Should the Browns shuffle off to the 46 defense?

By Don Delco
NoLogoNeeded.com staff writer

The Pittsburgh Steelers. The Baltimore Ravens.

What comes to mind when you think of those franchises? OK, let me rephrase that. What comes to mind when you think of these franchises in the company of your God-fearing grandmother?

Defense. To be more specific: A nasty, in your face, smash-mouth defense that dominates and demoralizes opposing offenses. That, for sure, is something that would be embraced in northeast Ohio.

Yet, the Browns have never been known for their defense. Sure, there was a brief period in the mid-to-late 80s where the Browns defense was impressive and it led to the berth of the franchise’s affiliation with “dawgs” that remains today – like it or leave it.

But that was it. Of the 42 players who have been honored as Cleveland Browns Legends, 11 are on the defensive side of the ball. At the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Len Ford (DE) is the only one of the 16 enshrined Browns players who played defense.

Perhaps that’s why new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan gained some attention last week with his talk of bringing a form of the 46 defense to Cleveland.

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Ryan’s dad, Buddy Ryan, made that defense famous with the 1985 Chicago Bears who won Super Bowl XX with a 46-10 defeat of the New England Patriots. The ’85 Bears are known as one of the best teams of all time thanks, mostly, to its stifling defense.

That season, the Bears ranked first in points allowed, yards allowed, first downs allowed, interceptions, first against the rush and first in takeaways. Chicago allowed 12.4 points per game and shutout both NFC playoff teams en route to the Super Bowl.

Rob Ryan mentioned the 46 defense in his press conference last week. He addressed if the 46 would be used as a base defense in Cleveland. (Thanks to Barry McBride of the Orange and Brown Blogs for providing the transcript.)

“Really, the 46 was designed as a nickel defense,” Rob Ryan said. “It wasn’t really the base of my father either. It just started stopping everything so it became a base. We definitely run some 46 defense. Eric (Mangini) is a huge fan of the 46. That’s something he has always said, ‘Hey, let’s get this in, let’s go’ In fact, in New England, we worked together a lot and he was so smart.  You would be tired after working two-a-days and you are ready to go to bed, and he would be like, ‘No, put those tapes on for an hour and let’s watch it.’  He is the one who eventually got it into New England and we had so much success with it there. It’s something that is definitely going to be a part of this package.”

The 46 defense was named after the jersey number of Bears starting strong safety Doug Plank who was known as a hard-hitting player.

Buddy Ryan’s philosophy was to put an intense pressure on the offense. In order to do so, he called upon four linemen, three linebackers, two cornerbacks and two safeties.

Enter the strong safety. While the defense line and linebackers account for seven “in the box” or near the line of scrimmage, the strong safety enters that box bringing the total to eight.

The defensive line shifts to the weak side, or away from where the tight end lines up. The two defensive tackles and one defensive end cover both offensive guards and the center. The right defensive end, or rush end, lines up outside the tackle and is ready for a one-on-one battle.

The two outside linebackers are that in name only. They lineup on the strong side, or the side the tight end lines up. Now the strong side linebacker is renamed the Jack linebacker. Confused yet? The linebackers line up a few yards off the line of scrimmage.

Finally, the two cornerbacks are left on the edge and play man-to-man coverage.

When the ball is snapped, five to eight players are attacking to get to either the quarterback or stuff a running play.

Few teams run this style of defense today because, well, not many teams have Mike Singletary, Richard Dent, Dan Hampton, Wilber Marshall and Plank on their defense. Also, the short-passing game made famous by San Francisco 49ers coach Bill Walsh, also known as the West Coast Offense, is a great counter to a high-pressure, high-blitzing defense. The West Coast Offense uses short, timed throws to areas that are left wide open by the 46 defense.

Not having the personnel for a true 46 defense and the modern NFL are two reasons why Rob Ryan will not exclusively use that this season. Remember, the Browns have a base 3-4 defense – for good or bad.

If clichés had a top 10 ranking, “defense wins championships” would certainly be among the contenders for the top stop. Yet since 1999, the Browns have been searching for someone to help on that side of the ball to simply win games. Championships? They haven’t thought that far ahead.

Former head coaches, Butch Davis and Romeo Crennel, were defensive coordinators before becoming a head coach. It hasn’t stopped with their current head coach. Mangini was a defensive coordinator for a year in New England.

Will the search for an excellent defense end with Buddy’s boy?

It all depends on personnel.

Defensive tackle Shaun Rogers made the Pro Bowl last season. That’s a good start. From there, well, Ryan sees promise in the two cornerbacks in Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright.

“I like our corners here with Cleveland,” Ryan said. “In Oakland (man-to-man coverage) was our style of play. It was how the team was drafted, to play with a middle-field safety. Our team is built a little different way, but I still have good confidence in those guys. I’ve been really impressed in Eric Wright and the way that he has worked and his talent.”

Former first round draft pick, Kamerion Wimbley, has been a disappointment after a strong rookie season. There is still hope according to Ryan.

“I think the young man has great ability to rush the passer,” he said. “With the numbers, again numbers say a lot of things and a lot of times they don’t paint the right picture. I think the guy has great talent. He is a hard worker and he does what the coaches ask him to do. We’ve asked him to concentrate on pushing the pocket and using more bull rush and speed rushing. Hell, the guy does it everyday. You see him working on the things you tell him and I believe he is only going to get better with great coaching. I think that is what he has in Bryan Cox and Matt Eberflus, the two guys that are working with him, who are two of the top coaches in football. I really think he is going to have a tremendous year for us.”

One concern about running an effective 46 defense is the free safety. Currently, the Browns starting free safety is Brodney Pool.

“I think with Brodney, free safety in our scheme is a very difficult position to play,” Ryan said. “I think he has done a good job; he made several plays in the OTAs. I was impressed with him.”

Ryan saved his biggest praise for linebacker D’Qwell Jackson. Linebackers have been the Browns’ biggest weakness.

 “I think the sky is the limit for that young man’s future,” Ryan said. “I think he is outstanding. We haven’t had any pads on, but I have seen enough film, and I’m not studying the scheme that was on the tape, but I watched that young man run around, run to the football and lead the league in tackles. A blind man could see his talent.”

A blind man could also see in order to compete in the AFC North that defense needs to be a big priority. Once again it seems like the pieces are in place and the steps are being taken to make defense a priority.

Let’s hope that’s not blind faith.

  June 24, 2009 at 4:33 PM

Comments

Did he really say that they have asked Kamerion Wimbley to use more speed rush? As opposed to what??? His amazing swim and spin moves? All he does is speed rush. I look forward to another season of watching Wimbley run directly up field getting pushed by the pocket off the viewing panel of my TV.

  June 24, 2009 at 1:57 PM by Hegs

is that a NY Jets logo on his pants in the photo? turrible!!

  June 24, 2009 at 11:56 AM by rswells

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