Phil Savage's Defense

Childish temper-tantrums aside, numerous numbskull nimrods and memorex morons want Phil Savage thrown out along with RAC (and Randy Lerner. And everybody else).

Well, let's preface this: Amidst other tantrums, until now I was also hearing about the defense not really being any good due to the yardage on the ground surrendered. This is stupid. This is why: The only defensive stats that have real, concrete meaning are scoring and turnovers. The rest are fluff. The details of how a defense accomplishes this are irrelevant DO YOU U N D E R S T A N D?

This defense has become more aggressive partly because of the offenses it has faced. Pittsburgh, Dallas with Romo, and the Giants offenses are three of the most prolific in the NFL. They were clearly not prepared for Dallas; or at least Eric Wright wasn't, and that slaughter started them out in the basement. SINCE THAT GAME, this defense has performed well, and improved consistantly.

Aggressiveness , as in tighter coverages, more blitzes, and more one-gap attack schemes, is a double-edges sword. Anytime a running back can avoid getting nailed in the backfield, he has a lot of space to run through. Anytime the blitzers are picked up and the QB has time, he has a good shot of going deep. But the reason they take these risks is because, even when an offensive line, RB, and QB are superior, sometimes the pressure works, and a AB throws off his back foot, or gets stripped, or throws prematurely, or throws it out of bounds, and you get, at the very least, second and ten. As often as not AS OFTEN AS NOT the Running back gets stuffed, and you get similar bottom line results.

Second or third and long situations now favor the defense by forcing a probably pass which they can be ready for.

Statisticly, this type of defense will cough up some big runs. A guy can rip off twelve yards, then five, then six, then get blown up for a two yard loss. Now it's second and twelve. Now the defense sends an extra blitzer and adjusts coverage. A draw is often stuffed, and the QB usually doesn't have time for anything but a quick stab underneath, and you get third and six, or third and twelve.

Statisticly, it looks like the running back is steamrolling them, and that's even technicly true. But the offense is often stalled, and sometimes turns it over.

This aggressive approach was determined not only by the calibre of their opponents, but by the inexperience of Wright and McDonald, and even the newness to the scheme of Williams and Rogers, and the loss of Peek (which required a talented but raw Alex Hall to play a lot). These offenses could otherwise isolate and target these players, and exploit every mistake.

Hall wasn't ready for coverage, and could be fooled against the run, so he usually just blitzes. Wright and McDonald have man ability, but a zone scheme is complex, and their inexperience makes them vulnerable in it, so as often as possible they were told to just cover a guy, period. (This is another reason for the long runs. In man coverage, the defender's back is often to the offense, so his reciever can drag him downfield and away from the run).

Against the Jags, we saw a more mature and integrated defense. Rogers said he was turned loose more than usual--meaning that he was allowed not to worry so much about gaps, and allowed to attack. This pissed me off, frankly. He should have been allowed to do that all along.

There was more zone coverages, and they didn't make mistakes. But then, there was that nine-yard pad crap (RAC's trade-mark) that coughed up several can't-miss-he's wide-open underneath completions. Other than this, however, this was a very good performance. The individual players are used to eachother and to the system. The young and new guys aren't making mistakes. This is a very good defense, and will, by the end of the season, be one of the best in the NFL.

Now, why is that?

It starts with talent, doesn't it? And who found all the talent? Phil Savage--the guy you want to see fired because RAC has mishandled that talent. Because you're stoopid.

Let's go through this player-by-player:

Robaire Smith (who by the way Phil Savage is not responsible for injuring) was a solid veteran free agent who came at a very reasonable price. He had spectacular tackle numbers as both a 3-4 DE and a 4-3 tackle, and his abilty to rush the QB was actually a pleasant surprise.

Shaun Smith was a part-time 4-3 situational run-stopping DT in Cincinnati who was signed dirt-cheap, which hurt a division rival. Playing him at DE is a coaching decision, since he's a much better NT, and Rogers would dominate at left DE--but whatever.

Rogers and Williams did cost a second and third round pick, plus an excellent but injury-prone cornerback, plus some pretty hefty salary and bonuses. You can tell me that Bodden would have helped the secondary a lot, but of you check out the stats, including turnovers, you might be overstating a bit. Bodden is currently a third cornerback in Detroit, and I suspect that that's at least partly because he'd last maybe three games as a starter before he got hurt again.

