Terry Pluto's Talkin' ... about Browns' linebacking needs, the need for Cavaliers patience and why the Tribe can't rely on retreads
Published: Saturday, June 25, 2011, 11:58 PM
Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The NFL lockout continues, the NBA's lockout continues, but the sports talk never stops.
About the Browns...
1. At least in public, the Browns insist they aren't worried about linebackers as they switch to the 4-3 defense. They talk about Chris Gocong, Scott Fujita and D'Qwell Jackson as the starters, and how they should be respectable. That's hard to believe, especially as Jackson played six games in 2009 and none last season. He has had two pectoral injuries, and it's not wise to assume he can stay healthy for a full season.
2. Fujita is a very effective outside linebacker, but he missed five games in 2009 and seven in 2010 because of knee injuries. He's athletic enough to play in the 3-4 or 4-3. The Browns must keep him healthy.
3. The one durable linebacker is Gocong, who has missed only one game in the last four seasons. He was on the field for 987 snaps, the only Browns defenders to play more were T.J. Ward (1,079), Abe Elam (1,071) and Matt Roth (1,041). He probably will be the middle linebacker, although the Browns have also talked about playing Jackson in the middle -- they believe Gocong can handle any of the three linebacker spots.
4. Because the Browns were in a 3-4 defense last season, evaluating Gocong means comparing him to all other 3-4 inside linebackers. According to profootballfocus.com, he was the 10th best inside linebacker. Their complicated system rated Lawrence Timmons (Steelers), Patrick Willis (49ers) and Bart Scott (Jets) as the top three.
5. Among all linebackers in any system, Gocong rated No. 11 in "quarterback pressures." Those are not sacks or even quarterback hits, but the quarterback was forced to make a quicker throw or run out of the pocket. Gocong rushed 152 times, and 11 percent of the time, it resulted in a quarterback pressure. Because he had only two sacks, it's easy to dismiss Gocong as a pass rusher -- but these stats say otherwise.
6. The real problem facing new defensive coordinator Dick Jauron is that so many of linebackers are OK for the 3-4 system, but not the 4-3. That defense requires more speed from the outside linebackers. So effective 3-4 linebackers such as Matt Roth, David Bowens and Eric Barton don't fit. All are free agents and not expected to return. Nordonia's Jason Trusnik returns, but he is considered mostly a backup and special teams player.
7. Roth is a very effective player, especially against the run -- ranking No. 5 in all linebackers, according to profootballfocus. He also led the Browns with 40 quarterback pressures. Next were Marcus Benard and Gocong with 16, so that shows how Roth made an impact. He could play defensive end in a 4-3, but Roth wants to stay in a 3-4 defense -- and also wants to play for a winner.
8. Benard is under consideration as a pass-rushing defensive end. The reason the Browns switched from the 3-4 to the 4-3 is partly because GM Tom Heckert and his staff believe it's easier to find players -- especially linemen -- for the 4-3. Adding draft picks Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard to join Ahtyba Rubin helps the line. Benard also should fit as a pass rusher. But they didn't draft a linebacker. No doubt, Heckert will add a linebacker once free agency and trading resumes. Heckert did turn Alex Hall into Sheldon Brown and Gocong in a deal with the Eagles last year. But he has a lot of work to do in this area.
http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index.ssf/2011/06/terry_plutos_talkin_about_brow_13.html
