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Q&A with Browns defensive coordinator Mel Tucker

Posted by Tony Grossi, Plain Dealer Reporter
May 20, 2008 14:01PM
Categories: Browns


Mel Tucker takes over as Browns defensive coordinator at a time when the team's offense is ready to win.

Tucker's job is to improve a defense that ranked 16th, 27th and 30th overall in three seasons under former coordinator Todd Grantham.

As the team's defensive secondary coach those years, Tucker was credited with developing young defensive backs such as Sean Jones, Brodney Pool, Leigh Bodden, Daven Holly, Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald. But the Browns' ranking against the pass also slipped every season (from fourth in 2005 to 24th last season) and they gave up more touchdown passes each season -- 19, 20 and 29.

Tucker took a break from the team's voluntary off-season practices this week to answer questions in an exclusive Plain Dealer interview. Portions were condensed and edited.



Question: How will things be different with you as coordinator?

Answer: I think that remains to be seen. I can't say specifically what those things will be. But I believe we need to improve our techniques, our fundamentals, our understanding of the base defense. We have to just establish a foundation of how we're going to play defense here. I think that will take us a long way. I'm talking about the brand of football -- physical, mistake-free, high effort, high intensity, team defense.



Q: What do you want your defense to be known for?

A: I want people to say those guys play hard, play with technique and fundamentals, they don't make mistakes, and they play as a unit.



Q: I get the impression that coach Romeo Crennel doesn't like to blitz. Is that accurate?

A: Obviously if you can get pressure with four (rushers), that's a positive. But in the NFL a lot of what you do is situational, and so some situations call for pressure and blitz, where you bring five or more (rushers). The situation dictates that and also what your guys do best. But you don't necessarily have to pressure or blitz to put heat on the quarterback.

There's various things you can do to disrupt the quarterback. From the secondary standpoint, if you can jam the receivers, that has an effect on the passing game. Up front, if you can win one on one, that helps you. If you can collapse the pocket and make it tough for the quarterback to set his feet and step up and throw, that can have an effect. When you pressure, if you can attack their protection, that helps. What I've found, when you have a good base defense, then your pressures and your blitzes complement the base and the combination of the two can give you a pretty comprehensive and effective package. But you always have to have something you hang your hat on, something that you can always go to.



Q: What would you say the defense has hung its hat on the past three years?

A: Statistically, I'm not sure if there was anything you can hang your hat on per se, consistently, over the three years. The one thing I felt about the guys here is they play hard, they play with toughness and I believe these guys have tremendous character. With that said, those are things you have to have in order to be good.



Q: What are your expectations for new defensive linemen Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers?

A: Obviously, they're good football players. They have good ability to make plays. But my expectations right now are for us to do our best to teach them the defense and the scheme. That's pretty much as far as I'm going with it. Obviously these are guys that we feel can help us, but it really starts with learning the scheme and the fundamentals.



Q: One of GM Phil Savage's stated priorities has been to get Kamerion Wimbley help in the pass rush game. Where will that help come from?

A: One thing that will help him is complementary players, guys we can use in combination. The push in the middle up front, I think can help a lot for any type of edge pass rusher. The guys we have will allow us to provide that type of push, collapse the pocket, so the quarterback can't step up. And then obviously we have some guys proven over the years to get some pressure on the quarterback, like (Antwan) Peek. So I think the combination of just improving our technique and our approach to pass rush and using the other players to complement, balance the pass rush lanes, collapse the passer, all those things can add to a rush. Also, tight coverage and jams and re-routes on receivers, that type of thing. That is not including some of the scheme things you can do to help attack protections.



Q: Would you move Wimbley around some?

A: That remains to be seem. He's moved around in the past. How much or how little we do, only time will tell.



Q: How realistic is it to expect rookie linebacker Beau Bell to contribute his first year on defense?

A: Right now, we just have to get him out there and teach him the defense and have him learn and understand what we're doing and how we're doing. It's really too early to say how he can help, how soon. I told Beau, get in here, learn what we're doing, and do your best.



Q: The team appears to be content with its situation at cornerback after the trade of Leigh Bodden. Why is that?

A: The way I feel about it is we're going to work with the players we have. I've had success in coaching in keeping that focus. I think that's a good approach. I have all the confidence in the world in Phil (Savage) and his staff, as far as the personnel side of things go. The players we have, I feel like we're gonna coach them, work with them and get them as good as we can get.



Q: Are you concerned at all about the depth at cornerback?

A: Right now, I'm excited about the guys that we do have. We have some young guys that have good ability and I believe there's potential there, room for improvement. When you look at some of those guys we have, they've shown some playmaking ability in the past. I'm excited about those guys.



Q: You mentioned jamming and re-routing receivers. Do your corners do that enough? It seems they play way off receivers.

A: Yeah, I think we have jammed and disrupted. But I would like to even re-emphasize that this year and we're doing that now. That's going to be an emphasis for us. That's one of the things you can do to disrupt the rhythm of the passing game, jam and re-route those receivers, within that five-yard area.



