Woods has Browns playing praiseworthy defense
Joe Woods isn’t going to approach any Browns fans and ask, “How do you like me now?”
That’s just not the defensive coordinator’s style. Another reason it won’t happen is that Woods still wants more from his defense, even though it has limited opponents to 16 points or fewer in eight of the last 13 games and six of the last nine.
Woods’ defense certainly isn’t perfect, but it has held up its end of the bargain for the majority of the season, despite the man who leads the unit becoming a magnet for outside criticism at several junctures and also drawing friendly fire from All-pro end Myles Garrett for a lack of in-game adjustments at one point last month.
“We’ve definitely shown flashes of being one of those top defenses in the league when we’ve got our guys all out there being consistent,” two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward said. “I think we’re definitely capable of being that type of defense.”
The Browns will need to be at their best for Monday’s game against the Steelers, who prevailed 15-10 on Oct. 31 at Firstenergy Stadium. Cleveland must win to keep their postseason hopes alive, and it could be the final game in Pittsburgh for Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
“I think it’s going to be a playoff atmosphere,” Ward said. “That’s the type of game that it is.”
Ward was out with a hamstring injury when the two teams met earlier this season, and he missed January’s wild-card game in Pittsburgh due to COVID-19.
“I can’t say enough about Denzel Ward at corner,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “This guy’s been a ball guy since day zero. He’s always tough and competitive against us.”
Ward this week told reporters he appreciates being challenged by Woods. A Nordonia High School and Ohio State product, Ward added he “definitely picked it up throughout the season and raised my play.”
To that end, Ward could be viewed as a microcosm of the 2021 Browns defense.
“We knew what type of defense we could be in camp and coming into the season,” Ward said. “[Now] guys are making plays and being who we are.”