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A major theme of game threads last year was scheme vs. talent on defense. Let's start a thread on the 2021 Browns defense. This article from Scott Patsko really did a great job of imagining the new possibilities Woods can feature.
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland Cavaliers led the 2015 NBA Finals 2-1 when the Golden State Warriors decided to make a change. For Game 4 they replaced center Andrew Bogut in the starting lineup with small forward Andrew Iguodala.
The idea was to substitute size for versatility, which resulted in a quicker pace. The Warriors’ versatile group of mostly guards and small forwards were able to switch assignments on defense while creating mismatches on offense.
The Death Lineup was born.
It became a regular part of the Warriors’ scheme as they returned to the NBA Finals in each of the next four seasons. The Death Lineup nickname got attention, but what the Warriors did wasn’t new. They were simply adding to the trend of positionless basketball by taking small-ball to a new level.
It’s a philosophy not confined to basketball.
Positionless football has been part of the NFL conversation for some time now, but not put into practice as much as in the NBA. Still, every team wants to find that hybrid player able to handle multiple jobs and create -- or avoid -- mismatches.
This is especially true on defense.
Two years ago, the Chargers had seven defensive backs on the field for most of their playoff game against the Ravens. By putting more speed on the field to track Lamar Jackson and having more players able to drop in coverage, the Chargers won, 22-10.
Instead of linebackers, the Chargers put two safeties -- typically smaller and quicker players -- in linebacker roles. The Ravens gained only three first downs and 83 yards on offense through three quarters. Remember, this was the same offense that was second in the NFL in rushing yards.
In last season’s AFC championship, the Chiefs used six defensive backs on 75 percent of the snaps, including four safeties for most of the first three quarters. The Chiefs were able to clog Bills passing lanes while also guarding against the run.
As FiveThirtyEight pointed out, Buffalo QB Josh Allen’s average time to throw last season was 3.05 seconds. The Bills were 11-0 when he beat that time. They were 4-4 when he didn’t. Against the Chiefs, Allen’s time to throw was 3.30.
These game plans weren’t likely to work for the Browns last season. They led the league in games lost to injury by defensive backs. A lack of depth at cornerback and safety made it difficult to overcome those injuries. The Browns also lacked versatility at linebacker, where five players got more than 200 snaps as defensive coordinator Joe Woods went with a situational approach.
But that was last year. This year, the Browns have remade their defense. They’ve added speed and versatility at every level. Being able to deploy schemes like the Chargers used against the Ravens or the Chiefs against the Bills is certainly in play. But what about going a step beyond that?
Can the Browns have their own Death Lineup? Is there a position grouping that would make the most of the defense’s speed and versatility while not sacrificing coverage or run defense?
SAFETY
There’s an expectation that we will see John Johnson III, Grant Delpit and Ronnie Harrison on the field together. They would be one of the highlights of a Browns Death Lineup.
Johnson and Harrison both have the ability to play as deep safeties, in the box, or in the slot. Delpit, meanwhile, brings speed and ability in coverage that the Browns were hoping to showcase last season.
With all three on the field, the Browns can fight off offenses trying to create mismatches in coverage with running backs or tight ends. Against the run, Johnson had the fourth-best Pro Football Focus grade among safeties last season.
CORNERBACK
Not much versatility is needed from this group, but having three on the field combined with three safeties can make a quarterback hold the ball longer than he wants. Since NFL teams have three receivers on the field an average of 60% of the time, the Browns figure to be in a nickel look a lot anyway.
Denzel Ward, Troy Hill, Greg Newsome II and Greedy Williams are not the best run defenders in the league, but a Death Lineup would be more concerned with coverage first. The Browns finally have the potential for quality depth in that area.
LINEBACKER
This would be a key to a Death Lineup. Of course, the Browns could add another defensive back and skip linebacker altogether the way the Chargers did against the Ravens. But then you’re dipping a bit too far into your depth.
Instead, the ideal player to sit in the middle of such a lineup is Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. His ability to play well against the run and in coverage, both in the box and in the slot, are why the Browns drafted him. Like Johnson and Delpit, he’s a player who helps offset potential mismatches with tight ends, which has been a problem area in recent years.
