The Opening Drive 9/17: Browns High 12 Personnel Preference Creates Questions for Packers' Micah Parsons Usage
The Browns multi-TE personnel is likely to force Green Bay to unveil their intentions.
The Browns will play their first non-divisional game of the season on Sunday, hosting the red-hot Packers. The Packers are serious Super Bowl contenders after trading for Micah Parsons to strengthen their already stout defense.
So, what can the Browns expect from this Packers defense, now headed up by Jeff Hafley? Hafley converted the Packers defense from the 3:4 base to a more traditional 4:3 and uses widely popular simulated pressure looks to show five and six man pressures, dropping players into coverage at the snap. They will commit five to the pass rush at times. The Ravens' film will serve as a notable source for the Packers as they consistently manipulated the Browns' protections with simulated pressures and then dropped a weak-side defender into coverage, creating all kinds of issues for the Browns' offensive line. This has to be a point of focus for the Browns' offense this week.
The Packers play a lot of zone on the backend, including Cover 3, Cover 2, and some Cover 1. They played zone coverage 78.2% of the time in 2024, which was the ninth-highest rate in the NFL.
The central question for the Packers' defense against the Browns involves how they plan to utilize Micah Parsons. The Packers played six snaps of base (three linebackers on the field) 4-3 against Washington last week and have only played 23 snaps in base personnel since Parsons joined them this season. In those 23 snaps, Parsons was only on the field for seven plays (30%). Parsons has been a more consistent mainstay on the field when they are in "nickel" or their "cheetah" personnel package, playing 70 of 112 snaps (70%).
Things get interesting, as the Browns are expected to continue their high percentage of 12 personnel, which the Packers typically match with their base defense. The Packers and Hafley will face decisions on how they want to utilize Parsons in the base defense. It's possible that he could play some linebacker, similar to his role in Dallas, but that remains uncertain at this point. Sunday will serve as an unveiling of sorts for a Packers defense that has generally opted to keep him off the field when in their base defense during the few snaps they've played with that personnel. With the Browns expected to lean into their usage of 12 personnel, the Packers have a mini-bye since playing last Thursday night to decide how they want to deploy Parsons in their base defense.
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The Browns made some personnel changes to their practice squad on Tuesday as they released (T) Logan Brown, (DT) Ralph Holley, and (CB) LaMareon James. In turn, they signed (CB) Tre Avery, WR Gage Larvadain, (T) Joshua Miles, and (T) Tyre Phillips to the practice squad.
Larvadain was released from the 53 to make room for Quinshon Judkins last week and is making his way back to the team via the practice squad, where he might be a candidate for elevation to the 53 this week with DeAndre Carter in concussion protocol. Larvadain returned punts during training camp and the offseason when Carter wasn't doing it, and Isaiah Bond had some shaky moments returning punts on Sunday.
Joshua Miles, 29, was a seventh-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2019 draft. Miles has played in 18 career NFL games, primarily with the Arizona Cardinals (10 games in 2021, 7 games in 2019). He spent time on practice squads with the Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants. The Chicago Bears signed him in January 2025. The Morgan State graduate will wear number 66 on the Browns' practice squad.
Tyre Phillips (6-5, 330) is in his fifth NFL season out of Mississippi State. Baltimore initially drafted him in the third round in 2020. Phillips has appeared in 47 career games with the Ravens (2020-21) and Giants (2022-24). He will wear No. 69 with the Browns.
Tre Avery (5-11, 185) is in his fourth NFL season out of Rutgers. The Titans signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2022. Avery has appeared in 38 career games with Tennessee (2022-24). He will wear No. 28 for the Browns. Avery contributed in his first two seasons with the Titans and was let go after last season, making brief stops in New England and Tampa Bay this offseason. He lands on the Browns roster, where they need some help at the cornerback position.
It is a surprise to see them part ways with LaMareon James, who was one of their priority UDFAs this offseason, to make way for some more veteran players on the practice squad.
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Browns Film Breakdown will return today with the full All-22 defensive breakdown.
