Is Ryan's 46 Browns' Defense a Myth? We Will Find Out Soon

In a press conference with Cleveland media, Browns' defensive coordinator Rob Ryan "guaranteed" that the defense would blitz and hinted that they might use the vaunted 46 defense.

The defense is the brain-child of Ryan's father, Buddy Ryan, who created the defensive package during his coaching with the Chicago Bears in the mid-1980s.

Football historians recognize the 46 as the trademark of the 1985 Chicago Bears' Monsters of the Midway championship defense.

Though it is not commonly used, some teams still use variants of it during certain moments of the game. Baltimore's defense in recent years has also incorporated this defense on certain situations, using SS Ed Reed like a fourth linebacker.

Here is a diagram of the 46 defense named after former Bears S and current AFL coach Doug Plank of the Georgia Force:

(image taken from wikipedia)

In principle, the 46 is similar to the 4-3 in terms of personnel although one DT is essentially the nose guard in the package (for the Browns, NT Shaun Rogers would most likely fill the role).

Two OLBs line up on the same side to generate confusion, and the SS lines up with the MLB to help in run support.

This defense's main function is to create pressure and confusion and be a run-stuffing defense, all things the Browns' defense has not been renown for in this past decade.

However, the design of the package presents its greatest weakness: lack of protection in the short passing game.

The cornerbacks are mostly left on an island and only the FS can help in deep pass support. The SS is mostly used as a fourth linebacker and an attacking defender.

While the Browns do not have elite personnel to have lockdown defenses, sometimes certain schemes can mask those weaknesses. And the Browns' young DBs Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald have shown enough that they can be trusted in man coverage situations.

An aggressive defense can certainly make a defense look better than it should be as long as they can put pressure on the QB and force bad decisions.

Having watched the Browns' uninspired, vanilla defense in recent years, even hearing that there is the potential for an attacking defense in Cleveland should excite Browns fans.

If nothing else, it's going to be fun to watch with training camp opening in a couple of weeks.