(No Longer) Joe Woods’ Defense

[Lee]

Things that I was totally wrong about last June:

5. I thought Billings was going to get half the snaps at 1T, sharing snaps with Larry O. I also thought Jordan Elliott would work his way into the rotation and be a factor.

4. I thought Clayborn would be much better when subbing in as a pass rush specialist. He was also worse than I expected against the run. Porter ended up filling that role by the end.

3. I didn't think Greedy would miss the entire season with his vague injury, also thought Kevin Johnson would make a bigger impact in his snaps.

2. I actually believed in Sendejo as nickel linebacker/3rd safety. His advanced metrics as a sub-package zone coverage player was fantastic in 2019. However, he was no free safety.

1. The Browns front office played a numbers game at linebacker, and it barely avoided killing the season. The team needed one of the following to make the jump: TakiTaki, Mack Wilson, or Jacob Phillips. Unfortunately, none of the young guys pulled the bacon out of the fire. Crusty vet Malcolm Smith saved us.

I'm nervous about defensive tackle this season because the front office is trying the numbers game all over again with that group. Hopefully somebody young steps up.

5, I loved the Billings signing, was very excited, did not care for Elliot one way or the other.

4. Clayborn did nothing for me.

3. I thought Greedy was going to be a stud, a steal.

2. Sendejo did nothing for me

1. I expected Mack and Phillips to be solid, didnt like Takitaki and thought Malcolm would help as a vet and still have something left in the tank. Phillips over performed but the rest sucked, lol.

 

[Surge]

My unfounded concerns going into this year:

1. Health. Delpit, Ward, Greedy, Myles.. I'm worried about our guys being healthy at the end of the year
2. John Johnson--I'm worried that we're overrating him and that his high PFF grades are due to scheme rather than ability
3. Linebacker--JOK should be limited and brought along slowly. Phillips is young. Walker is limited. The group doesn't project to be world beaters.
4. Defensive Tackle--we have lots of bodies, but will any of them rise to the top? I'm worried that Sheldon Richardson is the best DT we had available to us.
5. Coaching. If I were ranking in order of importance, this is number one. People continue to underrate coaching and overrate talent. Will Woods and his staff put it all together this year? The optimist in me says I hope so. The pessimist says I haven't seen anything yet to be optimistic about.

You said it better than I did. I get that Woods was working with subpar talent, but some of the defensive calls and schemes last year just didn't make sense. He's been given the keys to a Lamborghini this season, so we should be able to tell if he's got it.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

You said it better than I did. I get that Woods was working with subpar talent, but some of the defensive calls and schemes last year just didn't make sense. He's been given the keys to a Lamborghini this season, so we should be able to tell if he's got it.

His history says we should see good things. We can all look up Wikipedia, but I'm going to re-post it here anyways, because sometimes we forget just how good of a background he has. Whether it's players and coaches he's learned from, or the results from the places he's been--it's hard to beat this resume:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers[edit]​

In 2004, Woods was hired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the defensive backs coach. During his first two seasons with Tampa Bay, Woods coached a talented secondary led by cornerbacks Ronde Barber and Brian Kelly. Barber, an NFL 2000s All-Decade performer, earned first-team All-Pro recognition from the Associated Press following each of his two seasons playing for Woods.[1]

Minnesota Vikings[edit]​

Woods was brought to Minnesota in 2006 along with Defensive Coordinator Mike Tomlin, who worked with him as a secondary coach in Tampa Bay. Woods spent eight seasons coaching defensive backs in Minnesota. The Vikings finished among the NFL's top 10 defenses in four of his first five years with the team, capturing back-to-back NFC North Division titles from 2008 to 2009 and making an NFC Championship Game appearance following the 2009 season.[1]

Oakland Raiders[edit]​

Woods coached the Raiders’ defensive backs in 2014, working with veteran safety Charles Woodson, who led the team with 160 tackles (105 solo) and four interceptions in his 17th NFL season.[2]

Denver Broncos[edit]​

In Woods’ first season coaching the Broncos’ secondary in 2015, Denver finished first in the NFL against the pass (199.6 ypg) while the defensive backfield accounted for 11 interceptions, 56 passes defensed, nine forced fumbles and four touchdowns.[1] The Broncos posted three interceptions against just one passing touchdown allowed during Denver's postseason run that ended with a victory in Super Bowl 50. In 2016, the Broncos’ secondary held opponents to the fewest yards per game (185.8), yards per attempt (5.8) and passing touchdowns (13) in the NFL.

