It doesn’t matter who the Cleveland Browns’ defensive coordinator is in 2023 if other changes aren’t made

Rumors abound that former Cleveland Browns player Jim Leonhard could be the team’s next defensive coordinator.

The Cleveland Browns will likely fire Joe Woods in the offseason, despite the Browns currently being the 16th-best team in the league for fewest yards and the team ranking at 13th for the best opposition QBR for the year (89.1). They’re also among the least penalized (12th) and are third in the league for the fewest minutes on the field.

Everyone they share these stats with is among the elite in the NFL. We’re talking Washington, Baltimore, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and other “elite defenses”. Over the last three weeks, they’re averaging just 14 points per game on defense, third-best in the league.

Are the Browns a good defense? No, but we keep ignoring the gobs of injuries the team has had to deal with, the poor play from guys like Jadeveon Clowney and Denzel Ward, and the bad drafting of Andrew Berry that has put his team behind the eight-ball.

I don’t think Woods is Buddy Ryan or Monte Kiffin, but he’s not the issue. The lack of talent is. Yet, despite that, Woods will likely be fired and the current rumor to replace him is Jim Leonhard. Leonhard spent the last six years with Wisconsin in some form or fashion, and has ties to the Browns, having played for them in 2014.

Now, Benjamin Albright is saying he could be in the running. Is this a guess or does he know something that is informing his statement? Who knows.

What I do know, and what we should all know, is that it doesn’t matter who the defensive coordinator is next season, the defense needs overhauling.

The Cleveland Browns’ defense lacks the talent to be great

Blame Joe Woods all you want, but ask yourself this what has changed under Woods, that wasn’t an issue with Steve Wilks or Gregg Williams? The Browns since 2014, really, have needed defensive tackles, linebackers, and safeties.

What do we need in 2023? Defensive tackles, linebackers, and safeties.

Until the team can identify talent at those three positions and actually bring in multi-tiered impact players that can be good at more than just one thing, this defense will continue to suffer. It doesn’t matter who the coordinator on defense is, the team will have issues.

Jim Leonhard seems like a promising coaching prospect, and it’d be interesting to see what he could do at a pro level after going 4-3 at Wisconsin and getting them to a Bowl Game, but anyone who thinks just changing out coordinators will fix the talent issues is fooling themselves.

I’m fine with a coaching change, just as long as the whole scheme and talent pool get overhauled as well.