{"id":771408,"date":"2026-02-23T16:34:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T16:34:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/771408\/"},"modified":"2026-02-23T16:34:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T16:34:19","slug":"yes-virginia-the-defense-needs-attention-too-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/771408\/","title":{"rendered":"Yes, Virginia, the Defense Needs Attention, Too"},"content":{"rendered":"

CLEVELAND, Ohio (TheOBR.com<\/a>) Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans!<\/p>\n

THE DAILY BLOVIATION<\/p>\n

Yesterday, I wrote to you about concerns with the Browns linbacker corps, using JOK\u2019s likely exit from pro football and Devin Bush\u2019s impending free agency as reasons to work myself up into my usual lather of worry and paranoia. Today, I\u2019m back with a much clearer-headed (I\u2019m sure) look at the Browns\u2019 other opportunities to improve on defense. <\/p>\n

With one of the NFL\u2019s top defenses in 2025 (and likely the worst offense), most of the fascination about the Browns\u2019 upcoming free agency period has been on the offense. It\u2019s assumed that the Browns\u2019 first-round picks will be on the offensive side of the ball, and that the offensive line, in particular, will be a priority during free agency. <\/p>\n

Still, there\u2019s work to be done on defense, and with the exit of a very annoyed Jim Schwartz, the focus on the defensive side of the ball will be on continuity and depth. <\/p>\n

That need for continuity is emphasized by the team\u2019s approach to Schwartz\u2019s exit. The team\u2019s successful and fiery coordinator had to be replaced, but the team did so with Mike Rutenberg, as backfield guru who brings a lot of the same aggressive Wide 9 approach to the unit. The team then went on a promotion spree, handing out new titles and (one assumes) raises to keep other key members of the defensive staff like Ephraim Banda and Jason Tarver, both of whom interviewed for coordinator jobs here and elsewhere.<\/p>\n

As a result, Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger doesn\u2019t anticipate many changes to the defense\u2019s approach. Speaking on NFL Network\u2019s The Insiders, Schwesinger made it crystal clear<\/a>: \u201cOne of the big things for us is we wanted to keep a lot of the scheme the same. So in terms of that, I don\u2019t expect there to be a lot of changes.” That\u2019s smart, given that this defense ranked 4th in total yards allowed (283.6 per game) last season. When you have a formula that works\u2014especially one that just produced the NFL\u2019s Defensive Player of the Year in Myles Garrett and the Defensive Rookie of the Year in Schwesinger\u2014you don\u2019t blow it up. You refine it. Rutenberg might very well bring that refinement, applying his expertise in the pass game alongside a very aggressive front. <\/p>\n

Still, there are a couple of areas where the roster needs some work<\/a>. ESPN\u2019s Daniel Oyefusi argues that these areas of need are at cornerback, safety, and the interior defensive line<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the cornerback situation, because it\u2019s the most pressing. Remember Week 2 against Baltimore when Denzel Ward missed most of the second half with cramping? The Ravens immediately targeted replacement corner Cam Mitchell, and Lamar Jackson threw three touchdowns when Mitchell was in coverage. That sends a message about cornerback depth. Martin Emerson is a potential answer here, but he\u2019s coming back from an Achilles injury and will be a free agent who, in this NFL\u2019s pass-happy environment, is likely to garner interest if teams are confident he\u2019ll be healthy. <\/p>\n

Depth at safety is a similar concern. This could be easily addressed in the draft if the Browns had the luxury of drafting Caleb Downs, but the needs on offense are so acute that the top-flight safety doesn\u2019t seem like an option. Don\u2019t be shocked if the Browns take some action in these areas in free agency, since even with ten picks, there are uncertain answers at Day 2 and Day 3 of the NFL Draft crapshoot. <\/p>\n

So, folks, the Browns can\u2019t just focus entirely on offense, as much as they need to, when March 9th rolls around. <\/p>\n

Despite my nitpicking (insert frowny face emoji here), the Browns still have plenty of firepower on defense, starting with the aforementioned Myles Garrett, the most talented defensive player in the league, who set a single-season sack record in 2025 and has won Defensive Player of the Year two out of the last three seasons. <\/p>\n

