Robaire Smith is expected to be at 100% come training camp time, as is Corey Williams. However, the Mangini Administration went out and addressed the defensive line even more, knowing the depth issues we have. What first needs to be known is that Mangini's defensive ends are different from Romeo Crennel's. Mangini prefers smaller, more athletic defensive ends who still have the strength to demand double teams. Crennel threw in DE's in which were big, slow, but explosive off the ball. Either way works, as long as you have the right personnel, which we have not had since we instituted the 34 in 2006. Our returning defensive lineman are: Louis Leonard, Melila Purcell, Shaun Rogers, Ahtyba Rubin, Shaun Smith, Robaire Smith, Santonio Thomas, and Corey Williams. Along with those guys, we have the additions of Kenyon Coleman, C.J. Mosley, and undrafted free agent signing Adam Hoppel. The addition of Kenyon Coleman, alone, makes this defensive line 5 times better, and Mosley adds a bit of youth, but experience and is a guy familiar with Mangini's 34. Here's a little introduction to our two newly acquired DE's that I expect to make the final roster.
Kenyon Coleman: Coleman is going into his 8th year as a pro. He was taken by the Oakland Raiders who let him go after he played in one game in 2002, as he did not fit into their system well enough for them to keep on the team. The Dallas Cowboys signed him in 2003 to be a depth DE for their newly installed 34 defense courtesy of Bill Parcells. Coleman played special teams, earning playing time on the defense at times for next 3 years, in which he continued to make the team as a rising player. After raking up 30 tackles (25 in which were solo) in 2006, without starting a game, the Cowboys realized what kind of impact he made for their defense and their rotation. 30 tackles for a DE receiving half the playing time one usually gets means that he's making plays, even when not necessarily being asked to. However, he became a free agent, and the New York Jets signed him right away scooping him up for their newly installed 34 defense, courtesy of new Browns head coach, Eric Mangini. Coleman has started 29 of his last 32 games for the New York Jets, and was a huge part of a defense that, in 2008, was 7th in the NFL in rush defense. Coleman's strengths are that he gets of the ball quickly. Some DE's are taught to basically stand up their man, while creating enough of a push to force another blocker on them, so that the LB's are free to roam. While Coleman did that well, he also got into the backfield to force the play in whichever way it favored the defense being run, or making a tackle for loss (TFL). I fully expect Coleman to start for this team come September. He's got all the tools we need, and while he's not young (30 years old), he's not going to be a stopgap player, and he'll be able to at least contribute to a rotation for 4-5 years.
C.J. Mosley: Mosley is going into his 5th year as a pro. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in which he spent just one season with. He was traded at the 2006 draft to the New York Jets for QB Brooks Bollinger. Mosley isn't your typical 34 DE. He's a bit on the short side at 6'2, and lacks the necessary burst to be a legit starter. However, he's a solid rotational guy who won't hurt you when he's in. He does a very good job at holding up OT's while sometimes needing a guard to come and help, however, he tends to take plays off. He is a hard worker, and Mangini plans to work with him to improve his motor so that he can be a consistent player that does his job on every play. He's a good, young, developmental talent who will see plenty of time on the field for the Browns.
Now, I'm predicting that Purcell/Thomas and Hoppel will be gone come the start of the season, and even at that, we'll still have a DE rotation of Williams, Robaire, Shaun Smith, Leonard, Coleman, Purcell/Thomas (whichever one stays) and Mosley. Our NT depth will be Shaun Rogers, Ahtyba Rubin, and Shaun Smith. Leonard can also play NT if needed. I really like where this defensive line is headed. The defensive line is, in fact, the key to the 34 defense. If the defensive lineman don't take up space, and even penetrate, then the linebackers cannot get free to make the plays in the backfield or at the line of scrimmage. See, our problem the past few years has been that our DE's don't occupy blocks OR penetrate. They tend to get hooked on an offensive tackle, and stood straight up, allowing a guard, or center free to block a linebacker, along with a fullback still left leading the way for a running back to go up the hole. This is the reason why our secondary gets quite a few tackle opportunities. Regardless to what people think, our LB's aren't able to do their jobs either. D'Qwell may register more than 100 tackles in a season, but how many of those are beyond the line of scrimmage, because our ILB's can't get in to make a play? The DE's are even more important to the OLB's. Even though Kamerion Wimbley does need to be stronger, he's still not able to rush the passer because the DE on his side isn't doing his job. That DE should be occupying either the guard and tackle, or the tackle and the tight end. A guard and tackle is ideal, as Wimbley should have no problem getting off the block of a tight end. However, Wimbley always gets wrapped up with an OT, and 1) has trouble getting around to the QB, and 2) has trouble maintaining contain on his side against the run (which is CRUCIAL for an OLB).
Overall, if the defensive line are the first part, and most crucial part of the 3 way chain which is the 34 defense. If the defensive line occupies blocks, or can even penetrate the offensive line, the linebackers can make their plays at or behind the LOS on run plays, or blitz from any angle to make the quarterback get the ball out faster, or sack him. If the quarterback is pressured, the secondary isn't covering receivers for 6-8 seconds while the quarterback has enough time to read the sunday paper, prior to completing his pass. Our secondary, despite lack of depth, isn't as bad as it's made out to be. We have two very promising, young cornerbacks in Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald who would love to have the front seven pressure the QB. It'll make the secondary's job ten times easier, and will make our defense much less predictable.
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