BROWNS FIRE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR JOE WOODS
The Cleveland Browns have announced that they have fired defensive coordinator Joe Woods after he spent three seasons with the team.
A statement from Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski read: “I’d like to thank Joe for his hard work and dedication in his three seasons as our defensive coordinator. I will always have the utmost respect for Joe, the person, and the coach. Unfortunately, we didn’t perform up to our standards enough this season, and we all share in that responsibility. We all wish Joe and his family the best in the future.”
The Cleveland Browns finished last in the AFC North this year and were abysmal defensively, especially to start the season. The team averaged just 331.5 yards allowed per game this season, ranking 14th in the league, and was fifth in the league in passing defense (196.2 passing yards allowed per game). The run, however, was their Achilles Heel as the Browns’ defense allowed over 135 rushing yards per game this season, ranking in the bottom 10 in the league (25th).
According to multiple reports, the Browns have requested permission to interview New England Patriots defensive assistant Jerod Mayo for their vacant defensive coordinator job, and as per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, they consider him a top candidate.
The team has also requested to interview Seattle Seahawks associate head coach for defense Sean Desai and Pittsburgh Steelers senior defensive assistant & linebackers coach Brian Flores. As per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, former Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz is also a candidate for an interview with the team.
Woods joined the Cleveland Browns when Stefanski took over in 2020 but the team’s defense has struggled to find consistency over the course of Woods’ tenure with the organization.
The first season in Cleveland was rosy for both Woods and head coach Kevin Stefanski as they guided the team to an 11-5 season, a campaign that ended with Kevin Stefanski winning an NFL Coach of the Year award. The team has, however, struggled since their 2020 exploits, following that stellar season with an 8-9 mark in 2021. Something had to give in Cleveland and the team’s first big move in response to a disappointing 7-10 season is releasing their defensive coordinator.
As per Cleveland.com and DawgPoundDaily.com, Woods is being used as the scapegoat for the team’s disappointing season this year. The team has been struggling on both sides of the ball throughout 2022 and some of that comes down to a lack of investment in player personnel.
But some of the erratic defensive performances have been egregious, including the team’s spectacular Week 2 loss against the New York Jets when the Browns blew a two-score lead in the final two minutes to lose 31-30 in Cleveland. Sunday’s 28-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers was also one of those games, a game in which Steelers wide receiver George Pickens scored the first touchdown with no one near him in coverage on a third & 15.
Woods was also at the center of Jadeveon Clowney’s outburst last week, a ‘rebellion’ that led to the three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher being sent home from practice and declared inactive for Week 18 Clowney said in an interview on Thursday that he was “95 percent sure” he would not resign with the Browns, claiming the Browns were too focused on defensive end Myles Garrett’s stats and not enough on winning.
“You’re all trying to get [Garrett] into the Hall of Fame instead of winning games,” Clowney said. “I don’t even think [Garrett] notices. I ain’t trying to say it’s him. I try to get along with everybody that play with me. Me and him don’t have a problem. It ain’t his fault, and it’s B.S and I don’t have time for it.”
Stefanski had rubbished questions regarding Woods’ future all season and an early-in-the-offseason move to fire him meant he was ready to move on from him after this year, dependent on defensive results.
As the hunt for a new defensive coordinator heats up, the Browns will need to consider investing on defense this offseason to upgrade that side of the ball with impact players. The team is in need of a defensive tackle, another quality edge rusher – especially if Clowney is set to leave, linebackers who can fly into tackles and stop the run, a cornerback who can properly address the slot corner position and some help at safety for three-year safety Grant Delpit.
The front office did little to nothing to improve the defense this year, as they gave young defensive tackle Jordan Elliot an opportunity by pairing him with Taven Bryan, a former first-round pick who didn’t work out in Jacksonville. The team supplemented those two with defensive tackles Perrion Winfrey and Tommy Togiai, neither of whom helped in stopping the run or rushing the passer. Both Winfrey and Togiai combined for only 11 tackles, and just one sack this season.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
Photo: Erik Drost. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.