JOK also has the speed and quickness to deal with receivers in the slot while giving the Browns much more against the run than the fourth cornerback or safety would.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The front four of a potential Death Lineup is where the Browns can get creative. Myles Garrett’s versatility would be at the center of it.
Garrett’s ability to rush from anywhere along the line could be used as a way to get both Jadeveon Clowney and Takk McKinley on the field. Imagine Garrett slipping inside, something he did a handful of times last season, next to Malik Jackson. Or maybe it’s Clowney who moves inside, which is often his path to the quarterback anyway.
With so many players able to drop in coverage behind them, the quarterback would likely have to hold the ball longer (the way Josh Allen did against the Chiefs), allowing the Browns’ front four more time to create problems.
With their top three pass rushers on the field, the Browns wouldn’t necessarily need all that extra time.
BUT WHEN WOULD A DEATH LINEUP BE USED?
Much like the Warriors’ Death Lineup, a Browns version wouldn’t necessarily be a full-time thing.
An obvious situation would be late in a game when the Browns want to protect a lead and the opponent needs to throw. Or even on a key third-and-long, when the Browns want to clog passing lanes but also have the speed to deal with a screen pass.
But in a key game, some opponents – and some quarterbacks in particular – could be candidates to get the Death Lineup treatment as a part of the game plan. The Ravens probably top the list, especially after the Chargers had their success. A multi-threat quarterback such as Kyler Murray could be on the list.
The best team to get creative against could be the very first team the Browns face this season – the Chiefs.
Patrick Mahomes creates all sorts of problems, as does matchup nightmare Travis Kelce and the rest of the Chiefs’ speedy offense. Perhaps the Death Lineup is the antidote to all that.
Don’t expect Joe Woods to show all his cards in Week 1. But the lineup the Chiefs see should be much more versatile, talented and fast than what they saw in the playoffs.
No matter what you want to call it.
Is the Browns defense versatile enough to have a ‘Death Lineup’?
The Golden State Warriors’ Death Lineup helped with championships, but what would that idea look like for the Browns?
www.cleveland.com
Is the Browns defense versatile enough to have a ‘Death Lineup’?
Updated May 20, 2021CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland Cavaliers led the 2015 NBA Finals 2-1 when the Golden State Warriors decided to make a change. For Game 4 they replaced center Andrew Bogut in the starting lineup with small forward Andrew Iguodala.
The idea was to substitute size for versatility, which resulted in a quicker pace. The Warriors’ versatile group of mostly guards and small forwards were able to switch assignments on defense while creating mismatches on offense.
The Death Lineup was born.
It became a regular part of the Warriors’ scheme as they returned to the NBA Finals in each of the next four seasons. The Death Lineup nickname got attention, but what the Warriors did wasn’t new. They were simply adding to the trend of positionless basketball by taking small-ball to a new level.
It’s a philosophy not confined to basketball.
Positionless football has been part of the NFL conversation for some time now, but not put into practice as much as in the NBA. Still, every team wants to find that hybrid player able to handle multiple jobs and create -- or avoid -- mismatches.
This is especially true on defense.
Two years ago, the Chargers had seven defensive backs on the field for most of their playoff game against the Ravens. By putting more speed on the field to track Lamar Jackson and having more players able to drop in coverage, the Chargers won, 22-10.
Instead of linebackers, the Chargers put two safeties -- typically smaller and quicker players -- in linebacker roles. The Ravens gained only three first downs and 83 yards on offense through three quarters. Remember, this was the same offense that was second in the NFL in rushing yards.
In last season’s AFC championship, the Chiefs used six defensive backs on 75 percent of the snaps, including four safeties for most of the first three quarters. The Chiefs were able to clog Bills passing lanes while also guarding against the run.
As FiveThirtyEight pointed out, Buffalo QB Josh Allen’s average time to throw last season was 3.05 seconds. The Bills were 11-0 when he beat that time. They were 4-4 when he didn’t. Against the Chiefs, Allen’s time to throw was 3.30.
