Desmond Bryant’s injury leads to changes for OLBs

The injury to Desmond Bryant has caused the Cleveland Browns to change the outside linebacker group before training camp even started.

The biggest blow to the Cleveland Browns season occurred before training camp started. The torn pectoral muscle of Desmond Bryant caused a seismic shift in the Browns’ outside linebacker room that will be felt for seasons down the line.

The Browns entered the 2016 training camp needing to see marked improvement from the outside linebacker position. Outside linebacker was such a great concern that the Browns spent the No. 32 overall pick in the draft on Emmanuel Ogbah, whom they planned to use at outside linebacker.

Ogbah fit the mold of the “new” outside linebacker. He was the model of “big guys that can run” that Ray Horton loves so much. At 275 pounds, Ogbah is big enough to hold the point of attack against the run.

When playing in the AFC North, it is not enough to have a smaller, quicker and faster Lawrence Taylor-type outside linebacker. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals have learned how to exploit the smaller faster outside linebackers by utilizing the power run.

The power run offense uses pulling linemen to trap smaller outside linebackers. Using the outside linebacker’s size against him, power run offenses are able to establish numbers at the point of attack. Not just numbers, but the offense has a definite size and strength advantage when a 300-pound offensive tackle or guard is kicking out a 240-pound outside linebacker. With a mismatch of this proportion, it is not surprising that the power run is returning with a vengeance in the AFC North.

To fight back against the trend, the Browns selected Ogbah for his size and speed. The plan was to use him at outside linebacker to slow down the likes of Le’Veon Bell and Jeremy Hill. But the best laid plans of mice and men don’t always come to fruition.

With the injury to Desmond Bryant, the Browns have opted to move Emmanuel Ogbah back to the defensive line where he played in college. For his part, Ogbah seems thrilled to make the move.

Moving Ogbah to defensive end places the already questionable outside linebacker room in a much more difficult position. Now Ogbah may spend the entire year playing defensive line instead of outside linebacker. Such a move would stunt his development as an outside linebacker. The 2017 season may be another learning curve for Ogbah who will still need to get comfortable dropping into coverage.

Removing Ogbah from the outside linebacker room reopens questions for the defense that the drafting of Ogbah was supposed to help address.

Setting the edge against the run is a major area that needs to improve for the Browns. Paul Kruger is a great pass rusher, but he has been a liability against the run for years. He gets sucked inside on the run only to have the play bounce outside of him. Offenses have learned to exploit his presence on the edge as a run defender.

More from Dawg Pound Daily

• How the Browns could maximize Nick Chubb in 2023
• Can Deshaun Watson get to Patrick Mahomes level for Cleveland Browns?
• 3 Cleveland Browns who should see an expanded role in 2023 and 1 who should not
• Is Marcus Davenport on the Browns radar in 2023?
• 5 Free agents from Super Bowl LVII Cleveland Browns should target

Barkevious Mingo has not been able to set the edge on the run either. Mingo’s main liability has been his size. He is smaller than the average outside linebacker. Related to his size or not, Mingo has also had a history of injuries. He uses the correct technique on the edge. However, he is too small to hold off opposing linemen against the run. Worse, he has been unable to rush the passer effectively over the past three years. The Browns have drafted three outside linebackers since taking Mingo as the No. 6 overall pick in 2013.

There is hope for the Browns in outside linebacker Nate Orchard. Orchard came on strong last season by effectively setting the edge against the run. He was able to stand up pulling linemen, effectively clogging the hole against the power run. He also came on strong against the pass in both coverage and in the pass rush. Orchard could be the surprise of the season for the Browns.

Along with Emmanuel Ogbah, the Browns drafted Joe Schobert. Schobert was effective against the pass in college both in coverage and rushing the passer. However, his major liability was his size. He was moderately effective in college at setting the edge against the run. His size often made him the victim of bigger stronger offensive linemen. There has been talk of moving Schobert to inside linebacker due to his size. Since Bryant has been hurt, Schobert has worked exclusively with the outside linebackers.

With Schobert at outside linebacker, the biggest windfall from the injury might fall to Scooby Wright. All of a sudden the inside linebacker room seems less crowded. If Wright has a good camp and can contribute on special teams, he could make the team as the backup weak inside linebacker.

The best thing that could happen to the Browns right now is for another team to waive a veteran 3-4 defensive end who has simply gotten too expensive. Such a move would be perfect for the Browns who could move Ogbah and Schobert to positions they both are better suited to play.

The best lineup, as of right now, for the Browns may be Orchard at the strong outside linebacker so he can set the edge against the run on the offense’s strength. Along with Orchard should be Paul Kruger at the weak outside linebacker position. This would put him in coverage less, giving him more opportunities to rush the passer.

Next: Should the Browns trade McCown in 2016?

A key injury in the right (or wrong, depending on perspective) position can wreak havoc on the entire defense. Desmond Bryant’s injury has had a ripple effect impacting the development of rookies Emmanuel Ogbah and Joe Schobert that may last well into the 2017 season.