DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns 2019 training camp preview: Analyzing the safeties

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Browns 2019 training camp preview: Analyzing the safeties

The Browns’ summer break is still in full swing, but we’re back in the office and applying extra precautionary layers of sunscreen as we prepare for 2019 training camp. It’s going to be a zoo in Berea, and we’re ready to chronicle absolutely everything that happens.

As part of that preparation, we’re putting each position group under our finest microscope over the next two weeks. This roster is full of star power, sure, but it’s going to take all 53 -- and more -- for the Browns to accomplish their goals.

Our last stop on the defensive side of the ball is the unit’s last line of defense.

THE SAFETIES
Damarious Randall
Morgan Burnett
Eric Murray
Sheldrick Redwine
Jermaine Whitehead
J.T. Hassell
Tigie Sankoh

What we know: The Browns had to part with an every-game starter on the rise when they sent Jabrill Peppers to New York in the well-documented Odell Beckham Jr. trade. That’s the price of doing business when you acquire one of the best wide receivers in the game. The other regular at strong safety, Derrick Kindred, was released, giving general manager John Dorsey plenty of roster spots to fill with new faces, young and old, at the position opposite of Randall. Burnett, a veteran who was played out of position in Pittsburgh last season, is the most prototypical strong safety in the group, but the Browns have already shown during their offseason practices they plan to be versatile in the back end of their defense. Murray and Whitehead can play in a variety of locations and, really, so can Randall, a former cornerback with Green Bay who was pressed into cornerback duties a handful of times with the Browns last year. This might have been Cleveland’s biggest question mark on defense before the start of free agency, but the group enters training camp with a nice variety of players who can be mixed and matched depending on the formation.

What we don’t know: Whitehead was one of the biggest “stars” of the offseason workout program, going from a little-discussed, midseason waiver claim to a regular with the first-team defense during the spring. It’s worth noting Burnett was held out of a good chunk of the offseason because of a minor injury, but Whitehead clearly impressed his teammates and coaches. Will he be in a true competition for a starting spot? Does it even matter, considering the Browns could deploy a number of different looks that could essentially give three safeties starter-worthy responsibilities? And where does Murray fit in with all of this? Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks likes having options in this part of the defense, and he certainly has a bunch of them -- more than was perhaps anticipated given Whitehead’s rise -- with this current group of players

X-Factor: Randall. It’s not often we give the frontline, no doubt starter this distinction, but Randall fits the bill because there’s a good possibility his best football is still ahead of him. Randall played at a Pro Bowl level in just his first full NFL season at a position he played in college. On top of that, he gave the Browns plenty of options whenever the team’s cornerbacks dealt with injuries or, even simpler, bad matchups. If he’s even better than that in 2019, the Browns will be sending more than one defensive back to the Pro Bowl.

The biggest number: 11 -- Playoff games logged by Burnett since 2011, all of which he started. That’s the kind of leadership and big-game experience the Browns loved to add to their locker room when they signed the veteran. ““He is the definition of a leader. He kind of gets those guys together. He has been through the fire,” Browns coach Freddie Kitchens said.

Says it all: “I had Damarious when he was a rookie. He’s at his natural position as safety. I think you’re going to see him really just take off. He’s always been a football junkie. He loves football. He’s smart. Now, we just have to make sure he just learns the system and then go get the ball and do the things he does.” -- pass game coordinator/secondary coach Joe Whitt on Randall

How many were kept on last year’s initial 53-man roster?: 4

Easily one of my top concerns.

We have a solid, maybe above average guy in Randall, but otherwise? Wait and see with this group.

For real?

Randall has one of the spots locked down and then we have several other guys (Burnett, Whitehead, Redwine, and Harris) to throw at the other spot.

Burnett would be the starter right now probably ... Peppers’ position is way easier to replace than Randall’s IMO

Absolutely. 1 injury to a veteran hurts us.

You could say that about the offensive line also.

And the QB position lol

Well.. first, I hope we don't have any significant injuries... IF we have any in a number of positions, things won't go well. I like our starters, just wish I felt better about our depth.

(If) Jermaine Whitehead is not that 3rd Safety, that the coaches have been praising as such, and Redwine needs more time to develop, then I would agree ... otherwise I like the position group as a whole ... add to that the prospects of J.T Hassell who could push Murry for a spot on the 53. There's some pretty good competition to round out that group.

What Eric Murray can do to win the Cleveland Browns' strong safety position battle -- Film Room | cleveland.com
https://expo.cleveland.com/sports/g66l-2...-film-room.html

Good stuff. Ty

Kind of the forgotten guy in the secondary ... Dorsey saw enough in him to accept the trade. Maybe he makes a difference

j/c

I think there is a good chance that Burnett doesn't make the team. I read him as limited in the coverage department and is better in the box - where Pitt played him the most last year and to his disappointment. He doesn't prefer playing the way he plays his best. He's not talked about very much and he's not young. JMO

We spent a lot of money to get him on the team. From my understanding, the contract is pretty much guaranteed for 2019. In 2020 we can cut him with no penalty. So if we cut him this year, we'd lose 4 million for nothing.

