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

Browns 2019 training camp preview: Analyzing the defensive ends

https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-2019-training-camp-preview-defensive-ends

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.

After Monday’s examination of the quarterbacks, we’re flipping to the opposite side of the ball to examine a group led by another No. 1 pick.

THE DEFENSIVE ENDS
Myles Garrett
Olivier Vernon
Chris Smith
Chad Thomas
Anthony Zettel
Jarrell Owens
Wyatt Ray

What we know: In Garrett, the Browns have one of the league’s most talented pass rushers who has yet to even enter the prime of his career. After an injury-marred rookie season, Garrett provided a constant threat throughout his second year and finished just shy of the team record with 13.5 sacks. He did this while playing the vast majority of snaps during stretches of the season -- something he later admitted hindered his stamina a bit in the final parts of games. He’ll have a new running mate on the opposite side of the line with Vernon joining the fold. The former Giants Pro Bowler, who was part of the massive trade that also netted Odell Beckham Jr., gives the Browns a significant pass rushing upgrade on the left side of the line and a solid veteran presence in an otherwise young room of defensive ends. He also gets to move back to his comfort zone as a defensive end after playing as an outside linebacker in New York’s 3-4 last year. Emmanuel Ogbah, the primary starter on the left side of the defensive line last year, is gone in the wake of a trade to the Chiefs, but the Browns return the two players -- Smith and Zettel -- who spelled Ogbah and Garrett the most. All told, the Browns got 17.5 sacks from players classified as defensive ends (Genard Avery, who is listed as a linebacker but worked a lot with the defensive ends during the offseason workout program, had 4.5). They want a higher total in 2019, and the belief is they’ll get it because Garrett has more help around him.

What we don’t know: How exactly Vernon helps Garrett and makes Cleveland’s pass rush better has to be filed in the “wait and see” category until we actually see it. The optimism is certainly there, but there’s plenty of work to be done in the meantime. “I think with all of the guys on the line, I’m going to get that extra second,” Garrett said. “You have OV and (DT) Sheldon (Richardson), and (DT) Larry (Ogunjobi) is back and healthy. It is going to be a force to be reckoned with, with how they come off of the ball and what we have learned during this time we have had off. I think we are all going to be going after the quarterback.” … There’s a spot or two seemingly up for grabs in this position group. Thomas, a former third-round pick, didn’t play much at all as a rookie but he’s certainly in the running to be a rotational player. He’ll be competing with the likes of Smith, Zettel and the team’s undrafted rookies for one of those roles. “I think Chad is a very talented football player,” Browns general manager John Dorsey said in April. “Usually, guys in the first year into their second year make exponential strides and growth. I see him getting a lot of playing time this year. I could see him getting some rotational playing time and really developing into a really good football player.”

X-Factor: Just how much could Avery, a dynamic pass rusher who blossomed as a rookie, impact this position group if this is where he spends more and more of his snaps? What’s clear is that Avery will have a role on this defense -- “a guy who is going to fit into the defense someway,” as assistant general manager Eliot Wolf described him in April -- and that could mean more time lined up as a traditional defensive end -- especially if Cleveland stays healthy at linebacker. Linebackers coach Al Holcomb said Avery is still “very much so” a member of his group but stressed “when he came out of Memphis, he was he was on the line of scrimmage, predominantly rushing the passer so our job as coaches is to really try to put our players in the best position possible, positions that they're comfortable in and advantageous so that we can get the production out of them.”

The biggest number: 86 -- Percentage of snaps played by Garrett in 2018. Though that percentage trailed the likes of someone like J.J. Watt, who played 90 percent of the snaps last year in Houston, it meant Garrett was on the field for 1,012 snaps compared to Watt’s 963 -- almost an extra three quarters of pass rushing.

Says it all: “Does it take some pressure off Myles? Maybe it does. I don’t know yet. We will have to wait and see, but I know those guys are going to be a major factor either making plays or allowing Myles to make plays.” -- Browns defensive coordinator Steve Wilks

How many were kept on initial 53-man roster last year?: 5

There was an interesting article on Brownsmaven today talking about sliding Garrett inside on passing downs. Then you could bring Avery into a traditional DE position and get three dangerous pass rushers on the field.

IIRC, last year Myles was dominant when we moved him inside to rush

Chad Thomas remains a mystery. Is he a football player or music producer? He has the talent to warrant a 3rd round pick, but we have yet to see it.

It was reported that one thing that was a wedge between Gregg Williams and the front office is that the front office wanted Thomas to get more reps, and Williams preferred to run Garrett and Ogunjobi into the ground, and then to play the veterans instead of Thomas when he did rest them. (even when they were ineffective)

I will have to disagree with their comment on Vernon.... "How exactly Vernon helps Garrett and makes Cleveland’s pass rush better has to be filed in the “wait and see” category until we actually see it."

Being back at his natural position will be quite helpful and make it next to impossible for our opponents to put so much focus on Myles.

I think this should and will happen quite often. Garrett will be able to eat interior linemen's lunch.

There’s no doubt Myles was run into the ground ... it’ll serve him well to have more of a rotation now, granted Thomas is good enough

I would consider it a step in the right direction if he shows that he can spell Vernon on some early downs, helping to shut down his corner against the run. We have other guys Like Avery to come in on passing situations\defenses.

Zettle I thought was probaly our best DE vs the run when spelling Myles, but Myles won't be taking many playes off, prehaps more so than last season, but you always want you best on the field the most.

Which brings me to consider Wyatt Ray's possibilities for his Pass rushing abilities, which you can never have enough of.

Zettel wasn’t bad; I agree. Thomas should be able to rotate in ... I mean, he was an early pick and is his 2nd year. If he can’t at least provide good depth, that’s a waste of a pick

I also thought Smith gave us some good production at times

This. Smith was very consistent when he was out on the field. I never felt he was a liability, in particular when comparing his play to our previous d-end backups.

True, but he is pretty long in the tooth and Thomas kinda makes his spot on the rosted redundant imo.

Only if Thomas is any good. He hasn't proven anything on the field.

Yes I agree. My point was that keeping Smith around might be a bad sign as far as Thomas's development and participation in our DE rotation.

Oh......I get it now. I'm a little slow sometimes. LOL

I will say that I was pleasantly surprised w/Smith last year. I thought he had a very nice year as a rotational player.

Yeah I agree with you all. Smith isn’t going to do anything great and can’t play more than 30% of snaps probably, but he’s a good depth guy

I was too. but as always it comes down to numbers.

There has to be some muscle memory involved in being quick off the snap and getting the kind of bend Myles gets. For any 'average' DE, I think it would hinder their success. However, I think Myles is such a freak of an athlete, that I don't believe he'll miss a beat coming from either side.

J/c

I kinda liked Zettel last year, but I have read he hasn’t gotten many reps with the 1s (which kinda indicates he’s a bubble guy if not worse)

DL:

Garrett: He’s fast. He’s good. He’s in line for a run at NFL Defensive MVP. #expertanalysis

Smith: Continues to play a solid form of DE. Strong at POA & wins some edge rushes.

Thomas: finally looked like an NFL edge. Still all power moves but they can be enough at times.

DEs Part II:

Zettel: will be fighting for his roster spot. I’m a believer. Can win with power and some speed. Nice depth piece.

Ray: occasionally flashes some speed to power but not enough. Long shot type.

https://twitter.com/jake_burns18/status/1159873933291732992

DL is Solid to Great from Garrett to Zettel ...

I noticed Vernon more than anyone tonight ... he was flying all over the place and very disruptive

As was Schobert and Richardson IIRC