DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum This is only summer, but optimism reigns for the Cleveland Browns-Pluto

This is only summer, but optimism reigns for the Cleveland Browns, says The Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto
Sunday, June 01, 2008

Sean Jones was on the field for 100 percent of the Browns' defensive plays last season. He had some problems in the first half of the season in pass coverage, especially on tight ends. But after the Browns made adjustments, Jones' coverage skills were not as much of an issue in the second half. This is a big season for the safety, who will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. The Browns are looking to see how he'll mature as the leader of the secondary. General Manager Phil Savage on Jones: "He's big at 225 pounds, and is a guy who can tackle someone and actually drive them back. He also is very durable, a solid guy."

The Browns plan to play a lot of the standard cover 2 defense with the safeties (Brodney Pool and Jones) back, helping cornerbacks Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright. But the key is the front seven stopping the run. If they don't, then the Browns have to bring a safety up near the line - and that puts more pressure on the two young cornerbacks. Another factor will be the ability of the front seven to pressure the QB. The Browns ranked 30th against the run and 26th in sacks in 2007 - a terrible combination in terms of helping out the secondary.

It's the organized team activities, guys are in shorts and the Browns have not lost a game in six months. So optimism rules in Berea, but Savage has surprised himself by his own enthusiasm for Wright and McDonald: "Wright is a natural, he's rarely out of position. McDonald has been excellent. These kids are really showing they can do it. A lot rides on them staying healthy, because [Terry] Cousin is a good guy to cover the slot, but we do need one more cornerback for some depth. But I love what I'm seeing from our two kids."

Leigh Bodden was on the field for 98 percent of the plays last season. Savage admits that while the cornerback had an "up and down" season, he still was an important part of the defense. "Detroit wanted Leigh from the beginning when we started talking about Shaun [Rogers]," said the general manager. "It was always Bodden and a pick, the question being what round. Leigh was in virtually every trade discussion with the Lions. He was a key piece for them." With the Browns, Bodden battled ankle and leg injuries the past two seasons. While he played on Sundays, he had lost some quickness and his health issues cut into his practice time.

As the Browns looked at the playing-time statistics for their defense, they realized linebacker Kamerion Wimbley was on the field too much (99 percent) and probably was worn down. One problem was linebacker Antwan Peek (53 percent) got hurt in the second game, and while he played 14 games, he was not the pass rusher they had hoped for. He was second on the team with nine quarterback pressures and four sacks. A key to the defense will be keeping Peek healthy and on the field more.

The stats also reveal the coaches really only trusted one defensive lineman - Robaire Smith. He was in for 81 percent of the plays, and that's considered too much as it wears him down. No one else was on the field for even 50 percent of the plays. The coaches like Shaun Smith (44 percent) and want to get him more playing time. The Browns used six D-linemen for their three-man front. It actually was seven, as linebacker Willie McGinest (62 percent) played some defensive end, and was even over the center on some plays.

That's why the Browns worked so hard to bring in two quality defensive linemen in Rogers and Corey Williams. They want to develop a four-man rotation (Robaire Smith, Rogers, Williams and Shaun Smith) for the three spots, and they believe having more continuity will bolster the run defense. With four experienced and talented linemen, the Browns can keep everyone rested. They have flexibility because Shaun Smith and Rogers can both play nose tackle, and both can play end. The Browns say they'd like a fifth lineman to be on the field for about 10 snaps a game, and that guy will probably come from the group of Chase Pittman, Louis Leonard, Melila Purcell and possibly rookie Ahtyba Rubin.

Here's some of those summer camp feelin' good stories. Seventh-rounder Alex Hall has some real promise at outside linebacker as a possible pass rusher. The early nominee for the "next Daven Holly" is A.J. Davis, a fourth-round pick of the Lions in 2007. He was cut, signed by the Browns and spent last season on the practice squad. Like Holly, he's supposed to be too small - but Holly (who is expected to miss the season because of a major knee injury) developed into a viable cornerback for the Browns after being cut elsewhere.

