The Browns didn’t spend long searching for their defensive identity. After a rough opening week, Cleveland made a sharp adjustment in Week 2, and the difference showed up immediately.
New defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg entered the season with plenty on his plate. He took over a unit that had been among the league’s best, and even with the Browns trading out Myles Garrett for Jared Verse, the expectations around that group were still high.
Then Week 1 happened, and Jacksonville had its way with the defense. That performance sparked immediate questions about whether the Browns could still be dangerous without Garrett and whether Rutenberg was the right fit to run the unit.
A week later, the tone changed fast. Cleveland looked far more settled in the win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the biggest shift came in how the Browns lined up. After leaning heavily on zone in the opener, the defense went back to a much heavier dose of man coverage against Tampa Bay.
That mattered. Last season, Cleveland played man coverage more than any other team in the league, and it helped fuel a strong defense.
Under former coordinator Jim Schwartz, the Browns had used zone on 50% of their snaps across three seasons. But in Week 1 this year, Rutenberg had the defense in zone 67% of the time, and that change became a major talking point in Cleveland.
Browns defensive backs said they noticed the increase in zone, which was a clear departure from what they had played last season. After Jacksonville attacked that look, the questions came quickly.
Denzel Ward and Carson Schwesinger brushed them aside, insisting the unit simply needed to play better. Rutenberg, for his part, said he would call whatever gave his players the best chance to succeed.
In Week 2, that meant man coverage. The Browns used it more than any other team, and the results were better across the board. Cleveland gave up 234 passing yards in Week 1, then cut that number to 176 against Tampa Bay.
Rutenberg clearly saw the difference, and that points toward a heavy dose of man coverage going forward. The next test comes in Week 3 against Bryce Young and a Carolina Panthers passing game that has been rolling through two weeks. If Cleveland slows that down, the early doubts about this defense will start to fade fast.
In Other News...
Brian Brennans Browns Return Will Hit Longtime Fans Right Away
Brian Brennans return to Cleveland has a certain kind of pull for longtime Browns fans, the sort that reaches back to an era when the teams identity was built around familiar names and hard-earned loyalty. This week, the Browns are adding Brennan, Alex Mack and Lou Rymkus to the Browns Legends club during Week 3, a nod to three players whose careers each meant something different to the franchise and to the people who followed it closely.
The timing only sharpens the nostalgia, with Nick Chubb also back in the fold after signing a one-day contract and set to be honored at the upcoming game. Brennan spoke about his reaction to the induction and reflected on his career, and for fans who remember him best in orange and brown, the recognition lands as more than ceremonial. It is the kind of Browns moment that connects generations, even if the full emotional weight of it is still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Run Game Problem May Go Beyond The Offensive Line
Through two games, Clevelands rushing attack has been one of the early concerns around an offense that has not found much rhythm. Quinshon Judkins, in his second season, has been asked to do plenty of the heavy lifting, but the ground game has not gotten the traction the Browns need as they try to settle into the year.
The issue may not stop with the offensive lines run blocking. With Deshaun Watson working mostly in a condensed passing game and rarely pushing the ball beyond 10 yards, defenses have had little reason to respect the deeper threat, and that can make life harder for any run game trying to get established. For Cleveland, the challenge now looks a little bigger than just winning at the point of attack. [Read more 🡒]
Browns May Have Found The Best Way To Unlock Denzel Boston
Denzel Boston has wasted little time giving the Browns a reason to keep leaning into his ability to stretch the field. The rookie receiver became the first player since 1976 to post a 45-plus-yard receiving touchdown in each of his first two career games, and the early returns have already put him in a conversation the Browns did not expect to be having this soon: how best to build an offense around a player whose game is defined by size, speed and vertical damage.
One possible clue may be sitting with Carolina and Tetairoa McMillan, a second-year receiver whose profile looks strikingly similar to Bostons. The comparison is not just about body type, but about how a coaching staff can use those traits to create mismatches and open up the passing game, which is why the Browns could be studying the Panthers approach closely as they look for the cleanest way to unlock Bostons skill set. [Read more 🡒]