The Cleveland Browns’ defense under Jim Schwartz is a great unit. They rank first overall in Defensive DVOA — first against the pass, and third against the run. But there is one vulnerability in that defense that Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers can and will exploit when these two teams face off this Sunday. Per Sports Info Solutions, the Browns have allowed 1.4 yards per carry against run plays without pre-snap motion — by far the NFL’s best — but 4.5 yards per carry against run plays with pre-snap motion.
This really started to show up in Cleveland’s 28-3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4. The Ravens are great with those concepts, and the Browns gave up 4.9 yards per carry against their AFC North rival — 24 carries for 117 yards and a touchdown. Against runs without motion, the Ravens were able to gain just 14 yards on nine carries — 1.6 yards per carry, which is right in the ballpark.