And you can tell me that they could have done as well with the draft picks, but that would expose you as an idiot, so you won't. You just have to admit that this was a very, very smart move by Savage to massively upgrade the defense's weakest unit all at once, and for at least two more seasons after this one...instantaneously.

Yes, Williams has taken some time to get in the swing of the 3-4, but compared to what preceded him, started out as an upgrade--Rogers alone, by himself, is worth both of those draft picks and Bodden. So give it up, Phil-bashers. Admit it. Turn off the fog machine and say "good job, Phil".

Louis Leonard was an undrafted free agent, dirt-cheap, with tons of physical talent, but very raw. Even as many of you just ignored this YOUNG, IMPROVING player while decrying a lack of depth on the defensive line, this guy has entered the rotation, mainly at DE, and become a very solid player, who is still improving.

Santonio Thomas is similar to Leonard, and was a dirt-cheap free agent with upside.

The Browns lost Robaire for the season almost immediately, and have had to go without Shaun for the last two weeks, but the depth delivered. This has become a truly very good 3-4 defensive line, with good depth, and one which is improving by the game...and has been held back by coaching, more than by opponents.

It cost a second and third round pick plus Bodden, and...and...? DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

Wimbley was a first-round pick. I'm not sure what's gone wrong with him since his stellar rookie season. During that season, he made Phil look like a genius, but sonce then, he's given you 20/20 hindsighters an excuse to bash Phil as if you knew it all along. Except you didn't. He got twelve sacks as a rookie--he PROVED his talent, and you admitted that it was a good pick. Then he stopped getting sacks. So that's Phil's fault? Phil was supposed to foresee him getting twlve sacks as a rookie and then not getting any? Just how far are you guys ready to raise the bar, anyway? You want him to suffocate in the stratosphere or something?

One idiot even said that it was time for the Browns to just admit that he was no more than a defensive end. In reality, he has become a good all-around linebacker who could play in any scheme. As a DE, he would be overpowered, and wasted against the run.

D'Quell Jackson was a second-round pick, and is an excellent all-around inside linebacker. Those of you who felt that he should be flushed down the toilet along with everybody else due to the ugly run statistics don't know what you're talking about. Nor do those of you who think we need a big guy who can take on 320-lb. guards. Check out Pittsburgh and New England's rosters, and then shut up before you embarrass yourselves further.

The 3-4 depends on the defensive line to eat up extra blockers, and the inside linebackers need speed, range, and coverage ability. Jackson is an ideal 3-4 ILB and is proving it.

Phil inheritted AndrA Davis, who is unfairly maligned. He's a good player, who I mightily suspect that Phil would like to trade for something good. NFL Outsiders, which keeps more in-depth stats than anyone else, points out that, as of the end of last season, his average gain-per-tackle was tops on the team, along with thackles-for-losses. He is NOT one of those guys who gets good stats by running guys down from behind.

Leon Williams as a FOURTH-round pick with loads of speed and talent. Everybody else avoided drafting him due to the fact that in Miami he was not even a starter (anymore). The reasons for this remain a mystery. But Phil saw gaudy per-play statistics, interviewed him and the Coaches personally, and drafted a guy with first-round physical talent in the fourth round.

Williams can play any linebacker position in any scheme. He can blitze, cover, and stop the run. And he was a FOURTH ROUND draft pick.

Kris Griffin is a four-year player who Phil grabbed off waivers from the Chiefs prior to last season. Griffin was, I believe, and underafted free agent who made it into the NFL as a special-teams demon. But as of this training camp, he began making a lot of fine plays in the regular defense, and is now part of the rotation. He is a late-blooming, emerging inside linebacker who can now be trusted to fill in and be part of a rotation.

Whether Phil forewaw this or not is almost irrelevant, since he paid nickles and dimes for him.

Beau Belle was a FOURTH-ROUND pick. I don't know if you know this, but see--that's not the same as a first-round pick. Please believe me when I tell you that fourth-round picks are not expected to contribute much for up to three seasons (if ever). These are usually players who need development and polishing. Guys who need to get bigger and stronger, or learn different positions, or who slid for off-the-field reasons.

Belle was injured early, but even prior to that was making too many mistakes on defense. Many expected him to compete for a starting job immediately, despite the fact that he was a fourth-round pick. But (did I mention he was a fourth-round pick?) since he didn't, I'm pretty certain that some of you will already be shoveling dirt into his grave and bashing Phil for wasting his valuable FOURTH ROUND PICK on a guy who didn't start as a rookie.