After the departure of defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, Woods was chosen to be promoted to defensive coordinator for the 2017 season.[3] Denver finished first in the NFL in pass defense in both 2015 (199.6 ypg) and 2016 (185.8) with Woods coaching the team's defensive backs.[1] All four of Denver's starting defensive backs made at least one Pro Bowl playing for Woods from 2015 to 2016, including cornerbacks Chris Harris Jr. (2015-16) and Aqib Talib (2015-16), who were also named first-team All-Pro selections by the Associated Press in 2016. Safeties T.J. Ward (2015) and Darian Stewart (2016) also earned Pro Bowl recognitions while playing for Woods.

In Woods’ first season as defensive coordinator in 2017, the Broncos finished third in the NFL in total defense, giving up just 290.0 yards per game. The Broncos’ fifth-ranked run defense in 2017 was particularly impressive as it improved by more than 40 yards per game after finishing 28th in the NFL in 2016.[4]

San Francisco 49ers[edit]​

In January 2019, the San Francisco 49ers hired Joe Woods as defensive back coach and passing game coordinator.[5]

The thing I'm really going to be looking for is versatility--is Woods an intelligent coordinator who can change and adapt to bring optimal defenses to each Sunday? Or is he someone who sticks to a limited repertoire that he feels "works"? I'm hoping it's the former.

In order to prove he's the former, I'd expect to see more split-field coverages. I want defenses the keep the offense guessing, and are willing to adjust. Todd Bowles is probably the guy I look to the most right now. What he did in the regular season matchup against KC was one of the best DC jobs I saw last year.

 

[Douglar]

The defensive tackle position and Greedy’s health seem like the things to watch during preseason. During the regular season, player health is always important, but what can you do other than cross your fingers for luck and hope?

 

[Randolphkeys]

In order to prove he's the former, I'd expect to see more split-field coverages. I want defenses the keep the offense guessing, and are willing to adjust. Todd Bowles is probably the guy I look to the most right now. What he did in the regular season matchup against KC was one of the best DC jobs I saw last year.

Bowles established himself as the best DC in the NFL the past two years, which is plenty of time to prove the Jets failures in his four years there weren't his fault. He had a fine first year with the Jets followed by a front office tank job. He deserves the best HC opportunity available next time around.

So while Bowles is now overqualified to be a DC in 2021, I'll simply suggest Woods is qualified to be a DC and prove what he can do right now.

Woods has a tendency: When in doubt be creatively conservative. Is depth at a position group down to the special teamers? Give up yards, not touchdowns. Be unpredictable, but send an even front instead of an odd front.

It's important to note Todd Bowles ran a blitz-happy team in the regular season, but only against select quarterbacks. Inexperienced QBs and weak receiving corps seemed to be blitzed more often. In the Super Bowl, he hardly blitzed at all and played two safeties deep in zone to take away deep passes - which Woods runs often.

So I'm not going to say Woods has a safe job no matter what and the Browns are lucky to have him... but there is something to be said for beating great quarterbacks with more zone and less blitzing. A key for Bowles throughout the year was versatility at linebacker. Woods just couldn't do that with the grouping last season. I hope he can this season.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Bowles established himself as the best DC in the NFL the past two years, which is plenty of time to prove the Jets failures in his four years there weren't his fault. He had a fine first year with the Jets followed by a front office tank job. He deserves the best HC opportunity available next time around.

So while Bowles is now overqualified to be a DC in 2021, I'll simply suggest Woods is qualified to be a DC and prove what he can do right now.

Woods has a tendency: When in doubt be creatively conservative. Is depth at a position group down to the special teamers? Give up yards, not touchdowns. Be unpredictable, but send an even front instead of an odd front.

It's important to note Todd Bowles ran a blitz-happy team in the regular season, but only against select quarterbacks. Inexperienced QBs and weak receiving corps seemed to be blitzed more often. In the Super Bowl, he hardly blitzed at all and played two safeties deep in zone to take away deep passes - which Woods runs often.

So I'm not going to say Woods has a safe job no matter what and the Browns are lucky to have him... but there is something to be said for beating great quarterbacks with more zone and less blitzing.

I don't mean be Bowles as in run tons of blitzes. I mean be Bowles as in willing to adapt.

The first half of regular season Tampa Bay vs KC was a bloodbath--Bowles was blitzing, leaving a single safety high, and Mahomes torched him. I think Tyreek had 2000 yards and 43 touchdowns in the first half. The halftime adjustment, abandoning what didn't work, and using more conservative cover 2 shells to slow down KC, worked great--and it's more of what we saw in the Super Bowl (which I don't really care about because you're never seeing an offensive line like that again).

