A lot of the success for the Cleveland Browns in the 2023 season can be attributed to the performance of their defense. Cleveland has one of the most productive units in the NFL on that side of the ball, ranking third in points allowed and first in yardage.
Whether it is through the air or on the ground, the Browns have figured out a way to slow down their opponents. The addition of Jim Schwartz as the defensive coordinator has been the most impactful move of the offseason as he helped turn around what was an underwhelming defense in 2022.
A strong pass rush led by Myles Garrett makes everything easier for the defense. Knowing he can cause havoc by himself enables Schwartz to scheme and give help elsewhere on the defense. One unit he rarely gives any help to is the cornerbacks.
Schwartz relied heavily on his defensive backs to play man-to-man coverage. If they don’t succeed, the unit will crumble. That is why Jake Trotter of ESPN has selected their man coverage numbers as the stat that defined the first half of the Browns’ 2023 season.
“The Browns have leaned on their defensive backs to hold up in man-to-man coverage (53.6% of the time) and they have delivered. Cleveland is No. 1 in the NFL in lowest opposing QBR when in man (18.2). The next closest defense is the Ravens, who have an opposing man QBR of 27.5,” Trotter wrote.
Denzel Ward, Martin Emerson Jr. and Greg Newsome II are the trio Schwartz relies on at the cornerback position. All three have done an excellent job this season, playing a big part in the team’s success against the pass.
In addition to the stats Trotter provided, the Browns have given up the fewest passing yards in the NFL thus far with 1,160 through eight games. They have allowed a score on only 20.8 percent of offensive possessions and have forced a turnover on 12.3 percent of possessions.
This is an opportunistic defense that has done a great job of creating turnovers and stalling out drives. The Browns have needed every bit of that production as the offense has been a mess with P.J. Walker and Dorian Thompson-Robinson playing significant snaps in half of the games this season.
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