Don't worry about it. Belle has great instincts and likes smashing people. As a bonus, he can sometimes defeat offensive linemen's blocks. But he was injured, and does have a solid crew of veterans in front of him. There's no urgency whatsoever in rushing him into the defense. It might well even be that he is ready to contribute already, but there's simply no room for him.

That's why I suspect that Davis is trade-bait. He is the oldest player, is a better 4-3 MLB than 3-4 ILB, and has real value to those who know how to evaluate talent.

Griffin and Williams, due to their youth, salaries, and Williams' versatility, are definite keepers for depth and situational uses (Williams is the best coverage linebacker). Belle and Jackson are the future.

Willie McGinest was past his prime even when first acquired, but was integral to the growth of the corps. He is a teacher and mentor to all the young players. It could be said that he was overpaid, but not when we consider his value as a teacher and leader.

While in his prime his claim-to-fame was as a passrusher, he has now evolved into the best run-defender in the corps, and can sometimes still get to the QB. Those who think he doesn't earn his keep on the field don't know what they're looking at. An offensive lineman can be on top of him, and he can keep the guy off him and make the tackle anyway.

Shantee Orr was dirt-cheap too, and is a utility guy who can play any position. It's telling that, prior to Peek's injury, he was actually released. He is the last linebacker, and is pretty good.

Alex Hall was a SEVENTH-ROUND PICK from a micro-college, where he was a defensive end. Even Phil said that he was a developmental player who might be a special teamer this season, but probably wouldn't do much on defense until '09. But he was a prodigy, and became an instant passrusher. He's still learning coverage and run defense, but against the Jaguars did well in every phase.

This guy is bigger than Wimbley, and not as big as he will become. His upside is nearly off the charts, and the fact that he knocked Orr off the roster and off the field, splits time with Willie, and has played both outside spots already is astonishing.

Two theories about Wimbley's decline in production: 1: Lack of inside pressure enabled quarterbacks to evade him by stepping foreward into a cozy pocket. 2: The lack of edge-pressure from the other side enabled offensive lines to slide protection towards him without fear of a front-side penalty.

Phil addressed the pocket issue with two new defensive linemen. And make no mistake: Hll was here to become his bookend next season, while Peek was here to do that now. Phil did his job--admirably. For Wimbley, it doesn't appear to have helped. But Wimbley got twelve sacks as a rookie. How can you bash Phil for this? Is he supposed to coach Wimbley too? Or control him like a puppet?

Peek is another guy: I've heard so much crap about this guy, like he was no more than a situational passrusher. As a rookie, he was a starting 3-4 outside linebacker who got seven sacks. He was then injured, and new coaches created a 4-3. When he came back in THAT defense, he was a situational passrusher. His best position was always 3-4 outside linebacker, and Phil got him cheap to play that position.

Injuries? Well, it was a dice-roll, well worth his inexpensive salary. While Peek had been injured, there was not a strong pattern of injuries yet; no strong indication that he was prone to it. It was a smart move--it just didn't work out.

The fact is, Phil made sure that pockets would collapse, and provided a future bookend for Wimbley in one offseason (who is way ahead of schedule). Now, that's all he could do. If the results (with Wimbley) aren't showing up, it's not his fault. And this is a very good linebacking corps, with depth and upside. It's a lot more effective when Rogers is turned loose.

Why? Because the guard on his side, or the center, can't simply let him blow by and go get him a linebacker. A fullback or tight end is just a speed-bump for this guy. One of the guards simply has to help--having Rogers two-gap only helps the double-team set up the way they want it to, instead of forcing them to chase him.

McDonald was another FOURTH ROUND PICK, who is now as a sophomore one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL; maybe even better than Wright (and Bodden). His play speaks for itself, right from his first game as a rookie. He came here already accustomed to zone-schemes, and his scouting reports labelled him as a "nickel cornerback". Phil was right. They were wrong.
Again.

At the time Phil traded Leigh Bodden, Davin Holly was also here. Davin Holly, and undrafted free agent who Phil signed during the season when somebody rolled a hand grenade into the cornerback tent, and who, by the end of that season, had him a whole passel of interceptions and was expected to compete to start.

The fact that he was injured has nothing to do with Phil. The fact that nobody else wanted this guy has everything to do with Phil. Once again, he was right and the rest of the NFL was wrong.