Looking good have been Rogers on the D-line (and keeping his weight at the target area of 360) and Rex Hadnot stepping in for the injured Ryan Tucker at right guard. Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson is showing leadership skills that made him popular at Maryland. Now in his third season, Jackson feels more confident to lead the inside linebackers, along with veteran Andra Davis. New coordinator Mel Tucker wants to simplify the defenses, and he hopes that will enable the younger guys (Leon Williams, Beau Bell, the cornerbacks, etc.) to be more effective and work together faster.

As of now, the Browns have no interest in veteran linebacker Rosevelt Colvin, who has expressed an interest in playing for Romeo Crennel. Former Brown and Ohio State D-lineman Simon Fraser is in camp with Atlanta, while Orpheus Roye and Ethan Kelley are not with any team yet because of injuries. Added together, at least one of them was on the field for 80 percent of the defensive plays last season.

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Wimbley on the field for 99% of the plays? Dammmmmmmmmmmn. Let's get 'em rotated and staying fresh this year so he can be the player that we saw in his rookie year.

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New coordinator Mel Tucker wants to simplify the defenses

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While I understand the reasoning, statements like this never make me feel good.

Hope I am wrong, but I still think this defense is lacking in talent. I also think that once again...........it will be our downfall this year.

Funny thing is every year we think one unit is going to let us down and it's always the opposite unit tht lets us down....remember how excited we were about Todd Grantham n his D after year 1 and we always bitched about our O...going into last year ppl were expecting so much frm our D and nothing frm our O...case in point the O blew up while the D was so-so and the guy we thought was going to save us; Grantham, is not with the browns....i'm tryin to say u can't really guess whts goin to happen every year...

I don't think getting Hall through is going to be a problem....I do think we will with Rubin and why he will make the final squad.

Anybody snagged off of there has to go on the new clubs roster. A rookie D-lineman can probably help more in the short term then will a converted backer.

JMO.

defensively though...

this year we have actual players on the field to get excited about... not a coach...

Clearly there are some questions about how the D will shape up. It' s never an ideal situation when you're hoping young players and rookies come in and light it up. But if you look at the unit overall, I think it is improving and should be better than last year. It seems like we're filling less key roles with mediocre talent.

Overall, I have to say it's a nice change of tone this offseason from years past. Instead of debates about how really bad the team is and how to keep the ship from sinking, it's all about making an improving team better and maximizing performance. A tougher task with more second-guessing, maybe, but more fun to watch!

I have a lot more optimism than you do about or D. Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers are both bonified studs on the D-Line, our biggest weakness last year. Shaun Smith and Robaire are good rotational guys.

Wimbley is a great pass rusher and him and the rest of our linebackers will be helped a ton by our new and improved line. Peek was playing hurt all of last year and I am expecting him to get some pressure on opposing Quarterbacks. DQ has been solid and will be much better this year with some real hogs in front of him. I really like Bell and Andra has been solid.

I know that you think Pool sucks, and maybe he does, I can't tell watching on television. Jones is a good safety and McDonald and Wright are talented, but inexperienced.

I don't see many glaring weaknesses there and I expect our Defense to be MUCH better this year.

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Instead of debates about how really bad the team is and how to keep the ship from sinking, it's all about making an improving team better and maximizing performance.

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Just a short three years ago we were hard pressed on here to name one playmaker on this team from either side of the ball.

Ten linebackers will be on the final roster. Here's how I see it.

ILB:
Andra Davis
D'Qwell Jackson
Leon Williams
Beau Bell,R

OLB:
Willie McGinest
Antwan Peek
Kam Wimbley
Shantee Orr

Bubble:
Kris Griffin
David McMillan
Xavier Mitchell,R
Chase Ortiz,R
Alex Hall,R

Conclusion: The LB corps is not a strength,however it isn't a glaring weakness. Grade: C
JMO

In a nutshell it echos my sentiments...

This is a make our break year for Wimbley though... Will admit that I wanted BC and Many Lawson instead of him and atleast he stands a better chance than them two...

Good thing I was not in that war room!

I think that we will keep the Linebackers you listed and Kris Griffin.