The Browns have honed in on ball security ever since their 28-3 loss to the Ravens. GM Andrew Berry's major point of emphasis during the bye week focused on the need for better ball security. HC Kevin Stefanski agreed with Berry and came out of the bye week spending part of Monday's practice working through drills on security.
The team had three turnovers in Week 4 and a total of 10 turnovers on the season, which is tied for third in the NFL in turnover margin.
"The number one thing that we have to do is something that Kevin (Stefanski) has preached since the day he got the job, and that's protect the football," Berry said in Week 5. "We've turned the ball over ten times this season and we've lost the turnover battle in all four games that we've played this year, and quite honestly, that's not a sustainable way to win football games in the NFL. So that's really the first thing that we have to get corrected."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for the San Francisco 49ers
Kicker Dustin Hopkins (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 11, 2023.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Quarterback P.J. Walker (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Kicker Dustin Hopkins (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Wide Receiver Amari Cooper (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 11, 2023.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 13, 2023.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 11, 2023.
Quarterback P.J. Walker (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 11, 2023.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Kicker Dustin Hopkins (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Quarterback P.J. Walker (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Wide receiver Jaelon Darden (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 11, 2023.
Wide receiver Austin Watkins Jr. (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) and Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 11, 2023.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 11, 2023.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 11, 2023.
Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 11, 2023.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 11, 2023.
Linebacker Matthew Adams (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 11, 2023.
Quarterback P.J. Walker (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 11, 2023.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 11, 2023.
Safety Grant Delpit (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 11, 2023.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 11, 2023.
Safety Grant Delpit (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 11, 2023.
Quarterback P.J. Walker (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 11, 2023.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Defensive end Isaiah Thomas (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Wide receiver Austin Watkins Jr. (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 13, 2023.
Wide receiver Austin Watkins Jr. (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Kicker Dustin Hopkins (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Kicker Dustin Hopkins (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 12, 2023.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 13, 2023.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 13, 2023.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 13, 2023.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 13, 2023.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 13, 2023.
Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 13, 2023.
The linebackers during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 13, 2023.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 13, 2023.
Safety Grant Delpit (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 13, 2023.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 13, 2023.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 13, 2023.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 13, 2023.
In the first three games of the season, the Browns committed two interceptions. Then, against the Ravens, rookie QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw three interceptions in his first career start. They also have a total of five fumbles on the season.
The Browns are set to face another strong defense in the 49ers, who have nine takeaways on the season. Looking at the 49ers defense, they are currently in the top three in the league in points allowed, yards allowed and first downs allowed.
OC Alex Van Pelt said that ball security is their No. 1 objective for Sunday's game, and to come out of Sunday's game with zero giveaways. They've talked about the importance of ball security over the course of this week, and those conversations will continue up until the game.
"We'll give our ourselves a chance to win when we don't turn the ball over period," Van Pelt said. "And it's a good defense, but regardless of who's playing, we can hold onto the ball and we can make good decisions."
WR Amari Cooper also sees the importance of taking care of the ball. He has been more concerned with the team executing and keeping things operational. He feels if the team can play their brand of football and protect the ball at all costs, they can play with any team.
"Turnovers is the biggest differentiating factor between winning and losing," Cooper said. "So, we just preach and drill and try to hone in on ball security, catching stuff, always protecting the football because it's all about the ball. This is what the game is about, the ball. So, the remedy for that is to protect the ball at all costs. The hopes and dreams of the organization, the Cleveland Browns organization, is in the guy who has the ball in his hand. So that's how serious we take."
