Cleveland Browns: Danny Shelton playing at All-Pro level

Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Danny Shelton (Washington) poses for a photo with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected as the number 12th overall pick to the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Browns have been much maligned for their failure to draft impact players. Danny Shelton puts all that to rest with his play on Sundays.

The Cleveland Browns have a first-round draft pick who is actually playing like one. But as many Browns fans probably haven’t noticed, Danny Shelton has become a playmaker on defense. His play is the major reason the Browns have had success against the run.

The Browns defense is 12th in the league in average yards per carry at 3.9 yards an attempt. To put that in perspective, that is the better than the Bengals (4.4) and the Steelers (4.1). The Browns also have had the fifth-most rushes against them in the league at 147 attempts. This means they are maintaining this average over a significant number of attempts. The run defense is for real.

During the preseason, teams ran the ball at will on the Browns. However, things changed dramatically when the regular season started. The main impetus for that change is Danny Shelton. The much maligned first-round draft pick has played at an All-Pro level.

Shelton’s play has gone largely unnoticed. During the preseason, fans and national media derided the Browns for missing on several first-round picks. But where are the haters now that Shelton is playing off the charts football?

Maybe it is the switch to number 55, but Shelton is doing all the things a first-round pick should be doing in his second season. Let’s take a look.

Aug 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive end Carl Nassib (94), defensive linemen Danny Shelton (55) and Nick Hayden (71) during the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

First, Danny Shelton is playing with a high motor. One of the main reasons Shelton was regarded so highly in the draft process was his ability to play sideline-to-sideline. Last season, Shelton played without leverage (i.e. he played high) which prevented him from getting off blocks to make plays

In the tweet below, Shelton gets cut. The reason the cut block is effective lies in Shelton’s ability to fire off the ball low in order to gain leverage. Usually, when cut, a lineman will stay down accepting his fate as taken out of the play. But not Shelton.

The fact that he gets up to chase down the play makes him stand out as a defensive tackle. He is now playing with the high motor sideline-to-sideline that the previous front office saw in him. Shelton is playing like he did in college. He is adapting his game to the NFL level.

It also helps that Shelton plays in a lot of four-down lineman fronts. His style of play is better suited to a 4-3 defensive tackle. He is now playing primarily as a 4-3 defensive tackle which allows him to penetrate and create havoc in the backfield.

Sep 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Terrance West (28) is tackled by Cleveland Browns nose tackle Danny Shelton (55) and inside linebacker Chris Kirksey (58) during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Second, Danny Shelton is stopping the run. Last year and in the preseason, Shelton was being driven backwards off the ball. He was mainly single-teamed in the running game. Offenses were able to block him with a center one-on-one (something Browns’ centers need to figure out). The result was guards and tackles running freely to the second level,blocking linebackers.

However, this season is much different. Rarely does Danny Shelton see single blocks in the run game. When he does, Shelton usually makes them pay for it.

Here Shelton is blocked one-on-one with the center. Shelton uses leverage to overpower the center driving him into the backfield. The running back does not stand a chance when Shelton throws the center and makes the tackle.

Shelton did not make tackles like this last season. However, because blocking him one-on-one is failing, teams have resorted to double-teaming him.

Double-teaming Shelton has not worked out very well for opponents either. He continues to gain penetration and either make the play or re-route the running back outside for an easy tackle.

In this less than glamorous play, Danny Shelton shows exactly why he is playing at an All-Pro level. He takes on a double-team. He drives the double-team into the backfield disrupting the running lane of the back. The back is then forced to choose, does he run into the mountain of Danny Shelton or does he bounce the play outside? The play is re-routed and stopped for a short gain.

These types of plays are rarely noticed by fans but keep opposing offensive coordinators up at night. Shelton’s play against the run is one of the best in the league.

Sep 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) under pressure from Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Danny Shelton (55) during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Third, Shelton is contributing against the pass. Last season and in the preseason, Shelton was unable to affect the passer. He played high and he failed to collapse the pocket. He would be seen standing in front of two players jumping up and down trying to deflect the pass. It looked pathetic.

Once again, teams were pass-blocking him one-on-one, which allowed the guards to help with the other interior linemen or blitzers. By failing to take up two players, Shelton was hurting the pass rush attack as a whole.

However, now Shelton is penetrating and causing havoc in the pocket for opposing quarterbacks. Admittedly, Shelton is often replaced on passing downs but when he is in, he is making an impact. Like this play below.

Here the Patriots try to one-on-one block Shelton. He is able to get penetration and do enough to move Tom Brady off his spot. Brady is a significantly less effective passer off his spot. Even though Shelton did not make a big hit or record a sack, his ability to pressure the quarterback and move him off a spot effectively disrupts the passing attack.

Shelton has proved he can defeat the offensive lineman on one-on-one blocks. Now, teams double-team Shelton in passing situations. Having to double Shelton opens lanes for blitzers and allows edge rushers to have one on one blocks themselves.

Yet, double-teaming Shelton in passing situations has not proven effective either.

Here Shelton takes on a double-team block. He effectively beats both linemen on his way to the quarterback. Brady gets the pass off but not before having the pocket collapse around him.

His ability to affect the passer has greatly improved. He is moving the quarterback off his spot, opening possibilities for sacks to edge rushers or blitzers. This is exactly the type of plays Danny Shelton was drafted to make.

The media and fans should now be aware that Danny Shelton is playing like an All-Pro. The run defense has improved dramatically due to Shelton’s play. He is a playmaker who is a force to be reckoned with in the interior of the defensive line.

Finally, a first-round draft pick that is panning out!

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