DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Rotation on Defense will occur

Didn't see this anywhere so if it's already posted my bad.

Browns will rotate on defense
Jeff Walcoff, Staff Writer
09.26.2007
Head Coach Romeo Crennel said Wednesday there won't be "wholesale changes" to his team's defensive unit despite its rough start to the 2007 season.

Instead the club will initiate a rotation system that will give more players an opportunity to play.

"That'll keep people fresher and it'll also help with the competitive edge we need," Crennel said. "Because guys know they're going to have an opportunity to play and a guy whose been playing isn't going to be able to say he's got (his job) wrapped up."

Through three games, the Browns defense ranks last in the NFL in points allowed and 31st out of 32 teams in yards allowed and rushing yards allowed.

Crennel said an especially significant amount of rotation will occur on the defensive line, where backups Ethan Kelley, Shaun Smith, and Simon Fraser will have a greater opportunity to spell starters Ted Washington, Orpheus Roye, and Robaire Smith.

The average age of the Browns' starters on the defensive line is 34. The average age of the trio of reserves is 26.

As a whole, Crennel said the defense will go back to the basics and focus on fundamentals to correct the problems they've had during Weeks One through Three.

"You have to go back to your fundamentals to make sure you have those right," Crennel said. "If those aren't right no matter what you do you're wasting time."

On a positive note, the defense could soon benefit from the return of a pair of veterans who have missed the team's three games so far.

Linebacker Willie McGinest practiced for the first time since the early parts of training camp Wednesday. He had back surgery in August.

Defensive back Gary Baxter, meanwhile, continues to rehab from patellar tendon injuries suffered in Oct. 2006.

McGinest's return could especially help the Browns.

First, it could give his replacement, Antwan Peek, a chance to rest a foot injury that has slowed him for the past two weeks and kept him limited in practice.

Second, it could significantly help the Browns in terms of run defense. McGinest has become known in the latter portions of his career for his ability to defend the run.

Crennel, however, said McGinest likely isn't ready to return quite yet.

"I doubt he'd be able to play (Sunday) but he's been working hard and we'll see how he feels," Crennel said.

Crennel said Baxter also isn't ready and likely will begin playing at the safety position before eventually returning to his native cornerback spot.

"He's gotten better each week but I don't know that he's there yet," Crennel said of Baxter.


Well something has to change. So hopefully this will work unless teams start to run a no-huddle one us to keep our players on the field.

I highlighted that one part because some of us were talking about fundamentals in another thread and i'm glad to see they are deciding to look into improving them in that area.

I thought they were rotating already... granted I didn't watch last game so I didn't truly know. Rotating the D-Line is a good thing though. You keep on just shuffling stuff around until you find something that clicks against the team you're facing.

we need alot more clicking because we never can stop the run..

Wow,who would have guessed that 3 overwieght,aged d-linemen would need breaks during the hottest part of the season. That's why he's the head coach.

When they showed Ted Washington trying to jump in the air to bat down a pass... i got depressed

WE REALLY NEED A NT!!!

Is Shaun Smith the answer?

I was under the impression that we were rotating already..does this mean we will be rotating MORE now?

Why does it take RAC so long to figure out stuff like this?

Every time he makes comments like he did in that article I think to myself "Is this guy learning/failing on the job, or what?"

RAC seems to make bad decisions every bit as often as the defensive players who are getting bashed for the Raider game.

I thought we were rotating too but maybe we were just rotating on third downs. Maybe throughout the game we will be seing different personel on different downs, which from what I read into it means that alot of our young guy's are going to be given increased playing time.

Am i the only one that feels REALLY good about baxter going to safety for a while? hopefully he can sure things up in the secondary.

As long as his injury doesn't make him a liability then I am not worried about it. He has played safety before and is experienced at the position. I still don't think he will get the nod to start over Brodney Pool though.

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As a whole, Crennel said the defense will go back to the basics and focus on fundamentals to correct the problems they've had during Weeks One through Three.

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How many years in a row are we going to "get back to basics"? I bet the opponents are glad to hear that we will be getting bakc to basics again. I am sick of playing our base defense on every play. Base 3-4 on first down....Base 3-4 on second down, Wimbley drops down for a base 4-3 on 3rd down. And when we get to a third and long...such as 3rd and 25 well folks that is when we really show our defensive muscles.

At least he's trying something to give this defence some life. The D-line sucks, our tackling sucks, and so does our pass coverage. Other than that, solid unit....

One of RAC's problems " Change " he don't be likein it !

He just dosnn't adapt well ( unless he is forced to )

.. " DC " Thats what I said " When he is forced to " .. In the past he , or maybe ( Billy Boy ) came through . I am leaning in the Little Bill direction myself.

