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Cleveland Browns hope to get a rush from their 'exotic' defense this season



Tom Reed, The Plain Dealer By Tom Reed, The Plain Dealer
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on July 30, 2013 at 9:17 PM, updated July 31, 2013 at 5:44 AM
Cleveland Browns 2013

BEREA, Ohio -- Joe Thomas was a member of the 2008 Browns team that recorded 17 sacks -- or three fewer than Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware.

Heads of state have been afforded less protection than quarterbacks opposing the Browns since their NFL return in 1999. In that span only the Houston Texans have fewer sacks (347) than the Browns (440), and they didn’t enter the league until 2002.

But Thomas, among the great offensive linemen of his generation, spoke Monday of a dramatic organizational shift. He was asked to compare what he sees in practice to what he’s experienced over the years facing the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“I think this defense is going to take more risks,” Thomas said. “I think (Steelers defensive coordinator) Dick Lebeau is less likely to take a risk and give up a big play with a blitz or a pressure than our coordinator Ray Horton. He’s more willing to try to hit the quarterback and force an interception, force a turnover.

“I see our team willing to bring the house.”

The Browns are philosophically, financially and schematically committed to pressuring quarterbacks like never before. From CEO Joe Banner to coach Rob Chudzinski to Horton, the Browns brain trust wants its 3-4 base defense in attack mode. They believe it’s the best way to succeed in a league in which 300-yard passing days have become as routine as stadium flyovers.

Whether it produces the desired outcome or a parade of 50-yard touchdowns against a vulnerable secondary is to be determined. But for a franchise that’s rarely possessed a dominant rush even in good times, the approach marks a sea change. Yes, former defensive coordinator Rob Ryan liked to bring the heat, but management did not allocate as many resources to buttress his plan.

Banner signed outside linebacker Paul Kruger and defensive end Desmond Bryant in free agent and used the sixth pick in the first round on edge rusher Barkevious Mingo. It’s believed the organization also was intent on drafting LSU defensive lineman Bennie Logan, who went to the Philadelphia Eagles one pick before the Browns selected in the third round. Cleveland chose cornerback Leon McFadden instead.

“If you don’t provide the staff with the players who can actually execute it, the scheme is going to fail,” said Banner, who spent $80 million to upgrade the defense. “We are focusing on that. We believe to win and win potentially big at this time in the NFL you have to be able to pressure the quarterback very aggressively and in all different situations.”

Lack of continuity

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When a quarterback sets to throw, former Browns coach Sam Rutigliano says, a defense wants him to see “Times Square on New Year’s Eve.” A wall of humanity, arms and bodies obstructing passing lanes.

The Steelers have supplied such chaotic visions for decades. Banner’s old team, the Eagles, has created plenty of mayhem as well. Not the Browns. The team’s most famous sack – Joe ‘Turkey’ Jones' spike of Terry Bradshaw – is 37 years old.

The Browns have finished among the top-10 in sacks just six times in the last 30 years. They have finished last twice since 1999. Team radio analyst Doug Dieken said the franchise’s most formidable pass rush might have come in the early 1970s in the form of linemen Walter Johnson, Jerry Sherk, Jack Gregory and Jones.

Clay Mathews is the team’s career leader with 76 sacks – or 124 behind NFL standard bearer Bruce Smith. Sherk had a productive career before the stat was officially kept in 1982, while Chip Banks, Jamir Miller and Kamerion Wimbley all enjoyed excellent single seasons. But the pass rush has never been part of the organizational identity. The Browns haven’t had a premier sack master. They haven’t wed themselves to the same system, allowing a team like the Steelers to transition from Kevin Greene to Chad Brown to Jason Gildon to Joey Porter to James Harrison.

“Just look at how many coaches and GMs and player personnel directors we’ve gone through since Dick LeBeau came back to the Steelers (in 2004),” Rutigliano said.

Even during the Browns’ successful run through the 1980s they preferred a more conservative defense employed by Marty Schottenheimer.

“Our philosophy was we’d always be deep as the deepest and wide as the widest,” Rutigliano said.

The club’s best three-year sack total came under Bill Belichick. The Browns finished among the league’s top-10 from 1992-94, only to see its most memorable blindside hit applied by owner Art Modell.

Since 1999, Mingo is just the fourth first- or second-round pick used on a pass rusher. Of course, when you can’t develop a quarterback, you’re forever investing valuable assets and free-agent money to find one. The Steelers and Eagles, who’ve registered the most sacks in the past 14 years, each have had franchise signal callers for a good portion of that span.