I want more of the Saban/Belicheck/Bowles/Flores model, where the coordinator is versatile, and comfortable calling schemes that are designed to stifle the offense. I want MEG coverages, I want split-field that has press-man against a boundary receiver, and match zone concepts against the trips side of the field.

I equate this style of defense to the motion that crept into offenses. I want more pre-snap motion as well as motion at the snap. They make your unit more efficient.

I feel the days of being able to call a single defensive base scheme, like the Seattle Cover 3, and live in that most of the time to great success, are through. If Woods is that vanilla, and the results are what I expect (rather than being fantastic--at which point I'll have to eat crow), then I hope we have our ear to the ground looking for someone to run our defense in a way that keeps up with the modern NFL.

 

[Randolphkeys]

I don't mean be Bowles as in run tons of blitzes. I mean be Bowles as in willing to adapt.

The first half of regular season Tampa Bay vs KC was a bloodbath--Bowles was blitzing, leaving a single safety high, and Mahomes torched him. I think Tyreek had 2000 yards and 43 touchdowns in the first half. The halftime adjustment, abandoning what didn't work, and using more conservative cover 2 shells to slow down KC, worked great--and it's more of what we saw in the Super Bowl (which I don't really care about because you're never seeing an offensive line like that again).

I want more of the Saban/Belicheck/Bowles/Flores model, where the coordinator is versatile, and comfortable calling schemes that are designed to stifle the offense. I want MEG coverages, I want split-field that has press-man against a boundary receiver, and match zone concepts against the trips side of the field.

I equate this style of defense to the motion that crept into offenses. I want more pre-snap motion as well as motion at the snap. They make your unit more efficient.

I feel the days of being able to call a single defensive base scheme, like the Seattle Cover 3, and live in that most of the time to great success, are through. If Woods is that vanilla, and the results are what I expect (rather than being fantastic--at which point I'll have to eat crow), then I hope we have our ear to the ground looking for someone to run our defense in a way that keeps up with the modern NFL.

We saw some 3rd downs where Woods became creative in even man pass rush. I remember seeing both Vernon and then Porter dropping back into shallow zone with a linebacker or box/slot back blitzing.

That's what I believe Bowles did better than others: Bowles has an impressive combination of defensive linemen, edge defenders, and linebackers that he will deploy in wildly different roles, and he makes it very tough for opposing linemen and quarterbacks to get a sense of protections. Bowles makes it hard to know who’s lined up where, and who’s doing what, even from one play to the next.

The DCs you mentioned built their base to usually have three full-time down linemen, but I can see the Browns being more flexible up front if they have the right personnel. I don't know if they had that flexibility last season, and now both Larry O and Richardson are gone.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

We saw some 3rd downs where Woods became creative in even man pass rush. I remember seeing both Vernon and then Porter dropping back into shallow zone with a linebacker or box/slot back blitzing.

That's what I believe Bowles did better than others: Bowles has an impressive combination of defensive linemen, edge defenders, and linebackers that he will deploy in wildly different roles, and he makes it very tough for opposing linemen and quarterbacks to get a sense of protections. Bowles makes it hard to know who’s lined up where, and who’s doing what, even from one play to the next.

The DCs you mentioned built their base to usually have three full-time down linemen, but I can see the Browns being more flexible up front if they have the right personnel. I don't know if they had that flexibility last season, and now both Larry O and Richardson are gone.

Yep, I'm going to say that I don't really care about the front seven (six?). I'm more interested in what they do on the back end.

Of course it's all connected, but I trust that any DC can align defenders and move them around to generate a pass rush or fit different offensive fronts. Woods proved this to me with the way we came out against Tennessee--stack the line with extra defenders, hit Henry when he's still a big slow semi-truck, before he gets up to speed. I expect we'll see even more creative fronts this year. Let Clowney stand up, or rush from the inside. Move Myles around. Confuse a tackle when Garrett drops into coverage and JOK comes screaming in at him with speed already built up.

I want to see what Woods does in coverage this year, now that he likely has the pieces to form a competent secondary.

 

[Cement]

 

[Ohdang]

His name was never fully appreciated, its like giving solid advice to your kid.


BJ Good ..... Son.

now we just need Pegging Badson on the team and we are set.

