Cleveland Browns defense: Joe Woods sees stars in Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome II, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

Even with Browns' three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Myles Garrett to build around, there will be much to watch on defense going into 2022.

Four starters — defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, defensive tackles Malik Jackson and Malik McDowell and linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. — played on one-year deals, along with key contributors Takk McKinley and Malcolm Smith. Starting strong safety Ronnie Harrison’s contract is up. Cornerback Denzel Ward’s performance earned him his second Pro Bowl selection and positioned him for a long-term contract extension.

But uncertainty is balanced by anticipation, especially with the growth of linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and cornerback Greg Newsome II, both rookies, and cornerback Greedy Williams and safety Grant Delpit, playing full seasons after missing all of 2021 with training camp injuries.

“I think there are some really good pieces and really good cornerstones, outside of obviously Myles,” defensive coordinator Joe Woods said. “We just have to continue to add to that and continue to develop the players we have, but I really feel good where we are right now from a personnel standpoint.”

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With Ward, Newsome and Williams, Woods believes the Browns cornerbacks have the coverage skills to deal with Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s top targets — Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, regarded as the league’s best receiving trio. Burrow will be resting when Browns (7-9) conclude the regular season Sunday against the AFC North champion Bengals (10-6) at First Energy Stadium.

“Very important. This league is all about matchups — do you have the ability to win your one-on-ones week in and week out?” Woods said. “When you have three corners, you feel like you can go No. 1, 2, and 3 and match up with anybody you put on the field. That is when you just need confidence, especially with what those guys have done so far this season.”

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Here’s what Woods said Thursday about some of his key players:

Jadeveon Clowney: ‘I definitely like him being part of our defensive front’

Clowney was noncommittal about his future, but Garrett said last week he will try to convince him to return. Clowney's seven sacks trail only Garrett among the Browns.

“He played really well for us this year. He battled through some of the injuries, but I think if you ask him it is probably the healthiest he has felt in a long time,” Woods said. “The production is really good. He played really well for us in the last game. I do not know what his future holds for him, but I definitely like him being part of our defensive front.”

As for Clowney re-signing with the Browns, Woods said, “That is something in the offseason we will definitely talk about. Just based on what he has done this year from a production standpoint, I think the things he has added in our locker room and the D-line jelling, I think all of those things are positives for him. We will just see where it goes.”

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah: ‘The sky is the limit for JOK’

The start of Owusu-Koramoah’s rookie season was eventful for all the wrong reasons. His training camp debut was delayed by COVID-19. He gashed his forehead in a weight-lifting accident. He spent the night in a Los Angeles hospital after suffering a throat contusion against the Chargers on Oct. 10. He spent three games on injured reserve in midseason with a high ankle sprain. But since he returned to the field on Nov. 14, Owusu-Koramoah has begun to flash his rare skills, with a breakout game at Baltimore on Nov. 28.

“The sky is the limit for JOK. He is so dynamic in so many different areas,” Woods said. “His ability to blitz. His ability to match up in coverage and make plays in space. Throughout the season as he got more comfortable, you really saw his abilities just show up in different areas at times.

“In college, he was really out playing over the slot or he was blitzing off of the edge. The things we were asking him to do, it took him a little time to get it. I think he really feels comfortable. You can see him in practice being more confident. I think he can be a dynamic player for a long time for us.”

Denzel Ward: ‘To me, he is a legitimate No. 1 corner’

Ward’s season took off after his 99-yard pick-six on the Bengals’ first offensive series in the Browns’ 41-16 victory at Paul Brown Stadium on Nov. 7. Since then, the Nordonia High School and Ohio State product has totaled three interceptions, matching his career-high from his rookie season. His 10 passes defensed are a team-high and among his 43 tackles have been some statement-making hits by the fourth overall pick in 2018.

“To me, he is a legitimate No. 1 corner just from a size, length and skill standpoint and his ability to match up and play anybody one-on-one,” Woods said. “I think early in the season, he was pressing too much. The biggest thing I talked to him about is just do your job. If you do your job and play your technique, plays will be there. I think he settled down and really just started trusting his technique and not doing too much, and the plays started to come."

