DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum The Forgotten Question ... What About The Defense?

The Forgotten Question


By Dave Kolonich
OBR Browns Reporter
Posted Jan 11, 2011



While the current coaching search revolves around the offense, it’s worth asking what will become of the Browns’ defense?



Nearly every question asked regarding the Browns’ latest offseason coaching search has revolved around the team’s offense. Naturally, such questions are warranted, thanks to the Browns finishing 31st in the league in points per game and plays from scrimmage, and 29th in total yards per game. Throw in a team president whose NFL roots are offensive-based and the offseason directive could not have been more clear.

So far during the week-long interviewing process, Holmgren has interviewed two offensive coordinators in Atlanta’s Mike Mularkey and St. Louis’ Pat Shurmur, and he will likely visit with his former protégé Marty Morningwheg in the coming days. Although the Browns have also scheduled an interview with defensive specialist Perry Fewell, the odds are that Holmgren’s eventual hire will focus on improving what has become a long-suffering offensive attack.

Common sense would suggest that this approach is a natural reaction against the Browns’ last three coaching hires – all defensive-minded head coaches in the form of Butch Davis, Romeo Crennel and Eric Mangini. After all, considering the league-wide shift towards rewarding offense that has occurred over the past decade, it would appear the Browns have some catching up to do.

In this sense, early speculation suggests that Shurmur is the early favorite for the Browns’ job. Of course, the entire search only consists of two interviews as of Tuesday. Anyway, while the names will likely change over the next week or so, the emphasis on the offensive side of the ball is clear. This is the area where the Browns need the most help – along with being Holmgren’s specialty.

However, this direction begs a most natural question: What about the defense?

After some five years of muddling through a transition to a 3-4 scheme, the Browns’ defense finally appeared to gel midway through the 2010 season. Eric Mangini and Rob Ryan’s “power” defense played some terrific games against New Orleans and New England before injuries and age eventually took their toll down the stretch.

During the ill-fated December losing streak, the defensive problems became reminiscent of the offense’s woes, as it was evident that the front seven lacked any true playmakers.

Having said all this, if we can consider the following as anything more than speculation, than an interesting situation in Cleveland could develop.

Shurmur is considered to be a favorite among several in Browns president Mike Holmgren's coaching tree. John Fox, who will interview for the Denver Broncos' head-coaching job Wednesday, and Jim Mora, the former Seattle Seahawks coach and current NFL Network analyst, are potential defensive coordinator candidates in Cleveland, sources said Monday.

While Holmgren has been tight-lipped regarding the process, let’s just assume that an offensive-minded coach will be hired. Or at the least, the team’s new head coach will not have originated from the Bill Parcells-Bill Belichick school of 3-4 defense. If the above report is to be believed, then the likes of Mora and Fox could take over the defense.

Or, if we reach into Holmgren’s coaching past, perhaps Dick Jauron could prove to be another candidate to run the Browns’ defense.

Regardless of the individual qualities each of these three potential candidates possess, a common characteristic found alludes to the idea that the 3-4 defense could be a thing of the past in Cleveland.

And perhaps the timing couldn’t be any better for the Browns.

Consider that three defensive starters from 2010 will be free agents, assuming of course that actual football will be played sometime in 2011. As of now, defensive end Robaire Smith and linebackers Matt Roth, Chris Gocong and D’Qwell Jackson may have played their final games in Cleveland. Combine the exodus of these four players with the likes of a potential cap casualty in Shaun Rogers and the Browns’ defense will look dramatically different next season.

The remains of the Browns’ front seven will merely boast Ahtyba Rubin, Kenyon Coleman and a still large volume of veteran linebackers. Of these players, only Rubin could be considered as a defensive building block for the future. While a player like Scott Fujita – or possibly David Bowens – can provide veteran leadership, it’s clear that some major work needs to be done in reforming the team’s defense.

Of the Browns’ pending free agents, Roth and Gocong are certainly talented, but may not prove to be worth a significant financial investment. Roth was terrific in run defense throughout 2010, but it remains to be seen how his skill set would fit within a 4-3 defense. The same could be said for Gocong, who is a bit of a tweener type of linebacker.

Further clouding the situation is the possibility that the likes of Mora or Jauron could run elements of a Tampa-2 style of defense. In this scenario, the Browns have virtually no linebackers athletic enough to drop into coverage. For further evidence, just witness the 280 different variations of screen passes that have been run against the Browns over the past half-decade.

Also, such a defensive style is predicated on pressure from the defensive ends. While it’s possible that Roth could be a help here, the only member of the current roster who could have an impact within such a defense is Marcus Benard. Benard managed to progress throughout the season mainly lining up as a defensive end in Ryan’s three-man rush fronts. After these two players, the rest of the Browns’ defensive linemen are a collection of journeymen, players who only fit somewhat into a 3-4 system and who don’t appear to be viable candidates for a new defensive philosophy.

