Stop the Inanity!

I'm up to my eyeballs with dumb assumptions and reads on the current state of the Browns and have to correct some small portion of it.

1: "The Browns need a big inside linebacker who can take on guards."

A well-manned and executed 3-4 2-gap defense is designed to keep the offensive linemen off the linebackers. DO YOU U N D E R S T A N D?

The nose tackle forces one of the guards to help the center. The ends set up just outside both guards' shoulders (more often than not) to force engagement. One guard has to help with the nose, so the tackle on that side has to try to handle the end on that side, and the other guard has to take on the other end. Even if this can be done without a double-team, this leaves just one offensive tackle with a lot of space to lumber through at a steep angle to try to block an ILB.

Big ILB's are always nice to have, if there isn't a trade-off depriving them of sideline-to-sideline range or the ability to blitze and drop into coverage.

The 3-4 defensive line trades the speed of passrushing DE's for the bulk and power of hybrid DT's and a giant single nose tackle. That speed is...are you listening? That reduced speed is, by design, compensated for by the inside linebackers!!!

The Browns did sign Shante Orr, who will be tried inside as well as outside and is a 6" ball of muscles. It might work, or not. Could be a rotation including Leon Williams and Jackson (with Davis a backup or off the team--no offense, but he was never fast and is slower than ever now).

Williams could be moved outside, as he has at least the speed to rush from the edge, and the athleticism to cover well...or could be Orr...I dunno...

What I DO know is that a bigger ILB WHO CAN RUN is a low priority. Because the Browns can't draft until the fourth round and this position is always deep, they might take an ILB, but it won't be because this is a position of "need".

The reason that offenses were able to run over this defense was the defensive LINE, do you hear me? Jackson and co. should never have been blocked, except perhaps by a fullback or a TE out of motion. Savage has acquired a (hopefully) premier nose tackle and a top-flight DE, and along with the Smiths, these guys WILL command consistant double-teams so that this 3-4 can works AS IT WAS INTENDED TO WORK.

The ILB's diagnose quickly and attack, unblocked, while the D-linemen fight to shed blocks and get a piece. The ILB's are, first and foremost, quick and fast so that you can't run around them, and they meet you in your backfield if you go inside. The cover-two scheme has the safeties coming up immediately to support.

I do need to stipulate: Poor tackling was also part of it. Many times a they got their hands on the RB, and he broke loose. Hell, MOST of the time they got any real yardage! That has to be fixed. Maybe Mel Tucker won't tolerate it. None of US would...

2: "The Browns need for an edge-rusher to take pressure off Wimbley is critical"

This is distorted in numerous ways. It is true that for this defense to be 100% effective, you need a serious edge-threat on both sides. Most defenses can scheme to stop the single threat coming from one side.

But A): Antoine Peek, when HEALTHY, IS that player. This statement ass umes that Peek will never be healthy again, or will always be the guy he was last season when playing hurt. That's just plain stupid.

B): The two defensive linemen just signed had seven sacks each from defensive tackle positions. They can penetrate and shed blocks, even as 2-gappers. If a tackle goes wide to ride Wimbley around the back of the pocket, he's leaving a guard one-on-one with a DE. A guard can't rotate out to pick him up without likewise abandoning one of these guys. If they try sliding, these guys will cross their faces and get in behind them.

Also, every player on this defense can and will blitze.

It's pretty optimistic to think that Shante Orr can be Wimbley's bookend, but that's not the case with Peek. And then, why am I the only one who seems to remember that Leon Williams can play outside and blitze? I mean, ideally you want a bigger guy than him for the role, as HE needs to defeat pass-blocks, but many very good 3-4's have used the average-sized, fast guys successfully.

On and off, NE and Pitt both have deployed one converted DE opposite one true linebacker and sacked the living hell out of people.

But of course, I do want perfection, which is why in previous blogs I have pointed out potential OLB sleepers for the 4th or 5th round.

3;) "The Browns need a veteran cornerback to start opposite Wright."

WHY?

As it stands, the starter will be McDonald or Holly. Holly IS now a seasoned vet...as if that matters more than a little, and McDonald did a surprisingly good job last season. The loser of that training camp battle will be the nickel CB.

The Browns need DEPTH at cornerback, behind the top three.

An improved pass-rush and more third-and-longs will vastly improve this secondary's "performance".

4:) "The Browns lack depth at safety".

Wel,l they got Baxter returning. Baxter has no doubt lost some mobility and it's doubtful that he can return as a cornerback, but his odds of returning as a good cover-two safety are better than even. He can handle big backs and TE's in coverage, can stiil run verticly, and has always been very effective against the run.

Then the guy we got from Detroit...or someplace...is a long-time starter who's not washed-up yet. He's more of a free safety, and doesn't fit the scheme that well, but can definitely cover and make interceptions.

And by the way, both he and Baxter can be used as dime backs vs. some teams, whose 4th reciever is a big possession guy.

But they should still draft that sleeper CB/S hybrid with the size and blistering speed in the 6th or 7th. There's some depth!

Now: YOU STAND CORRECTED.