Browns ‘D’ major disappointment: ‘Have to have some more pride’
Curse defensive coordinator Joe Woods all you want. But the problems that plague the Cleveland Browns defense illustrated again in Sunday's 3028 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, are not all his fault.
Every week another word or phrase is thrown into the list of issues to be corrected — this week missed alignments and dumb penalties joined miscommunication, technique, missed tackles and busted coverage.
Presumably that about covers it, but with the 2022 Browns you never know.
Entering this season, the defense was the unit with continuity, seemingly ready to take a leap to the next level. The unit was supposed to carry the Browns — along with running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt — until quarterback Deshaun Watson returns from his 11game league suspension to make his Browns debut.
The Browns defense ranked fifth in the league last year, allowing 311.5 yards per game. After five games, that average has jumped to 353.8. A year ago, it gave up 21.82 points per game, this year it is allowing 25.0.
It is loaded with talent. Among its 11 starters are five first-round picks — defensive ends Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney, cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II and defensive tackle Taven Bryan (Jacksonville, 2018). Two more are second-rounders — strong safety Grant Delpit and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-koramoah. Garrett and Clowney were No. 1 overall picks and are three-time Pro Bowlers, while Ward is a two-time Pro Bowl selection.
They have been a massive disappointment, consistent only in their underachievement. All three Browns losses have come by three points or less, and their mistakes have loomed large in each.
Asked about letting three games slip away, Garrett said, “Slipped away or lost is all the same. When you lose, there's always a certain sense behind it, whether it's early or late, they all count and it's all in the minor details.
“That's all it's been for us, making sure we're in the right spot, communicating and executing. That's what we have to take care of, that's what we have to get ahead of and we have to really take pride in it. Take pride in doing our job, and right now we have to have some more pride.”
If pride is lacking, that's more of a crisis than a failure to communicate. That reflects poorly on coach Kevin Stefanski and Woods, either in relation to their leadership or game plans, or both. It lends credence to former Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield's podcast claim that he couldn't motivate some players because they cared more about their retirement funds.
Another troubling sign were the Browns' penalties, with four of their six coming on defense, three of them for 15 yards and another for 10.
Free safety John Johnson III drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the second quarter for taking off his helmet to protest what he thought was a blindside block on linebacker Jacob Phillips.
Last week in Atlanta, the Falcons ran it down the Browns' throats on 14 consecutive carries before quarterback Marcus Mariota was dropped for a loss. Sunday the Chargers, who came in last in the league in rushing with 64.5 yards per game, piled up 238 yards on the ground and averaged 7.0 yards per carry.
“Right now? It is not good," Clowney said when asked how the defense was playing. "We have names and the pieces on paper, but we have to come out here and put it together,” he said. “I have been on my fourth team, and this by far one of the [most] talented defenses I have been on. I see a lot in this defense, and right now we aren't showing up and doing it.