“If you asked what the are two most important things to win, I’d say have a great quarterback and be able to pressure the quarterback,” Banner said.

Can the secondary hold up?
NFL teams with most sacks since 1999

1. Steelers: 599
2. Eagles: 590
3. Dolphins: 583
4. Giants: 571
5. Rams: 562
31. Browns: 440
* 32. Texans: 347

* — Texans entered the NFL in 2002

The new CEO has mandated an attacking defense since his introductory news conference in October. He’s assembled a coaching staff and roster he hopes will take the first step toward realizing the vision.

NFL Network analyst Charley Casserly, a former Washington Redskins and Houston Texans general manager, favors the direction of the Browns defense. He’s a big fan of Horton and likes the rotation of edge rushers and that Jabaal Sheard and Mingo give them a viable threat opposite Kruger.

“Sheard is a heck of a player and now you’ve added Mingo,” Casserly said. “You’ve got to be able to pressure from both sides.”

But the secondary is as thin as a runway model after cornerback Joe Haden and strong safety T.J. Ward and skeptics forecast lots of big plays for opponents. Besides two games each against Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco, the Browns also must face Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers.

“You have an attitude which we want to become part of the personality of the organization,” Banner said. “It’s an attacking, physical, get-after-you kind of thing. You have a coach who believes in it and has the guts to frankly stick with it when it doesn’t work.

“And when it doesn’t work it can be a conspicuous thing. You have to stick with it anyway and have the strength to do it.”

Horton inherited a unit that collected 38 sacks last season, the same total as the Arizona Cardinals, whose defense he coordinated. But Horton points to other metrics that help measure the value of his multi-front schemes. Arizona had the league’s lowest opposing quarterback rating (71.2 percent), ranked second in third-down efficiency (32.9) and interceptions (22) and finished third in red-zone defense (44.4). Only the Texans blitzed more last season than the Cardinals.

The Browns will align in varied formations and apply pressure from all angles.

“When I first got here the Steelers were the exotic blitz team, but they’re almost vanilla with some of the 3-4 teams you see out there today,” Thomas said. “And, our defense is going to be some of the most exotic that anybody sees.”

Exotic doesn’t guarantee success. But it probably ensures the days of the 17-sack season are history.
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I'm almost to the point with this team that I at least want them to be exciting and fun to watch. If we get blown out but we're trying different things, flying all over the place, at least we'll get a show.

I have no problem with being conservative on the field, but if it gets results. We've been conservative and have failed miserably.

Why not try being aggressive?

I really hope that all of this ends up being more than bluster.

If training camp is any indication, the pass rush is going to be something fierce.

In one on one drills, Kruger and Sheard both were handfuls for Joe Thomas and Mitchell Schwartz.

The pocket definitely collapsed at a faster pace than I recall in previous years too...and that's not a knock on our OL.

I'm very encouraged because we're FINALLY running the variation of the 3-4 I've wanted since we originally made the switch, and finally seem to have the personnel to run it effectively. I'll argue Rob Ryan's D was a year away from being able to effectively run a 3-4 at a high level...then we blew it up in favor of a passive 4-3, which is being phased out of the league right now.

I'm still LOLing at Tony Grossi's call to retain Dick Jauron after last year. What a joke. the 3-4 is a better scheme.

The key is what Banner said ... someone having the guts to stick with the philosophy even if you get burned from time to time ... or even more often that that. Eventually, you will get it turned around.

I can't stand watching a defense that goes passive after getting burned once. Very frustrating.

i agree some what to us finally having the personnel to run the attacking 3-4.

BUT, we are lacking on very key component, and thats a FS we can trust.

Haden is a shutdown CB, so much so, that i believe QBs and OCs are going to simply avoid him, and instead pick on our #2 CB. With us basically playing what should be a nickelback at #2CB, QBs are going to have a much easier target to attack. A deficiency at #2CB can be alleviated or atleast supplemented by having a quality FS as a safety net, but sadly our FS is just as weak as our #2CB position.

Not only that, does anyone know if Horton will be moving haden around to go against teams #1 WR regardless of which side of the field he lines up on, or will Haden remain on the left side of the field like how Jauron ran his D? If so, teams may simply exploit our weakness further by putting their #2 WR on Haden, and letting their #1 wreak havoc on our #2 CB.


That is my single greatest worry for our defense this year, and i believe it may be our achilles heel.