These game plans weren’t likely to work for the Browns last season. They led the league in games lost to injury by defensive backs. A lack of depth at cornerback and safety made it difficult to overcome those injuries. The Browns also lacked versatility at linebacker, where five players got more than 200 snaps as defensive coordinator Joe Woods went with a situational approach.
But that was last year. This year, the Browns have remade their defense. They’ve added speed and versatility at every level. Being able to deploy schemes like the Chargers used against the Ravens or the Chiefs against the Bills is certainly in play. But what about going a step beyond that?
Can the Browns have their own Death Lineup? Is there a position grouping that would make the most of the defense’s speed and versatility while not sacrificing coverage or run defense?
SAFETY
There’s an expectation that we will see John Johnson III, Grant Delpit and Ronnie Harrison on the field together. They would be one of the highlights of a Browns Death Lineup.
Johnson and Harrison both have the ability to play as deep safeties, in the box, or in the slot. Delpit, meanwhile, brings speed and ability in coverage that the Browns were hoping to showcase last season.
With all three on the field, the Browns can fight off offenses trying to create mismatches in coverage with running backs or tight ends. Against the run, Johnson had the fourth-best Pro Football Focus grade among safeties last season.
CORNERBACK
Not much versatility is needed from this group, but having three on the field combined with three safeties can make a quarterback hold the ball longer than he wants. Since NFL teams have three receivers on the field an average of 60% of the time, the Browns figure to be in a nickel look a lot anyway.
Denzel Ward, Troy Hill, Greg Newsome II and Greedy Williams are not the best run defenders in the league, but a Death Lineup would be more concerned with coverage first. The Browns finally have the potential for quality depth in that area.
LINEBACKER
This would be a key to a Death Lineup. Of course, the Browns could add another defensive back and skip linebacker altogether the way the Chargers did against the Ravens. But then you’re dipping a bit too far into your depth.
Instead, the ideal player to sit in the middle of such a lineup is Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. His ability to play well against the run and in coverage, both in the box and in the slot, are why the Browns drafted him. Like Johnson and Delpit, he’s a player who helps offset potential mismatches with tight ends, which has been a problem area in recent years.
JOK also has the speed and quickness to deal with receivers in the slot while giving the Browns much more against the run than the fourth cornerback or safety would.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The front four of a potential Death Lineup is where the Browns can get creative. Myles Garrett’s versatility would be at the center of it.
Garrett’s ability to rush from anywhere along the line could be used as a way to get both Jadeveon Clowney and Takk McKinley on the field. Imagine Garrett slipping inside, something he did a handful of times last season, next to Malik Jackson. Or maybe it’s Clowney who moves inside, which is often his path to the quarterback anyway.
With so many players able to drop in coverage behind them, the quarterback would likely have to hold the ball longer (the way Josh Allen did against the Chiefs), allowing the Browns’ front four more time to create problems.
With their top three pass rushers on the field, the Browns wouldn’t necessarily need all that extra time.
BUT WHEN WOULD A DEATH LINEUP BE USED?
Much like the Warriors’ Death Lineup, a Browns version wouldn’t necessarily be a full-time thing.
An obvious situation would be late in a game when the Browns want to protect a lead and the opponent needs to throw. Or even on a key third-and-long, when the Browns want to clog passing lanes but also have the speed to deal with a screen pass.
But in a key game, some opponents – and some quarterbacks in particular – could be candidates to get the Death Lineup treatment as a part of the game plan. The Ravens probably top the list, especially after the Chargers had their success. A multi-threat quarterback such as Kyler Murray could be on the list.
The best team to get creative against could be the very first team the Browns face this season – the Chiefs.
Patrick Mahomes creates all sorts of problems, as does matchup nightmare Travis Kelce and the rest of the Chiefs’ speedy offense. Perhaps the Death Lineup is the antidote to all that.
Don’t expect Joe Woods to show all his cards in Week 1. But the lineup the Chiefs see should be much more versatile, talented and fast than what they saw in the playoffs.
No matter what you want to call it.