Newsletter: More From Steelers Week, and Gun Dunk Right Whip Three Scram Lick Y-Beach H-Bow Tie

Updates again from Berea and insights into the wild world of NFL play-call semantics.

(Photo - Cleveland Browns)

We made it to Friday. Proud of us. These weeks are never easy, especially when you consider the adjustment we’re all making to this bone-chilling weather. As we look into the Browns world from yesterday, I just have to note again how fantastic a player, and person, Denzel Ward has become. He keeps getting better on the field, in my opinion primed for an All-Pro award, and he was once again named as the Browns candidate for the Walter Payton “Man of the Year” award and deservedly so.

Per the Browns release, here are details on the efforts Denzel has put forth to establish his foundation. “Ward established MTKYN in 2019 which focuses on preventing heart-related fatalities in communities across the nation by providing the resources necessary to educate people in the various aspects of heart health. Throughout Denzel's life, Paul emphasized 'Make Them Know Your Name' in all aspects of life from the football field to his off-field endeavors. Ward and his foundation have vowed to take this message and honor his late father by providing heart health education, prevention and treatment to his community.”

He is proving to be one of the best investments the organization has made since their return in 1999, and it feels like the best is somehow yet to come for the player and the person in Northwest Ohio.

Here’s the update on the latest out of Berea:

• Waived WR Jaelon Darden was claimed by the Seahawks so he will no longer be around the franchise for special teams.

• Another practice with Cedric Tillman and Jedrick Wills missing. They both feel like they will miss the trip to Pittsburgh.

• Not a good sign for Mo Hurst to miss Thursday’s session after being limited on Wednesday. His foot was an issue mid-game in Denver as well.

Jim Schwartz spoke to the media and discussed how two drives haunted the Browns defense in Denver Monday. Both of those drives started with the Broncos backed up deep in their own territory. The details from those involved in the 93-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Mims were discussed as well.

“Denzel (Ward) can be a quarter of a step better, but our inside defender (linebacker Jordan Hicks) should have been deeper on that, too, and make that ball elevate a little bit more just to give Denzel a chance,” Schwartz said. “That’s the first time we’ve given up a play in that coverage for a long time.”

“I keep beating myself up about that one,” Ward said. “I feel I could have made a great play on that. I was right in position, just let it slip through. He threw a great ball. So definitely big shoutout to Nix and his accuracy and able to zip that ball in there.”

Tough play to cover there from that scheme. Asking your MIKE linebacker to run with a player like Mims, and then Ward to cover outside the numbers toward midfield is just dicey. The risk is carried by making it difficult and Denver found a way. We will discuss this in more detail today during our Week 13 Defense Film Review.

Man, I love play-calling semantics. It’s one of my favorite things in the football world. The way offenses communicate the layers of a play is just a fascinating subject I could spend endless hours studying and discussing. Not for everyone, I get that, but the way it all comes together is why I loved coaching offense and designing it.

So, when Hard Knocks gave us a glimpse inside the Browns quarterback room with the play they used right out of the gate against the Broncos it caught all of my attention.

Let’s try to process what these individual parts inside the play-call might mean.