Cleveland Browns: A rebuilt offensive line in 2016
By Joel W. Cade
Eventually, the Browns added a Power run element to their offense. As this element became more prominent the lateral zone scheme almost completely faded away. And along the way an important piece of information was discovered: the Browns offensive line was not constructed to execute a Power run scheme.
The Browns offensive line excelled under Kyle Shanahan’s zone offense in 2014. The zone offense requires smaller and quicker offensive linemen. The linemen must be able to execute their read step without allowing defenders to penetrate the line of scrimmage. In short, the offensive line must roughly take two steps to the defenses one.
When running the power run scheme last season, the Browns were unable to move the play side defensive linemen backward or even laterally with a double team combination of Greco/Erving and Schwartz.
The Browns offensive line was able to run this offense effectively. The perfect example of an offensive lineman for this scheme is Alex Mack. He is quick, smart, agile and fast for an offensive lineman. Other Browns offensive lineman who fit the mold are Joel Bitonio (drafted to run this scheme), Joe Thomas, John Greco and Mitchell Schwartz. At the end of the 2014 season Kyle Shanahan left the Cleveland Browns taking his zone run offense with him.
Enter John DeFilippo as the new Browns offensive coordinator. By the end of the 2015 football season, DeFilippo was able to implement a Power run scheme to compliment the vertical passing game. However, like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole, the offensive line could not make the Power run scheme work.
Each offensive line position in a Power run scheme is required to possess a unique skill set. As most teams are “right handed” meaning they run the ball to the right side of the formation as a tendency, I will examine each position as if it were a right handed team.
The left and right tackle must possess a different skill set for this scheme to work. The left tackle must be quick and agile enough to block the opposing teams best pass rusher. Joe Thomas defines this position in the NFL. The right tackle must be able to do block down (angle block) effectively moving defenders at the point of attack. Mitchell Schwartz struggled to be effective in this regard. Even when he had an advantageous angle, it was difficult for him to generate movement.
Mitchell Schwartz was drafted to play in a West Coast passing system that emphasized speed runs. Letting Schwartz leave was a recognition by the Browns that a “road-grader” is needed at that position. Unfortunately, Schwartz is not that. Expect him to excel in Kansas City where his skill set matches what they do offensively.
The left and right guard must also possess different skill sets. The left guard must be quick, agile and strong enough to pull and kick out defender. Joel Bitonio is ideal for this role. He is quick off the ball and powerful enough to create movement when pulling. The right guard must be a big, strong and be able to overpower defensive lineman creating movement off the ball. This position is a “road-grader” in the offense. This is not something John Greco or Cameron Erving (more on him later) showed they could do last season. However, Austin Pasztor did a good job in this respect. Expect Pasztor to compete for a starting right guard or right tackle position this season.
The center must be able to block back and fill the space vacated by the pulling guard. All centers, regardless of scheme must be smart and athletic. It is flat-out hard to call the protection or run blocking schemes for each play at the line of scrimmage, snap the ball and then block a bigger and stronger defender. Alex Mack is a fantastic center. The Browns will miss him. Yet, however great he was at setting calls at the line and snapping the ball, in a Power run scheme, Alex Mack did not excel at being the “road-grader” this scheme needs.
Mack was reunited with Kyle Shanahan and his zone blocking scheme in Atlanta. Expect Mack to excel in an offense which fits his skill set. Letting Alex Mack leave simply means they recognized the need for an athletic, smart, “road-grader” at center. And they may already have one on the roster.
When running the Power run scheme last season, the Browns were unable to move the play side defensive linemen backward or even laterally with a double team combination of Greco/Erving and Schwartz. Without that movement, the Power run scheme will not work. Alex Mack was good at cutting off backside defensive linemen but he was not spectacular or good enough to deserve the type of contract Atlanta gave him.
As has been pointed out ad nauseam, the Browns let Mack and Schwartz leave via free agency. However, the good news is that this loss is not the equivalent an offensive line apocalypse. Alex Mack was too old and cost too much for the value they would have received in the Power run scheme. Mitchell Schwartz fits a West Coast passing scheme but not a Power run scheme as its compliment. Letting them leave will result in a compensatory draft picks, which was something the Browns could live with given the potential production versus cost of keeping them.
Next: The rebuilt offensive line