The Rubber Band defense

[Boltblogger]

OK, fellow Browns fans. The time is drawing near.

Sept. 12.

After the Saturday matinee at Detroit, I'm going to break my own rules and form an opinion about the team. In particular, the defense.

As the offense has done though out the preseason I believe the defense is following the same game plan...

Don't show anybody anything.

I look at the personel and I see an influx of talent. I see a group of players that has a lot of talent...OK, not necessarily Pro Bowl talent...that right now has a lot of growing to do, a lot of jelling to get done.

I see the return of Blanton Collier's Rubber Band defense...

Bend, but don't break.

I believe this defense will be a lot more aggressive than those teams of yore. Right now, those blitz schemes are smoke screens. I mean, where is Roth. Where are the rest of these linebackers?

They are hiding. Waiting for Sept.12.

Truely, we are not going to be the fastest defensive unit in the NFL. I can agree with that. But we are still more athletic, more skilled than last year's defensive squad. It rminds me a lot about the Jim Huston, Walter Johnson units.

Bend, but don't break.

That's more or less what we saw in the first half. I can see this team giving up yardage, but holding teams to field goals. Maybe give up a first-half touchdown, but putting down the clamps after that. Giving the newly-revamped offense a chance to go to work. I believe this defense will feet the job done when the crap starts hitting the fan downing Tampa.

Two more weeks. We'll see.

[YtownBacker]

I don't think you will ever see Rob Ryan play a bend and don't break defense. It's not the scheme, it's the personnel. Like many have said since Jan., you can't fix all the problems in one year.

Ryan will bring the heat, more this year then last, because he has some help in the defensive backfield and doesn't always have to play a man under cover 2. You can't be dominate if you are going to play guys like Barton and Elam. I don't have a problem with Gocopng because he is learning the 3-4 on the job. I do have a problem with taking a solid cover ILB and guy who plays strong against the run and move him to OLB (Fujita). That doesn't make sense to me.

At first I thought maybe they were giving a veteran (Barton) his respect and letting him get reps with the #1s. Honestly, I thought he was in danger of making the team. Instead, he's out there directing the defense and getting beat by every TE to venture across the middle. This lineup keeps Bernard and Trusnik on the sidelines and minimizes our pass rush.

That said I certainly don't think they will play a "Bend but don't break" defense. They may not have the talent or speed to shutdown many foes but Ryan will come after them and take his chances.

I'd say move Brown to FS and play Ward instead of Elam or even play Adams and Ward at safety. elam is nothing more then a average backup who can play some special teams. Get Barton and Bowens off the field both look like old men playing with kids.

[Greythan]

Good thread.

I think I'm more in Ytown's camp. I think Ryan only knows how to play aggressive. However, I do think there's something to be said about using the preseason for what it is: experimentation and evaluation.

Notice how long Haden played? They're trying to get that kid reps to shorten his learning curve. He looked great.

Loved Flug's analysis noticing the LB's that were dropping back into coverage (e.g., Roth). Ryan's trying to see how much situational use each guy brings.

The one thing that stood out for me on Saturday was the lack of balls Detroit threw to wideouts. Nice to see our DB's forcing some underneath stuff. (Yeah, our LB drops were horrid too.)

[Boltblogger]

Don't get me wrong here. I'm not saying Ryan's boys won't be aggressive and come at them hard, just like they did last year. I'm just saying they may be prone to giving up some big plays but standing their ground once the opponent gets near the red zone.

So no, it wouldn't be quite the same as Collier's teams. The premise, however, would be exactly the same...

Bend, but don't break.

Bring on the Bucs.

[Masters]

I hope CLE isn't going for the bend don't break. Saw enough of that same strategy under RAC.

[hiwaygal]

Originally Posted by Masters

I hope CLE isn't going for the bend don't break. Saw enough of that same strategy under RAC.

LOL...ain't that the truth!


One of the things I like about Rob Ryan (and let's face it, it's no secret how I feel about him) is his fire! He gets so riled up on the sidelines, drops a couple f-bombs. I LOVE that part!!

I think he's being a little cautious during the pre-season. I don't remember last pre-season being all that impressive on the D side now that I think about it. But it was during the actual games that we saw some impressive stuff.

No, we can't fix everything in one off-season but I refuse to believe we got worse over this past one. No way, no how.

Are we fooling ourselves? Or maybe we are just so much more impressed with the O? I don't know. I have said I've got some concerns, but I am hopeful it is just cautious pre-season play.

Although I do like Bolt's idea that we might give up a first down then choke 'em!!! That can be fun to watch! lol

[Masters]

Not sure how much of it is being cautious during the preseason. It could be, but CLE has sent a lot of different blitz packages so far. The D wasn't impressive last preseason, or really all last season. It's a bit hard to be impressive when you rank near the bottom of the league in Pts/G, next to last in yards/g allowed, 5th from last in rush yards/g allowed, and 4th from last in passing yard/g allowed.

I think the secondary has gotten a bit stronger since last year. But I am not convinced the front 7 has gotten any better.

[King of Kings]

Originally Posted by Masters

I hope CLE isn't going for the bend don't break. Saw enough of that same strategy under RAC.

Preach it. Screw that bend but don't break bullshit, give me an Aggressive Defense while building a D that would rival the great Doomsday Defense.

[DeadWombat]

Bend, but don't break..... Oh god, please no more. I wince every time I read or hear that phrase. Saying "we'll bend but wont break" makes as much sense as "we're gonna ALMOST drop your baby out the window, but dont worry.... we wont COMPLETELY let go".

How about don't bend OR break? Just don't give your opponents anything. Lets not give the other team leeway and then all of the sudden depend on our last line of defense when we're backed up in our own end zone. That would be nice. You know.... the best way to not drop the baby down 2 stories is to not hold him outside the fucking window. And guess what? The best way to not let your opponent score is to not let them get close to the fucking endzone!


Boy.... gotta love Crennel's "bend but dont break defense". Except they forgot the "dont break" part. I remembered they called it the Prevent Defense. The only thing it prevented was us from winning.

[Sez.EJ]

I'm not convinced our DL can stop anything as of right now or rush anyone right now.. so bend, break.WHATEV.. . Just stop something.. Maybe it's vanilla.. I am worried about the DL and it's effect in the entire defense. Our LB's are not exactly world class .. The improved secondary will help.. But I'm concerned. I hope I'm proven wrong.. I'm not worried about tampa..they will be starting either a backup or a 2nd year QB with a broken finger/thumb ... and rookie WR's against us.. So if we struggle against them.. Then I know we are in for another long year.. We should be able to beat the snot out of them IMO on both sides of the ball. But I wouldn't get to excited about it..They will be likely picking first next year.