4 Reasons Cleveland Browns have regressed in 2021
By Greg Newland
Cleveland Browns regression: Reason No. 3 – Lack of aggression
A big disappointment this year is the lack of aggression I have seen out of Joe Woods. All I heard about this offseason was how he finally had his roster, and you were going to see big things out of this defense.
Don’t get me wrong, the defense has been great at times, but they still struggle to get off the field on third down. Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney are one of the best pass-rushing duos in the league, but far too often, Woods just assumes he can get pressure with four guys.
I don’t care how good you are, if you have a tight end on one side and a running back on the other, it’s not that difficult to give a quarterback some time when the defense rushes four. The most success the defense has had is when they are aggressive and blitz.
Troy Hill has blitzed three times this year (exaggeration), and he has two sacks. JOK has shown with his freak athleticism he is the perfect guy to bring after the quarterback. Not only does he close quickly, but he is also great at breaking down and not missing the tackle.
Yet Woods continues to sit in soft coverage and give up easy completions. You have Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome at cornerback who has both been fantastic. Let them get in the face of some guys and force some difficult throws.
This defensive roster is loaded, and it’s far too talented to be at 7-7 no matter how bad the offense is. I fully expect Kevin Stefanski to make a coaching change this offseason with the continued struggles.