Cleveland Browns: Review Pt. 3 Defense, ST, and More

Oct 5, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Charlie Whitehurst (12) is stopped by the Cleveland Browns defense on a fourth down conversion attempt during the second half at LP Field. The Browns beat the Titans 29-28. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

Defense

They say championships are won with great defense. The 2000 Baltimore Ravens, the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and 2013 Seattle Seahawks are great examples of teams that won championships with stout defenses.

Here in Cleveland, head coach Mike Pettine is a believer in a strong defense. He is a disciple of Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan, who is the son of Buddy Ryan, one of the great defensive coaches in NFL history.

That passion for defense is ingrained in Pettine’s blood. CB Justin Gilbert and NT Danny Shelton were both defensive players drafted with the Browns first picks in the first rounds of the 2014 and 2015 NFL drafts respectively. It’s obvious that Pettine’s influence is in the draft room and influences GM Ray Farmer in his draft selections.

The only problem? The Browns were on of the worst teams in the NFL on defense last year. Gilbert struggled to cover his position, and while Pro Bowl CB Joe Haden kept most opposing QBs in check, Cleveland’s run defense was the NFL’s worst.

While the pass defense could help keep the Browns stay in the game or keep the deficits small, the deficiencies of the rush defense would eventually tear down the ability of Haden and safety Donte Whitner to continually defend the pass. They’d have to come help on run support, leaving the wide receivers and tight ends of opposing teams running wild, which allowed teams to beat the Browns deep downfield.

To help with the run defense, Farmer and Pettine sought out the best run stuffer during the 2015 NFL Draft in Shelton. The team also changed some faces along the defensive line. Gone are former first round pick DT Phil Taylor, DE/LB Jabaal Sheard, DT Atyaba Rubin, and DT Billy Winn.

In their place are the likes of Shelton, second round pick LB/DE Nate Orchard, LB Scott Solomon, DT Randy Starks, and UDFA Jamie Meder.

Will they make the 2015 Browns run defense better than it was in 2014? Will the pass defense continue to get stronger? Is Gilbert a bust? Let’s take a look at how things went this preseason for the defense, examining the defensive line, linebackers, and the cornerback/safety positions.

Next: It All Begins With Shelton And Ends With Haden