Joe Woods – Page 9 – Syndication Server

Joe Woods’ bye week adjustments helped the Browns defense look better

The weather helped, but the Browns made some smart schematic adjustments too

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The Cleveland Browns defense forced one punt in the two football games before their bye week. To say that they had issues getting off the field would be a vast understatement.

The defense really has had trouble getting off the field on third down much of the year but their ability to create take-a-ways early in the season helped to cover up some of their deficiencies. Turnovers are fantastic, the thing about turnovers though is that they aren’t sustainable.

The Browns defense has had trouble communicating in their new scheme, brought over by defensive coordinator Joe Woods. It also became very evident that they were having trouble creating pressure with just their front four, excluding Myles Garrett pressures. With time for plays to develop, teams have easily found open receivers in the Browns zone defense.

However, with a bye week to scout themselves and another week to prepare for the Houston Texans and the explosive Deshaun Watson, they looked like something had finally clicked. The Browns only allowed one play of over 15 yards in the first three quarters of the game.

When the Texans did put together a 14-play drive on their second possession of the game, the Browns defense and Myles Garrett came up huge with a 4th down stop inside their own 5-yard line, forcing a turnover on downs.

The Browns were able to get pressure on Watson and did so smartly. Often, defenses will rush upfield leaving running lanes open for Watson to run through. The Browns stayed disciplined, keeping Watson in the pocket by staying in their rush lanes and forcing hurried throws and incompletions.

The Browns did mix in some different personnel groupings. Sheldrick Redwine played more than he has in prior weeks. With Redwine often playing the single high safety position when he was in, Woods deployed three safeties with Andrew Sendejo and Rodney Harrison playing closer the line of scrimmage.

Woods has talked about using three safeties since the preseason but went away from it when the Browns lost rookie Grant Delpit to his season-ending injury.

There is no doubt the weather played a helpful role in the Browns’ best defensive performance to date. However, both teams had to contend with the high winds and rain. The Browns defense did what was needed to help them move to 6-3 on the season and showed signs of improving as a unit.

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Browns defense blitzing far less but getting far more QB pressure

The Browns are blitzing 15% less than in 2019 but are getting nearly 25% more pressures per dropback

One of the hallmarks of the Browns defense over the last few seasons has been a heavy reliance on the blitz. Different coordinators and coaching staffs, different personnel united in Cleveland to blitz at a significantly higher-than-average blitz rate.

Not anymore. The Browns are blitzing much less than they have in recent years. And the results? The QB pressure rate is way up.

The good folks at NFL NextGen Stats tracked the QB pressure rate and the blitz rate for the Browns over the last four seasons (2017 through Week 5). Their finding shows just how much better the Browns pass rush is in 2020 despite new coordinator Joe Woods dialing up 15 percent fewer blitzes. That’s the biggest dropoff in blitz percentage in the NFL from 2019 to 2020. Yet the pressure is up, and way up from the blitz-heavy scheme deployed by former DC Gregg Williams.

Having DE Myles Garrett playing at an MVP-level certainly helps skew the numbers for 2020, and it’s still a limited sample size of just five games. Garrett is tied (with Rams DT Aaron Donald) for the NFL lead in QB pressures with 33. But the investment in Sheldon Richardson, Olivier Vernon and even Porter Gustin and Adrian Clayborn has allowed Woods to more effectively rush the passer with fewer defenders than his predecessors.

Not everything is working for the Browns defense, but they’re getting this one right. It’s reflected in Cleveland’s league-high 12 takeaways.

Buckeyes Wire: OSU coverage from USA TODAY Network

More Ronnie Harrison at safety could help the Browns’ leaky defense

Browns DC Joe Woods offered some hope that Harrison gets more reps soon

Cleveland’s defense through the first four games has not been the shutdown unit the coaching staff, keyed by defensive coordinator Joe Woods, hoped for. Even with Myles Garrett playing fantastic and corners Denzel Ward and Terrance Mithcell looking solid in coverage, the Browns hemorrhage points — 31.5 per game, 27th in the NFL.

