A look at the Browns secondary shake up

The Cleveland Browns made several moves this off-season to upgrade a number of positions and add veteran depth on both sides of the football. It’s no secret that during Sashi Brown’s short-lived tenure in Cleveland, his analytical based philosophy called for the majority of his football team to be young and athletic, and with that came a great deal of inexperience. John Dorsey’s philosophy thus far has proved itself to rival Brown’s. The former Chiefs general manager has taken on a similar situation in Cleveland, as he did just a handful of years ago in Kansas City. Just like in Kansas City, Dorsey has used his resources (which were provided by Sashi) to upgrade the roster, and upgrade the roster fast.

Looking back to 2014 when the Browns had a remarkable 7-4 start, there were a few glaring points that stuck out that led them to be successful. They even receive a quick whiff of what it felt like to be atop of the AFC North. Brian Hoyer being serviceable behind an outstanding offensive line served as a primary reason, but defensively is where the Browns turned some heads. The secondary was one of those reasons they found themselves to be so successful.

Cleveland coined the term the “Lockdown on the Lake” because of the Browns outstanding pass defense, which featured three Pro-Bowl caliber players that season. The orange and brown were led by shutdown cornerback Joe Haden, former flared out eighth overall pick Justin Gilbert (who actually showed flashes that season), satisfactory nickel cornerback K’Waun Williams, hitting machine strong safety Donte Whitner, and ball-hawking center fielder Tashaun Gipson.

The Browns ranked eighth overall in passing yards allowed per game in 2014, only allowing 3,592 yards collectively. They gathered 21 interceptions, and only allowed 22 touchdowns. Gipson placed second in the NFL in interceptions with six, despite only playing eleven games and ending the season on injured reserve.

Since that outstanding year in 2014, the Browns as a whole and in the secondary have only regressed. Yes, part of the reason was Haden suffering multiple injuries, Gilbert being the worst bust in team history, Whitner climbing in age, and Gipson leaving for Jacksonville, but the secondary hasn’t shown many signs of life since. Cleveland ranked 22nd in passing yards allowed in 2015, 21st in 2016, and climbed back into the top 20 to 17 last season.

The fresh new look secondary showed signs of improvement last season for a few different reasons. Jason McCourty played outstanding as the number one cornerback for the first half of the season, Jamar Taylor was average from game to game, Derrick Kindred was healthy in year two, and Jabrill Peppers seemed to improve weekly when he wasn’t lined up in Toledo or Pittsburgh. Injuries played a major part as to why the secondary deteriorated as the season went on, but Dorsey received a first-hand look at a few much-needed upgrades.

The first move of the offseason in the secondary shakeup was trading for former Packers first-round pick Damarious Randall. Dorsey then worked to sign former Buffalo Bills cornerback E.J. Gaines, former Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Terrance Mitchell, and former Oakland Raiders defensive back T. J. Carrie. Aside from Carrie who signed a four-year deal, Gaines (one year deal) and Mitchell (three years with a potential out in 2019) are both signed relatively short term. The secondary will look much different this year than last.

As well as the four additions to the defensive backfield, the Browns also made some moves removing players, as well. Jason McCourty was traded seconds before he was released to the New England Patriots, to play with his brother Devin McCourty. The team has also made veteran Jamar Taylor available for trade, but have not found a deal they quite like thus far.

With the number of moves the Browns have made to their secondary, it’s quite apparent that it will look much different this season. In addition to Taylor, Peppers, and Kindred, Briean Boddy-Calhoun; Justin Currie, Mike Jordan, Terrance Mitchell, Kai Nacua, Reggie Porter, Denzel Rice, C.J. & Derron Smith, Corey White, and Howard Wilson all remain on the roster. There are only 53 available spots on the active roster, and Cleveland has 17 defensive backs currently residing on the offseason 90 man roster. The Browns only had 10 defensive backs on their roster last season, so clearly, a few cuts will be made.

My best guess at this point in time is the four new guys, along with Boddy-Calhoun, Jordan, Kindred, Peppers, and maybe Mitchell or Wilson will make the team in late August. I’m also expecting the Browns to draft at least another cornerback within their first five picks and invest in a free safety later on in the draft. This, of course, means Taylor, Currie, Nacua, Porter, Rice, Smith, Smith, and White will all be traded or likely cut.

Now it’s time to take a look what it will actually look like on game day. The combination with the roster at this point would feature Gaines as the number one cornerback with Boddy-Calhoun starting opposite of him. The addition of Randall, who will play free safety, allows Peppers to move back into the box where he plays most comfortably. NFL teams value playing three cornerbacks on the field in sub packages and last year in Oakland, Carrie held down that slot cornerback three role and played well.

