Cleveland Browns: Will the Joe Haden of Old Return in 2016?

Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden is facing the biggest season, to date, of his National Football League career.

The career of Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden changed in December 2013.

Up until that point, the perception had by analysts, followers of the National Football League and Cleveland fans was that Haden was a shutdown CB. Haden earned that reputation by routinely hanging with and stopping some of the best wide receivers in the league. Haden was a bright spot on rosters that lost way more than they won, and the hope was that Haden would one day serve as a cornerstone of a defense capable of carrying the Browns to a playoff spot.

Then came that memorable December day.

Passionate fans of the Browns can probably close their eyes and envision the play. The Browns possessed a 28-25 lead over the Jacksonville Jaguars late in the game when Haden lined up opposite of Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts. Shorts got Haden to bite on a move as Jacksonville quarterback Chad Henne lofted a pass toward the open target.

It is maybe the easiest touchdown of Shorts’ NFL career, not to mention a touchdown that won Jacksonville the game.

Unlike Haden, neither Shorts nor Henne have been named to Pro Bowl squads. While even great players have down moments from time to time, a player of Haden’s caliber shouldn’t be beaten by a combination of Shorts of Henne with any game on the line.

Haden was reduced to tears while speaking with reporters after the disappointing loss.

Any hopes that play was a one-off were dashed early on during the 2014 regular season after Haden was responsible for a handful of disappointing performances. Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com provided examples of respected football analysts claiming Haden was no longer as good as advertised. Jamyson Frierson of Factory of Sadness also wondered if Haden was overrated.

In Haden’s defense, he did well to rally back from that slow start and finish the campaign with decent stats. Any aura of invincibility hovering over Haden vanished, however, and opposing QBs such as Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco and others happily tested and beat Haden again and again.

Perhaps the worst instance of this occurred last December in the 2015 regular season opener involving the Browns and the New York Jets. Haden looked like he didn’t belong on the same field as New York WR Brandon Marshall, and the only reason Marshall didn’t finish the contest with 15 receptions, three touchdowns and 150 receiving yards was that QB Ryan Fitzpatrick had some compassion for Haden.

Darryl Slater of NJ.com explained:

"Marshall was targeted five times while Haden defended him, according to PFF. Marshall caught all five passes, for 56 yards and a touchdown.Haden stood no chance against Marshall in one-on-one coverage, and that was plainly evident on a couple occasions. During a third quarter field goal drive that resulted in a 24-10 lead for the Jets, Marshall cut and beat Haden to the outside for an 18-yard catch on third-and-7, despite Haden pulling Marshall’s jersey.On the previous Jets drive, they went up 21-10 after Marshall’s touchdown catch, on third-and-goal from the 1."

Haden’s 2015 went downhill from there. He played in only four more regular season games because of injury woes, and he was finally shut down for good in December due to concussion-related issues. Haden ended the year without an interception for only the second time of his six-year career.

So what happened to Haden?

Nothing about Haden’s overall play or his attributes over the past two seasons leaps off of All-22 tape. Haden lacks the pace needed to keep up with the likes of Antonio Brown. Fellow defensive backs Richard Sherman and Patrick Peterson are lengthier and thus are able to go up and make stops that Haden cannot make against taller WRs. The athleticism and physicality of Odell Beckham Jr. makes for a nightmare match-up, on paper, for Haden when the Browns host the New York Giants later this year.

In short: Haden being fully recovered from the physical setbacks that sidelined him last year may not be enough for him to reclaim his Pro Bowl form.