Cleveland Browns defensive end Za’Darius Smith can fix these three things.
The Cleveland Browns made a big swing with the trade for Za’Darius Smith. Smith, who is coming off of a Pro Bowl season, will start opposite Myles Garrett on a reworked defensive line. It’s a defensive line that will include Smith’s former teammate, Dalvin Tomlinson. The duo is expected to raise the profile of the unit and help All-Pro Garrett find more success. Not only that, but the Browns got a young rookie defensive tackle in Siaki Ika, who the team intends on using early and often.
And who the fanbase hopes starts from day one. The defensive line moves prior to Smith were just lateral moves. They may be better, they may be worse but all you could say is that the guys acquired were different from the players the team had before.
Smith is not some fly-by-night type of player. He’s a genuine Pro Bowler. Now injuries and age slow guys down, and yes, there exists a possibility that Smith doesn’t bring his Minnesota form to Cleveland. I don’t think that’s very likely. He’s a skilled player who uses his intelligence and pass-rushing moves to do a lot of damage, so he shouldn’t fall off. At least not now.
He should be around the same caliber player in 2023 that he was in 2022. And if he is, the Browns are going to be a force up front, unlike at any point prior. At least during Garrett’s time here.
So what does his arrival do to the Cleveland Browns’ defense in 2023? A whole load of things
Za’Darius Smith should free up Myles Garrett
One of the more used talked about things in Cleveland from year to year is why Myles Garrett isn’t being a bigger impact player against opposing defenses, despite his advanced stats claiming he’s unstoppable. The excuse has been “he’s double-teamed more than anyone”, and that’s not really a lie. There might be a guy or two more double-teamed, but I understand the argument.
That’s an argument that no longer exists, as Za’Darius Smith’s arrival now makes it very clear what’s expected from Garrett; total domination and nothing less. Smith is about as elite as it gets as a pass-rusher as a 30-year-old in the NFL. He’s hard to stop, versatile, and can play with his hand down or up in a two-point stance.
He’s going to be a force for every team in the NFL assuming he’s healthy and fit. If he is, then there is no excuse for Garrett to not have 20+ sacks, a few picks, 50+ tackles, and a Defensive Player of the Year award.
On the plus side, Smith has a chance to get back to the Pro Bowl and raise his value in the 2024 offseason, where he’s more than likely going to leave Cleveland for a huge payday, regardless of the team’s record.
Za’Darius Smith is a solid edge-stopper against the run
The Cleveland Browns got the most out of former player Jadevoen Clowney. Clowney, a historical disappointment against the pass, was always a better run-stopper. He wasn’t just one of the better run-stoppers the Browns had in his time with the team, but historically, he was arguably the best run-stopping defensive end in the NFL for some time.
He wrecked running backs with relative ease, and that was what the Browns were hoping to get out of him, that and maybe 10+ sacks, but that was always a pipedream. That’s not a pipedream with Za’Darius Smith. While Smith isn’t the same caliber of run-stopper that Clowney was, he’s still better than anyone the Browns have (yes, including Myles Garrett), and he’s better than anyone available. While there may have been a rookie who would’ve been better at the job, that’s always a crapshoot, as you never know what a rookie’s ceiling and floor are.
We know with Smith, we know he’s capable of being an elite-level player regardless of what’s asked of him. He’s better, historically, against the pass, but in the right schemes, he’s been an All-Pro caliber run-defender and the hope is that he returns to that type of form under Jim Schwartz’s new wide-9 scheme.
Za’Darius Smith will allow the secondary to play above their talents
There are two ways to build a top-flight defense against the pass; either stack the secondary with All-Pros so talented that you give your front four all the time in the world needed to get a sack or build the defensive line with so many great pass-rushers, that the quarterback has no time to test the secondary.
The Browns have chosen the latter. While the team has some solid, if not flawed corners, the team’s safeties are where the biggest problems lie. Right now the team has an average safety-free agent signing in Juan Thornhill, who basically put up the same stats and PFF grades as John Johnson III. They also have Grant Delpit, the underperforming 2nd round pick from 2020, and Rodney McLean, a mid-30-year-old backup.
Legion of Boom they are not.
The Browns are developing a front-four who excel at pass rushing. The thought is, if the Browns’ front four can wreak enough havoc, then their secondary won’t be tested nearly as much. Opposing quarterbacks will throw more junk than intended and the defense will be able to get key stops.
As always, there exists a possibility that they aren’t the pass-rush demons that Jim Schwartz is hoping they become, but assuming everything goes according to plan, the Browns’ front four may make their secondary look better than they actually are.