The Cleveland Browns have seen defensive greatness for several years now. All-World EDGE rusher Myles Garrett has won two “NFL Defensive Player of the Year” awards, and just last year, first-year linebacker Carson Schwesinger took home the “NFL Rookie Defensive Player of the Year” award.
The franchise has a history of having very good defensive units going all the way back to Paul Brown. During Marty Schottenheimer’s tenure in the late 1980s, Cleveland ranked in the Top-11 all four years on this side
of the ball, including being ranked #2 in 1987.
RELATED: LINEBACKER DEPTH CHART & EXPECTATIONS
Defense has always been important to the fanbase. Coaches have relied on having a stiff core of resistance.
There are levels in the NFL for every rookie:
- Year 1: eyes wide open, and learn
- Year 2: sophomore slump
- Year 3: show you belong and produce
- Year 4: contract year, play your tail off
Any rookie who has an exceptional year in their rookie season has a leg up on the remainder of the league. But with great success comes expectations.
Now that Schwesinger is the darling of 2025, he is gearing up for the upcoming season. He is coming in with a sense of excitement to prove his worth and value, and has familiarity, having played a year at the next level.
He led every NFL rookie defensive player with 146 total tackles. He also had 11 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 9 QB hits, 4 knockdowns, 2 hurries, 9 pressures, 3 batted passes, 10 missed tackles, and was tied for third in interceptions.
Training camp is right on top of all of us. He told team reporter Kelsey Russo:
“I think there’s a lot of things to get better at. Whether it’s just the preparation throughout the game week and figuring out really what to watch, how to watch film, and things like that.”
All during the offseason, Schwesinger has been at OTAs, minicamps, and working out at the facility. He has also been in attendance for the voluntary workout program the team has offered.
As much success as Schwesinger had last year, there has been plenty of change. The head coach is gone, and when the boss is let go, all of his assistant coaches are fired as well. The new head coach is able to retain any of the former staff, but usually the new guy will bring in his own people.
The Browns had plenty of defensive success with Jim Schwartz. In his place is Mike Rutenberg. For all of the defensive players, this means there is basically a clean slate going forward. Stats can be viewed in black and white, but seeing and doing in person trumps all paperwork.
Schwesinger wanted to meet his new bosses:
“Obviously, we have Rudy here and a lot of whole new coaches, so I think it’s important to get to meet them as well and understand them. I was excited to be around all the guys again and see them and be able to work with them.”
Among the changes this year is a guy the team signed in free agency that Rutenberg and the rest of the coaches are high on in fellow linebacker Quincy Williams, a seven-year veteran. In 2023, he earned First Team All-Pro honors while with the New York Jets. Despite the experience, Schwesinger will continue to carry the defensive green dot.
“For me, I just want to be able to do as much as I can and get better. But even just in this time, whether it’s improving the football knowledge, football intelligence, or just finding better ways to attack the ball and really get those punch outs. I think that’s something I’m really going to work on this year.”
New Browns head coach Todd Monken saw Schwesinger twice last year, and saw a rookie who played beyond his years, and was everywhere all the time. Monken stated:
“When we played against him, he was impressive. Run, chase, hit, very instinctual, loves football, outstanding leader, all of those things, and you’re like, well, they’re right. I’m damn glad he’s a Brown.”
When Monken was hired, he stated that the defense would pretty much remain the same. Rutenberg’s system will certainly have its own differences since he has never worked under Schwartz. Here is Monken’s quote during his introductory press conference:
“First off, my anticipation is we are not going to change the system. And I’m not gonna get into staffing. But they can rest assured that we’re gonna keep the same system. We’re still gonna let them attack. We’re still gonna let them play free. I can’t see it any other way.“
But things with the defense have already changed. Myles Garrett is now with the Los Angeles Rams. Under Schwartz, he won two “Defensive Player of the Year” awards. LB Devin Bush was shown the door despite having an exceptional season with his 125 total tackles and three interceptions. Along with Williams, DE Jared Verse is a new chess piece. And that’s even naming the drafted and undrafted rookies.
But one thing is for certain: Rutenberg isn’t going to alter Schwesinger’s role of playing fast, attacking, and running the defense. The success he had as a rookie will need to continue, but it isn’t guaranteed. Many a player has suffered the dreaded “sophomore curse” where the wheels fall off in their second year.
Schwesinger will have to focus on what’s next:
“Now I guess the mindset is just, what’s next? And keep building off of it.”
And just continuing to grow with this new Browns defense in terms of being persistent behind the line of scrimmage and being able to see things, ready for the next snap.
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
- New, improved notifications system!
