The Cleveland Browns have gone through a boatload of changes during the offseason. Not only have they lost and gained multiple players, but they have also said goodbye to important coaching figures.
One of them was Jim Schwartz, the defensive mastermind who left as DC after not getting the head coach job. When Schwartz departed, Mike Rutenberg was hired, and he has some big shoes to fill. Writing on The Land On Demand, Tony Grossi talked about what Cleveland’s defense will look like in 2026.
According to Grossi, fans will see an approach similar to what Schwartz was doing.
“The mentality of the defense under new coordinator Mike Rutenberg will resemble what Jim Schwartz installed the last three years. The front four will attack and disrupt, and the linebackers are responsible for cleaning up and fixing whatever the front four leaves behind. The tweaks in the Rutenberg scheme center on the secondary. Things the Browns are good at: 1. Attacking the quarterback up front. 2. Playing press coverage with cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell,” Grossi wrote.
On paper, all of this sounds very good. The idea of attacking and disrupting opponents is a great approach, and the Browns now have more youth and speed to make that happen.
However, Grossi also said that Cleveland’s plan will be to attack the quarterback. That will be easier said than done, especially now that Myles Garrett isn’t with the team. Garrett is a quarterback’s worst nightmare, as evidenced by his record-setting number of sacks last year. Without him, the Browns may have trouble getting a hold of QBs.
Even though some of the faces have changed, the Browns will be playing a similar kind of defense. It worked well under Schwartz, and there is a hope that it can stay consistent in 2026. But there is a chance of growing pains and setbacks under new leadership.
When Rutenberg was hired, fans wondered just how much he’d borrow from Schwartz’s plans. It sounds like he will attempt to pick up where Schwartz left off and carry the torch forward.
If he can achieve that, the Browns’ defense may not skip a beat and will continue delivering.
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