Assembling the Defense

[BernietheKid]

Assembling the Defense
		By Don Delco OBR Reporter Posted May 6, 2011 The Browns have collected defensive pieces in the last two drafts. Were they the right call? 0 Comments
It appears as if the Cleveland Browns run defense received a major upgrade last week. The selection of Baylor defensive tackle Phil Taylor gives the Browns two solid tackles and a defense that appears strong up the middle. In the last two seasons, the Browns have shown their ability to run the ball. Now they just may be able to stop the run. How many times have you heard that the ability to run the ball and stop the run is the key to winning games in the NFL? Since 1999, the Browns have simply not stopped the run. In terms of yards allowed per game, the Browns have not ranked better than 23rd since 1999 and their average slot is 28th out of 32 teams. Here is how it breaks down: 1999: 31st (171.0) 2000: 29th (156.6) 2001: 29th (138.0) 2002: 27th (129.9) 2003: 23rd (132.1) 2004: 32nd (144.6) 2005: 30th (137.6) 2006: 29th (142.2) 2007: 27th (129.5) 2008: 28th (151.9) 2009: 28th (144.6) 2010: 27th (129.4) So the Browns have not been able to stop the run. The Browns also have not been able to win many games. Is developing a strong run defense the answer to more consistent winning in Cleveland? Yes and no. The Browns can’t stop the pass either. In the current NFL, throwing the football rules the air (pun intended, sorry). Nowhere was this more evident than on the game’s greatest stage, Super Bowl XLV. Green Bay and Pittsburgh combined for 36 rushing attempts and 79 passing attempts. Here is what the Browns’ three AFC North opponents did through the air last season. Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, Baltimore’s Joe Flacco and Cincinnati’s Carson Palmer combined to finish 104-for-158 passing (65.8 percent complete) for 1,481 yards with 12 touchdowns and two interceptions. Individually, Flacco was 34-for-50 for 364 with five touchdowns and one interception, Palmer was 39-for-59 for 580 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and Roethlisberger was 31-for-49 for 537 yards with five touchdowns and one interception. Yet if the Browns can’t stop the run or stop the pass, guess what? The team gets beat week in and week out. The last two years of Browns first- and second-round draft picks have addressed their weaknesses in run and pass defense. Since 1999, only two Super Bowl winners have had a run defense ranked above 20th with the average ranking is 10th. So, yes a stronger run defense will help. So, too, will a stronger pass defense. In general, they just need a good overall defense. How’s that for hard-hitting analysis? Yes, having a strong pass defense is critical in this era of the NFL, but stopping the run will go a long way. Since 1999, the Steelers have ranked first in the league in rushing yards allowed per game four times, second once and third once. The latter two seasons were the team’s Super Bowl winning seasons. Sorry to bring up those bad memories. Pittsburgh employs a 3-4 defense. The Browns had attempted to do the same, much to the chagrin of most fans. Now the Browns and new defensive coordinator Dick Jauron will use the 4-3 scheme. Slowly, the Browns are assembling pieces to create a strong defense that can stop the run. Last year’s first two picks – Joe Haden and T.J. Ward – have shown to be strong tackling defensive backs. The defensive line added a big, talented player to clog up the middle in this year’s draft and finally, the 4-3 scheme helps the Browns traditionally weak linebacking corps by, well, removing one linebacker. This is why we love the game of football. The key to winning games may sound simple, “Stop the run and run the ball.” Yet, especially here in Cleveland, we know things can be very complex. Scout.com: Assembling the Defense

[Brown Warrior]

Bronx made the point that up the middle, we're a lot like Jauron's defenses in Chicago with two massive DTs and a bigger-than-usual (for a 4-3) MLB (Gocong).

Based on Heckert's love for Jayme Mitchell, Grossie thinks the starting DL would be Sheard, Taylor, Rubin, and Mitchell. If Heckert's right about Mitchell, he certainly looks the part of a prototypical 4-3 LDE. But it does run contra to what Heckert's been saying about two fast DEs in the 250s or 260s.

But if Benard rotates in on passing downs and Shaefering provides interior penetration... that's a nice six-man rotation. I like it a lot.

I think we need a couple more linebackers.

[Sez.EJ]

Just a thought:

Some Gm's do the "up the middle approach. Many try to build that core: Center, FB, DT, MLB(s) and S and solidify the middle on both offense and defense.

Even if that was NOT our exact plan, we have essentially nearly done just that, even with multiple heads drafting the past few years. I think the past 4 drafts to a pretty good extent we have actually done this but for the MLB .

We now have a solid core.. Mack at C, the new kid at FB, Ward at S, Taylor and Ruben at the DT spots.. Just a theory..but then you can start working the edge talent once the core if solidified. It appears we have that.. Next year the LB spots get upgraded..if not in F/A this year.

[Brown Warrior]

I think Gocong is going to be a terrific MLB in this defense. He surprised a lot of people becoming an ILB last year at 260 pounds because he's very athletic. He's a natural blitzer up the middle, something I think the whole league is going to do more and more of.

People forget that when DQJ led the league in tackles... he also had 3 picks. He had a crazy year. If he's right physically, I really love him at WSLB. And obviously Fujita is a terrific SSLB, just as he was for the champs a couple years go.

