How Great Can This Browns Defense Be? | The Bill Simmons Podcast

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Michael Lombardi to discuss how impressive the Browns defense has been and how Deshaun Watson is gaining confidence.
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[@josephgreene4841]

My browns making on bill simmons pod positively never thought id see the day

[@adamtwarowski1053]

Did... Did the someone just give us credit? This is amazing

[@haywoodarmstrongjr898]

That's right, we are loaded!! Lamarr is in trouble, he try to run, and JOK and A-WAK is going to be all over him! Go Browns ❤!

[@dbones8795]

Hahahaha lost to the Steelers as per usual

[@MultiKushie]

@@dbones8795buddy Pittsburgh was giving that game the moment Chubb went down. Steelers still got mud stomped by they defense seeing two your scores were defensive a touchdown. Losing to the Steelers doesn’t defeat the point. Stfu fuckin casual 🤡😂😂

[@thesportsfein]

@@dbones8795lol man y’all happy af y’all won by 4 points after our offense gave y’all 14 😂😂😂 yall finishing last for sure worst qb and worst Play caller in the division

[@haywoodarmstrongjr898]

@@thesportsfein that's what's up 😊! Go Browns!

[@ryanmatthew511]

Let us be humble. We havent beat anyone yet. We beat 2 1-2 teams and lost to the Steelers. Now we have TWO tough games.. Let talk the big shit if we are 4-1. if we are not. let us CHILL

[@jarrodjob]

Myles Garrett smile and athleticism. That's all I want to say. 🤝 🐶

[@fortynights1513]

He’s a very good defensive end

[@johnbrowntheprophet]

He’s been a major disrupter this season. He completely dominated the Titans last week. 🤷🏻‍♂️👍🏻

[@nistic5723]

He's the best EDGE in the game.@@fortynights1513

[@Musso8771]

And his on field attempted murder with his helmet. That guy is a thug and a whiner. Good player tho.

[@mikec1865]

Don't forget about the 1985 Chicago Bears. 💯

[@paulr987]

The benchmark defense of all-time in my opinion. They were totally suffocating.

[@markh8744]

I totally thought of the 2000 Ravens when looking at how this Browns team is playing. The key to Browns sustained success really is Watson. Not that he needs to make a lot of plays to win games. He needs to almost go against his instincts as a playmaker. Emphasis on protecting the football and taking what defenses give them. Just put up 17 points a game and you’re likely winning.

[@scoot1105]

I totally agree! The Browns should have the blueprint for success this year, especially with Nick Chubb being out. On offense, take whatever the opposing defense gives you and TAKE CARE OF THE DAMN BALL!! On defense, just keep being aggressive!! 2 touchdowns and 2 field goals is all the offense really needs to do to be able to win the way the defense is playing!

[@joshuaecht]

Good breakdown. I'm just so used to hearing Bill Simmons in a basketball context (of which he's great).

[@IamnotJokic]

Mike Lombardi acts like he didn’t completely shite the bed as GM in Cleveland. He was an absolute disaster and contributed to the losing culture there.

[@Joes35]

Entertaining but the guy is completely delusional

[@OldenPolyNate]

LOL He was right about the Bears and Fields the last time he was on the pod. Go read all the comments. Aged like milk 😆🤣

[@johnbrowntheprophet]

It’s great because now he can just second guess everyone else’s mistakes. 🤷🏻‍♂️🙄🤦🏻‍♂️

[@dadsonworldwide3238]

Burks dropped a similar over the middle td pickens converted in a different way for 4 catches 127 td. Even with tn shitty line tannehill completed 62% of his passes. Its a Cincinnati chance to score x play td on browns. I love swartz since the jeff fisher days the x play is always there

[@christophercampbell1677]

Fear the elf

[@paladin0654]

Don't get too excited: an old coach of mine always said; you're only as good as your last game. That's why they play the game: woofing doesn't count.

[@Redeye-x-]

why do we always only have one side of the ball? we dealt with that non adjusting joe woods defense for how long? and a decent scoring offense. now we have probably the best defense in the league and our offense is questionable. Even with all that talent minus Chubb. I have high hopes though.