Gaines played tremendous last season in Buffalo at right side cornerback for the Bills, posting an 86.2 coverage grade in his 59.2% coverage snaps, leading a Bills secondary that placed 15th last season in passing yards allowed. His overall grade was 86.6 overall which clarifies as a “high quality” starter, according to Pro Football Focus. Boddy-Calhoun will likely remain at left side cornerback, where he ended last season. He only played 55% of his snaps there against the Chargers and the Steelers in Week 17 but played well overall on the outside. The third-year cornerback out of Minnesota had a marvelous start to the 2017 season at the slot cornerback, but struggled considerably against both the Vikings and Lions. His pass coverage grade were -2.0 and -1.6 respectively in those games, which constitutes as poor by PFF.

The newly signed defensive back Carrie, wore many hats in Raider nation playing all over the secondary. Due to injuries, he saw time at the left side, right side, and slot cornerback while in Oakland. The majority of his time was spent in the slot as the third cornerback in sub-packages for the first eleven games of the season. He had fluctuating grades throughout the season in the slot, with four “good” performances, three “bad” performances, and three “average” performances in pass coverage.

The two outliers that will be wildcards are Jordan and Wilson. Jordan played primarily outside last season, while McCourty, Taylor, and Boddy-Calhoun battled injuries. He was average the entire season but seemed serviceable at times. Wilson, on the other hand, was drafted in the fourth round out of Houston but did not see time last year after spending time on the PUP after suffering a knee injury in spring practice. Wilson showed pleasant coverage skills while at Houston but will have to adjust to the NFL’s learning curve while coming back from injury.

The former free safety Randall, out of Arizona State was drafted in the first round by the Packers and will be playing in Cleveland where he feels most satisfied in that “center field” role. He played all of his snaps at cornerback last season but will transition back to where he found success in college at the top of the secondary. Coming into the 2015 draft, Randall was perceived as the best safety in his class by many. He was selected first-team All-Pac-12 in 2014 for his outstanding tackling ability which was highlighted by 106 tackles gathered that same year.

The player that will benefit the most from all of the defensive back additions will be Jabrill Peppers. The former athlete from the University of Michigan often found himself out of position playing at times 20 yards off the ball at free safety. This simply didn’t fit his style of play, especially as most of his success in college came inside the box at strong safety. Kindred’s lack of versatility at free safety, forced the athletic Peppers to have to adjust to a new role well off the line of scrimmage.

Peppers played the majority of the season at free safety, as opposed to lining up closer to the line of scrimmage. Adding Randall will allow Peppers to play that hybrid linebacker/safety role that he played sound in college. We received a glimpse of what it looks like with Peppers back in the box towards the end of the season, due to Kindred battling injuries. He looked far more successful in this role that provided him with familiarity from his days in maze and gold.

There are a few guys that could change the Browns plans at this point in time in the secondary in regards to the NFL draft if Cleveland decided to pursue an upgrade at the position. Most notably is Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward, who Dorsey praised earlier this offseason. Ward is in the conversation at four but would be more likely drafted by Cleveland if they decided to trade back a few spots in the first ten or so picks. Ward would immediately step in as the number one cornerback, shifting Gaines to play opposite aside him. Carrie and Boddy-Calhoun would spend time rotating at the third cornerback position, as both players are familiar with coming on and off the field.

Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick (who Dorsey also spoke highly of) would offer an exciting addition to an already versatile Cleveland secondary. Aside from playing at his best at strong safety and in the slot at Alabama, Fitzpatrick can truly play all over the field on defense. I’d love to see the packages Gregg Williams could create when using both Peppers and Fitzpatrick. He has not caught much attention lately but could sneak his way into Cleveland at the fourth overall pick.

If the Browns moved back from four or up from 33, a few names that Dorsey could look to draft are Iowa’s Josh Jackson and Louisville’s Jaire Alexander. Both players have the potential to develop into a solid number one cornerback later on in their career, but would be better suited early in 2018 as number two cornerbacks as they ease into their rookie seasons. UCF’s Mike Hughes and Colorado’s Isaiah Oliver are two guys that Cleveland could snag at 33 or 35 and become solid number two cornerbacks.

What makes Cleveland’s secondary special this year (especially at cornerback) is each player outside of Gaines, is highly versatile. Boddy-Calhoun, Carrie, and even Mitchell all can play on the outside and in the slot. Mitchell will find time for himself in and out of the rotation, at all cornerback positions aside from playing special teams.

The Browns will certainly look to continue to improve to try and get back to where they were in 2014. I personally think drafting a guy the caliber of Denzel Ward or Minkah Fitzpatrick offers a tremendous upgrade. Either way, the Browns would look to rebound from a rough ending in 2017.