That's just your opinion man

 

[Randolphkeys]

Speaking of what a letdown this defensive backfield managed to be last season:

Titans cornerback Kevin Johnson retires - ProFootballTalk

Titans cornerback Kevin Johnson is retiring from the NFL at age 28.The Titans announced that they are placing Johnson on the reserve/retired list.Johnson has not been participating in the Titans’ Organized Team Activities. It is unclear when or why he decided to retire.In March, Johnson sounded...

profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

 

[Douglar]

Secondary rankings entering the 2021 NFL season | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics | PFF

From cornerbacks Bryce Callahan, Kyle Fuller, Patrick Surtain II and Ronald Darby to safeties Kareem Jackson and Justin Simmons, the Denver Broncos' secondary features more talent than any other such group in the NFL.

www.pff.com

3. CLEVELAND BROWNS​

This Cleveland secondary will look very different from last year’s iteration. Not only did the team add John Johnson III and Troy Hill from the Rams in free agency, but it also spent a first-round draft pick on Greg Newsome II in the 2021 NFL Draft. Newsome is coming off an excellent 2020 season at Northwestern in which he allowed just 12 catches on 34 targets. Those additions are supplemented by the returns of Greedy Williams and Grant Delpit from injury last year to give the Browns a much deeper group heading into next season.​

​

Defensive line rankings entering the 2021 NFL season | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics | PFF

Despite losing Bud Dupree in free agency this offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive front is loaded with talent, pushing the unit into the No. 1 ranking ahead of the 2021 NFL season.

www.pff.com

11. CLEVELAND BROWNS​

Jadeveon Clowney has seemingly gone from being overrated to underrated in the span of a few seasons. Injuries hindered his impact in stops with Seattle and Tennessee, but he has still been disruptive when healthy. Across the past five seasons, Clowney ranks in the 86th percentile at the position in pass-rushing grade and in the 97th percentile in run-defense grade. Clowney’s presence should keep teams from focusing all of their attention on Myles Garrett, creating more one-on-one opportunities for both players. ​

​

Jordan Elliott is a name to watch in his second season out of Missouri. He earned PFF grades of at least 85.0 in each of his final two college seasons and could earn a more prominent role on Cleveland’s defensive line in 2021. ​

Linebacker corps rankings entering the 2021 NFL season | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics | PFF

Few teams feature one solid linebacker, let alone two, making the San Francisco 49ers more than deserving of the No. 1 spot heading into the 2021 NFL season.

www.pff.com

27. CLEVELAND BROWNS​

Cleveland’s linebacker corps struggled last season, so much will be expected of second-round pick Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah going forward. But even though he is tailor-made for today’s NFL, it might be a bumpy transition. Sione Takitaki was impressive against the run, earning an 86.3 PFF grade in that area while struggling in coverage. Malcolm Smith, Anthony Walker and Mack Wilson provide useful depth, but the Browns need that difference-maker in coverage. Hopefully for them, Owusu-Koramoah is it.​

​

​

 

[Hurl Bruce]

Secondary rankings entering the 2021 NFL season | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics | PFF

From cornerbacks Bryce Callahan, Kyle Fuller, Patrick Surtain II and Ronald Darby to safeties Kareem Jackson and Justin Simmons, the Denver Broncos' secondary features more talent than any other such group in the NFL.

www.pff.com

3. CLEVELAND BROWNS​

This Cleveland secondary will look very different from last year’s iteration. Not only did the team add John Johnson III and Troy Hill from the Rams in free agency, but it also spent a first-round draft pick on Greg Newsome II in the 2021 NFL Draft. Newsome is coming off an excellent 2020 season at Northwestern in which he allowed just 12 catches on 34 targets. Those additions are supplemented by the returns of Greedy Williams and Grant Delpit from injury last year to give the Browns a much deeper group heading into next season.​

​

Defensive line rankings entering the 2021 NFL season | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics | PFF

Despite losing Bud Dupree in free agency this offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive front is loaded with talent, pushing the unit into the No. 1 ranking ahead of the 2021 NFL season.

www.pff.com

11. CLEVELAND BROWNS​

Jadeveon Clowney has seemingly gone from being overrated to underrated in the span of a few seasons. Injuries hindered his impact in stops with Seattle and Tennessee, but he has still been disruptive when healthy. Across the past five seasons, Clowney ranks in the 86th percentile at the position in pass-rushing grade and in the 97th percentile in run-defense grade. Clowney’s presence should keep teams from focusing all of their attention on Myles Garrett, creating more one-on-one opportunities for both players. ​

