3 areas the Cleveland Browns Defense needs to improve in 2021

3. Shore up the tackling

One of the most basic fundamentals of the game of football is tackling. And while it seems like an easy task, so many players and teams struggle with the concept.

Guys like Andrew Sendejo and Karl Joseph last season just tried to lay what I call the hit stick on every single tackle. They don’t focus on using their arms and wrapping up, but just use their shoulders and try to make a monster hit.

That style works in pee-wee football, but in the NFL, you must wrap up. An NFL running back our receiver is just going to bounce of shoulder tackles 50 percent of the time and lead to big plays. Woods needs to teach keeping the head up and wrapping the arms.  It’s not about being flashy but getting the guy to the ground.

The Browns also have linebackers like Mack Wilson and Sione Takitaki who don’t always trust their keys and just use their eyes. On misdirection or cutback plays, they can get moving too quickly the wrong way and then be out of position to make the tackle and opens a huge hole.

For Wood’s 4-2-5 scheme to be effective, gap discipline along with tackling will be extremely important. If the Browns continue to be poor tacklers, I’m not sure how much better they’ll be next season.