First look: Defensive Tackles

One of the main reasons the Browns were thrilled when they signed Andrew Billings to a free-agent contract a few months ago lies in the club’s statistics from last season.

The 2019 Cleveland defense hemorrhaged 2,315 yards against the run. That’s 146 yards a game. Only two National Football League teams surrendered more yards infantry style last season.

That needed to be addressed in a hurry. That side of the football needed a run stuffer. At 6-1, 330 pounds, Billings is a run stuffer.

Problem solved. Or so they thought until a few days ago. That’s when COVID-19 raised its nasty virus head and upset all those wonderful plans new defensive coordinator Joe Woods had for the ex-Cincinnati Bengal.

Billings surprisingly – surprisingly because there was no hint he was leaning in that direction – waylaid his new club by taking advantage of the opt-out (of the season) plan the league allowed players for a limited time.

And just like that, barring any further dalliances into the free-agent market, the Browns are back at square one when it comes to stopping the run. Most of the crew that finished the 2019 season is back.

Sheldon Richardson, by far the staunchest and savviest of the returnees, and Larry Ogunjobi will handle a majority of the reps. But the necessary quality depth will be notably absent to the delight of teams on the schedule.

Richardson was third on the team last season with 62 tackles – it’s unusual for a defensive lineman to rank so high in this category – despite receiving so little help along the way. His consistency is noteworthy.

The real mystery is Ogunjobi, who has been puzzlingly and consistently inconsistent. For every solid game he has, he’ll be virtually absent in two or three others. The effort is there; the results are not.

Is he a pass rusher or a run stopper? Perhaps both? Actuality he is neither. In two seasons as a starter, he has forced just one fumble and recorded just 11 sacks. He was not a difference maker.  

General Manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski needed someone with solid credentials in the run game to provide quality snaps when either Richardson or Ogunjobi needed a breather. That’s why they went after Billings.

Eli Ankou and Daniel Ekuale, who played sparingly last season, return and are joined by Jordan Elliott, the first of two third-round picks in the college draft. Ankou and Ekuale figure to get most of the sub reps as the coaching staff brings Elliott along slowly.

Unless Berry is able to replace Billings with quality talent, it sure looks as though it’s going to be a lot more of the same-old, same-old against the run game this season . . . if it ever gets played

Next: Linebackers