Cleveland Browns fate rests on shoulders of Joe Woods

The Cleveland Browns have all 11 offensive starters returning so we know what to expect there, but the defense lies in the hands of Joe Woods, who now has the tools to succeed 

There’s been plenty of discussion about the wild change and insane continuity for the Cleveland Browns this offseason. On offense, they have all 11 starters coming back, which is quite a feat.

As for the defensive side of the ball, it should look like a whole new unit with eight projected new starters in the lineup. That formula has plenty of people predicting success since the offense was so good in 2020 and the defensive additions this year have been well received — and on paper, it looks as though they could be a force.

However, the game isn’t played on paper and we have all seen draft picks and free-agent additions fail all over the league, and especially in Cleveland. That means all eyes will be on defensive coordinator Joe Woods, who has the task of getting everyone on that defense on the same page.

That’s something that’s easier said than done, especially on defense where communication and trust are so important. And with so many new faces, the Browns are going to have to work quickly to get everyone on the same page.

Cleveland Browns defensive additions

Joe Woods has discussed the importance of getting the players working together and has also expressed excitement about the additions which include safety John Johnson III, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, cornerback Greg Newsom, and more.

Such excitement makes sense considering how depleted his unit was time and again in 2020 but now, he has reserves such as Takk McKinley who would have been starters on this team last year.

There are also players like Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah who might not be a starter as a rookie but has the talent to be a star down the road.

Joe Woods on the hot seat

After the struggles last season on defense, Joe Woods was a man on the hot seat. It seemed as though head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry never wavered in their faith but the court of public opinion was harsh on the Browns coordinator.

A lot of that was unfair due to the lack of talent coupled with the insane amount of injuries. However, that doesn’t mean he’s completely off the hook. He’s still the one who orchestrated things and the defense was a mess — which means all eyes will be on him in 2021.

On top of that, the entire fate of the Browns season rests on the shoulders of Woods. If he gets the defenders playing to their strengths, this is going to be a huge season.

If they’re not ready, he could really feel the heat.