Don’t blame Joe Woods for the Cleveland Browns defense collapsing

The Cleveland Browns have not acquired talented safeties since Andrew Berry came in.

The Cleveland Browns blew their second late lead in as many weeks against the New York Jets, this time resulting in a monumental loss. The same thing nearly happened last week against the Carolina Panthers, in which the defense yet again collapsed to close the game.

The calls are mighty and loud for the termination of Joe Woods, many of whom are blaming him for the downfall of the defense. Yet, anyone who’s been paying attention, especially to this site over the offseason, should have known that the Browns have terrible safeties.

This isn’t a matter of opinion, but fact. Andrew Berry has allowed this defense to exist as is because he believes his drafted prospects are all Gold Star-worthy talents. That’s not the case, and guys like Grant Delpit have proven that time and time again.

No, the fault isn’t on Woods or his defense, but on Berry for not providing actual talent for him to work with.

The Cleveland Browns are not that talented of a team and that’s on Andrew Berry

Andrew Berry’s refusal to move on from prospects who aren’t working simply because he drafted them is the sole reason this season is going to get away from them. Yes, some of his draft picks have turned out, and some haven’t. There’s no reason to fire the guy because about half of your picks flop.

That’s pretty normal. But the refusal to look at Anthony Schwartz, Demetric Felton, or Grant Delpit and go “yup, they need to go so we can get some actual talent in here” is exactly the issue. That’s the only reason the Browns didn’t go and improve their secondary in the offseason, Berry thought the talent he had was superior to what he could get.

Same reason why he only went and got Amari Cooper. He thought his guys were good enough.

Berry’s hubris is holding this team back, and the talent proves just that. Apparently, Baskins and Phelps reported that the Browns use a simple hand gesture to communicate coverages to each other. It isn’t working, so why not? Well, when you have a simple hand-gesture-based defense, and you have guys still blowing coverages, that’s not on the coaches, that’s on the players.

The players are the problem, which means Andrew Berry is the problem.

Sadly, Woods will likely be sacrificed by Berry as a means to keep his job, which is sad but predictable. Why expect Berry to start making smart decisions now?