What can Sean Desai do for the Browns?
The fourth defensive coordinator candidate is in Berea Sean Desai, the Cleveland Browns’ interviewer, joins them now Brian Flores, Jim SchwartzDennard Wilson, and. Jerod Mayo may have chosen to remain with the New England Patriots rather than interviewing in Cleveland (or even for the job as head coach with the Carolina Panthers), but the Browns are still evaluating a strong pool of candidates.
Desai is looking to impress the Browns leadership with his interview. What can he bring to the table? We take a look here at Desai’s defensive philosophy and why he is so universally respected around the league.
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Sean Desai: Get to Know Sean
Browns DC candidate Sean Desai. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr USA TODAY Sports
Desai, a disciple of Vic Fangio, one of the most important defensive minds of the last 20 years, has already had many (short-lived!) opportunities at only 39 years old. Desai was the first Indian coach to become a NFL coordinator.
Desai began his coaching career at Temple in 2006 as a special teams and defensive assistant. After a year, he moved to Miami as the University of Miami’s assistant director of football operations. He returned to Boston to become the special teams coordinator and running backs coach of the Boston College Eagles the following year.
He made his NFL transition in 2013 with the Chicago Bears, under Marc Trestman. Desai began his NFL career working as a quality control assistant. He was retained by John Fox and Matt Nagy who kept Desai on the staff. Desai was promoted to safety coach and then to defensive coordinator at Chicago.
Desai was fired after just one season as defensive coordinator. The Bears hired Matt Eberflus, a defensive-minded head coaching coach. Desai then moved to the Pacific Northwest, where he was appointed assistant head coach and defensive assistant for the Seattle Seahawks.
What would he bring to the Browns?
Browns DC candidate Sean Desai. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada USA TODAY Sports
Desai’s hiring would signal a shift to a 3-4, as he prefers tite fronts. This is just like Flores. He mixes in many four-man fronts, especially when he is getting into nickel and dime looks. Desai would have a lot of versatility with the Cleveland defensive ends, but he also has another speed rusher. an overhaul at defensive tackle This is what will be required.
The Browns have the personnel, with some tweaks, to operate a tite line in base defense, before shifting back into a 4-man front for the majority. The argument about the 3-4 vs. the 4-3 is not relevant to actual NFL minds or personnel, since teams run base defense only on 25 percent of games.
Desai’s ability to confuse QBs using exotic coverages is what makes him famous
Browns DC candidate Sean Desai. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada USA TODAY Sports
Here is where Desai, and other Fangio tree men, make their living. They are known for being imaginative and innovative in the back end. Outside of safety, who knows? The Browns are able to retain their core personnel without too much turnover, even if they hire a new defensive coordinator.
Under Desai’s guidance, Grant Delpit might continue to rise up the ranks. He has a strong preference for Cover 4 and variations out of quarters looks like Cover 6 (quarter-quarter-half). Shawn Syed, Daily Norseman breaks it down best.
Desai would have the Browns sit in two-high looks. This isn’t a new look for them. However, this would make the increase in Browns play a little more meaningful. Desai will rotate post-snap so that quarterbacks are not in a tight spot.
Do you feel he enjoys putting pressure on others?
Browns DC candidate Sean Desai. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr USA TODAY Sports
Desai and the Fangio tree guys don’t bring too much pressure. His blitz rate in his one season with the Chicago Bears sat right around 22 percent, which was on par with Woods’ rate in Cleveland. It’s not about the pressure Schwartz brings to the table, which is why Schwartz has not been a great coach. But it is about how creatively one can identify their top talent.
Myles Garrett was double-teamed the highest of all pass rushers in the NFL last year. Desai could win more one-on-one look off the edge with him than that. Although blitzing can be a bad thing, Desai and his Fangio team do a great job giving their talent every chance to win, even though it’s only four men.
Sean Desai’s final thoughts
Browns DC Sean Desai. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr USA TODAY Sports
Desai is an incredibly respected figure in the league and many consider him to be the best candidate after Brian Flores.
It will be fascinating to see how Desai draws from the two major names that he was influenced by. Fangio is well-known for his Cover 4 Cover 6 and Cover 8 work. Fangio loves exotic Cover-1 looks that resemble robber or lurk.
Although he is not keen to bring multiple people to the blitz as it could compromise his coverage, he will use his coverage disguises for quarterbacks to confuse them enough to allow his talent to arrive on time. Desai, a backend-oriented coordinator believes that the secondary should perform the bulk of the work to support the front. Browns’ backend talent makes it easy to move into this scheme.
Fangio proteges continue to pop up all over the league. Desai is just one year old after working in Chicago. Desai could be the best candidate to interview in Berea, outside of Flores.
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