Browns 2020-21 season review and offseason to-do list: Edge Rushers
February 23, 2021NFL Draft: What about the Browns linebackers?
February 26, 2021The Cleveland Browns had their best season in several decades, finishing the regular season 11-5 and making the playoffs as a wild card team. Cleveland beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card but fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional round. It was an unbelievable first season for Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski and General Manager Andrew Berry. So, what went well and what needs to change this offseason? Over the next several weeks, I will take a look at each position, taking a look at their performance this season and then seeing what they need to do this offseason. As we move over to the defensive side of the ball, we now take a look at the linebacker unit.
Season Recap
The Browns linebacker unit has been a problem for Cleveland for several seasons and last year was more of the same. They added a handful of linebackers this past season, including signing B.J. Goodson and Malcolm Smith and drafting Jacob Phillips. It was a revolving door of linebackers who took the field for the Browns and tried their hand at manning the middle of the defense. Much of the defenders who took the field at linebacker did not play well.
Goodson led the team in tackles this season with 91 and tied for the lead in interceptions with two, while also notching four tackles for loss, half a sack, and six passes defended in 14 regular-season games. He was the most productive linebacker and probably the most balanced in terms of playing the pass and run. He was solid. No more, no less. He made some plays for the defense but then gave up some plays. He is a player who I would be comfortable bringing back, but not as a starter like he was this season.
Smith was the team’s best coverage linebacker but offered little support as a run defender. In 15 regular-season games, he was second on the team in tackles with 72, while also posting four tackles for loss, one sack, two passes defended, one forced fumble, and an interception. At this point in his career, he is a player who is now relegated to a situational role. His coverage is valuable and something I would be interested in bringing back in that type of role.
Sione Takitaki was pretty much the opposite of Smith. He excelled as a run defender but struggled in coverage. In 15 regular-season games, he had 67 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, one pass defended, one interception, and one defensive touchdown. He is a situational defender, like Smith, who can be relied on to defend the run. That will be his role going forward.
Mack Wilson struggled in every aspect of the game. In 13 regular-season games, he had 39 tackles, one tackle for loss, and two passes defended. He was the king of almost plays and the biggest reason he could not finish the play was his bad tackling. He did not make the jump from his rookie season and because of that poor play this season, his status on the team is very much in jeopardy.
Phillips played like a rookie with ups and downs. In nine regular-season games, he had 25 tackles, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. He showed spurts of strong play, but overall he struggled to get a footing in the NFL. He is definitely someone the team will look to develop and see what they have in the young linebacker.
This group was just not good enough. They have no real complete linebacker who they can trust on a regular basis. They have a couple of situational linebackers who can fit roles, but they lack any playmakers or real versatility within the ranks. Speed, quickness, and tackling are missing here. An upgrade is needed.
Top Performer
B.J. Goodson
Goodson was the closest linebacker to a consistent and reliable linebacker the team had on the roster. He was solid and, in this unit, that was the best it could offer. Goodson was the most productive linebacker and made the biggest plays of all the linebackers. He was one of the only ones who could play a complete game against the pass and run game. Goodson was a solid contributor at a position with little of that.
Position Grade: D
Offseason To-Do List
1. Upgrade the secondary to lessen the stress and importance of this unit
Cleveland defensive coordinator Joe Woods wants to run a defense that limits the use of linebackers, meaning the use of only one or two linebackers on the field at a time. He wants to play with five defensive backs as his base defense with six defensive backs being utilized, too. But, this season, the injuries in the secondary, especially at safety, caused the Browns to use more linebackers than Woods wants to do going forward. So, the Browns need to upgrade the secondary and add depth in the secondary. The safety unit is especially important because this is the unit that will be taking the job of the linebacker. Cleveland wants versatility and speed to be littered throughout the roster.
2. Find a versatile starting linebacker
The Browns still need to find a starting linebacker with the versatility to play on all downs. Goodson was solid in this role, but this is his first year in this type of role and he really is not great in coverage. Cleveland needs an upgrade, particularly someone who covers and moves well. Free agency may not be the way to go because the Browns won’t pay top dollar for a linebacker. Lavonte David will likely not be in the cards due to price, but guys like Matt Milano or Jayon Brown may be closer to a more comfortable price for Cleveland, though that could be pushing it. The draft is another option for the Browns to go after this player, but I would not address this position with a Day 1 or early Day 2 pick. And, the last option would be through a trade, which could be an intriguing option. Nonetheless, the Browns need a better starting linebacker.
3. Re-sign B.J. Goodson as a backup linebacker
Goodson is a solid linebacker and he was the most productive linebacker for the Browns this past season. I would like him back but in a more limited role than what he was forced into this past year. So, I would like to re-sign him to a very team-friendly deal for a couple of million dollars. He would be a valuable linebacker in this type of role given his strong tackling.
4. Upgrade the defensive line to ease the work of the linebackers
One of the other ways to improve the linebacker unit is by upgrading the guys in front of them. The Browns need to upgrade the defensive line so that the linebackers have less traffic to fight through and contend with to make plays. The Bucs are a great example of this. They have a strong defensive line that helps take the load off the linebackers, freeing them up to make plays. A good defensive line is the best friend of the men behind them and that includes the linebacker unit.