Well, theoretically, you force a team to make a bad decision because of the pressure you get on the QB, so he wont have time to pick apart our 2nd CB

Ammo, we have always agreed on this issue in the past. Love the attacking ability of the 3-4 (if we actually attack from it).

and, we should stick with it because the directive for it came directly from the owner:

“We want an individual as a head coach who’s a strong leader, who’s tough, because this is a tough business, but also is smart, very organized, has great attention to detail and is aggressive,” said Haslam. “That’s the kind of football team we will have and that’s the kind of individuals we are.”

http://espncleveland.com/common/more.php?m=49&action=blog&r=17&post_id=10241

I would like to inform you that TURKEYS can fly tho be it a short distance!!!!!!!!

But with all this RUSH we require a very good defensive backfield. Would someone please advise why Horton has not been begging for Kerry Rhodes.

I'm just saying if you need it get it!

True, there are two gaping holes behind this (supposedly) dominant front.

Yes, "you play to win the game", but I'm ok with potentially sacrificing a few losses to see what we have in Gipson and/or Bademosi. Hell, I'd give Skrine a real shot at the CB2 spot, but he'd be on a short leash.

It seems, to me, that the FO is willing to risk poor play in the short term to find out if we have something in these promising players.

For years the Steelers have had mediocre to poor corners and safeties. Polamalu is the exception. I tend to believe that the DBs most are bellyaching about on our team, are not as bad as most think. No matter how good your DBs are, noone can cover for a long time. Also, even the best are beat at times.

IMO, all the doom and gloom about our DBs is not necessary.

As for "gaping holes" come on GMAB.

Why the clamoring for Rhodes? I'd rather develop our homegrown talent than spend money on a FA living in the past.

Isn't Rhodes coming off an injury also. I never thought he was that good to start with. I think many jump on the bandwagon just because they recognize his name or somebody pimped him because he played for Horton. He's still available, must not be that great.

j/c

When I saw the thread title, only one thing immediately came to mind.

What a Rush!

Quote:

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If we get blown out but we're trying different things, flying all over the place, at least we'll get a show.

---

Getting blown out sucks....the losing show is old..flying all over the place and not winning, is what losers do...jmo.

Yeah, gaping holes, unfortunately. I should say that my definition of 'gaping hole' also includes unproven talent expected to step up and start.

Don't get me wrong, I have high hopes for both Gipson and Bademosi (and if nothing else, Bademosi is a ST demon). But when you take an objective look at the amount of established talent we have there, it's not good. We have no idea what we have except for Haden and Ward. The incumbent for CB2 is Skrine... eek. I actually like Skrine, but asking him to play against opposing teams' 2nd WR day in and day out is asking too much.

Owens past body of work is similar in that it doesn't inspire much confidence.

The FS situation is a ? as well. Hopefully one of these guys figures out the position and takes it.


Put a different way, I'm glad that we got rid of the starters for these positions from last year. Usama Young sucked. Yes, he's a veteran, but he's terrible. I'd rather have an unproven guy get a shot and find out he sucks than have a veteran take those snaps and only play slightly better.

Sheldon Brown wouldn't have bothered me if he stuck around, as he had a pretty decent last season. But I'm also not going to cry that he's gone. He lost a step, and we need to find out about some of these young guys sooner rather than later.

I agree. I have maintained, after being reassured by ineffective coaches how hard we would "self-scout" and adjust (which we did not see on the field so much),that one adjustment to try would be to do more of what was whipping our fanny week in and week out. I want to see some new effort, new speed, and pressure. We do not seem to adjust much and show pretty moronic dedication to the same old same old. We are on the right track if people are forced to adjust to us.

What a rush? I was expecting a discussion about

You ever notice what the Patriots do?
They dont all out rush all that often.
But it seems when they do, it almost always works.

we are about to change our bad mojo...

i have a feeling the defense will be the face of our team for years to come now.. hope we can pull a 2000 baltimore ravens..

We got the defensive players on defense.. and on offense.. we got a pretty good RB who is finally healthy.. If weeden can limit mistakes.. we should be able to do damage.

I'm hoping we can be a Patriots/Rams type team ....... win it all out of nowhere, and then be a winner for years to follow.

I was watching fox sports earlier and they showed a play where Weeden would have died if it had been real. Sheard and Kruger blew by Joe and Schwartz and Big phil had the pocket blown back in Weedens face. I mean, I know its only TC, but this is a top 5 OL thats getting their ass handed to them.

Now later they showed a play where trent just smoked Kruger and the D so it makes it interesting.

Mourg:

I love TC because of this:

The only players the team gets to play against is- The Team.

