Leading us to one conclusion
By STEVE KING
What does the Browns defense need — what must it add — to be much more of a contributing piece to get the team where it wants to go next season?
Uh, how much time — and space — do we have?
This is the worldwide web, so we, in theory, have unlimited space. But this is also Browns Daily Dose, where we have only about 300 or so words. As such, we need to be brief and paint with a broad brush.
We’re not going to tell you here that the Browns need help along the line, especially in finding someone at the end opposite Myles Garrett who will get after the quarterback and command the attention of opposing offensive coordinators? That’s obvious, and it’s what you’ve read and heard countless times already.
We’re also not going to tell you that the Browns need all kinds of help at linebacker, where there is a dearth of talent that might be one of the biggest in team history. That’s also obvious, and it’s what you’ve read and heard countless times already.
And lastly, we’re not going to tell you that there are all kinds of holes in the secondary. That’s obvious as well, and it’s what you’ve read and heard countless times already.
Indeed, on too many occasions this season, there were scrambling quarterbacks and pass receivers running scott-free. The guys on defense played hard, but there just needs to be better guys.
What we are going to tell you, though, is that in addition to all those needs, the defense must have, too, before 2021 starts, a leader, someone who has the respect of the 10 other players on the field and will merntally, emotionally and physically left them through the important times, especially on third- and sometimes even fourth-down situations and late in the game overall. When a defense excels during those situations and moments, it helps the team overall immensely. You’re not going to stop offenses ,much in this day and age. The best you can do is try to slow them down, and the Browns rarely did that.
There is no one like that on the defense now. It’s not Garrett, for he is just too quiet to be a veteran vocal leader. He can do so with his great play, but not otherwise, and that’s what all these young players around him need.
All great — and even just good — defenses, the latter of which is almost certainly the ceiling for the Browns right now, have someone in that role. I don’t know what the analytics say about that — it is probably hard to quantify statistically — but it’s an intangible well worth pursuing in the offseason.