Woods said he has kept track of every defensive back he’s evaluated since 2006 and what he saw from Ward entering the draft has been true.

“When you look at him from a height and length standpoint, from the speed and from his quickness, that is what you really want in a No. 1 corner because he can match up with big guys and he can match up with quick guys,” Woods said. “When you have that combination, you really have a chance to have a special player. I definitely believe Denzel is that type of player, and I still feel like he has areas that he can improve and make him even better.”

Myles Garrett: ‘Continue to lead this defense. They will follow you’

Garrett is tied for third in the league with a career-high 15 sacks. He showed the disruptive force he can be when he strip-sacked Ravens backup quarterback Tyler Huntley, recovered the fumble and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown in a 24-22 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 12. Woods believes Garrett can get better with more high-level play.

“The guys who I have been around over the years — Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware — things come easy to those guys,” Woods said of Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Miller and former Dallas and Denver outside linebacker Ware. “With Myles, he is so dominant, it is really just playing at the highest level possible on every single snap.

“You guys all saw that this year and some of the games he was able to take over. For me, moving forward with Myles, it is just let’s have that type of performance as many times as possible. Continue to lead this defense. They will follow you. I think he has really tried to step up and become that type of person for us defensively, and he will continue to do that into next season.”

Greg Newsome II: ‘He’s a guy who is going to be here for a long time’

The 26th overall pick from Northwestern, Newsome thought he was hitting his stride just before he suffered a concussion on the last play of the last practice before a Dec. 12 home game against the Baltimore Ravens. Then he tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 22. But in 11 games (10 starts), Newsome has nine pass breakups, trailing only Ward, and has gained experience in the slot.

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“He is definitely another guy who I think has improved throughout the season,” Woods said. “For me, just being a DB guy and coaching corners, it is always those games where you have those premium matchups. He played throughout the season with some really good receivers and made some plays against them. This last game, they went after him in the RPO throws, and I think he stood up three times in a row and had three PBUs.

“For him, the confidence is there because he has played against really good receivers and made plays. He’s a guy who is going to be here for a long time and give us a lot of good play outside at corner and inside in the slot.”

Greedy Williams: ‘I am proud of Greedy’

Williams missed all of 2021 with nerve damage in his right shoulder suffered in a training camp tackling drill. A second-round pick from Louisiana State in 2019, Williams has played in 15 games (eight starts) and recorded two interceptions, seven passes defensed, and a forced fumble. Woods praised Williams for stepping up when the Browns were without Ward or Newsome.

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“I am proud of Greedy,” Woods said. “He is not 100 percent coming off of the injury. At times during the season, he got a little banged up, but he came back. He made big plays for us in several games. To have at least those three corners, that makes you feel good as a coordinator because you feel like you can call anything on your game plan.”

Malik McDowell: ‘He can be a dominant player ... in this league for a long time’

The Browns took a chance on defensive tackle Malik McDowell, signing him to a one-year, $660,000 contract on May 3 although he hadn’t played football since the 2016 season at Michigan State. The 35th overall pick by Seattle in 2017, McDowell suffered a brain injury in an ATV accident, and years of legal woes followed.

McDowell has started 13 of his 14 games and showed flashes of his college days with three sacks, a fumble recovery and a pass defensed, that a near interception at Pittsburgh Monday. Woods credited McDowell for embracing the teachings of defensive line coach Chris Kiffin and his assistant Jeremy Garrett.

“He did a good job. I am so happy for him with just everything he has gone through in his life to get through this point and to have a second opportunity,” Woods said. “There was a lot of unknown about him, but I think week in and week out, he trusted the coaching. Coach Kiffin and Coach Garrett did a great job with him.

“I refer to him as ‘Baby Huey.’ He just has that natural strength, and you saw it at times. I think for him to go through a normal offseason with his strength and conditioning, taking care of his nutrition and going through the defense hearing it from scratch, I think he can be a dominant player as a defensive lineman in this league for a long time.”

Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/browns. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Browns defense has talent for Myles Garrett to lead in 2022