Each can make the other better... so long as you have quality on both sides.

It's what turned teams like Pitt, Balto, and SanFran... and the same can happen for us.

If our O has to play against what might become a Top-5 D, it will only make them better.

If our D has to play against a Norv Turner-style O, it will only make them better... and better able to defend less high-powered NFL O's.


________________


THIS is what we've been missing all these years, IMHO... a prime ingredient in the mix that makes a perennial winner:

A D that makes the O better... and an O that is good enough to make plays against "an NFL-caliber" solid D.


*******************


Until now, we've always lacked something that ALL winning teams have had: balance between a prolific O and a dominant D.

You can only get that when you have players on both sides of the ball.


We might be seeing the beginnings of that here in Cleve... finally.


Think of it this way: If our individual squads now practice against each other in TC, and see the quality of opposition that mimics the League Standard... they won't be shell-shocked when the regular season kicks in.

That means: a better chance of winning those all-important "First Four" games...

...and that, in turn- means a winning record going into the second qtr of the schedule.

HUGE... if Our Team is to make some late-season waves in any season's campaign.


IMHO: we are "poised to make noise" this year... because nobody else knows what we have- on either side of the ball.

Teams go from "chumps to contenders" every year in the NFL. It's not outside the realm of possibility that the Browns could be that story in 2013-14.


Just sayin'....

Pretty good article and some good posts.

--I think this defense will give up big plays. There is little doubt in my mind about that. That's a tough pill to swallow, but it's going to happen.

--I think this defense will make more big plays. I think they will be fun to watch. I do think they will get after people. I think the crowd will get into it and there will be more energy in the stadium.

---I can live w/the growing pains and the big plays, I guess. It beats watching our defense that has typically played decently, only to falter when they really, really needed a stop. Teams generally played conservatively against us. They knew our offense wouldn't score much. But, when they needed to score---they did. And when we needed a stop to get the ball back, we couldn't get off the field.

--I still believe our offense has to improve if this defense is to be good. They have to score. This defense will be better if playing w/the lead. They can even play in a tight game, but playing from behind will cause many problems for the D. Our offense has to get better.

---Someone mentioned why we haven't signed Kerry Rhodes and that Horton coached him. Did you stop to think that is exactly why we haven't signed him?

--Haden needs to play as good as people on the boards say he has been. He hasn't covered the other team's #1 WR. He's mostly played a side. He really hasn't shut down opposing receivers. I think he has the ability to be as good as folks around here say he is, but he has to go out and do it. We really need him to follow and neutralize the other team's #1 WR this year.

--If Joe can do that, we can roll our coverage to our #2 CBs side. This will help protect that CB. But, it start w/Joe.

--I am genuinely excited about this defense. I think there will be some issues, but I think they will be fun to watch. I think they are on the right track and will soon be a very, very good unit. Maybe one of the better D's in the league in 2-3 years. That's exciting. The offense? Blah...........but yeah, the defense gives me hope.

Excellent post Clem

It's too bad the journalists out there don't see angles like that and do some real reporting.

If the D & O lines are as good as we are hearing...they will only get better by beating on each other in practice.

Your point is one that is too often overlooked when the pundits talk about teams that have "suddenly" turned the corner.

Vers, I'm with you on the Haden assessment, I just don't think he is a shutdown corner, never was and he's not going to be.

It looks like Haden is having problem covering Little in TC, so imagine against a bona fide #1 WR

On the other hand, Joe is very good on run support D and playing close to the LOS, that's why he's not used to cover the #1WR, Problem is that the #2 WRs in this league are getting bigger in size and in plays and Haden in to expensive to cover #2s or to be a part of a double team covering the #1

I really think almost everyone undervalues Greg Little. I really do think he's the best receiver on our team. Honestly, how many guys in the league make that play that he made against the Dolphins on 4th down his rookie year? Five? Six?

The guy is not just "the other receiver" after Gordon and Bess. I wouldn't be surprised if Little takes these first two games (with Gordon out) and shows that he's the best we've got on the squad. It will be interesting to see who ends up with the most first downs, catches, TDs on the team this year. Gordon really should have the most TDs since he's got breakaway speed to go with his size, but Little seems to have the best combination of body control, route running, catch radius, size, and strength that we've got IMO. Bess makes some smart cuts after catch, but Little is a power running back and it shows when he has the ball in his hands.

also, the drive saving 3rd down catch in the first Ravens game last year. it was ridiculous (and, in the end, meaningless, but it's not his fault Weeden threw one out of the back of the end zone to end the game).

