Cleveland Browns: Steve Wilks underrated as a defensive coordinator
By Joel W. Cade
The Cleveland Browns made a good coaching hire this offseason. Surprisingly, we are not talking about Freddie Kitchens but defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
The Cleveland Browns defense has carried this team for the last three weeks. The defense basically won the Monday night game against the New York Jets.
But the talk so far this season has been the poor play of the offense. That talk is deserved. Yet, all the focus on the offense has overlooked the tremendous play of the defense this season.
Browns defensive coordinator Steve Wilks is underrated. His head coaching tenure with the Arizona Cardinals was awful. But he got that job by putting together a great defense for the Carolina Panthers. Now he is putting together a good defense for the Browns.
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Today’s game against the Baltimore Ravens is a perfect example of Wilks’ work. The Ravens opened the day with a great offense led by quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Ravens, who had played the Miami Dolphins, Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs this season, were one of the NFL’s leading offenses. Jackson was being hailed as one of the future stars of the league (and may still be).
But their offense, like the Los Angeles Rams’ and New York Jets’ before them, struggled to score points. The Ravens ground game was working for them but not like it normally does. Jackson still broke off a big run, but not as many or as long as they have been. The Browns limited the big play which let the offense find its rhythm.
What is most impressive about the Browns defensive performances is that for two games it was done with most of the secondary out. Both Greedy Williams and Denzel Ward have missed the last two games. Safety Demarious Randall returned today but the other starting safety, Morgan Burnett, has not played for the last two games either.
Browns made Jackson look 'overrated as hell'. dark. Next
To produce a good defense is one thing. To produce a good defense with the second-string secondary is amazing. Steve Wilks has done an amazing job. He deserves more credit for the job he has done.