Written by Dave Kolonich

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When your team runs a 3-4 defense – or has been attempting such a feat for the past half decade - certain assumptions have to be made.  First, one would have to assume that this defensive system has been put in place to reflect a more dynamic, attacking style of play.  Next – in a most logical fashion – said scheme requires a symbiotic mesh of personnel, featuring players whose natural talents fit into what has become a more traditional, but still incredibly unique form of defense.

Third….welcome to Cleveland.

For the sixth – count ‘em – sixth – consecutive year, the Browns will attempt to once again stock their defense with the types of players who can finally make the 3-4 defense work.  Although the names and faces of those responsible for selecting these players have changed, the elusive goal remains the same….

Finding players that actually fit a 3-4 scheme.

Already this offseason, the Browns have parted ways with one obviously dysfunctional fit in Corey Williams, a pass rushing defensive tackle who clearly wasn’t physical enough to handle the edge spot on a three-man line.  Following him out of the Berea revolving door was one-time projected defensive cornerstone, Kamerion Wimbley, who alternated flashes of NFL talent with long periods of mostly moribund play. 

In both Williams and Wimbley’s cases, former GM Phil Savage clearly reached beyond his means – trying to find that mysterious tangible that somehow projects traditional 4-3 players into dynamic 3-4 types.  And while the longer view of Savage’s Cleveland tenure grows more critical by the day, it’s worth noting that any other GM trying to staff 3-4 personnel doesn’t fare much better.

Which means that it’s now Tom Heckert and Mike Holmgren’s turn.

Which begs the question – what can a first-time GM and former coach deliver that the likes of Savage and Eric Mangini could not?

Exactly.

However, in all fairness – certainly you could make a case for Mangini and Rob Ryan’s eye for defensive talent….at least in December of last season.  At least in terms of scrap heap shopping, the additions of Brian Schaefering, Matt Roth, Marcus Benard and David Bowens validated Mangini’s “process” – not to mention, likely saved his job.

Yet, how many of the above names can you envision still being on the roster in 2-3 years, let alone becoming the type of dynamic 3-4 players this defense has lacked for years?

Do you need a moment?

The ugly truth is that until the Browns finally hit on 3-4 core defenders – for the 3-4 – this process will eternally continue, at least until the entire project is eventually scrapped.

Good thing we have so many draft picks this year. 

Right?

Having said all that, let’s take a look at another defender who could be considered “in the discussion” for the Browns in the first round. 

And much like my previous profiles of Dez Bryant, Brandon Graham, Joe Haden, Eric Berry and others, I wouldn’t treat this so much as an endorsement, but simply as yet another option.

After reading, you may realize why.

On film, Kindle seems to represent the ideal 3-4 outside linebacker.  He has great size, speed, is versatile enough to drop into coverage and is an effective pass rusher.  Of course, all of these qualities have only been proven at the collegiate level – and like dozens of similar players before him, there is an enormous risk involved in projecting a player “to become” a viable NFL 3-4 threat.

Actually, the real “threat” can be found on this same film.  Too often during his college career, Kindle was handled by elite offensive linemen.  After his dual pass rushing moves – a bull rush and a sprint – were discovered, Kindle tended to struggle.  Through no fault of his own, the vastly talented Kindle got by on his athleticism.  However, Browns Nation doesn’t have to look far to see the ghosts of the dearly departed Wimbley being channeled through Kindle.

Perhaps the most frustrating component of the 3-4 experiment has been Wimbley’s arrested development.  Possessing a similar body and flashing many of the same college skills, Wimbley never evolved into a legitimate NFL pass rusher, thanks to an inability to do little more than get blocked ten yards out of camera on most plays.

In Kindle’s case, his pass rushing represents the best of his skill set, but when watching him against top college teams, one realizes that he is not as strong as his size would suggest.  Unfortunately, Kindle does not hold up well against run blocking.  At times, he struggled mightily to shed blocks – which signals a major red flag at the next level.

To go back to Wimbley, perhaps the biggest strides he made under Mangini and Ryan in 2009 came in the form of his run defense.  For the first time in Wimbley’s career, he helped “set the edge” in run defense, which definitely benefitted the defense.  Overall, Wimbley probably enjoyed his best season a year ago – especially if you’re not of a stat-driven mind.  Obviously, much of the credit has to go to the improvements made among the coaching staff and it’s not a stretch to suggest that Mangini and Ryan couldn’t get similar results from Kindle.

However, the question becomes this – if Kindle enters the league much in the same way Wimbley did – that is to say, supremely athletic, yet needing a lot of polish – have the Browns taken a step forward? 

Or, are we right back to where we started from?

Again.