[@christopherporter5472]

You are literally setting this up for the Ravens to win this weekend

[@kam_12_]

classic simmons😂

[@je5406]

The Dame segment went stale immediately. Good thing I only listened for 5 minutes before the news broke.

[@DK-BayBay]

Browns defense is legit. they would have to shut outs on the season already if it werent for turnovers in their own zone. Minimize turnovers, execute on offense and continue what theyre doing on defense and they will win a ton of games. There will be teams that give them fits and get an occasional chunk play by nature of how the defense works, but if they just play how the did in 2020 and Watson has a few of those moments that lead to making a play its hard to beat. Want to see them vs ravens and niners before crowning them anything special. As it sits Ford is struggling in the run game...very boom or bust runner. Hes 2nd to last in efficiency. If that continues they might look to strong jr or make a trade because team is too special as of right now to make them 1 dimensional in a year where afc is wide open. Henry and Cook could be cheaper trade options than JT. Even Patterson but he's dealing with injury right now. 49ers could run before but cmc takes them to another level and keeps purdy clean. I'd imagine Berry is thinking the same thing. After ravens game he will know if they need to make a move for an rb.

[@dbones8795]

Don’t worry the browns will fail like always

[@papabuzz12]

​@@dbones8795nah

[@klardfarkus3891]

Maybe the next meeting browns will shut out the ravens.

[@goldeneye9859]

20-17 browns. I think they cover.

[@chiefbeefz3499]

I hope you’re right, but Cleveland always tend to lose the close games. I blame most of that on Stefanski because he hasn’t shown me he’s capable of adjusting the game plan mid game if it’s not working, especially on offense.

[@holstorrsceadus1990]

It's cool, I lip read. Here's a transcript: Bill: blah blah early 2000s Patriots blah blah Mike Lombardi: Robble robble Bill Belichick Robble robble Bill Walsh I'll be back next week with another one when they invariably post without sound again.

[@billytuesday4492]

Pittsburgh s offense scored only one TD

[@klardfarkus3891]

If the browns defense is so great why did ravens score four touchdowns rather than four field goals? A sign of a good defense is the other team scoring with field goals. Ravens got all touch downs against browns.

[@sonofbobb]

Let's take a breath before we start with the 2000 Ravens comparison. As great as that defense was they played 9 games against teams that won between 1 and 7 games. Were they dominant? Without a doubt, but they beat up on some bad teams.

[@AlexTrevelyan]

The Browns have faced the 31st, 30th and 27th ranked offenses. Browns fans trying to compare this unit to the all time greats is absurd.

[@chiefbeefz3499]

@@AlexTrevelyanyou and I both know the bengals aren’t actually that low ranked of an offense. Burrow might have banged up a little bit but that team has weapons all over the field. Even the titans and holding Henry to 20 yards? I don’t care what team it is, that’s impressive. Statistically that was the worst offensive game by the titans since they were the oilers in 1997

[@ryankessler9528]

@@AlexTrevelyanif you actually watch the games you would understand they actually look better than the numbers even suggest

[@twodogs5395]

Isn't this the guy who said Micah Parsons is the best player since LT last week and then he got picked apart by second stringer Josh Dobbs and the tanking Arizona Cardinals?

[@will10toman97]

There’s 10 other guys on the field bro

[@Joes35]

He’s not LT, Bill doesn’t know shit about football.

[@twodogs5395]

@@will10toman97Micah Parsons wasn't good enough to disrupt the BACKUP.

[@Nick-Nasti]

Media was way ahead of themselves on Parsons. Crowned him too early.

[@twodogs5395]

@@Nick-Nastiand 1 week later they're calling the Browns the 2000 Ravens. Looks like a trend.

[@calebfernandez7782]

Im gonna say the score will be Cleveland 20-10

[@klardfarkus3891]

I am sure you are talking the second meeting of these teams.

[@calebfernandez7782]

@@klardfarkus3891 Yea... I didn't expect Watson to be out and playing a rookie QB in his first game.... Definitely nothing to be bragging about.

