Tucker settling into new role

01.22.2008

MOBILE, Ala. -- Mel Tucker has already made his first on-the-fly adjustment as Browns defensive coordinator.

And he made it on himself.

It happened Monday, as Tucker settled into his seat at the South team's Senior Bowl practice and locked in on the defensive backs.

"I kind of laughed at myself," he said. "I looked around to see if anyone else caught me, then I got up and kind of casually walked over towards the defensive linemen. I have to broaden my scope a little bit."

What he's used watching is now changing, and he's now in charge of changing the Browns' defensive struggles of the past few years into areas of strength. After three years as the team's defensive backs coach, Tucker was promoted to defensive coordinator on Jan. 12.

Tucker, 38, is a Cleveland native who served as co-defensive coordinator in 2004 at Ohio State before coming to the Browns.

"This is all very exciting for me," Tucker said. "It's a great challenge, but it's one I'm prepared for."

The challenge for Tucker is to improve a Browns defense that ranked near the bottom of the NFL in total defense for most of last season. The Browns won 10 games despite surrendering 382 points and an average of 100 rushing yards per game.

They were better during the second half of the season with a mostly healthy front seven and young talent in the secondary that matured on the fly. And it's those young players -- Kamerion Wimbley, Sean Jones, D'Qwell Jackson and Brodney Pool to name a few -- who make Tucker believe the Browns can make significant improvements in 2008 and beyond.

"I have very positive feelings about the future," he said. "I think we have some really talented young players that are growing and have had some success. We'd like them to have more, but I think there are some things they can build on.

"I don't think we need (drastic changes). We have a system in place that I think is sound and solid. Obviously there are some areas of improvement, and we know what they are. We've identified them, and now it's a matter of our approach -- how we go about getting it fixed, getting guys better. With some of the guys we have in place, and obviously the draft and free agency coming up I think we'll be able to improve the defense."

The Browns have plenty of improving to do after finishing last season 27th in the NFL against the run and 24th against the pass. And while Tucker knows additional depth, an improved defensive backfield that's growing on the job and an improved pass rush would certainly help, it starts with being better against the run.

"Obviously stopping the run is one of those areas we need to improve, and that's going to be an emphasis," he said. "With any good defense it always starts there. We're going to spend quite a bit of time taking a hard look at that and some things we need to do to shore that up.

"As the young defensive backs played better last year, that solidified things for us. I think we have a good mix of young guys and veterans. Phil (Savage) has done a good job of bringing in guys and infusing some youth, and those young guys still have room to grow. I think that bodes well to have young guys that have talent and still have high ceilings."

Tucker is a lifelong Browns fan who graduated from Cleveland Heights High School. He remembers attending games at Cleveland Municipal Stadium with his father and others with his friends, riding the bus "and always staying to the end, no matter how cold it was," he said.

"It's a special town and a special organization. It all means a lot to me and the people I grew up with, my family and friends. It's more than just a job. It's a part of my life."

This week, he's getting his first glimpse at the 2008 draft pool. And though he's seen each Senior Bowl team just once so far, he does see some players who potentially could help the Browns.

"Right now, you're looking at bodies moving around," he said. "It looks like there are some nice sized guys out there, some guys that can run and have high motors and things like that.

"Its going to be interesting for me to see who really sticks out at the end and see what type of impression I have when I go back to Cleveland. But there are definitely some guys in this game that can help somebody in the NFL next season. I always enjoyed recruiting in college and it's kind of the same thing here. You see guys who are good players, you just never know who they're going to be playing for.

"Anytime you can add speed to your defense, you do it. Speed is one thing you can't coach. That's definitely something we'll look to add, and if we can we will. The faster the better."