Cleveland Browns 2017 Season Preview: The Defensive Backs

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

**PREVIOUS**
The Coaching Staff
The Running Backs
The Offensive & Defensive Line
The Quarterbacks
The Wide Receivers & Tight Ends
The Linebackers


The Cleveland Browns defensive back group just got a bit interesting with the release of Joe Haden. The Browns have a few spots open at DB that will likely be filled with waiver wire pickups or maybe a trade.

Cornerbacks: We know for a fact the three starting corners for week one. Jamar Taylor, Jason McCourty, and Briean Boddy-Calhoun. Taylor and BBC were breakout players for the Browns last season.

Taylor was acquired from Miami last season on during the draft. The former second round pick played in 15 games last season. He finished the season with 46 tackles, 13 pass defended, and three interceptions. Taylor's play in 2016 earned him a three year contract extension and a starting job going forward. Its not like the talent wasn't there with Taylor during his tenure with Miami but seems like the change of scenery was need in order to get a fresh start.

Briean Boddy-Calhoun was an undrafted free agent pickup last season. BBC played in 14 games, starting half of them. Boddy-Calhoun recorded 36 tackles, 11 pass defended, and three picks (including one returned for a touchdown). During the preseason BBC has been everywhere. Playing not just at corner but spell some at safety.

The lone veteran at defensive back is Jason McCourty who will be entering his ninth season in the NFL. He has spent the last eight with the Tennessee Titans. The Browns brought him in because they absolutely needed someone with the veteran leadership McCourty brings. But its not just the leadership, McCourty spent a season with Gregg Williams so his familiarity with Williams gives the Browns almost another coach on the field. Despite his age McCourty's stats haven't really dropped. Last season he had 59 tackles, 12 pass defended, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery in the 14 games he played/started. During the preseason, McCourty has been showing max effort, he's played solid defense and even forced a fumble that set up a scoring drive for the offense.

Outside of those three, the Browns defense backs are kind of a mystery. Expect them to keep one of the undrafted rookies (Najee Murray, Darius Hillary, Alvin Hill) or four year veteran Marcus Burley. And then use the waiver wire to add an additional corner to the team.

Safety: The Browns safety room is extremely young. They potentially could be starting a rookie and a second year pro at the two safety positions.

Jabrill Peppers is a lock to start week one. Peppers has impressed coaches and fans alike with his hard hitting tackling and his exciting playmaking ability when he gets his hands on the ball.

Opposite of Peppers will likely be Derrick Kindred. Kindred's rookie season was cut short because of an injury but in the games he played Kindred showed decent cover skills and being a sure tackler. During the preseason Kindred played extremely well and earned his spot as a starter on defense.

The backup safety position is fluid just like the corner position. The Browns traded for former first round pick Calvin Pryor during the off-season. Think of it as a Jamar Taylor 2.0 move. Pryor has played well during the preseason, he even recorded a safety during the Browns preseason victory over the Bears. Ibraheim Campbell is entering his third season with the Browns. Campbell isn't a lock to make the team, but it is expected. The preseason wasn't that great for the third year pro as he battled a concussion that kept him out for a couple weeks. It seems unlikely but undrafted rookie Kai Nacua out of BYU has played well. If the Browns cut either Pryor or Campbell, Nacua would be a logical replacement. He was always around the ball during the preseason. It wouldn't be surprising if Nacua makes the practice squad and gets called up during the middle of the season.


Defensive Backs Overview: The DBs in 2017 have talent but the Browns are really thin. If everyone stays healthy the defensive backs shouldn't hurt them too bad. And with the improvement of a pass rush the defensive backs will be given a position to succeed in 2017.

Krunch Time With Katelin: 5 Takeaways From The Browns vs Giants Preseason Game

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The Browns pulled off a 10-6 victory against the Giants in the second week of the preseason. The game was hard to watch. Each team had multiple turnovers, dropped passes, and overall sloppy play. But that's how the 2017 Cleveland Browns will win games this season. Sloppy, low-scoring games where the defense forces turnovers and the offense capitalizes on them. But lets get to why we are here. My five takeaways on the game from Monday Night.

1. DeShone Kizer should be the quarterback week one. Is Kizer 100% ready? Probably not. But does he give the Browns the best chance to win? Yes, without a doubt. Brock Osweiler isn't the answer and neither is Cody Kessler. Brock is 6'8 and is still getting passes knocked down at the line of scrimmage. And that's what happened in this game resulting in an interception. If you are counting at home, this is the Browns quarterbacks scoring drives tallies: Kizer (Four) Kessler (One) Brock (Zero) and Hogan (Zero). Yes, Kizer had two of his scoring drives against second-fourth teamers vs the Saints, but he was still playing with the same types of players.

2. Joe Schobert showed why he should be the starting middle linebacker on this team. Schobert a fourth round pick last season was mainly a special teams player last season. And when he did play it was at outside linebacker. But this season he was moved to the inside, he also lost some weight and he is now flying around the field.

3. Briean Boddy-Calhoun. I don't know what more I can say about him. The guy is a football player. He has a nose for the ball. Whether that's jumping a passing route for an interception, blowing up a play in the backfield, or being a hard hitting corner when the receiver catches the ball, the guy is constantly around the ball. I would take 11 Boddy-Calhoun's. The guy has a passion for the game of football and could be a fan favorite by the end of the season.

4. Matt Dayes is pretty good. He could easily become the Browns third down back if the Browns end up using Duke Johnson in the slot during passing downs. Dayes was the second to last pick in the draft and had a leg up in the third running back competition considering he coached by the Browns during the Senior Bowl. I think its a bit early to call the Browns running backs a three headed monster but the way they plan on running the ball the Browns will probably need three guys to keep everyone rested and healthy.

5. The defense showed why the acquisition of Gregg Williams is the best move of the entire off-season. Williams' defense is attacking the ball every single play. We seen Jason McCourty force a fumble, Boddy-Calhoun bait Geno Smith into a red zone interception. Oh and the rookies, Myles Garrett recorded his first sack and Jabrill Peppers...Peppers made veteran receiver Brandon Marshall hear footsteps while he tried to go up for a catch.. Oh and Peppers also made an impact as a punt returner.