Find out why and how the Cleveland Browns overhauled one of the league’s best offensive lines.
The offensive line was supposed to be the strength of the Cleveland Browns heading into the 2015 season. Unfortunately, it did not turn out that way. There are two main reasons for this. First, the Browns tried to combine a zone running scheme with a vertical passing game. Second, once the Browns finally changed to a Power run scheme, the players did not fit the scheme.
Now the Browns are moving forward with Hue Jackson and his West Coast/Power run scheme. Under Jackson, there will be an emphasis upon the QB delivering the ball quickly and accurately to play makers. In the run game, there will be an emphasis upon double teams combined with pulling linemen in order to create a numerical advantage at the point of attack. This scheme will fit both Browns running backs perfectly. But can the current Browns offensive line make Hue Jackson’s system work?
The answer to this question is no. An offensive line with Joe Thomas, Joel Bitonio, Alex Mack, John Greco and Mitchell Schwartz would not make a Power run scheme work. In order to explain why, we must examine what went wrong last year and what that means for this season.
Next: What went wrong in 2015
Last season the Browns were Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on offense. New hire John DeFilippo brought a vertical passing game complemented by a Power run scheme to the Browns. However, instead of implementing DeFilippo’s Power run scheme, Mike Pettine and Ray Farmer insisted on keeping the zone run scheme from the year before. Thus DeFilippo had the impossible task of combining a zone run concept with a vertical passing approach. Why is this impossible?
Alex Gibbs, the creator of the zone based offense, states, “As I put in the system [initially], I realized it does not work as a piece or part of an offense. It is a different concept. If you come in with that idea, you are going to get into trouble.” The Browns did not heed this advice and went full ahead with the zone run aspect of this offense with a vertical base passing attack. Like Gibbs predicted, the Browns got into trouble.
A zone based offense attacks the defense laterally. It pressures the defense by making them defend every square inch of the field from sideline to sideline.
In the run game, the zone based offense is designed to take advantage defensive pursuit. The point is to use that pursuit against the defense. Thus, at the snap the line will take a read step to allow the defense to begin their attack. After seeing the defense’s hand, the offense then executes its play based on what the defense is doing. In this system running backs have the freedom to choose where to cross the line of scrimmage based on defined reads after the snap. When working well, this offense is much like watching a beautiful dance of 11 people working in unison.
The zone based passing game feeds directly off the running game. For Gibbs, “One of the big problems of the wide zone play is the chaser from the backside. The easiest way to control the chaser is to run the quarterback on keeper plays out of the backside”. This basic strategy of controlling the backside chaser has manifested in two ways in the NFL. First, teams control the backside chaser with the read option. If the backside OLB chases, then the QB keeps the ball and runs. Second, the backside OLB is controlled by play-action rollout bootlegs and naked bootlegs. A backside chasing OLB leaves the QB completely free on a roll out bootleg pass. The read option and bootleg passes control the backside chaser by using his pursuit against him.
As where a zone offense attacks the defense laterally using its own NFL style of jujitsu, the vertical passing game aggressively attacks the defense.
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The vertical passing scheme was originally the brainchild of Sid Gillman whose coaching tree includes, among an overly impressive list, Al Davis. Davis took the vertically based scheme with him to Oakland developing it further. The vertical passing scheme employs deep and intermediate route combinations in order to make the defense defend every square inch of the field from the line of scrimmage to the length of the longest route.
For example, a streak or go route will force the defense expand vertically. By expanding vertically, the intermediate routes to short routes become harder to cover. By attacking a two leveled defense (linebackers and defensive backs) with three levels of receiver routes, the offense exploits the defenses inability to be everywhere at once.
However, the issue is one of compliment. Does a zone run scheme compliment a vertical passing scheme? The zone run scheme requires smaller more athletic linemen to be successful. The vertical passing scheme requires bigger and stronger linemen to hold their blocks longer for deeper routes to develop.
The insistence on keeping the zone run scheme put the Browns offensive line in an unfavorable position. It was asked to be smaller and quicker on one play, then become bigger and stronger the next. As where the Browns offensive line was successful under Kyle Shanahan’s zone offense, it was not successful with the vertical passing game.
Worse yet, the Janus-like nature of the offense made the Browns predictable on the basis of formation. Certain formations were employed only for zone concepts. Other formations were used strictly for vertical passing concepts. This further hurt the Browns offensive line play.
