(No Longer) Joe Woods’ Defense

Amherstcavsfan said:

I truly think it's too soft of coverage on 3rd and long, specifically their screen defense. The Patriots put a hurting on the Browns because the Browns don't tackle particularly well in space and are slow to recognize screen passes.

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The coverage is too soft in general. It's a retreating style defense where it feels like we're running away from the other team instead of attacking them. We're wasting one of the best cover corners in the league and not taking enough advantage of having the leagues best pass rusher and frontrunner for DPOTY.

I'll listen to our weakness at LB and DT but there's no excuse to have two elite players like Myles and Denzel and dial up such a safe defense.

I do have to say - we have all seen Cover 3 played well, and it isn't necessarily soft. Richard Sherman was in the same off coverage Denzel Ward has been asked to play, but Sherman would be physical and ready to react quickly when the ball is in the air. Learning how to play zone well instead of defending the grass will be an inevitability when the new DC is hired. There is no escaping the news to improve execution.

Randolphkeys said:

I do have to say - we have all seen Cover 3 played well, and it isn't necessarily soft. Richard Sherman was in the same off coverage Denzel Ward has been asked to play, but Sherman would be physical and ready to react quickly when the ball is in the air. Learning how to play zone well instead of defending the grass will be an inevitability when the new DC is hired. There is no escaping the news to improve execution.

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I would not be surprised at all if the Browns opted to promote from within if Woods does get fired.

People expecting a new defensive coordinator with an entirely new scheme are going to be disappointed IMO. It's not like Woods is running a scheme that Stefanski isn't comfortable with. Stefanski hired him. He knew what Woods was planning to run from a scheme perspective and was obviously on board with it.

CBBI said:

I would not be surprised at all if the Browns opted to promote from within if Woods does get fired.

People expecting a new defensive coordinator with an entirely new scheme are going to be disappointed IMO. It's not like Woods is running a scheme that Stefanski isn't comfortable with. Stefanski hired him. He knew what Woods was planning to run from a scheme perspective and was obviously on board with it.

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How about bringing in Wade Phillips as an Assistant Head Coach- Defense? Woods, clearly, needs help and he was schooled under Phillips anyways.

If they promote from within, Jason Tarver has been a DC before and Chris Kiffin seems to be a rising star.

sailfish said:

How about bringing in Wade Phillips as an Assistant Head Coach- Defense? Woods, clearly, needs help and he was schooled under Phillips anyways.

If they promote from within, Jason Tarver has been a DC before and Chris Kiffin seems to be a rising star.

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Wade Phillips is 74 years old and left the NFL two years ago. I mean if he'd come obviously that would be great, but he seems perfectly happy in retirement.

I think Jeff Howard would get the job personally.

CBBI said:

Wade Phillips is 74 years old and left the NFL two years ago. I mean if he'd come obviously that would be great, but he seems perfectly happy in retirement.

I think Jeff Howard would get the job personally.

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Agreed, and why the fans demanding Woods be fired immediately aren't getting much credence with me. Jeff Howard would extend the principles already practiced since August, there is no new scheme brought in to finish the season. It doesn't work that way.

CBBI said:

Wade Phillips is 74 years old and left the NFL two years ago. I mean if he'd come obviously that would be great, but he seems perfectly happy in retirement.

I think Jeff Howard would get the job personally.

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Howard’s resume seems a little light as he coached corners in Minnesota and this is his first year as a secondary coach.

The problem isn't the scheme, it's the application of the scheme and how it's been taught. Not sure if that means Howard. Maybe Kiffin?

The only vet DC I see would be possible is if Mike Zimmer gets fired. MAYBE Fangio as a senior consultant if Woods is retained?

I think the overall scheme is okay.

It just feels like Woods is overly conservative with it. The soft coverage, lack of aggression, and over-reliance on the 4man rush is hurting this defense. Think about it - we are currently top 3 (along with the Rams and Eagles) in pass rush win rate. PFF grades us top 3 in pass rush win rate (Raiders and Rams):




So why are we getting killed so much still? Why can't we get off the field? Because we're rushing only 4, and we're playing soft coverage. We're bailing teams out by giving them quick and easy targets to get rid of the ball quickly.

A team that ranks top 3 in pass rush and above-average in run defense should not be ranked 24th in defensive efficiency and 26th in defensive DVOA.

If we're even an AVERAGE defense we probably sit at 7-3 right now, particularly looking at the Chargers and Chiefs games (not even looking at the BS Steelers game). This is with a guy who's playing badly at QB with a shoulder fracture and torn labrum.

There are ZERO excuses for Woods with the level of talent on this defense. He's lucky Stefanski is not likely to fire him mid-season. While we have a couple weaknesses on defense, we do not have the NFL's 26th worse defensive roster. Nowhere near it.

What a response. That is some leadership right there. FFS.

Kbiz said:

What a response. That is some leadership right there. FFS.

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Wow what a response. SEE LOOK AT THE 3 AND OUT AFTER HALFTIME. I couldn't imagine trying to defend anything after that performance.

SuperSurge said:

Wow what a response. SEE LOOK AT THE 3 AND OUT AFTER HALFTIME. I couldn't imagine trying to defend anything after that performance.

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Except for those two long TD runs I thought our run defense played really well. ~~~ Butch Davis

That's a bad used car salesman tactic

Interesting answer.

This isn't Joe Woods, but I think the answer is worth listening when it comes to what the Browns are currently experiencing with Woods.

Kbiz said:

What a response. That is some leadership right there. FFS.

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Wow. This entire coaching staff needs to go if it's going to start burning bridges with Garrett now. And I don't care if that comes off as a knee jerk reaction. Garrett is too important to this organization.