[Sez.EJ]

I agree and that's likely the reason we took no LB's in the draft this year. DQJ needs to get on the field, peroid!!! Gocong has a couple years left in him. I certainly foresee a LB pick in our top end next season.. and probably at least one at the bottom end too. We certainly need to get a real MONSTER or two in there, and just get better there across the board for the long term if we are to build a championship Defense. Overall I like our LB's..they are a good enough bunch (for this year)

[Enigmatic Evil]

Originally Posted by BernietheKid

Since 1999, the Browns have simply not stopped the run. In terms of yards allowed per game, the Browns have not ranked better than 23rd since 1999 and their average slot is 28th out of 32 teams. Here
is how it breaks down:

1999: 31st (171.0)
2000: 29th (156.6)
2001: 29th (138.0)
2002: 27th (129.9)
2003: 23rd (132.1)
2004: 32nd (144.6)
2005: 30th (137.6)
2006: 29th (142.2)
2007: 27th (129.5)
2008: 28th (151.9)
2009: 28th (144.6)
2010: 27th (129.4)

That is a terrifying figure to read, 144 yards in 2004, 2009. 151 freaking yards in 2008?! The lowest figure we've had was LAST season at 129.4 ....That's CRAZY. I mean I've always parroted that our secondary was the weak point of the D (and some times I may have been right) but I guess our terrible secondary has always overshadowed what has clearly been one of the most inferior Run D's in the NFL. I like the Taylor pick, and hopefully Sheard will help with the run too. I think that expecting a day and night transition into a 'good' Run D is a bit unrealistic but I hope at least we can maybe get UNDER the 120 yards per game line...

[plumcrazy73]

and is Jueron not familiar with Gocong being they were both in Philly. Hope we can keep Roth too.

[YtownBacker]

Originally Posted by Brown Warrior

Bronx made the point that up the middle, we're a lot like Jauron's defenses in Chicago with two massive DTs and a bigger-than-usual (for a 4-3) MLB (Gocong).

Based on Heckert's love for Jayme Mitchell, Grossie thinks the starting DL would be Sheard, Taylor, Rubin, and Mitchell. If Heckert's right about Mitchell, he certainly looks the part of a prototypical 4-3 LDE. But it does run contra to what Heckert's been saying about two fast DEs in the 250s or 260s.

But if Benard rotates in on passing downs and Shaefering provides interior penetration... that's a nice six-man rotation. I like it a lot.

I think we need a couple more linebackers.

I really don't get the "Heckert Love for Mitchell" thing. I know he said he'd he would be a good fit in the new system and that he thought he had some solid talent, but love............? He may have tried to say some positive things about the guy so he could get him resigned but, he isn't the future and I don't see the same love.

I could see Mitchell as a situational DE maybe in a rotation with Bernard but not the full time starter. Running situations and goal line situations mostly. I think we are over estimating his potential that has yet to be transformed to game day. As for Schaefering, he is a basic two gap player without great quickness. He is a space eater and a backup, at best. Smith, if he returns, is about the only 3 technique DT we have coming back. The rest are all two gap players better suited for the 3-4 we were running last year. Roth is a tough guy and could be a fit at DE and a better fit with more talent then Mitchell. Then again, he really doesn't want to be here and will be a UFA.

I also think we need a couple of LBs. I always thought that Jackson was a prototypical 4-3 ILB and we miscast him in the 3-4. But, he does seem to get caught up in traffic and doesn't get off blocks like you would want a MLB to be able to do. I also think Gocong would be a better WOLB then a MLB. Trusnik will be a good fit as a WOLB as will Maiava. Problem is, where's the SOLB depth and will Jackson be able to stay on the field. Trusnik could play some SOLB in a pinch but he shouldn't be Fujita's primary backup.

That said, Justin Babin and Barrett Ruud will be UFAs, they are still young and would be great fits in our defense.

I don't think Heckert goes crazy in FA but we all knew that we couldn't fix all our needs in one draft.

[Brown Warrior]

Heckert just doled out another Mitchell quote, something about being very high on him... and signing him is a top priority.

[Sez.EJ]

We are still very short on bodies across the DL until we can sign some of our existing guys or other free agents.. There's minimal depth on the roster as is.

[Riceloft]

Another thing to remember, folks, is that when we're losing, most teams are running more to run the clock down. A blanket "we suck because we can't stop the run" is pretty short sighted.

By football outsiders' stats, we were 22nd against the run, but only very slightly below average (1.0%, where a negative number is good and a positive number is bad). By comparison, the top run defenses were between -14% and -27%.

Our pass defense was ranked 16th at 7.3%. Quite a bit below what they consider average. Only 6 teams had a pass defense above average last year, with the best one at -17%.

It truly is a Quarterback's league. Most defenses have a ways to go to catch up.

[YtownBacker]

Originally Posted by Riceloft

Another thing to remember, folks, is that when we're losing, most teams are running more to run the clock down. A blanket "we suck because we can't stop the run" is pretty short sighted.

By football outsiders' stats, we were 22nd against the run, but only very slightly below average (1.0%, where a negative number is good and a positive number is bad). By comparison, the top run defenses were between -14% and -27%.

Our pass defense was ranked 16th at 7.3%. Quite a bit below what they consider average. Only 6 teams had a pass defense above average last year, with the best one at -17%.

It truly is a Quarterback's league. Most defenses have a ways to go to catch up.

Defenses have been slow to adjust. They are just now putting a priority on CBs. The 2 CB, SS and FS defensive backfield isn't what will stop the new passing games. Most teams will find themselves in a nickle more then 60% of the time. Teams need 3 quality corners and a good backup or two. The new player that everybody is looking for is the CB coming out of college that can play FS. A DB that can cover TEs that have receiver speed and skills and also RBs out of the backfield.

I think the standard 4-3 alignment or even 3-4 alignment may be used less then the nickle packages or even newly designed rush packages. It is not just about putting pressure on the QB anymore as the Packers showed in the Super Bowl. You have to be able to defense against the quick passes and multiple receiver sets.

The NFL is a game of adjustments. The defenses haven't kept pace with the offenses and everytime they adjust the offenses move forward with something new. CBs are in demand and everybody is looking for them.