2015 Browns Position Previews: Safeties

The 2015 Cleveland Browns season is drawing nearer and nearer as each summer day passes. After a fun Cavs season and in the middle of an up-and-down Indians season, the Browns are getting set to take the field for training camp in just under a month. Over the course of the next number of weeks, I will preview each position group on Mike Pettine’s Cleveland Browns. First up in our series is the talented safety group of the Browns.

Safeties

Additions

Ibraheim Campbell (Draft — 4th Round from Northwestern)

Subtractions

Jim Leonhard (Retired)

The Starters: SS Donte Whitner and FS Tashaun Gipson

Donte Whitner and Tashaun Gipson made a pretty darn good safety duo for the Browns last season. The two did not play all 16 games together because of injuries, but when they were on the field, they played very well. The two starting safeties both received two of the top four grades on the Browns defense by Pro Football Focus, with Gipson earning a 10.3 grade and Whitner getting a 9.6.

Strong safety Donte Whitner, 29, is entering his tenth season in the NFL. Last season, he led the team in tackles with 106, while also notching one interception, one forced fumble and five passes defended. Whitner is a hard hitting safety who became the leader of the secondary in his first season with the Browns last year. The Cleveland native showed his passion and love for the city each and every game. As the strong safety in Mike Pettine’s defense, Whitner played well against both the run and pass during the 2015 season. He plays downhill and with toughness and physicality. Even with his climbing age, Whitner still has the athleticism and speed to be a good starting safety for the Browns.

Free safety Tashaun Gipson, 24, had a coming out party in his third NFL season last year. Before his season-ending knee injury, Gipson played in 11 games, intercepting six passes along with 52 tackles, one forced fumble, and eight passes defended. His six interceptions was the second most in the league last year and that was just in 11 games. Gipson is a prototypical free safety who ball-hawks in the secondary. He is excellent at reading and reacting quickly to a pass and making a play on the ball. If Gipson can stay healthy, he could catapult into the top of the NFL safety class.

This coming season, the duo of Whitner and Gipson will lead one of the best secondaries in the entire league in my opinion. Whitner and Gipson are great complements to each other, with Whitner as a downhill hard hitter and Gipson a ball-hawking playmaker. Gipson and Whitner have different roles in Pettine’s defense and both bring valuable skills to the secondary. The key to their success will be their ability to stay healthy. The safety group took a hit when Gipson went down with his knee injury. Their play this year will be a huge part of the success of the Browns secondary and entire defense.

Contributing Safeties: FS Jordan Poyer

Jordan Poyer is a solid backup free safety. Last season in limited action, Poyer had 21 tackles and forced two fumbles. Pro Football Focus gave him a positive grade of 1.4 for 117 snaps he played on defense. He did not play in every game last season, and did not see full time in any game. But with the loss of Jim Leonhard to retirement, Poyer should be the main backup for Gipson and Whitner.

Beyond his play on defense, Poyer adds a lot of value on special teams. He plays on both kickoff and punt coverage, and can return punts and picks if needed. He has a spot on the team because of his special teams contributions, but his defensive skills should not be overlooked.

Strictly Special Team Contributors: Johnson Bademosi and Ibraheim Campbell

Johnson Bademosi is an extremely productive special teams player, playing as the gunner for both punt and kickoff coverage. Last season he had 12 tackles for the Browns. He does not give much on defense, but his hustle and toughness on special teams earn him a spot on the roster. Bademosi is likely to stay on the team because of his outstanding kick coverage.

Ibraheim Campbell was the Browns fourth round pick this season from Northwestern. He is slated to be a strong safety in the league, but most likely for now he will be focusing on special teams. He played on the kick coverage team in college, so he should be able to find a spot on special teams. On defense, he will most likely sit and learn this season unless he really impresses the coaches. Campbell’s intelligence and character should make him a player who will fit well as a special teams player next season.

Other Safeties on Roster: Micah Pellerin

Micah Pellerin will have a difficult time making the team because of the players in front of him on the depth chart.

Biggest Strength: The Starters

The strength of the Browns safety group is their two Pro Bowl caliber starters. Whitner and Gipson are great complements, contributing both in the pass and run defense. Whitner is a tough, in-the-box safety, while Gipson is a centerfielder in coverage. There are not many other teams who can boast the talent of the their two starting safeties like the Browns can. They form a strong backend of what could be a talented Browns defense.

Biggest Weakness: Depth

The Browns lost a pretty big piece in Jim Leonhard this offseason. While undersized, he gave the Browns a backup safety with a lot of starting experience. The team is now one injury away from having to play one of their backup safeties, and the playing experience is simply not there. Poyer has not played much extended time on defense and the other two safeties, Bademosi and Campbell, have virtually none. It will be a tough situation if the Browns have to rely on their backups to play extended snaps.

Biggest Position Battle: Backup Safety

The biggest position battle for the safeties this preseason will be the one for the main backup safety spot. With Jim Leonhard gone, Poyer, Bademosi, and Campbell will fight to be the third safety on the depth chart. Poyer is the favorite to win this spot, but Campbell could surprise and make headway to be the team’s main backup option at safety. Bademosi will most likely stick to being just a special teams contributor.

Grade: A-

The starters are excellent at the two safety spots, earning them a high grade from me. They are playmakers and leaders in the secondary. The grade for the safety group is dropped a little bit because of the lack of depth overall. There is not a real good option as a backup safety for the team. But, the starting two make this position a position of strength for the Browns.