"You can have the best scheme in the world, which we feel that we do on defense, but if you can't execute old-school fundamentals — running to the football,China NFL Jerseys, tackling and getting off blocks — you're not going to be worth anything on defense if you can't do those three basic things."
They were tackling dummies.
"There are still a lot of things we can do with regards to our angles," Payton said. "The very first thing would be population to the ball. When you watch any good defense, you'll see numbers to the ball regardless of whether it's a run or a pass. That's one thing you can immediately begin to focus on. Secondly, when you're there, it's the angle, the technique and how you're hitting."
As bad as the Browns tackled, the Saints were statistically worse in their 30-27 overtime loss in Atlanta.
The Browns didn't offer any excuses, but with several new players, the defense hasn't had a chance to build any chemistry just yet. That may not explain why a defensive back is out of position or a linebacker overruns a play, but it could illuminate why there were Cleveland players in the right spot and they still didn't make a tackle.
NOTES: TE Jordan Cameron and LB Barkevious Mingo both missed practice shoulder injuries. ... Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said he would "probably not" use a "Johnny Package" for QB Johnny Manziel against the Saints unless Brian Hoyer got hurt. ... The Browns are hoping to get suspended WR Josh Gordon back at some point, and Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas feels the Ray Rice situation could accelerate the league's willingness to amend the drug policy. "Most NFL fans would say it's ridiculous that when a player is suspended that he can't be around his team which is going to be the No. 1 support group that he has," he said.
Coach Mike Pettine, a former defensive coordinator, says tackling is a group effort.
"That's important. That's a trust factor, and that comes with playing together."
It wasn't pretty, and as he broke down the tape of his unit's performance,Supply Cheap Jerseys, Browns defensive coordinator tallied the number of missed tackles. Asked for the total, O'Neil refused to provide a figure.
"This game is about leverage and angles," he said. "You if ain't got the right leverage, and you ain't got the right angle, you're gonna miss a tackle. That's universal. That's across the board, from Pee Wee up until now."
"None,Wholesale NFL Jerseys," said linebacker Karlos Dansby.
Cleveland's shoddy tackling allowed Pittsburgh to build a 24-point halftime lead, a cushion the Steelers gave up before hanging on for a 30-27 win. The Browns appeared to be playing two-hand touch in the first half,Cheap Jerseys Store, when the Steelers racked up 278 yards on offense and running back Leveon Bell scored on a 38-yard run in which he seemed to run through the arms of every Cleveland defender on the field.
New Orleans coach Sean Payton said improved tackling has been a point of emphasis this week. Payton said some of the league's rules on contact make it more challenging to work on tackling,holesale Soccer Jerseys, but that's hardly justification for poor fundamentals.
O'Neil said missed tackles are an unforgiveable sin for any defense.
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Browns punter Spencer Lanning missed a big tackle last week, but at least he had a good reason. He got run over by Steelers returner Antonio Brown, who stomped on Lanning's helmeted head.
"Too many," he snapped.
"It's frustrating when you have a free runner at the quarterback and you don't get a guy down or you have a chance to tackle a guy for a one or two yard gain and it ends up being a 30-yard gain," he said. "You've got to drill it. The guys have to go into the game with the mentality that we're going to tackle.
The Browns made corrections in the second half, but it proved to be too late. They've spent the past few days working on their tackling techniques in practice so they don't make the same mistakes Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, whose offense can strike from anywhere on the field.
"There's no excuse for not tackling," he said.
Dansby, who addressed his teammates at halftime along with safety Donte Whitner, said the Browns' tackling issues were simply caused by physical lapses.
Browns cornerback Joe Haden said sometimes a big hit can wake a defense up,Wholesale NFL Jerseys. But wrapping your arms around a ball carrier and bringing him down is expected.
