When it comes to the Browns, there is one position that nobody is talking about that really needs to be addressed. That is a good tackling inside linebacker.
Why do I say this?
When we look at the Browns defense this year, there are few things that stand out. One is the inability to stop the run. The Browns still remain dead last in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game.
The second is their inability to tackle. How many times on Sunday do we watch guys try and make arm tackles and whiff that end up turning a three yard gain into a ten yard gain. Finally is the poor play of the secondary, but injuries have played a big part in that losing two Pro Bowl players for most of the season so far.
I think that most of these problems could start to solve with the emergence of a young tackling insider linebacker. This becomes even more important when running a 3-4.
When you have a 3-4, you only have three guys on the line facing off with five offensive lineman. The responsibility of those three guys is to take up blockers and free up the linebackers to make plays. The Browns have spent a lot of energy into improving their defensive line this offseason.
They made Danny Shelton a first round pick, took Xavier Cooper in the third, signed Randy Starks from Miami, and extended John Hughes to go along with the Bryants.
Dave
October 29, 2015 at 3:15 pm
That honestly was the best and on point browns article ive read in years. Our linebackers are terrible all cover guys nobody thats going to smack u in the mouth and for sure no sure tacklers and im not talking about 20 yards down the field everyone else in the division gets it ravens draft cj mosley soon as ray lewis retired Pittsburgh draft shazier bengals have burfict all young aggressive lbs we overpay dudes past their primes maybe someone in berea reads this and takes a long hard look at Alabamas Reggie Ragland or Jaylon Smith but like you said it the browns they will find a way to disappoint us once again. Smh
Avaunté
October 30, 2015 at 9:52 am
Great article… I have been saying the same for three years ever since lavonte david was drafted. I thought kirksey would be but he has missed a lot of tackles or taken bad angles. What do you think of Darren Lee from Ohio State? He is a sure tackler and is faster than shazier. Maybe undersized but jus what Browns need.
Seth Neale
October 30, 2015 at 11:20 am
Brandon Urasek
October 30, 2015 at 12:06 pm
Thank you everyone.
Avaunte-I wouldnt go as far as to say Lee is a sure tackler. He definitely is a big hitter though. He is undersized and would need to fill in at OLB if we drafted him, most likely on the weak side. He likely will be a late 1st to 2nd round pick so he may not be there and what complicates things the most is that the Browns drafted Orchard to be that same kind of guy last year. I think he only comes into consideration if the Browns move on from Kruger or Mingo.