Of course, that began with getting Brown back from the knee injury that cost him the rest of the season.
Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero has pointed to the improved performance in run defense this year (allowing just 82 yards on the ground last week against the Cardinals, after 200 against Jacksonville, with 72 of it coming on one play), and Brown’s large presence in that.
“The biggest difference between Week 1 and Week 2 was the explosive runs,” Evero said. “So obviously, Week 1, we gave up three or four runs that led to big gains, and we were able to get rid of those, really, in the second week. And so I thought for the most part, we’ve done a good job between our D-linemen and our outside backers really playing against the opposing teams’ offensive lines, and so I felt good about how we played. Obviously, Week 1, there were a couple of things we didn’t fit correctly, and it came back to bite us. And so just continuing to understand like where everybody fits in the puzzle and when they run the ball, how we play up front, how we play off of the second level, and understand how people are attacking us.
“So I thought we had a better job or did a better job of that Week 2, and yeah, certainly you have a player of Derrick’s caliber in there, it’s going to make a big big difference and he’s another one, he did a good job Week 1, in Week 2 he was dominant. And when he plays that way it’s really good for us.”