Video breaks down a great game for John Johnson III

The Cleveland Browns didn’t have a great game on Thursday Night Football against the Denver Broncos but they played just good enough to get the victory. The offense was carried by D’Ernest Johnson and their offensive line while Case Keenum made just enough plays in the passing game.

The defense pitched a shutout in the first half with three possessions where the Broncos went three and out and another that ended the half with one play and a penalty. The only other Denver drive of the first half ended a six-play, 46-yard drive with a John Johnson III interception.

Johnson, the prize of the Cleveland offseason, has had some struggles this season adjusting to his new team. While he hasn’t been bad, expectations placed on him were quite high. In Week 7, Johnson started to meet some of those expectations.

Brian Baldinger of the NFL Network broke down a couple of Johnson’s plays from Thursday night:

As Baldinger highlights, Johnson’s ability to play against the run and pass is vital. In the first play, Johnson sees the motion and comes crashing down before the snap. With only one receiver on his side, Johnson gets information that leads him right to the ball on the play.

The second play in Baldinger’s video, the above-mentioned interception, is broken down perfectly. Baldinger does a great job of showing what Johnson’s primary and secondary responsibilities are on the play and how the movement after the snap and Johnson’s reaction leads to the interception.

Much like we saw last year with the offense, it takes time for players and coaches to adjust to changes. Cleveland brought in a lot of new faces to the defense starting with Johnson. Week 7 was a good sign that Johnson is starting to adjust well which should help the defense, as a whole, come around.