Karlos Dansby Is the Much-Needed Playmaker the Browns Defense Was Missing

Sometimes, the difference between good and great is just a little shift in attitude. Linebacker Karlos Dansby brought a lot of things to the Cleveland Browns when he was signed this offseason, but none were more prevalent than his demeanor and attitude.

Dansby proved that to the Cleveland media, according to Tom Reed of the Northeast Ohio Media Group, back in the beginning of August:

"

I'm the best. I'm the best. I'm the best. I'm the best right now, by far. Until I leave the game, I'm the best. That's how I look at it, that's how I approach it and my (statistics) say the same.

"

I have to admit that I walked away from that media session pretty skeptical. Sure, there is no denying that Dansby is a good linebacker, but the best? Then I did the research, and Dansby's numbers were comparable with the best in the NFL.

NFL.com did its annual Top 100 Players in the NFL, and Dansby didn't make the list for 2014.

"It's a joke, I think it's a joke," Dansby told Scott Petrack of The Elyria Chronicle-Telegram back in August. "I just have to go out and earn my respect now. I'm going to go out and do it again this year."

Little did I know, he had every right to feel slighted for not making the Pro Bowl or the NFL.com list. Let's compare him with San Francisco linebacker Patrick Willis, who is widely considered in the top three players at his position. He has also gone to seven Pro Bowls.

	Tackles	Sacks	Interceptions	Forced Fumbles	Pro Bowls
Patrick Willis	716	20.5	8	16	7
Karlos Dansby	655	22	12	13	0

Even with his impressive career resume, Dansby would have to prove he could reproduce those numbers in Cleveland. Most of his damage had been done in his two stints in Arizona. In the three years he played in Miami, his sacks and interceptions were way down.

Through two games with the Browns, Dansby is not just making his presence felt; he is playing like he wants the title of best linebacker in the NFL.

So far, Dansby has tallied 18 combined tackles, which is tied for 15th in the NFL. He has also intercepted a pass, registered a sack and defended three passes ,which has him tied for the league lead among linebackers. Not a bad start to the season.

The man he replaced, D'Qwell Jackson, might have been respected in Cleveland and around the league, but he definitely was not causing problems for opposing offenses the way Dansby has been.

Arguably the biggest defensive play in the Browns win over the New Orleans Saints Sunday came from Dansby. With the Saints leading by three and just 3:36 remaining on the game clock, they were driving deep into Browns territory. Drew Brees was facing a 3rd-and-5 at the Cleveland 31-yard line.

A first down would have given the Saints a shot at finishing the game with the ball in their possession. Even just an incompletion would have left them with a makeable 48-yard field goal. That would have given the Saints a four-point lead and forced the Browns to score a touchdown on their final drive to win.

Instead, Dansby sacked Brees for a seven-yard loss and knocked the Saints out of field-goal range.

"

#Browns ILB Karlos Dansby on his clutch sack in the fourth quarter: "I knew it was a big moment."

— Nate Ulrich (@NateUlrichABJ) September 14, 2014"

It wasn't just a big moment; it was the biggest. It set up the offense for an 85-yard drive that concluded with the game-winning field goal.

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Even in Week 1, when Dansby snatched his first interception of the season, he broke in on an out-route like he was a cornerback, not an inside linebacker. That has always been one of the most overlooked parts of Dansby's game.

In Week 2 against the Saints, he spent a decent portion of the day matched up against freak tight end Jimmy Graham and did a heck of a job. Almost all of Graham's 10 receptions for 118 yards and two touchdowns were against the cornerbacks.

"

Karlos Dansby, having really good day, covering Jimmy Graham on that Pick 6 by Gipson.

— Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) September 14, 2014"

In fact, people don't realize that when it comes to pass coverage, Dansby is in a league all his own at inside linebacker. He truly combines covering receivers and rushing the passer in a way no other player in the NFL can.

"

Karlos Dansby recorded his 39th career sack and is the only active NFL player with at least 30 career sacks and 10 career int. #Browns

— P.J. ZIEGLER (@PJFOX8) September 14, 2014"

So while it may have seemed crazy when Dansby said he was the best in August, it doesn't seem all that far-fetched anymore.

If you take away the first half against the Steelers and just average the numbers based on one-and-a-half games, the Browns are allowing just 17 points per game on defense. That would be good enough for seventh in the league right now.

They have also improved drastically on the "money downs." Obviously, the third-down sack by Dansby would qualify for this category, but so do all third downs in general. We have already seen a marked improvement on these plays because last year, the Browns were the second-worst defense in the NFL in this category.

The pieces were in place for the Browns defense to rise towards the top of the league. It had the talent and the depth but lacked leadership, attitude and passion. Dansby is making sure he brings that to the table.

"

Karlos Dansby on #Browns: "You see we've got a chance to be special. That's what we're going for."

— Tom Reed (@treed1919) September 14, 2014"

With Dansby making plays at this rate, it certainly does have a chance to be special.