In the end, the ultimate head coaching decision will be predicated on the offensive side of the ball. In this scenario, the future of the defense will become a bit of an afterthought.

Or in other words, Holmgren and Heckert truly have a lot more work to do. More than most of us probably realize.

4-3,3-4 what the hell's the difference.
It takes speed and talent,the Brown's front 7 no matter the scheme,will be lacking in both.

I also don't think it will matter much which way we go. The front seven are old and slow. Until some youth and speed is injected on the defensive side of the ball, things will stay the same.

This next draft IMO should start with the Dline. Then we need a true leader at LB. I hope that our first picks are not traded and we get the best guys available at these position. Smith, Rogers, Barton, and Bowens will never be the core to win a championship. To me Mangini's biggest mistake was worrying about using younger guys over experienced veterans on the decline. Sure they were smart and disiplined, but their talent was fading.

Since the return it has been the same story. Retread Dlinemen on the decline, and mediocre LBs with no speed.

I wish that if we do stay with the 3-4, they go with the type where the Dlinemen are allowed to attack a gap and penetrate. I see Rubin, with his high motor, becoming a stud in this type defense. Maybe it would take a 4-3 for this to happen, but Rubin IMO would be a beast if allowed to go after the ball.

I always liked the 3-4, except when it came to the Browns. Seeing the middle of the field wide open over and over for ten years is brutal. Watching QBs stand in the pocket forever then finding a TE or WR all alone in the middle is maddening. And the worse, is watching a QB not being able to find a WR take off and get 15 yards on a third and 9 and sliding five yards before anyone could hit him anyway.

IMO Ryan's defense was overhyped. Now whether it was personnel or scheme' I don't know. But most teams with the 3-4 have LBs that punish people over the middle, while for a decade that has been the Browns softest spot on defense.

At this point, I dont care about drastically improving the entire defense. Just get some guys on that D-line, and that will do wonders.. Nose Tackle is sealed with Rubin, but the DE spots need to be addressed.

Need to draft early dline, mid round MLB, and possibly another dline if someone falls.

the offense needs to be addressed. The fact that we are in the AFC North throws off our thinking when it comes to which side of the ball needs to be addressed. Yes, Pitt and Balt have good defenses, o well...

Get an offense that can score points and it wont matter.

we all know our DL needs serious up-grades

Bleh, bleh, bleh, wha woa wha,
I hate hearing this, I hate hearing this stuff like this article.

It is just spin! It is just total Barbara Streisand, as Rush Limbaugh would say.
There is NO WAY they can avoid fixing the offense and tell me they are trying to win. This is the first article of the offseason hype, the SAME THING HAPPENS EVERY YEAR blah, blah blah spin
blah blah blah, you don't need an offense Browns fans, you need a defense.

Why, Because Defensive players are Cheaper. ? Is that it.

I REFUSE to Beleive they can't afford to put a complete team on the field. How much do they get from the T.V. contract?

31 other teams can figure it out? But Browns Fans are supposed to Settle for not investing in talent.
I hate reading articles like this .

LOOK AT THE LAST 12 YEARS, DEFENSE DOESN'T WIN ANYTHING!!!!!

I agree, Shepdawg. And I am concerned that while we are in the HC mode, we also be aware of the DC slot. I expect there is a reasonable chance at the least for current RC to be gone; we need to be aware of replacement and system. Not many here seem to be thinking that way. It might be part of the upgrading process as well. There are certainly things that must improve regardless of number. Get rid of some of the sleds on the Dline; hire a few tacklers this year.

Defenses are effective when the offense can stay on the field. I don't think the D is far off IMO. I do think there needs to be more young blood back there. However I think the schemes that Rob was instilling worked for the most part.

Would love to have another D-Lineman in the vein of Rubin. Would love to have a LB that can bring the wood or is fast on the edge. Also need a Free safety that can compliment Ward and won't allow the receivers to take the top off.


All teams have weaknesses, it's the balanced teams that win championships... the O is what is not balanced with this team.

Roth, Gocong, DQ and Elam = FA.

Wright = RFA

Barton and Bowens = over the hill and should retire and imo they do not fit in a 43.

DE/DT Smith could retire.

This leaves NT/DT Rubin, along with over the hill DE/DT Coleman, to go with borderline players, Schaefering and Robinson on the DL.

Jayme Mitchell is the only 43 DE on our roster.

Fujita, Benard and Trusnik @ LBer and only Fujita has experience in a 43.

Ward, Haden, Sheldon Brown and Mike Adams from the secondary.

Along with some ST guys.

The way I see it is what ever defense we run, we still have many holes to fill or up grade. *sigh* and really only Rubin, Ward and Haden to build either defense around.

I have always been a fan of the 34, but with just 3 players to build a defense around (1 from the front 7) and the fact that running and filling out the roster with a 34 defense limits your personnel decisions in FA and the Draft a like.
We might be better off trying to build a 43 defense.