Poor safety play has been an issue. Other than Karl Joseph’s positive day in Week 3, the duo of Joseph and Andrew Sendejo has had a negative impact on the overall defense this year. Their coverage has been a near-constant struggle for the Browns pass defense.

Many fans, and some of us in the media as well, have been calling for Woods to deploy Ronnie Harrison more. The Browns traded for Harrison late in the offseason after losing second-round pick Grant Delpit for the season due to injury.

Harrison is an experienced starter from his first two NFL seasons in Jacksonville, and he’s shown in the past to be more adept in short-area coverage and sure tackling than either Sendejo or Joseph. But he’s barely played in four games, just 25 total snaps.

Woods might want to change that with veteran QBs like Philip Rivers (Week 5) and Ben Roethlisberger (Week 6) on the upcoming schedule. They’re savvy enough to attack the weakness that has been the safety position. It makes sense to at least see what more Harrison, or even second-year Sheldrick Redwine, can do on the back end.

Here’s what Woods had to say about Harrison on Thursday when asked in his Zoom press conference about playing him more,

“I think his natural fit is probably as a strong safety, but there are positions based on what we are calling where he will have to play in the post at times. It is just something we are evaluating week to week. He is getting better. He is understanding defenses more and more each week, and we are going to really try to get him some more reps in this game and continue to do that throughout the season.”

Harrison played 11 snaps in the win over Dallas and played pretty well. If Sendejo and Joseph continue to have the coverage gaffes they’ve been suffering in the first four weeks, Harrison absolutely needs to get much more action.

Ravens vs. Browns Week 1: Scouting Cleveland’s defense

We take a look at new Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods as the Baltimore Ravens look to dominate their division rival Week 1.

It’s nearly time for the Baltimore Ravens to take the field at M&T Bank Stadium for the first time this season. After months of hard work and game planning, the Ravens will get to test themselves against another opponent when they take on the Cleveland Browns.

As the first game on the schedule, Baltimore has been planning for this game all offseason long. They’ve likely reviewed a ton of film to see what weaknesses they can exploit and where they might need to shy away from in order to pull off a big early-season win.

We here at Ravens Wire have done much of the same. Just like we did with the Browns’ offense, let’s take a deep dive into Cleveland’s defensive tendencies and what Baltimore is likely to see on the field on Sunday.

Browns defense

Where Cleveland’s offense features new head coach Kevin Stefanski calling the plays, the Browns also have a new man at the helm of their defense, with Joe Woods appointed as the defensive coordinator. He last held that position with the Denver Broncos between 2017 and 2018.

Looking at what the 2018 Broncos did, we can extrapolate what we’re likely to see from Woods and Cleveland’s defense. And that’s aggressive playcalling. The Broncos were a top-10 team in terms of blitz percentage, with extra men being sent on 31.3% of their defensive snaps. Denver amassed 44 sacks that season, the eighth-most in the NFL that year.

Woods takes over from Steve Wilks, who oversaw the Browns defense for a single season in 2019. Wilks was even more aggressive than Woods, sending extra rushers 38.2% of the time. Only four teams indulged themselves with the blitz at a higher rate than the Browns last season, with the Ravens’ defense being the most aggressive unit in the NFL.

Wilks was a lover of dime personnel last season, too. The Browns had five defensive backs on the field on 84% of their snaps, a higher rate than any other team in 2019. In Woods’ last season with the Broncos, they were a more balanced operation in terms of defensive back tendencies. They were in base personnel (two cornerbacks, two safeties) out of their 3-4 defensive alignment 45% of the time, dime 27%, and nickel (six or more DBs) 28% of the time.

