The 2016 Cleveland Browns defense was, to be quite frank, a joke. While the San Francisco 49ers still managed to be worse, the Browns were close behind. At 31st in the league in opponent points per game, Cleveland’s was absolutely miserable on that side of the ball. Now more than ever, it is clear that the Browns must do something about this. There are multiple ways to repair an ailing defense, and the Browns need a lot of help. While this particular fix might not be quick or necessarily easy, it must happen. In 2017, the Cleveland Browns need to fix their defense, and this is how they should do it.
Fixing the Defense of the Cleveland Browns
Drafting Right
Because of the plethora of defensive talent in this draft, the Browns have a lot of choices at number 12. Of course, they do have the first overall pick. However, as of right now, the Browns selecting Myles Garrett is basically a guarantee. The Texas A&M product is a force of nature put inside the body of a defensive end, and the Browns will not regret picking him first.
On the other hand, the 12th pick is much more of a toss-up for the Browns. While they could go for a quarterback, it makes much more sense of select another defensive player. Sure-fire players like Malik Hooker and Jamal Adams might have a team to call home by that time. Nevertheless, the Browns might want to look into them if they somehow fall to the 12 spot.
The best options for the Browns here are likely Alabama’s Reuben Foster or LSU’s Tre’Davious White. Reuben comes from a nearly NFL-level Crimson Tide defense, and White has been a shut-down corner while working with Jamal Adams. After signing Jamie Collins to a four-year deal in the off-season, it is imperative that the Browns find some help for him. Though Collins is a defensive force to be reckoned with, he cannot do it alone. If Foster or White are still on the board at 12, this one is a no-brainer for the Browns.
Free Agency
Throughout the off-season, the Cleveland Browns will need to hit on a couple of veteran free agents to help their defense. Re-signing Jamie Collins was a great start, but Cleveland will need a lot more help than just one player. First of all, the Browns have to work on retaining their current free agents.
At the time of writing, the Browns have already let go of cornerback Tramon Williams. Now, of course, they still have Joe Haden, but Williams was a nice complementary piece. Additionally, the Browns need to work on the contract of Jordan Poyer. While Poyer has not been tremendous during his time in Cleveland, he could still be a valuable asset in the future.
Though this area is not as big as the draft, it should still matter greatly to the Browns. Sure, Cleveland might not have the most talent in the league, but they simply cannot let another Tashaun Gipson walk. They have the most cap space in the National Football League by a country mile. Coach Jackson, it is time to start using all that money.
Coaching
Hiring Gregg Williams as Cleveland’s defensive coordinator was a great start. His aggressive 4-3 scheme works great with the front seven of the Browns, and he knows what he is doing. While Danny Shelton continues to develop, Williams will work with him to get him to his peak. He can coach up a defense and make it much better than it actually is. Having his players behind him is a strong suit for Williams, and he seems to have made both fans and players hopeful.
If there is one coach in the NFL that can resurrect Cleveland’s defense, it might just be Gregg Williams. As he begins his work for the Cleveland Browns next season, fans have every reason to hold their hopes high. Williams just might be the man to bring the Browns defense back to the Dawg Pound days of old.
Conclusion
Fixing a Browns defense this inept is going to be a lofty job. Although Gregg Williams and Jamie Collins is a great start, there a still a lot of unfilled holes in Cleveland. But drafting right, hitting on free agents, and proper coaching are all going to be a great help. If the Browns can manage to do all of these things, they might be able to go back to the good old days. The Cleveland Browns just might return to the Dawg Pound days of old, and that is something that their rebuild definitely needs.
