The loss of Mychal Kendricks for the Cleveland Browns is frustrating and an opportunity lost, but really just puts the focus where it should’ve been all along — getting Jamie Collins to play at a high level.
The release of Mychal Kendricks proves once again that, just when you think you’ve seen everything that could happen with the Cleveland Browns, someone’s always cooking up a way to surprise you. Kendricks has been charged with insider trading and released a statement admitting it, forcing the Browns to release him. It’s not a normal situation for the NFL, but there’s a possibility that Kendricks could face serious jail time.
Weird as that is, and it’s incredibly weird, the loss of Kendricks isn’t the end of the world. He’s a very good role player that can attack forward to play the run and blitz at a pretty high level. His ability in coverage is pretty limited. Realistically, Kendricks is the type of player that can be very good with talent around him, but can’t be a focal point of the defense.
As an example, when Kendricks played on the second team defense, he went from making plays to being pretty ordinary. He should be no higher than the ninth-best player on the defense before he’s going to become exploitable.
The loss of Kendricks is a blow to the team’s depth, however. Last year, when the Browns lost Jamie Collins to injury, they had to roll with then undrafted rookie James Burgess, which was wildly inconsistent as one might expect. In the event of an injury to any starting linebacker, Kendricks would step in and the adjustment could be made to have a pretty strong unit.
The depth of the linebacker group is still solid with Burgess coming on in year two, as well as likely keeping a player like B.J. Bello or Justin Currie, both of whom have shown they can help the Browns particularly on special teams.
The biggest change that Kendricks makes is how it now puts the focus on Jamie Collins, which should’ve been where it’s been all along. Whether it was the Browns, media, fans or some combination therein, they’ve been living a lie that the Browns could have Kendricks as a full time starter with Collins being expendable.
First, moving Collins is more trouble than it’s worth because of his contract. The calculation the Browns would be making is that Collins is so bad, such a problem, that they are willing to eat a ton of cash just to get rid of him. Possible, but shortsighted when considering that the Jamie Collins contract becomes disposable next season. In other words, keeping Collins for the year has always been the most logical approach.
Beyond that, Gregg Williams made it a point to recruit Collins to re-sign in Cleveland after he was acquired from the New England Patriots in a trade. Part of the evaluation of Williams as a defensive coordinator should be what he’s done with Collins. He can try to make the argument that Collins is just awful and it was a bad signing, but the fact is that Williams utilized him poorly, almost backward.
Collins has been at his best in coverage and blitzing the A gap. Williams employed him as an extra edge player, which is something he’s struggled at despite actually playing defensive end in college at Southern Miss. Thus far in preseason, the addition of Genard Avery has allowed Collins to be used more appropriately and while Collins isn’t playing elite linebacker, he is better. And the biggest area where he’s showing well is in pass coverage.
Last year, Collins and Chris Kirksey posted career lows in terms of efficiency covering the pass. Maybe they just bad years, but this seems to be more on Gregg Williams than anyone. This year, with the additions of Damarious Randall and four new corners, the linebackers should have less ground to cover and be able to play at a higher level.
Jamie Collins really should be a barometer for how Williams is in terms of effectiveness as a defensive coordinator. For a player he recruited and got for a substantial contract, Williams should be tasked with getting the best out of Collins. That should be a huge part of his job if he plans to keep it beyond this year. With Kendricks gone, they can’t even entertain the notion that Collins won’t be playing SAM this year, so it has to work. Collins should be one of the best linebackers in the NFL or damn near close it. He’s not old, he’s not debilitated. Make it work.