How much of the Browns really good ranking in pass defense in 2022 was due to teams being able to run over the Browns defensive line,
meaning that if they didn't have to pass the ball, they didn't need to,
so it inflates how your defense looked against the pass because teams were content to run instead.
That is true. The pass defense numbers were inflated because the run defense was so poor. But how many more sacks would Myles Garrett have gotten if the run was stopped? If the other teams' offenses were in more predictable downs and distances? How many more turnovers would have been caused strip sacks, rushed passes being picked off, etc.... Running the ball and stopping the run. It is still the fundamentals of the game. When a team can run the ball, it forces the defense to place another defender in the box, it causes the pass rush to be a step slower reacting to the play action, etc... Opens up the passing game! On defense when a team stops the run the defense puts the offense in predictable scenarios and allows the pass rush to tee off, forces more mistakes by the offense, etc... I feel that is where the Steelers and Ravens have been better than the Browns for most of the time this team has been back in existence. They have had better QB play also but their running game and run defense has been superior most years since 1999. If the run defense is fixed, I expect to see a much-improved team. A defense that can get off the field, time of possession in the Browns favor, and winning the turnover battle.
