The Jim Schwartz Factor
Photo Credit: Kirthmon F. Dozier via USA TODAY Sports
As training camp is nears, fans across Cleveland prepare for their first glimpse of the 2023 Browns. Amongst the new names and faces is a man many hope can be a season-altering difference maker. No, we’re not talking about a new defensive lineman or rookie wide receiver. Cleveland is hoping for the Jim Schwartz factor.
The Cleveland Browns’ up-and-down defense was among the more frustrating elements of the team last year – especially since there was more down than up. Fortunately for Browns fans – and unfortunately for the Browns’ opponents – the organization found exactly the right man to maximize their talent and turn them into a premier unit.
Schwartz has been one of the best in the game over the past 19 years, with stops in Tennessee, Buffalo, and, most recently, Philadelphia. He was also the head coach for the Detroit Lions for five years.
With stars like defensive ends Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney, cornerback Denzel Ward, and safety John Johnson, the Browns had the talent to be a top-tier defense last season, but they mightily underperformed at times. Schwartz has always been known as a defensive guru, and his presence could truly elevate all aspects Cleveland’s defense.
While going 7-10 last season, the Browns allowed 22.4 points per game, a paltry 20th in the league. They limited just four opponents to 14 or fewer points. In all, Cleveland was more successful defending the pass than the run. They ranked fifth in the league in passing attempts, passing yards, and passing touchdowns defensively. Conversely, the defense finished 23rd in rushing attempts, 25th in rushing yards, 29th in rushing touchdowns, and then 25th in yards per rushing attempt.
Outside of the secondary, Garrett was the only player in the box who stood out. He earned Pro Bowl honors — he was actually the only defensive player for the Browns to be named to the Pro Bowl — after racking up 16 sacks, 60 combined tackles, 18 tackles for a loss, and 26 quarterback hits.
No one else recorded more than three sacks. Playing in 12 games, Clowney recorded an abysmal two sacks to go with 28 combined tackles, four tackles for a loss, and four quarterback hits. He simply never lived up to expectations and has found himself back in free agency this summer.
Enter Schwartz.
Schwartz has thrived at nearly every stop as a coordinator. During his first three years in Tennessee, he coached the top-ranked, second-best, and fifth-best rushing defense, respectively. During his last two seasons in Tennessee, his defense commanded the eighth-best and second-best scoring average in the league.
After taking the helm in Detroit for five seasons, where the Lions struggled defensively, Schwartz caught on in Buffalo under head coach Doug Marrone.
During Schwartz’s only year in Western New York, the Bills ranked fourth in the league, allowing 18.1 points per game. Mario Williams, Jerry Hughes, and Marcell Dareus created chaos along the line of scrimmage with 10 or more sacks apiece. They had the top defense in the league in terms of passing touchdowns allowed, only allowed two teams to throw for more than 300 yards, and forced multiple turnovers in seven of their 16 games.
Despite the defensive success, Schwartz followed Marrone out the door at the end of the season before catching on with Philadelphia in 2016, where he stitched together another top-tier unit.
In 2017, when the Eagles went 13-3 in the regular season and defeated the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, they had the best rushing defense, allowing just 1,267 yards and seven rushing touchdowns all season. They also forced at least one turnover in 16 of their 19 contests and forced two or more in 10 of those games.
During Schwartz’s best years as a defensive coordinator, he was able to create pressure at the line of scrimmage and force turnovers on the back end. Cleveland’s defense is currently constructed to do the same. This unit is perfect for Schwartz’s preferences.
After a stellar season a year ago, Garrett is back along the defensive front and the Browns brought in defensive end Za’Darius Smith on the opposite side. Smith is coming off a difference making year in Minnesota with 10 sacks and 44 combined tackles with 15 tackles for a loss and 24 quarterback hits.
With Smith and Garrett, Schwartz will be able to scheme up pressure keeping teams from focusing on just Garrett.
Speaking of Minnesota, the Browns also signed defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, who at 6’3” and 325 lbs. can clog up the middle of the line. He’s never recorded more than 3.5 sacks in a season but has tallied at least 39 tackles in each of his six seasons in the league. He is a true run-stopping difference maker whose pure presence will allow Schwartz’s creativity to reign supreme. When you have that skilled of a tackle inside eating up blockers, Schwartz can have a heyday bringing pressure from all over the field.
Pair that front line ability with a secondary that is returning the safety tandem of Johnson and Grant Delpit and cornerbacks Ward and Greg Newsome II, and Schwartz has a lot of talent to work with.
Simply put, when Jim Schwartz has pieces, he is a master of his craft. If the Browns end up achieving their lofty goals in 2023, the Jim Schwartz factor will likely play a major role.
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