​

Jordan Elliott is a name to watch in his second season out of Missouri. He earned PFF grades of at least 85.0 in each of his final two college seasons and could earn a more prominent role on Cleveland’s defensive line in 2021. ​

Linebacker corps rankings entering the 2021 NFL season | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics | PFF

Few teams feature one solid linebacker, let alone two, making the San Francisco 49ers more than deserving of the No. 1 spot heading into the 2021 NFL season.

www.pff.com

27. CLEVELAND BROWNS​

Cleveland’s linebacker corps struggled last season, so much will be expected of second-round pick Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah going forward. But even though he is tailor-made for today’s NFL, it might be a bumpy transition. Sione Takitaki was impressive against the run, earning an 86.3 PFF grade in that area while struggling in coverage. Malcolm Smith, Anthony Walker and Mack Wilson provide useful depth, but the Browns need that difference-maker in coverage. Hopefully for them, Owusu-Koramoah is it.​

​

​

Are there rankings for units at the end of last season? If someone told me that the Browns had the 3rd best DB unit heading into the 2021 season, I would have asked to have some of what they were smoking.

 

[Kbiz]

Are there rankings for units at the end of last season? If someone told me that the Browns had the 3rd best DB unit heading into the 2021 season, I would have asked to have some of what they were smoking.

Hurl it's 2021 now just FYI so this article means heading into this coming season.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Secondary rankings entering the 2021 NFL season | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics | PFF

From cornerbacks Bryce Callahan, Kyle Fuller, Patrick Surtain II and Ronald Darby to safeties Kareem Jackson and Justin Simmons, the Denver Broncos' secondary features more talent than any other such group in the NFL.

www.pff.com

3. CLEVELAND BROWNS​

This Cleveland secondary will look very different from last year’s iteration. Not only did the team add John Johnson III and Troy Hill from the Rams in free agency, but it also spent a first-round draft pick on Greg Newsome II in the 2021 NFL Draft. Newsome is coming off an excellent 2020 season at Northwestern in which he allowed just 12 catches on 34 targets. Those additions are supplemented by the returns of Greedy Williams and Grant Delpit from injury last year to give the Browns a much deeper group heading into next season.​

​

Defensive line rankings entering the 2021 NFL season | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics | PFF

Despite losing Bud Dupree in free agency this offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive front is loaded with talent, pushing the unit into the No. 1 ranking ahead of the 2021 NFL season.

www.pff.com

11. CLEVELAND BROWNS​

Jadeveon Clowney has seemingly gone from being overrated to underrated in the span of a few seasons. Injuries hindered his impact in stops with Seattle and Tennessee, but he has still been disruptive when healthy. Across the past five seasons, Clowney ranks in the 86th percentile at the position in pass-rushing grade and in the 97th percentile in run-defense grade. Clowney’s presence should keep teams from focusing all of their attention on Myles Garrett, creating more one-on-one opportunities for both players. ​

​

Jordan Elliott is a name to watch in his second season out of Missouri. He earned PFF grades of at least 85.0 in each of his final two college seasons and could earn a more prominent role on Cleveland’s defensive line in 2021. ​

Linebacker corps rankings entering the 2021 NFL season | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics | PFF

Few teams feature one solid linebacker, let alone two, making the San Francisco 49ers more than deserving of the No. 1 spot heading into the 2021 NFL season.

www.pff.com

27. CLEVELAND BROWNS​

Cleveland’s linebacker corps struggled last season, so much will be expected of second-round pick Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah going forward. But even though he is tailor-made for today’s NFL, it might be a bumpy transition. Sione Takitaki was impressive against the run, earning an 86.3 PFF grade in that area while struggling in coverage. Malcolm Smith, Anthony Walker and Mack Wilson provide useful depth, but the Browns need that difference-maker in coverage. Hopefully for them, Owusu-Koramoah is it.​

​

​

I opened the link about the top secondaries expecting to be able to find why I think the article has us ranked too highly--surely we're not #3 in the league.

After looking through other rosters, I'm not sure we shouldn't be #2 behind Denver. Admittedly, a lot of that hinges on projection--Newsome and Delpit haven't proven anything at the NFL level. Greedy is a non-factor until he shows otherwise. It's a big assumption to assume John Johnson produces at the same level in a new system... but all that being said, our talent on paper is absolutely excellent. That's awesome.

Baltimore is ranked too highly. Buffalo and Tampa are probably the other two teams I'd put in the top four.