DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Joe Woods and the Defense

Most everything read over the last year or two is Howard was the key assistant on the defensive side of the ball.

It might not have had to be him, but it probably would have been him.

I don't buy that. Woods has had a lot of experience. He just isn't good.

Maybe a bit off topic, but I think Woods was a hot black candidate and us hiring him was as much about him being here as a DC, then hired away to be a head coach for which I think we might get a draft pick.

As for experience, what works for you? Are you looking for guys who have been DC all over the league? That could be important, or it could mean the guy can't hold the job anywhere.

I hope we consider Jim leohnard. He is light, if having any NFL coaching experience, but he has done a great job in college, and he did play in the NFL 10 or so years. I think being a former player is valuable experience that can override having a lot of actual nfl coaching experience.

It would be interesting to see who Leohnard played for over his career...head coaches, DC's, and defensive position coaches. He obviously learned from those people. He wasn't born a good defensive coordinator.

Browns defense: Man vs zone coverage numbers might surprise you
The Browns are very good in zone coverage

By JaredMueller@JaredKMueller Dec 16, 2022, 7:26am EST 1 Comment / 1 New



For some fans, all that matters is that the Cleveland Browns are 5-8 and all but eliminated from the NFL playoffs. For those fans, the last month of the season will be spent only bemoaning what could have been, should have been and wondering what changes will be made.

For other fans, understanding the specifics about the team will stay important despite the record.

The Browns defense has been the biggest talking point most of the season. The team didn’t make it better with DB coach Jeff Howard’s ridiculous statement on Thursday.

One of the bigger talking points around the defense has been the coverages that they use. While overly simplified, zone vs man has become the new “3-4 vs 4-3 defense” discussion. Many fans believe that man defense, getting up in the receiver’s face and taking one on one responsibility is both the best way to play defense and the best for Cleveland’s defensive backs.

Whether it is because of the preference of DC Joe Woods or what the analytic data says, the Browns have been playing much more zone defense than man. While that may not be surprising, what might be is how much better the team is in zone:



Cleveland is a top-10 passing defense, at least in yards per attempt (an important stat), playing zone defense and tied for the sixth-worst defense in yards per attempt while playing man coverage. There may be explanations for the defense but it is interesting to see how few teams play man coverage even 40% of the time with only one team playing it half of the time.

Based on the data, Woods is smart to have his team in zone coverage two-thirds of the time despite narratives that players like CB Denzel Ward would be better in more man looks.

https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2022/...-man-zone-coverage-joe-woods-jeff-howard

Check out the link if you want to see the graphic aid.

Does Stefanski prioritize winning?

And I'm fine with your opinion. But then to reach that conclusion you would have to believe that the coaching staff had no idea how badly watson would perform so they started him because he gave them the best chance to win at that time. If Stefanski truly believed that problems may run deeper than I had originally thought.

Yes, I said and agreed with you, watson is certainly the best QB of the group, he just wasn't the best at the time after being out of the game for almost two years. At 4-7 it was time to get watson acclimated and up to speed in preparation for next season.

What Stefanski does prioritize is not trashing two seasons in a row.

It was the NFL, not analytics that made skin color a factor in choosing individuals for these positions.... by rewarding those who consider and hire minorities and/or punishing those who don't. No one said the Browns FO put skin color ahead of ability, but the NFL (rightly IMO) made it necessary to use skin color as part of the equation. Why would they not consider the potential for a future draft pick in the hiring process? Again, no one is implying that we choose someone of lesser ability.

Actually, in this case I agree with you about the hire.

The D has shouldered the load in our last four games, three of them wins. Just throwing that out there

Still too many yards on the ground. Has to be the #1 priority this offseason or we will be in the same boat next year.

The offense has even bigger problems than the defense.

The #I priority should be becoming a better football team. The AFC is going to be tough and the Browns could be playing a lot better.

Throw I understand what you mean but I was just targeting what I feel is our most glaring weakness. To become a better team better decisions need to be made. The bad decisions cost us the jets game and how many blown coverages did we have that cost us wins? I said it before we're not that far off but we need to make the right personnel moves for next season to address our weak areas. Oh, and a new DC wouldn't hurt either.

Said no one ever until now.

I agree. I’ve said it before, we have to make the DL interior a top priority this off-season. Winfrey has shown up lately, but we need to draft/sign a stud DT.

Hope Winfrey can mature both on and off the field.