Little, Gordon, Bess That has the makings of a great receiving trio.
Throw in some Benji, Things should be fun if Weeden can get them the ball.

Although I think the TE is a little on the weak side, I don't think our TE situation is as BAD as everyone is saying/thinking/making it out to be.

Pretty confident Chud/Norv would have requested Banner/Lombardi to acquire yet another TE to throw into that 90 man roster if they felt the people they did acquire and Jordan wasn't able to contribute.

More worried about Weeden being able to see open targets, and then successfully getting the ball to them and that's regardless if they're a WR, TE, FB or RB... I hate the fact that so much is riding on Weeden. Doesn't make for an abundance of "faith".

I think the fact that we have running backs that can catch a ball will help out the tight end situation. I believe Chud and Norv are very capable of playing to the teams strengths. If tights ends are weak they will find a work around.

Vers, you make some really good points.

- I too believe the defense will give up big plays. Especially if Skrine is CB2 and with the inexperiance at FS. With bigger WRs, I believe Skrine will require extra help which could leave opne holes over the rest of the field. Even though Skrine could be CB2, other teams will see how he is mismatched against taller WRs and line up their big boys on him. The Browns did this last year by putting Gordon in the slot against other teams short Nickle backs. Haden dont just cover the other teams top wideout, he stays on his side of the field. Maybe Horton will change that. If Haden goes down, the Browns are screwed. I thought Sheldon Brown did well last year. I dont think he signed elsewhere which is cool because if Haden gets hurt, he should be a target just for a stop gap. Hes earned at least that. I do believe Brown will get signed during camp or any time during the season because with his starting expeiance and vet leadership he can step in for any team and start right away if that team dont have an adaquate #3CB that can fill in as a #1 or #2. I dont care about giving the young guys experiance if they are getting burnt all game. Horton is known for exotic blitzes, blitzing from anywhere at any given time. I would rather Horton have the FS to use to help the running game and blitz rather than the FS have to help with Skrine, Owens, or whoever wins the #2CB job. I realize that its the FSs job to help the CBs from getting burnt, but the Browns defense will get exposed by RBs out of the backfield and TEs if opposing teams see that the Browns FS have to give the #2CB help all game. I believe Brown did well enough last year as a #2CB to where Horton could use the FS more to blitz. But I guess the Browns would rather give the young guys experiance. I see where Banner dont like to resign guys over 30, but with the inexperiance at CB and FS, I dont see the Browns looking to be in the playoffs this year to spend that extra cap space cash they have. Which I guess is cool because they didnt over spend just to spend and by giving the young guys experiance. Which will lead to giving up big plays. If Haden where to go down, they wont have a choice to bring in a vet CB.

- I Agree that this defense will finally be a team to get numbers in the sack department and much QB pressure. Something the Browns havnt seen with Courtney Brown being hurt, not much else brought in in FA other than Jamir Miller, but he also got hurt. Players like Holmes, Rudd, Barton brought in leadership, tackling and coverage experiance but not much in the blitzing department. The DCs of past where either playing not to get beat or just didnt have the personnel or talent to blitz. Like Rex Ryan not having the talent. Mangini brought in his 3-4 guys from the Jets because they knew the defense, not because of their blitzing resume. They were stop gaps, not long term awnsers. Mangini also passed up Clay Mathews Jr. for Alex Mack, which made me mad at the time and still upsets me. I thought fraley could have handled the position for 1 more years to have a playmaker on defense for year. I know stats dont mean everything, but Im looking for Mingo to break Wimbleys rookie sack recod of 8. Even if he doesnt. then that means Kruger and Sheard are doing well and not getting off the field. I do believe Mingo will have a better career than Wimbley even if he doesnt get those sacks his rookie year.

-One reason I was not happy with Weeden last year, which could lay alot on Shurmers shoulders, was all the 3 and outs. The defenses stats looked alot worse then they should have because of all the time they were on the field. The offense last year , which was a problem for many years, is that they could not sustain drives. Many 3 and outs. The offense not only needs Weedens big arm for big plays, they need drives. Like 2 or 3 good drives in a row. Something I never saw out of a Shurmur offense.

j/c

On Kerry Rhodes - I believe that the front office addressed this in an interview several weeks back. We're going to roll with the guys we have to see what we have. If it gets closer to the season and we can clearly see that none of these guys are stepping up and getting the job done well enough, then they will start to take a look at who is out there on the market. In the interim, we're working our guys to find out what we have, while keeping an eye on what is available out there.