Garrett isn\u2019t just thinking of running it back. He\u2019s thinking about immortality. In front of him lies Bruce Smith\u2019s record of 200 career sacks. He\u2019s 30 and has suggested before that he doesn\u2019t want to play until he\u2019s 40, but he also wants that record<\/a>. To get it, he needs 75 more sacks, which would be 15 per year over the next five years. This seems doable if Garrett stays healthy, and it can front-load this run with another big year in 2026. <\/p>\n

Myles also wants a Super Bowl ring, but that seems a distant dream with the Browns\u2019 current state. But anything is possible as the Browns gear up for their inaugural season in the new domed stadium and turn their full attention to fixing the offensive mess. Another couple of draft classes like the one they had in 2025, and anything could be possible, as long as they solve their quarterback problem.<\/p>\n

So, that would be quite a career. From top pick in the draft to a sack record, all while wearing a Cleveland Browns uniform, which speaks to a first-ballot Hall of Fame induction. Garrett would represent one of the top edge rushers, heck, defensive players of all time. Maybe the best edge rusher ever. Regardless, he\u2019ll be donning that gold jacket in Canton, offering a moment to remember for Browns fans<\/p>\n

And, despite all our travails and challenges as Browns fans, we were here to see it. Does that make everything else worth it? That\u2019s for you to decide, but we\u2019re very well watching history in the making. And we\u2019re here for it, and that\u2019s worth cherishing<\/p>\n

Have a good one! GO BROWNS!<\/p>\n

Newswire Bloviation Archive<\/a><\/p>\n

OBR GOODIES<\/p>\n

OBR ARTICLES<\/p>\n

– How Much Competition Will The Cleveland Browns Face In The Quarterback Market This Offseason<\/a> – Jack<\/p>\n

– Cleveland Browns News and Rumors 02\/22\/26: Bad Luck Finds the Browns Again<\/a> – Barry<\/p>\n

FROM THE FORUMS<\/p>\n

ASK THE INSIDERS<\/a> (VIP<\/a>)<\/p>\n

– New tab for draft analysis<\/a><\/p>\n

– Thoughts on how many Offensive Linemen and Wide receivers<\/a><\/p>\n

– Prayers for…<\/a><\/p>\n

– Teller Saying Goodbye<\/a><\/p>\n

– Thoughts on how many Offensive Linemen and Wide receivers<\/a><\/p>\n

RUMOR CENTRAL<\/a> (VIP<\/a>)<\/p>\n

– OL coach…….<\/a><\/p>\n

– The Browns have …<\/a><\/p>\n

– Mentioned previously……<\/a><\/p>\n

– Noted with certainly……<\/a><\/p>\n

– As noted in ATi days ago…..<\/a><\/p>\n

– Hearing …..<\/a><\/p>\n

– Have been told……<\/a><\/p>\n

– The situation with……<\/a><\/p>\n

THE WATERCOOLER<\/a><\/p>\n

– East Coast Blizzard<\/a><\/p>\n

– LiveWire Thread for 2\/22 – Twitter, Video, Articles<\/a><\/p>\n

– NFL Combine Feb.26 – March 1<\/a><\/p>\n

THE LIFT<\/p>\n

Positive news from the world of sports and beyond\u2026<\/p>\n

A risky maneuver could send a spacecraft to interstellar comet 3I\/ATLAS. Here\u2019s the plan<\/a> – Space.com<\/p>\n

When we first heard about this interstellar intruder, currently flying out of our solar system, space fiends couldn\u2019t help but be reminded of the old sci-fi book by Arthur C. Clarke, \u201cRendezvous with Rama,\u201d about a similarly shaped alien spacecraft. That doesn\u2019t appear to be the case here, but even if it\u2019s just a big rock, it\u2019s worth checking out to see what sort of things are out there in the cosmos. Seemed impossible given we were made aware of it late, and it\u2019s already on its way out of the solar system. Still, some clever humans have come up with a scheme that might just be able to get a spacecraft in its vicinity by 2035. That type of ingenuity (which I generally reserve for scientists and engineers) gives me hope. The world faces a lot of challenges, natural and man-made, but we might just be able to think our way to what seemed at one point to be impossible solutions. <\/p>\n

WRAPPING UP<\/p>\n

When not worrying about September in February,, Barry McBride is the Publisher and Founder of the OBR and bloviates this nonsense every morning. You can follow him on Twitter @barrymcbride<\/a> or write him at barry@theobr.com<\/a> if you are so compelled.<\/p>\n

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