[@klardfarkus3891]

@@calebfernandez7782 seems like the supposed best defense in the league is very suspect allowing four touchdowns. With a strong defense I would expect to see four field goals. Only a scoundrel would claim the injury of their QB caused the loss when ravens have how many injured,players? Ravens went to playoffs last year with backup QB with no complaints.

[@bouji_]

@@calebfernandez7782 Well, when a team is paying their franchise QB the money Deshaun Watson is making; barring a limb hanging from his body, he should be starting.

[@calebfernandez7782]

@@klardfarkus3891 😂 Your a joke! We played with a fifth-round rookie, who never played a snap in the NFl yet. Get over yourself !!

[@jackhaus5238]

They are on and off

[@theyoozernaim]

The Browns defense is great! That said, they are coming off of playing against an absolutely dreadful offensive line. I know the Titans had a couple of starters out but my gosh how could they be that bad? Surely there's guys on practice squads around the league that could help the Titans out right now. lol

[@Nick-Nasti]

And OL may account for TEN, but we have a 3 game sample.

[@bouji_]

Couldn't you guys have waited until they actually played someone good?

[@klardfarkus3891]

Just keep the delusion that LAmar is not a real QB. What is browns record against the fake QB LAmar?

[@Dingleberrydynasty]

These guys are homers and know nothing about football! Go RAVENS!!!

[@klardfarkus3891]

This is not a smart channel. Why watch people who are so wrong?

[@Biz613]

If Houston Texans Watson ever returns, this team can win the Super Bowl. But he just doesn’t look right. He’s average right now as it stands.

[@nistic5723]

I dont know why I continue to give Lombardi chances but he continues to prove how football ignorant he really is. 1. The Browns were 3.5 FAVORITES at home. They just lost to a shit show in Pittsburgh (Pitt had -6 yds in the 4th qrt and STILL WON). They lost the best back in the league and the Browns are infamous for not being able to stop the run (fucking horrible lasy 3 years). I think a 3.5pt favorite was appropriate. 2. Garrett is a mismatch for EVERY LT in the league. I can guarantee you Schwartz is not trying to lineup Myles against the weaker lineman or he'd be on the right side, going against inferior RTs like Watt does. Garrett is moved around based on the packages in game at the moment. Sometimes they move Zadarius inside, Wright ect. Its about getting pass rushers coming from EVERY.SINGLE.ANGLE 3. Concussion protocol has almost always been 1 week at least. 4. "Watson needs a deep threat" is a lazy take. What Stephanski needs to do is put Watson in the gun. Thats it. Stephanski is doing a good job scheming up open WRs. Its on the tape. What Stepahsnki hasnt figured out yet is how to mesh his old offense with what Watson does well. Put his ass in the gun. His big time throws are down big time and I think a lot of that is under center and even sometimes putting his back to the defense. Chubbs out for the year, now put Watson in the gun 5. "They werent running the ball with Chubb anyway" Excuse me? I understand that the Titans have had a nice stretch of 17 games but you don't write off Chubb. 6. "Play conservative because of the defense" Loser mentality. They wont change what theyre doing nor should they. Their decisions are in part based on analytics. The real key to victory against the Ravens is to get out to a fast start. To actually throw the ball and try to get a lead on them and force them into predictable passing downs. It feeds directly into the Browns strength on defense being the pass rush with excellent backend play.

[@ianmoon4980]

Well said

[@Joes35]

Lol Browns played one legged Burrow, two gloves Pickett and Ryan Tannehill. Y’all need to calm tf down with best defense in the league.

[@thesportsfein]

People played worst teams and defense not even top 10! Stop hating and give credit where it’s due at this certain point in time they are!

[@KambanMusic]

Have you watched the games? They held Derrick Henry to 20, I repeat, 20, YARDS.

[@Nick-Nasti]

As of week 3, it's a fact. Will it hold? Time will tell.

[@Joes35]

@@KambanMusic and what about the ravens?

[@URRidikalus]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 pathetic