Browns Defense Won't Make Any Progress with Jim O'Neil as Defensive Coordinator

At first, it seemed like things would be different. At first, it looked like the Cleveland Browns defense may have turned a corner of sorts.

In the first half of the team's Week 9 meeting with the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland's defense held the high-powered offense to 124 total yards. Bengals running backs Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill had combined for just 40 yards, and the Bengals had 54 rushing yards total.

Sure, Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert had two touchdown grabs and Cincinnati's offense converted three of their six third-down attempts (and a fourth-down try), but quarterback Andy Dalton was held to only 77 passing yards on nine completions, and defensive end Desmond Bryant sacked him once. 

At halftime, the Browns trailed 14-10. It was a surmountable deficit, just as long as Cleveland's defense could remain stout. But as has been so often the case in 2015, it could not, and the Browns fell to the Bengals 31-10. 

CIN Drives	10
CIN Punts	2
CIN 1st Half Yds.	124
CIN 2nd Half Yds.	247
CIN Total Yds.	371
CIN 3rd Downs/Conv.	8/14
CIN 1st Downs	23
CIN RZ/Convert (TDs)	3/4

Forget for a moment the Johnny Manziel-led offense couldn't manage a single point in the second half. The real concern for the Browns is they have been outscored in the second half 55-3 over their last three games. While those three points on offense are a concern, the points-conceded total is yet another example of just how much Cleveland's defense has failed the team as a whole this year.

Ultimately, the Bengals punted twice on 10 drives. They converted eight of their 14 third downs and had 23 first downs in the game to just 13 first downs for the Browns—two of which came in the second half. The Bengals put up 247 yards of second-half offense, and the offense as a whole ended the day with 152 rushing yards.

The problems for the Browns were myriad. Penalties, again, were an issue, with defensive end Randy Starks the biggest culprit. On one drive, one that culminated in Eifert's second touchdown, he was called for taunting and then again for lining up offsides on a Bengals fourth-down attempt, something that, had it not happened, would have forced a turnover on downs.

There was the fact Browns cornerback Tramon Williams, one of the team's most consistent defenders, was schooled all day by Eifert, who earned most of his 53 yards against him, as well as his third touchdown, a double-move that left Williams unable to make a play.

The typical problems setting the edge again haunted the Browns, particularly when Bernard carried the football in the second half. He ultimately had 72 yards on his 13 carries, while Hill ended with 52 yards on his 15 rushes. Their strategy of selling out to stop the run actually backfired, allowing outside runs to get to the second level because there simply was no edge discipline.

That lack of edge discipline was in stark relief during a Bengals reverse play to receiver Mohamed Sanu that saw the receiver run for 25 yards untouched into the end zone. There were more Bengals teammates near him helping block than there were Browns defenders closing in to attempt the tackle. 

Darron Cummings/Associated Press/Associated Press

These are issues we've seen time and time again from this defense despite the numerous talented players the Browns actually have. Yes, they didn't have safety Donte Whitner, cornerback Joe Haden or Whitner's backup, Jordan Poyer. But even when those three have played, the results haven't been different.

It all comes down to scheme. And whether or not Kevin Jones' assertion for Sports Illustrated that the culprit is that the scheme is too complicated, relying too much on improvisation from the linebackers and guessing when it comes to gap assignments, it comes down to the coaching.

And that doesn't just mean head coach Mike Pettine. That means defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil. All too often, Thursday's performance has been a regular state of affairs for the Browns defense. This was the seventh time in nine games the Browns have ceded over 150 rushing yards and the sixth time the defense has given up 27 or more points.

There needs to be some accountability for the defense's failure, especially considering how high the expectations were on both Pettine and O'Neil to turn around that side of the ball, which has been subpar for years.

At this point, these players don't look like they are able to do their jobs as asked. Too much hesitation, too many blown assignments, too many missed tackles—the fault for all three lies as much with O'Neil as it does with the players tasked with executing his vision.

It's been wash, rinse, repeat for the Browns on defense way too often this season. We see it regardless of opponent. This, more than anything, is why the Browns sit at 2-7 through nine games. Something must be done.

It may be hard for Pettine to part ways with a long-time friend such as O'Neil. But O'Neil is in over his head and his defense just does not work. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is one way to describe insanity. It would be crazy to stand pat with this defensive scheme that has yielded no improvement as the season has unfolded.