Cleveland Browns: Comparing the 2007 10-6 team to the 2018 team

CLEVELAND - SEPTEMBER 14: Jamal Lewis #31 of the Cleveland Browns tries to out run the tackle of Larry Foote #50 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth quarter on September 14, 2008 at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Pittsburgh won the game 10-6. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND - SEPTEMBER 14: Jamal Lewis #31 of the Cleveland Browns tries to out run the tackle of Larry Foote #50 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth quarter on September 14, 2008 at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Pittsburgh won the game 10-6. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Defensive Line

This one was easy. The 2007 Browns defensive line wasn’t that talented. The defensive line featured Shaun Smith, Robaire Smith, Orpheus Roye, Louis Leonard, Bobby Hamilton, Simon Fraser, David McMillan, Ethan Kelly, and Ted Washington.

Washington was the only one of the group to ever make a Pro Bowl or the All-Pro list, but he only played five games with the Browns. He started one game and only got five tackles through his time in Cleveland.

Kelly played in thirteen games and started six of them with the Browns. He got a sack and 15 tackles in those thirteen games.

Roye appeared in thirteen games and started six of them also. He tallied half a sack and 24 tackles.

Robaire Smith was the only 16 game starter that season, only getting four sacks and 42 tackles. Shaun Smith started 11 games, getting two sacks and 48 tackles. On paper, the group was less than impressive.

The 2018 Browns defensive line is arguably a weak spot on the team right now. However, it still has some serious talent. The unit is headlined by former first overall pick Myles Garrett. Fellow defensive linemen Trevon Coley, Chad Thomas, Carl Nassib, Emmanuel Ogbah, Jamie Meder, Caleb Brantley, Chris Smith, Nate Orchard, and Larry Ogunjobi.

Garrett only played in 11 games last year, starting nine, but showed real promise as he made seven sacks and 19 tackles. One of those seven sacks happened to be his first career play. Coley started 15 games last year, racking up two sacks and 24 tackles. Thomas was this year’s third-round pick for the Browns, coming off a promising career playing defensive end for the Miami Hurricanes.

Nassib got 12 starts last season, racking up three sacks and 19 tackles. Ogbah started ten games last season, with six passes defended, four sacks, and 18 tackles. The rest of the guys have been good backups throughout their career. It is unlikely that the Browns run into the season with all of these defensive linemen on the roster, so expect one or two to be cut.

Advantage:

2018 Cleveland Browns