Wright was a second-round pick with (undisputed) first-round talent. Some services and scouts tagged him as the best cornerback in his draft. The lowest he was rated by any that I know of was third. He was unmistakeably the fastest. He only slid due to what was apparantly a FALSE accusation of rape early in his college carreer. Phil got glowing reports from his coaches and professors, and siezed the opportunity.

He did okay as a rookie starter, started this season on the rocks, but for the last several games has been consistantly improving--to catch up to the less-gifted but better-disciplined Brandon McDonald as one of the better corners in the NFL.

He is the one they love to send blitzong from the strong side. He has world-class speed, and unless his attack is diagnosed pre-snap, an offense has no chance to stop him, or even to hit the reciever he abandoned. (though naturally a safety picks him up).

Mike Adams' price-tag and availablility were inexplicable. Adams was a sometime-starting safety with bunch of interceptions and tackles. At 195 lbs., he's actually a cornerback-free safety 'tweener who can cover WR's pretty well and is tough against the run. Due to his size, on paper he doesn't fit a cover-two scheme as a safety, but is an ideal nickel back (which these days is just about as important as any starter).

As we have seen, he is an exceptional blitzer. He has filled in at both safety spots and done well, including against the run. Against the run, he reminds me a lot of Feliz Wright, who was also small, but would knife the legs out from under bigger guys, and body-rock smaller guys. This is one outstanding player!

I'm not sure, but I think that Tucker has modified the coverage scheme away from the cover-two, in which the safeties are interchangeable. A conventional scheme uses a big strong strong safety and a fast sneaky free safety. It may just be that Tucker is making the most of his rovolving-door personel, and that this remains primarily a cover-two which can switch-up at any time to throw offenses curve-balls, or adapt to enemy personnel.

If I'm right, good for Mel.

Anyway, when everybody is healthy, Mike Adams is hands-down the nickel back, can play cornerback, and is the main backup at free safety.

Hamza Abdullah is a prototype cover two safety physicly. Whereas Adams is more a free-type, Abdullah has the size and strenth to do better as a strong-type. Abdullah was a starter who fell out of favor after an injury, and who Phil scooped up after he was released.

Still a young and improving player, Abdullah is talented, and should show up in rotations more often now that he has presumably learned and practiced the scheme. I couldn't say if he's really a starting-calbre player here, but for sure he does represent quality depth.

Nick Sorenson is a special teamer who was forced to play on defense due to injuries. He's an excellent blitzer and effective against the run, but is weak in coverage. He's not consistantly bad, but rather for every good play he makes, he gets burned once. But Phil got him for special teams. Anything he does in the regular defense is gravy.

So far, ALL these guys cost a grand total of one second and one fourth-round draft pick.

Pool and Jones are second-rounders. The only reason Jones didn't make the Pro Bowl last season was because of those bastards in Pukesburgh and Baltimore. Even then, he got screwed. He's easily the almost on a par with those two guys (and is younger than both), and a cut above the rest in the AFC. He's great against the run and gets interceptions.

Pool caught flak from ignorant people as a first-year player and beyond. He made some early mistakes, but has quickly become a match for Jones.

I won't even mention anyone else. Beyond Adams, cornerback depth sucks. If Wright or McDonald go down, that's a problem. Cousins as a barely adequate nickel guy who you do NOT want starting.

However, despite injuries to Jones and Adams, sometimes at the same time, just look at the post-Dallas stats. This secondary has not surrendered much yardage, has a passel of picks, and even accounts for a bunch of sacks and tackles-for-loss.

There is still the depth issue at cornerback. Adams is a zone-type when he plays corner, but most of those who were bleating about how we should sign some washed-up old big name and overpay him massively completely ignored this guy and the fact that in the right scheme he can play cornerback. Phil didn't. Who was right?

Under your radar, the acquisition of Abdullah has solidified safety depth. It's now downright excellent.

Isolating cornerback, there remains the need for a true cover-corner who is ready to step in for an injured starter.

But Phil has to manage a budget, and keep long-term goals in mind. He deemed Tye Law and other guys way to expensive (and uncooperative) for this depth-role. He will naturally address this in the future, but nobody who fit the bill has shown up in free agency to-date. It's just that simple.

Look at the results. Case closed.

This is a very good and improving secondary, with FOUR potential Pro-Bowlers (next season, of not this season).

From top-to-bottom a very talented defense.

Total cost? One first, three second, two fourth, and one seventh-round draft pick in three seasons. Who did it? Phil Savage.

Those are the facts. Deal with it. I rest my case.