I fully expect Burnett to make the team no matter what.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cleveland-browns/morgan-burnett-6579/

I agree, and people forget that he was used mostly as a LB in Pittsburg last season.

I’d guess he’d be used similarly this year. Box safety with two more safeties on the field with him (Randall and Whitehead).

Perhaps in 3 Safety defenses, but I think that he will be more of a traditional SS in the base defenses. IIRC he was mostly used outside of their base defense last season.

Right. I’d guess we we are in “base” like 20% of the time (and that’s probably wing generous).

True, but what is the % of 3 Safety (Big nickel) looks?

Probably about the same overall.

j/c:

Just in case people want facts, the NFL averages in certain types of defenses went like this in 2017 and 2018

Nickel: 52.3% and 60.5%
Base: 33.1% and 25.0%
Dime: 12.9% and 133%
Goal Line: 1.0% and 0.8%
Big: 0.7% and 0.3%

For the record, 55 percent of base snaps were in 4-3; 43 percent were in 3-4. That doesn't add up to 100 because we saw 92 snaps of a 2-5-4 (mostly from Cleveland) and 49 snaps of a 5-2-4 (mostly from Miami).

I got this information from this article: https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2019/2018-defensive-personnel-analysis

Ty Vers, is 'Big' in reference to 3 Safetys'?

I believe a "Big" defense is when you actually remove a DB from the field. I think you would use that D in short-yardage situations or near the goal line. Obviously, it's not used all that often. I think you might be looking at something like a 4-4-3. I never ran it, so I'm not all that familiar w/it.


I think the 3 Safety thing that you mentioned would fit into the "Dime" criteria. We saw the Chargers do that against the Ravens last year. Of course, McDaniels and Belichick exploited that D the following week by going w/their own "Big" offensive lineup and pounding the ball down LA's throat.

I could see us using 3 safeties against the Ravens and maybe once in awhile against good running teams in down and distances that don't necessarily favor a pass. However, I think we would add an extra corner before a safety simply because our corners are better players. Carrie might fit into that role very well and I think he saw time there towards the end of last season.

What do you think about our corners in comparison to our safeties?

Big nickel would be having three safeties on the field instead of having an extra corner (four linemen, two linebackers, three safeties, two corners). With this formation we would have Damarious Randall on the field with two of Morgan Burnett, Sheldrick Redwine, Jermaine Whitehead, and/or Eric Harris.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000...defensive-trend

I believe what the Chargers did was remove all their linebackers and have all defensive backs on the field at all times. It worked against the Ravens and then the Patriots waxes them because they did the same thing against them.

https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/01/06/chargers-defense-defensive-backs-ravens-nfl-playoffs-wild-card

In the end I think the defensive group we will end up using the most is four linemen with two linebackers, two safeties, and three corners.

I can see Murray/Randall/Burnett all being on the field on 3rd and medium/long ... that will give us more versatility back there

--I only asked because there was already the data points for the Goal line, so I was wondering if maybe they just did not differentiate between the two types of Nickel defenses.

--In respect to our CBs' I see this group as slighty above our group of Safeties, but we have seen how quickly that can change last season.

How deep our depth is here I think will depend on one or two of the unknowns that may or may not step up in TC.

I wasn't impressed whatsoever by Philip Gaines play last year, so I hope one of the other FAs' can beat him out.

I think that this position will have some interesting competition battles to round out the group

I didn't read the entire article that I took the stats from until just now.

Here is the definition of "Big."



Pretty much what I thought. A DB is dropped.

Big and big nickel are different things.

No kidding. However, I was explaining the "Big" from the stats I posted. Is that okay? I mean......"Big Nickel" wasn't even listed. Get it?

Ty sir, so the nickel % stats are inclusive of both the Big or typical personnel groups.

Yes, there is probably Big Nickel, Little Nick, Wooden Nickel, etc.

LOL....just kidding.

haha wooden nickel is such an uncle/grandpa joke

Safety:

Randall/Burnett: one series and they were fine.

Murray: moves all over. Plays 2-high, slot, everywhere. Changes direction really well. This defense is really suited for his talents.

Redwine: just a bit zealous in his NFL debut. The traits are obviously there.

S Part II:

Whitehead: ideal big safety role player. Can play run game and LOS pass coverage.

Hassell: led w 5 tackles & was surprised how quick he closes. There might be some serious PS consideration.

Sankoh: nice sack/FF. Good story but not going to be a serious player here.

https://twitter.com/jake_burns18/status/1159884105116463104