Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, Aug. 28, 2014

Defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil and head coach Mike Pettine have been armed by the front office to upgrade the defense.

(Thomas Ondrey / The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Talking to myself about the Browns loving defensive backs...

Question: The Browns have 12 defensive backs, right?

Answer: That's right ... a dozen DBs.

Q: And there are only 53 guys on the roster, right? So 12 of 53 are defensive backs? And that's OK with you?

A: At first, I wondered what they were doing. The team not only has 12 defensive backs, but they have 27 players on defense. That compares to 23 on offense, three on special teams.

Q: OK, what about that?

A: The heart of this team must be defense. It where you find most of the big money.

Q: Are you making a Gerard Warren reference?

A: Better than one of those "gut feelings" from Butch Davis. But look at the payroll. The cash on defense. There are a variety of ways to look at payroll, but eight of 11 top players in salary this season are on defense. The only ones from offense are Joe Thomas, Alex Mack and Andrew Hawkins.

Q: Meaning what?

A: Keep looking at the roster. In the last two years, the four biggest free agent signings were all on defense: Paul Kruger, Desmond Bryant, Karlos Dansby and Donte Whitner. The top picks in the last two drafts were on defense: Barkevious Mingo (2013) and Justin Gilbert (2014). And they just signed Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden to a huge $67 million contract extension.

Q: But this means what when it comes to 12 defensive backs?

A: That General Manager Ray Farmer believes Mike Pettine can build an elite defense. And he wants his head coach to have the type of roster that he needs for that to happen.

Q: So this is Pettine's idea?

A: Of course. Farmer is a former NFL linebacker, so he values defense. But it's Pettine who said, "(This is) just with how it's become such a passing league. You need to carry a high number of DBs, especially corners." A year ago, Pettine had 11 defensive backs on his opening day roster as the Bills' defensive coordinator.

Q: Why so many?

A: According to Football Outsiders, Pettine used six or more defensive backs on 22 percent of the snaps. By comparison, former Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton used at least six backs only 6 percent of the time. (By the way, the Football Outsiders guide is worth buying for serious NFL fans.)

Q: So Pettine loves defensive backs; I thought he likes to blitz?

A: The Football Outsiders said Buffalo had the NFL's best defense against short/medium passes (15 or fewer yards in the air). The Bills also had 30 sacks on third or fourth down, no other team had more than 23.

Q: What does all this mean?

A: Pettine blitzes with some of those defensive backs. He values speed. His Bills were second overall in sacks last season (57). The Browns ranked 16th with 40.

Q: Didn't we hear all this talk last season about pressure defense from Horton?

A: Yes, and his defense was a major disappointment. The Browns had 40 sacks last season. In 2012, they played in a more conservative 4-3 defense coached by Dick Jauron, and they had 38 sacks. So not much changed.

Q: Why do you think Pettine will make a difference?

A: Granted, I'm basing a lot of this on what Pettine did in Buffalo. In his one season there, he raised the sack total from 36 to 57. While he has Jim O'Neil as his defensive coordinator, this is Pettine's plan. O'Neil coached with Pettine in Buffalo.

Q: Didn't Horton have all these great stats and indicators of improvement when he was with the Arizona Cardinals in 2011-12?

A: Yes, he did.

Q: And not much changed, did it?

A: The shocking story was the decline of the defense in 2013. According to Football Outsiders, they ranked No. 24 (compared to No. 5 for Buffalo). On third down, it was No. 31. In the red zone, it was No. 32. Buffalo was No. 5 in those categories.

Q: So why will it improve now?

A: The best way for that to happen is for the front office to build the type of roster that the coach wants on defense. A year ago, Horton had only eight defensive backs -- but he kept 10 linebackers. Pettine has only eight linebackers. He thinks he has a lot of good cornerbacks, so the roster tilts in that direction.

Q: So you like 12 defensive backs?

A: It still sounds like too many, but I'd really love to see a good defense. And if Pettine thinks he needs 12 defensive backs (and Farmer agrees), I'm willing to see if they are right.