Well, why would you get creative or change things up if what you're doing is working? Of course you only change when you need to...

Oh man early for this ( only on my second cup ) we are behind you ( Time Zone ) and in my case , I guess football knowledge !

Head Coach Romeo Crennel said Wednesday there won't be "wholesale changes" to his team's defensive unit despite its rough start to the 2007 season.
Instead the club will initiate a rotation system that will give more players an opportunity to play.

This simply means instead of benching Ted or someone else, he's going to bring in Smith/Thompson/Frasier sooner and on running downs , not just passing downs.
What also needs to be done is vary how we're set up especially on passing downs..I would use two down linemen and have 5 LB's jumping around..

I think this is good news.... The D Line is what has truly been hurting us thus far with defensive performances... particularly, in my opinion, Ted Washington. Spelling Washington frequently with Smith and Kelley is a good thing and an acknowledgement that Washington is not effective for long stretches.

I like the idea of getting Fraser on the field more often. He consistently impressed me last year with his overachieving style of play but i thought he was too small for the 3-4. This year, the effort level is still there and he's put on 20 pounds and become more stout at the point of attack.

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Maybe throughout the game we will be seing different personel on different downs, which from what I read into it means that alot of our young guy's are going to be given increased playing time.

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Not saying that our younger guys are the answer or not, That's TBD. But one thing for sure, Roye and Washington, with all due respect, are NOT our future.

So if that means we give some other guys more time,,,, Seriously, what could it hurt? How much worse could we be upfront?

I would tighten up the end splits and play them off the outside shoulder of the guard to protect Ted...he can't move down the line to help prevent the cutback run, and use the OLB's a bit more to actually seal the flanks.

Maybe that is just a version of the Bear D.

Baba, Smith and kelly were our three best nose tackles in camp and in that order and RAC's bud gets the starting nod. Damn I wonder why we are the worst team in football at stopping the run?

Well I don't hate Rac but if it were me, this defense would be changing it's looks every freaking play..
I thought Smith should go in over Ted and only put Ted in short yardage/goal line stands..


Same at OLB...put in your bigger backers on running downs..and overload the strong side with Wimbley and another backer making the offense have to account for another body.
And speaking of KM..why don' t they move him around?

Baba was the best NT??

I gotta disagree with that. Baba was good at penetrating but not so great at holding the line. I thought we should have made him an end as he just doesn;t have the presence to clog the middle.

No argument on Shaun Smith getting more time though...thought he's looked great when he's in..just not in very often it seems.

Hopefully this means that we'll see Ted Washington on an island by himself at corner. I think he could really lock down a teams #1.

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I don't know if you saw this or not, but ESPN had an article where they diagnosed the biggest weakness of each team and recommended a solution.

They diagnosed the Browns' biggest weakness as run defense, and recommended running the Bear D in order to achieve what you just said. Squeeze down the ends to shade the guards while still letting the OLBs set the edge,

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Of course he saw it.. where do you think he got the idea? You think Peen has EVER had an original thought? Much less a correct one?....

LOL, I suggested that immediately after last season. If they eagle the ends (which is what you are saying), not only does it protect Ted, but with the blocking schemes, it will free up the LBs much more effectively.

I saw this too. I really like Gary Horton, because he's one of the best pure football writers out there, so it seemed like a chance. You put that many guys on the line, and pressure 'em, you have to have the corners to hold up in man coverage (which the Browns don't have now).

If they took more chances, it could reward them. The 2004 Chargers had a very weak pass defense, but because they were getting so much pressure and stopping the run (another thing that the modified 46 type D could do), it didn't really matter.

If we allow the OLBs to set the edge, then shade their guards by pinching the D-ends down, it might help. The Bears used to do this, FYI.

I often wonder why we see things early on and the coaches stick to what isn't working until the psunami hits..

Maybe it's preparation... like they see it but can't do anything about it until they write up some plans for it?

Well to a degree BigC..but Rac said something I'll debate your point on..he said they WOULD BREAK EVERY ASPECT DOWN and SEE where the fault lies...

That extensive type of disecting shoulda been done after the Pittsburgh game..actually in preseason since we were getting chewed up then also.

I said it was a mistake to put Shaun S. at DE..they had other guys to do it, even Kelly..let Smith take reps to replace Ted..after all he's getting PAID some bucks to do it..

I thought Smith was a boss hog at DE. He's got more quickness than I thought. But...I don't work for the team. Oh well! I think at the very least it's obvious the guy doesn't play enough. Yo.

I'm just tired of Romeo. All I'll say on the matter.