First look: Linebackers 

Unlike other units on the Browns’ defense, assessing the linebackers’ situation will be done with no specific position designations. In other words, there will be no inside linebackers or outside linebackers.

 

That’s because new coordinator Joe Woods has taken over where Steve Wilks, his predecessor last season, left off. The defense this season will remain a base 4-2-5 scheme with interchangeable parts that yielded 362 yards a game, 5.7 yards a play and 44 touchdowns last season.

 

The 4-3 and 3-4, which have become pretty much standard defensive schemes around the National Football League for the last roughly two generations, is temporarily shelved in Cleveland.

 

Now does that mean the Browns don’t have enough quality talent to line up with three men behind the defensive line? A quick look at the training camp roster indicates that very well might be the reason, although you won’t get a coach to admit that.

 

Allowing their best linebacker the last three seasons to escape in free agency is a gigantic step in the wrong direction. General Manager Andrew Berry’s largest mistake so far is letting Joe Schubert mosey on down to Jacksonville with a five-year contract.

 

Gone are Schobert’s 380 tackles the last three seasons, including 133 last season. Gone are the savvy and playmaking capability he displayed after being misused in his rookie season. He also led the club in interceptions last season with four. His solid all-around versatility will be missed.

 

Vying for the two slots to start games are, in no particular order, returnees Mack Wilson, Sione Takitaki and Willie Harvey, free-agent pickup B. J. Goodson, rookie Jordan Phillips and newcomers Montrel Meander, Tae Davis and Solomon Ajayi.

 

No one in that group was a starter at the beginning of last season. Wilson was the closest with 14 starts, but that was because Christian Kirksey went on season-ending IR with a chest injury after the first two games.

 

Wilson, a middle linebacker at Alabama, filled in admirably and improved after a slow start, finishing with 82 tackles. He is, by far, the best and most reliable player in that position room and will man one of those slots.

 

The other is clearly up for grabs with Goodson the most experienced and the favorite to play alongside Wilson, who will be a three-down man, in run situations. He has started 29 games the last three seasons with 151 tackles. His pass-covering skills should find him on the bench.

 

Playing with what amounts to two inside linebackers means there is no speed or coverage ability on the outside. The fifth defender in that 4-2-5 scheme will come from the secondary, most likely a safety to cover tight ends and running backs.

 

Takitaki is the X-factor. He is a member of the Browns only because Eliot Wolf, the club’s assistant general manager at the time, pushed hard to grab the Brigham Young defender in the third round of the 2019 draft.

 

Wolf’s scouting report raved about Takitaki “just out there destroying people” after a game against Wisconsin. He later declared the Browns “felt like we got a steal at the 80^th pick with him.”

 

That steal checked in with one start (late in the season) and 21 tackles (mostly on special teams). It’s unfair to declare someone a bust after his rookie season, but the notion that is the case has not gone away. Four LBs most likely will be kept, so Takitaki should be safe.

 

The one to keep an eye on is Phillips. He’s got nice speed (4.66 in the 40), but his strength is in the run game after leading national champion Louisiana State with 113 tackles last season. He should get some sub package reps early on.

 

All in all, the overwhelming weakness among the linebackers is the startling lack of speed and lack of experience. Berry hasn’t given Woods and linebackers coach Jason Tarver much with which to work.

 

Next draft, an outside linebacker or two would be nice.

Next: Cornerbacks