The Browns are not making a head coaching change during ‘Black Monday,’ but they are nevertheless going ahead with a notable shake-up on the sidelines. Cleveland has fired defensive coordinator Joe Woods, per a team announcement.
Woods arrived in Cleveland in 2020, the first season of head coach Kevin Stefanski‘s tenure with the team. Over the course of their time together, the Browns’ defense has has been up-and-down at times, but the unit underperformed throughout the 2022 campaign in particular, leaving the former on the hot seat. Cleveland ended the season ranked 14th in yardage allowed, and 20th in defensive scoring, surrendering an average of 22.4 points per game.
That, in turn, came one season after the Browns posted the fifth-best total defense in the league, something which was not enough for the team to make the postseason but did lead to heightened expectations relative to their performance this year. Cleveland ranked fifth against the pass in 2022, but allowed over 135 yards per game on the ground; despite the presence of All-Pro pass rusher Myles Garrett, the team also managed only 34 sacks, good for 27th in the NFL in that category.
Recently, Woods has been involved in the controversy surrounding defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and the team’s decision to send him home following public remarks about his usage. The former No. 1 overall pick stated that he had a 5% chance of re-signing with the Browns this offseason, adding that Woods being let go could help his chances of wanting to return. Regardless of the team’s handling of Clowney, Cleveland is likely to pursue additions at all three levels of the defense in the coming months, in addition to their search for Woods’ replacement.
“I’d like to thank Joe for his hard work and dedication in his three seasons as our defensive coordinator,” Stefanski said in a statement, via the team’s website. “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.”
Given his age (52) and previous DC experience with the Broncos, Woods could still have a future in the NFL as a top assistant, but the Browns’ inconsistency this year will no doubt hurt his prospects in at least the short-term future. Cleveland, meanwhile, will turn their attention to that side of the ball as they look to improve on this year’s 7-10 campaign.
If chargers wind up replacing Brandon Staley with Sean Payton think Staley would be an excellent DC for the Browns.
Why would the chargers replace Staley? He’s got his team in the playoffs!
Wouldn’t be the 1st time chargers fired a coach after playoffs. Fired ol Marty Schottenheimer after 14-2.
But there’s been talks rumors rumblings about replacing Staley for a few weeks. But only in the event it’s Sean Payton.
I think this was possible several weeks ago, but probably not because of how the Chargers have looked lately. But if he did end up becoming available, I agree about the fit. It doesn’t hurt that he’s from near Cleveland.
I envision the Chargers will Chargers and somehow blow the game against Jacksonville and this will let ownership give Staley the boot.
If chargers lose I definitely think ownership considers coaching change.
But Jacksonville came to LA and whooped them pretty good 38-10. That’s gotta be bulletin board material all week.
It would be cool for PFTR to do a stat of teams that played in regular season and then again in playoffs and see what outcome was.
Finally.
Makes sense. They needed more in the middle, but they simply underperformed their talent too much for him to go unscathed. Whoever replaces him needs to get Denzel Ward right.
A total housecleaning was needed. The Browns are running an offense that doesn’t fit today’s game. Stefanski will now be permitted to bring in a new D Coordinator and be given another year.. The Watson contract cost a lot of draft capital and hamstrings the payroll.. what a mess…
I think Stefanski is at least solid running an offense. Hard to blame him for a year like this when they spent most of the season waiting for a rusty QB with only one good receiver. (You can blame him next year.)
There’s a huge lack of talent in their front seven (other than Garrett obviously), which Woods can’t be blamed for. But this still needed to happen. The defense never looked prepared at all and Woods didn’t show much of an ability to gameplan or adjust. Ward also regressed but he’s far from a lost cause, plus Emerson looked great and Newsome should be fine as long as they go back to playing him outside.
There should be a ton of good choices out there, although getting them to pick the Browns is another issue. I’d use their remaining draft picks (and cap space, depending on how they maneuver that) on adding a ton of linebackers and defensive linemen. Not only do they need a pass rusher on the other side of Garrett, but they need to get better at stopping the run.
They’re really not a great situation, but I think the right DC hire and adding pieces in the front seven can go a long way. Stefanski also needs to give up play calling, but that’s a separate discussion. They need a few tweaks, not a complete overhaul.
I agree with most of this and would like to add if they can trade Delpit for a box of used footballs it would be an upgrade. He is lost in man coverage and doesn’t realize that he is the safety, there is no one behind him except the fans in the first row.
I love seeing the Browns be a mess as they are a criminal organization from top to bottom. I hope it continues for the next 5 years.