Believe me, I’m as big a Phil Savage fan as anyone, and I’m not a seat-of-the-pants contrarian. But the lack of attention to the defensive ends has me concerned and a little mystified.
It’s well known that among the Browns’ chief objectives this off-season are to improve the woeful run defense and pass rush situations. In the 3-4 scheme, big, lane-clogging defensive ends are instrumental in both of these missions, particularly the former.
The incumbent starters include Orpheus Roye, one of my favorite Browns and possibly the most valuable player since the rebirth. He certainly earned his new contract. But he’s 33 years old. On the other side is Alvin McKinley, who, in his first year as a full-time starter, was reasonably productive, especially considering he’s a diabetic, but ultimately he’s no more than average. His contract expires after 2006. Nick Eason is also a respectable part of the rotation. Rookie Simon Fraser saw some action, mostly as a special-teamer. Others on the roster, including “Keg” Hoffman and Darrell Campbell, will be busy vying for a job, not challenging the starters.
In general, the free agent frenzy was great, and the draft added another ten players to the mix. But not a single one of them is a defensive end.
Now comes the signing of the rookie free agents, 16 of them. Zero DEs in the lot.
At this weekend’s rookie minicamp, 23 more players are getting tryouts. Only two of them are listed as defensive linemen, and neither of them is anywhere close to the 300-pound range deemed optimal for playing in the 3-4 defense. One is from junior college.
I know you can’t improve every position every year, and the Browns had multiple positions of need. But considering the team’s stated objectives, it’s surprising that defensive end hasn’t been given more of a priority.
