Based on first impressions, the Cleveland Browns’ new coaching staff looked to be in over their heads. Head coach Todd Monken’s controversial decision to start Deshaun Watson at quarterback did not pay off, and on defense, the Browns were even worse, unable to stop the Jacksonville Jaguars from scoring at will in a 34-10 loss.
Fortunately, Mike Rutenberg learned some valuable lessons from his first game as an NFL defensive coordinator. Replacing well-regarded veteran Jim Schwartz, Rutenberg changed course right away, and it has paid off.
Heading into Cleveland’s Week 5 game against the New York Jets, insider Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN revealed what’s behind the resurgence of the Browns defense, and it is a switch from almost no man-to-man coverage to playing the most in the league.
“The resurgence of the Browns defense has played a big role in Cleveland’s three-game winning streak, and here’s why. In their first game under new defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg, the Browns played an abnormal amount of zone coverage, 80 percent to be exact, and that’s way more than they had played under former defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. But after getting blown out by the Jags in Week 1, the Browns returned to a tried-and-tested formula on defense, playing a whole bunch of aggressive man coverage. In fact, this season, the Browns have played man coverage on a league-high 50 percent of opponent dropbacks, and they are excelling at it,” Oyefusi said.
In Week 1, the Jaguars scored on their first four drives and six of their first seven. Browns cornerback Denzel Ward said there were some internal conversations after that game, and it seems to have created the necessary changes.
The turnaround started in Week 2, when Cleveland allowed just one touchdown and 182 passing yards to Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 23-19 win. Facing the red-hot Carolina Panthers in Week 3, it again allowed just one touchdown, with Bryce Young throwing for 291 yards.
Then, in Week 4, the Browns sacked Aaron Rodgers five times and intercepted him twice, but he was still able to rally the Pittsburgh Steelers with two fourth-quarter touchdowns to tie the game. Watson countered with his third straight game-winning drive, setting up a long field goal for the 27-24 win.
Cleveland’s pass coverage is being led by Ward, who is grading out as one of the top cornerbacks in the league in his eighth season. The secondary has helped improve the pass rush, which still managed to get to Rodgers even after losing Mason Graham to injury in the first quarter.
Now, they get to face Jets quarterback Geno Smith after having great success against him last season when he was with the Las Vegas Raiders.
NEXT: Insider Reveals The Most Impressive Part Of Browns' Great Start