While Cleveland’s roster is set up to follow Woods’ tendencies, they’re dealing with a handful of big injuries as well. Three starters — linebacker Mack Wilson, and cornerbacks Greedy Williams and Kevin Johnson — are already ruled out with injuries. With an already beat-up secondary now even more limited, don’t be shocked if the Browns try to send even more pressure with that talented defensive line to mitigate their deficiencies and test Baltimore’s offensive line. But it could be a boom-or-bust effort for Woods’ defense as the Ravens’ offense proved last year they can sling the ball nearly as well as they run it.

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Denzel Ward learning a new press coverage technique on the fly

Ward is trying to become more well-rounded and versatile in coverage

Denzel Ward has been very successful in coverage in his first two NFL seasons. That Pro Bowl-level play doesn’t stop the Browns cornerback, or his new coaches, from pushing to be even better.

One area in particular where new defensive coordinator Joe Woods is hoping he can help Ward is in the CB’s press coverage technique. Ward talked about it in his Zoom teleconference with reporters on Tuesday.

“They are going to teach new things,” Ward explained. “That is one thing. One thing specifically that I like is they are critiquing my technique, actually. Right now, I am kind of trying to learn a new technique that I played in press coverage a little differently than the years past. I have been working on that. That is one thing that I appreciate so far from Coach Woods and the rest of the staff.”

He admitted it’s not been an easy process to learn and implement a new technique while being away from the team facilities and working remotely with Woods and the coaches.

“Yeah, a little bit, just because I have not really worked that technique before,” Ward said when asked if it’s been hard. “It has been a fun process so far and learning the new technique. Just trying new things out and not really being one dimensional.”

Ward did not elaborate on the exact technique change. Having watched his game tape, I would suspect it involves his transition step(s) when he stops the early press; Ward often takes a deep step that leaves him vulnerable to quicker wideouts.

Joe Woods already sees Myles Garrett stepping up as a leader for the Browns defense

New coordinator Joe Woods already sees Myles Garrett stepping up as a leader for the Browns defense

New Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods hasn’t been able to meet face-to-face with Myles Garrett in over two months, but that hasn’t stopped the new coach from getting to know Cleveland’s standout defensive end. The two regularly engage in video teleconferences along with the rest of the defensive units.

One of the qualities Woods already sees in Garrett is how No. 95 is stepping up as a leader in the offseason.

“(Garrett) is focused on being a good teammate,” Woods said in his teleconference with reporters this week. “He has been in the meetings. He is trying to step up and take more of a leadership role. I definitely think he is moving in the right direction and has the right mindset.”

With veteran captains Christian Kirksey and Joe Schobert now playing elsewhere, there is a need for someone to step up and take over as the prime leadership presence of the Browns defense. It makes sense for Garrett, the unit’s most naturally talented player, to fill the role.

Based on the early interactions, it seems Woods is pleased with the development of the fourth-year pro. Garrett is coming off a year curtailed by a league suspension for his infamous penalty against Steelers QB Mason Rudolph.

“Right now, I think he’s in a good place,” Woods said. “I think as a young player in this league, you go through a lot of different things, so I definitely think he’s going to learn and grow from the situation that happened last year.”

The Hurry Up Podcast: Clowney says no? Baker Mayfield quiet in offseason

Host Mac Robinson is flying solo to discuss the latest developments in the never-ending saga of free agent defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and the Cleveland Browns, as well as Baker Mayfield’s offseason silence and Joe Woods’ defensive scheme.

Be sure to follow Mac (@MacRobinson95) and the podcast (@HurryUpPodcast) on Twitter for all of the latest news and notes surrounding the podcast, the Browns, and all things football! Feel free to support the podcast today by becoming a patron!

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Joe Woods envisions his Browns defense playing dime package as a base

New defensive coordinator Joe Woods envisions his Browns playing dime package as a base, with 6 DBs and 1 LB on the field

The Cleveland Browns rarely deployed more than two linebackers in 2019 in then-coordinator Steve Wilks. Under new defensive coordinator Joe Woods, it might be rare to see more than one.

Woods told reporters in a press teleconference on Thursday that he envisions the dime package (4 DL, 1 LB, 6 DB) being his base defense in Cleveland. He knows that such a radical transition cannot happen overnight, though.