Next: Why let Mack and Schwartz leave?
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
Now that we answered the question of why the Browns needed to overhaul their offensive line, the question turns to how exactly did the Browns overhaul their offensive line in preparation for the 2016 season?
After letting Alex Mack leave, the only viable option at center is Cameron Erving. While it is true that Erving struggled at guard last season, it should be remembered that he was not drafted to play guard nor had he ever played it before. Guard and center are very different positions requiring a different skill set. The footwork is much different. If there is one area in which Erving struggled with at right guard, it was not so much strength as it was footwork.
A move back to center will help his career greatly. Erving is strong, agile and excelled in run blocking as a center. Erving played in a pro-style Power run offense at Florida State. He will now be put in a position where he excelled in college. In addition, he played at one of the best offensive line producing schools in the country. His college offensive line coach, Rick Trickett, literally wrote the book on offensive line play. Erving was an excellent pick in the 2015 draft. He is about as pro-ready as a center can be for the NFL. Expect him to excel this season after moving back to center. However, just in case, the Browns brought in Mike Matthews for insurance.
Right tackle was addressed by drafting Shon Coleman. The position of right tackle is primarily a run blocker. If one were to look up the qualities of an NFL right tackle, Shon Coleman would be it. He is big, long, strong, and excellent run blocker with a mean streak. He has room to improve in pass protection. But as a prototypical right tackle, Shon Coleman is just what the Browns ordered. He will be able to double team down with the guard and blow open holes. Coleman, if healthy, should start at right tackle day one.
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Others have been playing right tackle at OTAs. Spencer Drango has taken reps there; but, he is better suited for right guard (see below). With Coleman injured the real intrigued surrounds Alvin Bailey, Austin Pasztor, and Michael Bowie. The concern over Bowie is injuries. He has been injured the past two seasons. And he did not flash in his limited action. Austin Pasztor is an option for right guard. His play stabilized that position last season. This leaves Alvin Bailey. Joe Thomas recently mentioned Bailey as doing well in that role. Although he does admit it is early, Bailey is an excellent fit for the power-run scheme. His liabilities in pass protection and zone run blocking will be minimized in Hue Jackson’s offense.
It will be interesting to see how right tackle plays out. Regardless, the Power run scheme is better served with healthy Coleman, Bailey, Pasztor, Drango, or Bowie. The makeover at right tackle puts the Browns in position to move people off the ball at the point of attack. The pass blocking deficiencies of this group will be masked in a quick strike West Coast passing scheme.
Right guard is still a position that needs solidified. John Greco was a great fit in the zone blocking scheme. Although he is a little big for the scheme, he showed excellent quickness to gain the first step. This allowed him to stay on the field. However, he was exposed in the Power run scheme. Greco is not a “road-grader”. He is a more patient and quick blocker using hand placement and angles for success than an aggressive attacking power blocker. He is a great fit in a zone scheme. But he is not what Power run scheme needs.
However, the drafting of Spencer Drango goes a long way in addressing the need. Drango is a left tackle out of Baylor that is best suited for the right side of the offensive line. He is big, strong and an excellent run blocker who gets movement at the point of attack. However, his arms are short and has limited athleticism. His skill set screams right guard. His strengths as a run blocker can be used effectively at right guard and his weaknesses in pass protection can be hidden there as well. All in all, Drango is a project that could develop into a starter at right tackle or could make an impact at right guard. The fact that the Browns already have him working at right guard is a good sign.
The Browns effectively overhauled three of five members of an offensive line that could not make a Power run scheme work. Alex Mack is replaced by Cameron Erving who has a lot to prove and is returning to the position for which he was a first round draft pick. Shon Coleman was drafted to play right tackle. His skill set is perfect for a right tackle in a Power Run scheme. Alvin Bailey fits the right tackle mold as well. Spencer Drango was drafted as a left tackle whose skill set is typical of a right guard in the Power run scheme. Expect Austin Pasztor to challenge at right guard as well. John Greco may retain the position; but, as a nine-year veteran at age 31, he is not a long-term solution.
Next: Running backs are the Browns new focus
Quietly, the Browns have put the pieces in place to overhaul their offensive line from zone run to a Power run scheme in one offseason. Now it is up to the players to make it happen. If they can, the Browns will have an effective Power run scheme to compliment Jackson’s West Coast passing game.