Cleveland Browns: Defense answers questions against Steelers

Entering the season with a number of challenges carried over from last season, the Cleveland Browns defense provided some answers in their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Cleveland Browns defense came into the season with a number of challenges carried over from the previous year. Three of the big ones included solidifying the middle of the defensive line, stopping the run and rushing the passer. In their opening game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, their efforts to address them took center stage and the overall product was significantly better as a result.

Last season, Danny Shelton had a breakout year. The problem was that he had no help next to him at the 3-technique defensive tackle, so the results didn’t always make it seem that way. Desmond Bryant went out for the year and the Browns had no backup plan. Many criticized then defensive coordinator Ray Horton, but the front office really dropped the ball.

As a result, Jamie Meder was pressed into duty at a position he wasn’t really equipped to play. He was put at the three and even occasionally at the 5-tech, which just hung him out to dry, asking him to do things his body doesn’t do well such as moving laterally and just having the length to avoid having being reached.

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This season, the Browns brought in a ton of defensive tackle help and the difference is obvious. At the 3-tech, they brought in Trevon Coley, drafted Larry Ogunjobi and Caleb Brantley and then recently added T.Y. McGill. Ogunjobi has largely been used at nose, but is utilized as a short yardage plugger next to Shelton.

The new look Browns defensive interior under Gregg Williams was not only stout, but often re-established the line of scrimmage in the backfield. The Steelers often praised offensive line could not create any space for Le’Veon Bell to run.

Bell is perhaps the most patient running back in the NFL. He is able to wait until he finds the hole, then exploit it, creating a ton of yardage. Because of how strong the Browns were up front against the run, they used Bell’s patience against him. The Browns pushed the offensive line into the backfield, so rather than finding holes to run the ball, Bell found himself trapped, making it easier for them to track him down and make the tackle.

Yes, Bell missed all of training camp and the preseason due to a holdout. Yes, it’s Week 1 and teams make the biggest jump from Week 1 to Week 2. Yes, the Steelers can basically put the ball in Ben Roethlisberger’s hands every play and be an effective offense.

Nevertheless, when the game was over, the Browns gave up just 35 rushing yards on 17 carries. Bell had a 15-yard run that ultimately proved to break the back of the defense and seal the victory for the Steelers, which isn’t good, but that was almost half of their yards in the game. That’s encouraging and really set their defense up for the whole game.

CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 10: Briean Boddy-Calhoun #20 of the Cleveland Browns tackles Le’Veon Bell #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

As improved as the defensive line and particularly defensive tackle was against the run, the pass rush was just as impotent as last year. And considering the fact that the Steelers were in so many obvious passing situations, worse. Out of 37 drop backs by Roethlisberger, he was pressured just twice.

Some of this was due to the Steelers employing a quick passing game where Roethlisberger got the ball out of his hands almost immediately. But that’s not what beat the Browns. It was the long drop backs where Roethlisberger was able to sit back, as he’s done his entire career against the Browns, and comfortably pick apart the secondary that killed them.

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The tipped pass that went 50 yards to Antonio Brown was one of these. The last pass of the game to Brown that the Hue Jackson challenged was another one. Those were the plays that ultimately beat the Browns.

The biggest change the Browns made to improve their pass rush was missing from the game. Myles Garrett, the team’s No. 1 overall pick, being sidelined with a high ankle sprain was noticeable, as it was no doubt going to be. He was the one player that the opponent cannot simply single block. Garrett would’ve provided a decisive advantage against Alejandro Villanueva, who had the most trouble Sunday anyway, and tilted the matchup to the Browns.

Without Garrett for what could be a few more games, the Browns have to find ways to win one on one matchups on pass plays to put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. If that doesn’t happen, they put themselves at risk for giving up those big plays in the passing game and the resulting points off of them.

As bad as the pass rush was against the Steelers, the Browns defense only surrendered 14 points. They forced the Steelers to punt the ball seven times and caused an interception out of 10 total possessions. No one can reasonably suggest that the defense was the reason that the Browns lost the game, but there are weaknesses that need to be addressed and improvements that need to be made.

Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Defense shakes up early picks

There’s no question that the additions made to the roster and the improvement of players carried over from the previous year have made the Cleveland Browns have a much better defense. And in Week 1, it was an impressive change particularly on the defensive front against the run. The goal is for that to continue but to also be able to rush the passer. That is what will make this defense threatening on every single down and allow them to really make a name for themselves.

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