“I would like to transition into a dime system, but it is going to be something that is going to take time to get into, just because of getting their reps,” Woods said. “Eventually, I would like to have a nickel package, where we have two linebackers on the field, but also, just to create better matchups and be a little bit more diverse in our scheme, I would like to get to a dime package, where we are putting an extra safety on the field.”

Playing a base defense with three CBs and three safeties is something Woods’ defense did in San Francisco. It was aided in part by having a dominant defensive line. The Eagles and Chargers have also used base dime at times lately.

The key to making it work is having versatile safeties, guys who are comfortable and effective playing as a de facto LB. The Browns drafted LSU’s Grant Delpit in the second round with that potential in mind. Veteran Karl Joseph can also fill that role.

Woods seems content to roll with a nickel defense as his base to start, though he’s not exactly sure how the LBs will sort out just yet. Speaking about the linebacking corps that includes B.J. Goodson, Mack Wilson, Sione Takitaki and rookie Jacob Phillips, Woods offered this,

“This is going to be a situation where once we get on the field and we start running our defense, it is going to be how well they fit in a specific position. Are they capable of making plays, based on the scheme? It is going to be something we are going to have to feel out once we get back for training camp. I will tell you what, all of those guys in the meetings really have been doing a good job so I know mentally they can handle it. It is just physically, what are they capable of doing?”

Browns linked to 49ers DE Ronald Blair in free agency

Could Ronald Blair be the next free agent signee for the Cleveland Browns? It seems folks in both Cleveland and San Francisco are making the connection between Blair and his old 49ers defensive coach Joe Woods reuniting with the Browns.

Blair is a free agent defensive end who has spent his entire 4-year career with the 49ers. The 27-year-old has played as a backup rush end in San Francisco’s defense, where he’s been coached by both new Browns DC Woods and DL coach Chris Kiffin.

Those connections resonated with Kyle Posey of Niners Nation, who noted:

With Joe Woods being the defensive coordinator in Cleveland, and Chris Kiffin as the defensive line coach, he was on the Niners staff last year, the move makes sense. Blair would be a tough loss for San Francisco. He’s an ideal backup.

One complicating factor for Blair is that he’s coming off a torn ACL. With the travel complications from the coronavirus pandemic, it’s hard to know just how healthy Blair might be. Helpfully, Blair posted on his Instagram a video of him returning to running at a training facility:

View this post on Instagram

Big Stepper 😁⏳🦍

A post shared by Ronald Blair III (@superblair) on Mar 13, 2020 at 10:44am PDT

Jake Trotter of ESPN notes the Browns have shown some interest in Blair, a fifth-round pick in 2016 from Appalachian State. At 270 pounds, he’s a heavier, power-to-speed rusher with 13.5 career sacks.

7 pending free agents with connections to Browns DC Joe Woods

7 pending free agents with connections to new Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods

With a few days to go before the start of free agency, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry are preparing to make their first additions to the roster of their tenure. One of the main focuses will be regarding the defense.

With help needed on all three levels of the defense, new defensive coordinator Joe Woods will definitely have input on who the team adds starting March 18th.

In his 16 seasons coaching in the NFL, Woods has made a few stops along the way. He started as a defensive quality control coach in Tampa Bay for the 2004 and 2005 seasons. Following his start, he went onto the Minnesota Vikings where he was the defensive backs coach from 2006 until 2013. This is also the same time that he and Stefanski started with the Vikings.

Woods went on to be the defensive backs coach in Oakland for the 2014 season before leaving for the same position in Denver in 2015. He was promoted to the role of defensive coordinator in 2017 and was not retained by Broncos head coach Vic Fangio following the 2018 season.

He landed with the San Francisco 49ers in 2019, returning to his role of defensive backs coach while also being named the passing game coordinator.

With all that being said, here are seven free agents with ties to Woods the Browns could target…

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