Q: A new rule allows you to call plays into the helmet of one defensive player on the field. As coordinator, you'll have to choose which player wears the radio helmet. Whom will it be?

A: At this point, I'm really not prepared to talk about that right now. We don't have the system in place yet. Everything has not been ironed out, as far as the ins and out. Obviously we'll have it ready for training camp.



Q: You realize as coordinator you may be videotaped by an opponent.

A: Anything you do on the sideline is being watched by everybody.

He's young, but I think Crennel knows plenty to help him out and groom him.

I really like what he has done with what he had been given in our secondary. I hope he can extend that to the rest of our defense.

He sounded like a veteran DC. He didn't say anything! lol

Yup, it seems that he graduated from the RAC school of non-talk.

He sounded like a veteran DC. He didn't say anything

Because he doesn't know anything about being a DC..

Kardiac,, I'm not sure what you were expecting him to say.. I mean, he's just now seeing his Defensive players all together for the first time as a DC.. I'm kinda wondering what it is he could confidently comment on at this point.

I would have rathered this interview take place half way through the Pre Season games..

By that time, I'd expect that he would know what he he has. JMO However..

I gotta say, he is learning from RAC already...

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I would have rathered this interview take place half way through the Pre Season games..

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Yes, that would have been better. I don't know. He's been around long enough to know the type of players we have, it's not like we just hired him from another team and he has to get used to all these new faces and skill sets. I imagine he has a vision for where he wants to take this defense. I would have liked to hear some specifics rather than the same old drab responses to the media. Maybe because his job title is something I feel I can somewhat relate to, albeit on a smaller scale, I would have liked to hear what plans he has. I'm sure he said much more meaningful things when he actually interviewed for the job. But I didn't get a whole lot out of this. I dunno. I guess I'm expecting too much from a newspaper interview.

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Q: One of GM Phil Savage's stated priorities has been to get Kamerion Wimbley help in the pass rush game. Where will that help come from?
A: One thing that will help him is complementary players, guys we can use in combination. The push in the middle up front, I think can help a lot for any type of edge pass rusher. The guys we have will allow us to provide that type of push, collapse the pocket, so the quarterback can't step up. And then obviously we have some guys proven over the years to get some pressure on the quarterback, like (Antwan) Peek. So I think the combination of just improving our technique and our approach to pass rush and using the other players to complement, balance the pass rush lanes, collapse the passer, all those things can add to a rush. Also, tight coverage and jams and re-routes on receivers, that type of thing. That is not including some of the scheme things you can do to help attack protections.

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He must have read my post

Re: Terry Pluto talkin' Browns [Re: Versatile Dawg]
#397552 - Sun May 18 2008 03:25


Any Coach who has coached football knows that if you can stop the run and force a team into 3rd and long, that their pass rush becomes better without even a personnel change, because when you know the other team has to throw the ball, then your pass rush will be better given the percentage of predictability. By forcing a team to double one of our DL men like Rogers will also make your edge rushers job easer. I think both Williams and Rogers will help us with sacks
Other then their own.

I should have guessed

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LOL! I've got a confession to make... my name is Mel Tucker.

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Mel,, quit talking out of school!

Signed your buddy and boss

Romeo

Good post.

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I'm talking about the brand of football -- physical, mistake-free, high effort, high intensity, team defense.

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I like the new attitude he brings.

These things stuck out:

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Q: The team appears to be content with its situation at cornerback after the trade of Leigh Bodden. Why is that?

A: The way I feel about it is we're going to work with the players we have. I've had success in coaching in keeping that focus. I think that's a good approach. I have all the confidence in the world in Phil (Savage) and his staff, as far as the personnel side of things go. The players we have, I feel like we're gonna coach them, work with them and get them as good as we can get.

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With Holly going down, they'll coach up the undeveloped talent we have to a point where they can be difference makers. I love watching homegrown DBs coming along.

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Q: Are you concerned at all about the depth at cornerback?

A: Right now, I'm excited about the guys that we do have. We have some young guys that have good ability and I believe there's potential there, room for improvement. When you look at some of those guys we have, they've shown some playmaking ability in the past. I'm excited about those guys.

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He's probably more concerned now than he was, but I like how this sounds. So much of what has to happen with these guys is about learning the system. If they can, and stay disciplined and focus on making plays maybe one of our young guys can step up. They'll certainly have plenty of opportunity to show what they can do.

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Q: You mentioned jamming and re-routing receivers. Do your corners do that enough? It seems they play way off receivers.

A: Yeah, I think we have jammed and disrupted. But I would like to even re-emphasize that this year and we're doing that now. That's going to be an emphasis for us. That's one of the things you can do to disrupt the rhythm of the passing game, jam and re-route those receivers, within that five-yard area.

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This has been a pet peeve of mine for years. The only chance you get to be physical with a WR is within those first five yards so take advantage of it. If you have the talent to disrupt and stay with the play then do it. Can't wait to see how this develops over the season.