Cleveland Browns: Review Pt. 3 Defense, ST, and More
Jul 30, 2015; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive back Joe Haden (23) during training camp at the Cleveland Browns practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
CORNERBACKS
Joe Haden
The best shutdown cornerback in the NFL is? Well, if you ask Joe Haden he’s going to tell you that it’s him. While others might argue New York Jets CB Darrelle Revis or Seattle Seahawks CB Richard Sherman, I think we can all admit that Haden is definitely in the conversation.
The 2-time Pro Bowler is one of the unquestioned leaders of the Cleveland Browns along with left tackle Joe Thomas, one of the most recognized players for the team league wide. At one time Haden had the best selling jersey in the NFL, a tribute to his skill and the respect Browns fans have for him. He’s definitely a fan favorite
On the field, Haden might not get the high tackle totals, the high interception rates, or seen routinely on Sportscenter, but there’s a reason for that. He is often covering the opposing teams best receivers, and in most situations he’s making the opposing QB look the other way. Haden did have a career high in tackles last season with 73 combined, but typically he has a little less than that.
During the preseason games coach Pettine didn’t play Haden much. He just gave Haden a bit of a run in the third game with about 10 plays. However, we didn’t need to see Haden in the preseason to know what he’s capable of. We know he’ll have himself ready to go for the season, and as an optimist, he believes that the Browns have the talent to win.
Haden got a taste of what winning is like in Cleveland last season when the Browns were 7-4 and in playoff contention. There’s no doubt he’d like to lead the team there again, and he’ll do what it takes on his part in 2015 to make it happen. I’d expect nothing less than another Pro Bowl caliber year for Haden, and let’s hope he’s right about the talent on the roster leading to wins.
Perhaps the biggest signing of the Browns 2015 offseason for more than one reason is Tramon Williams. First off, Williams is a talented cornerback who provides a strong secondary option to Haden and solidifies the secondary. He replaces Buster Skrine who left for the New York Jets in free agency.
However, the biggest reason that this is the most important signing this offseason is because of the failures of Justin Gilbert, last year’s eighth overall pick, to develop into a viable player. Tom Reed of Cleveland.com witnessed his importance and impact during training camp.
With injuries, heat, and plenty of excuses to rest as a veteran, Williams went all out in practice and showed how at 32 years old he’s still got the skills to play at the NFL level and make an impact.
While Williams isn’t flashy, he’s an eight year vet who’s played his entire career with the Green Bay Packers before being signed by Farmer. After getting cut by Green Bay, he’s going to go out on the field with a lot to prove this season. He along with Haden didn’t play much in the preseason, so it’s hard to form an opinion off of camp. Yet Williams is an experienced veteran who will have no problem when it comes to playing on Sundays.
The unexpected surprise of 2014. With Gilbert’s lack of success, K’waun Williams made the Browns as undrafted free agent and got significant playing time over the course of 2014. He impressed his coaches, and going into 2015 he’s going to be looked at as a key contributor in the nickel packages.
Williams has overcome a lot of doubters in his journey to the NFL, but by studying tape of New York Jets Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis, he’s applied what he’s learned, made it, and earned his spot with the Browns.
Aug 13, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Justin Gilbert (21) in a preseason NFL football game at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Even with the additions of Tramon Williams and the development of second year player Pierre Desir, I’m looking for a solid year out of K’waunWilliams. Playing in Nickel package situations might not net him a high total of tackles, but Williams has the skills, talent, and effort to make plays every week.
Justin Gilbert
This is the one that hurts. I want so badly to write something good here, to tell everyone that Gilbert’s going to make it, and that he’s going to have a turnaround year in 2015.
However, I can’t do that. The troubled former number eight overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft might be one of the biggest busts in Browns history.
After a very sub par 2014 season that saw Gilbert being beat by wide receiver after wide receiver, late round picks Pierre Desir and undrafted rookie K’Waun Williams eventually surpassed him on the depth chart. Now Tramon Williams was brought in over the offseason to start alongside Haden. Gilbert continues to slide down the depth chart.
The Browns players, Pettine, and Farmer expected more from him. Fans like myself saw the next coming of Minefield and Dixon with he and Haden in the secondary, but all we’ve seen so far is a bust. Browns beat writer Pat McManamon of ESPN.com wrote about the hope that maybe Gilbert had matured in the off-season after training and learning from Joe Haden.
It doesn’t appear that Gilbert learned much though. Friday night Gilbert crashed his Dodge Challenger in a road rage incident in Brunswick. It’s the latest incident in rash of incidents in Justin Gilbert’s short NFL career.
While the second year player has talent, he’s not going to make an impact with the 2015 Cleveland Browns or beyond unless he does mature and begin to put his NFL career first.
The Browns finally began the attempt to use Gilbert’s speed as a kick returner in the preseason this year. I’m looking for him to have an impact on the return game, but that might be it in 2015. That’s also assuming that Gilbert doesn’t find himself completely in Pettine’s dog house.
I can’t imagine the leash is long for Gilbert this season, because Pettine wants players to “Play like a Brown.” Gilbert’s lack of maturity on and off the field stands against everything that slogan should stand for.
All I can say is that I hope I’m wrong about Gilbert, and I hope everyone is. There’s a spot for him to make an impact on this team if he wants it, but that’s the question, does he want it?
Pierre Desir
Coming from a small school like Lindenwold, Pierre Desir was thought my many to be a project. A cornerback with size, but someone who would take some time to adjust to the speed of the NFL. However, it can be argued that Desir impressed more people with his skills last season than fellow draftee Justin Gilbert.
Desir worked hard in camps, worked hard during the season in practice, and by the end of the 2014 season he found himself in the starting lineup. Once inserted, Desir made an impact. So much so that the team’s expectations of Desir rose in the offseason.
He got time with the starting defense in camp, even though he’s not expected to start. That’s just the respect that he has earned with the coaches and the players. Kind of the opposite of Justin Gilbert.
While injuries slowed Desir in camp, he’ll get to play this season and there will be plenty of times for Desir to make an impact. His height and his speed will benefit him well, especially in goal line type situations.
He should be used to cover taller wideouts against lobbed passes to the corner of the end zones and will find plenty of time on the field relieving Haden and K’waun Williams. Of the entire group, he’s the guy I expect the most growth from this season.
The name sounds familiar, you think you remember seeing him play a little safety or maybe a little cornerback? Well, for Johnson Bademosi, he’s capable of doing a little bit of both. Pettine used Bademosi in multiple roles in the secondary last season, but his best role and the reason he keeps making the team is his prowess on special teams.
Bademosi is the gunner, the guy who usually goes all out to be the first guy to get after the kick or punt returner of the opposing team. Steve Tasker, a former special teams standout and current NFL on CBS analyst, told cleveland.com writer Tom Reed that Bademosi and the Patriots’ Matthew Slater are among the league’s best gunners.
"“I’ve seen a lot of the Browns’ games and (Bademosi) flashes well and plays well.”"
The article from Reed also talks about the friendship between Bademosi and former Browns special teams standout Josh Cribbs. That friendship helped Bademosi learn to do what it takes to make the team. He’s consistently among the team leaders in special teams tackles, and is third in the NFL since the start of his rookie year in 2012.
Bademosi won’t get a lot of time in the defensive backfield, but he’s a player who’s ready to contribute when he’s called upon. He’ll fill in at corner and safety at times, but you’re more likely to see his impact made on special teams, gunning down opposing returners and setting the defense up for success.
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