted seven times and still stuck three inside the 20 while posting a 47.9-yard average. The Colts wisely punted away from Browns returner Jabrill Peppers. When Peppers did have a chance to make a return in the final 30 seconds he panicked and signaled for a fair catch. Safety Derrick Kindred jumped offside early in the fourth quarter when the Colts lined up to go for it on fourth-and-2. The Colts turned the new set of downs into a field goal to make the score 31-14.

--COACHING: B-minus - The grade seems generous, but the reason it isn't lower is the Browns made defensive adjustments at halftime after giving up 28 points in the first half. It is hard to quibble with the offensive play-calling, which is done by head coach Hue Jackson. It isn't Jackson's fault the receivers dropped eight passes.