Defensive Coordinator's Scheme Evaluated for the Cleveland Browns

In the NFL, a defensive coordinator’s scheme can make or break a team’s success—shaping how players perform, how opponents are neutralized, and ultimately, how many games are won. For the Cleveland Browns, whose defense boasts star talent like Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward, evaluating the current defensive coordinator’s scheme has become a focal point halfway through the season. The scheme, which blends elements of 4-3 and 3-4 alignments with a focus on pressure and zone coverage, has shown both strengths and weaknesses this year—leading analysts, fans, and team leadership to assess its effectiveness. Defensive Coordinator's Scheme Evaluated for the Cleveland Browns dives into the key components of the scheme, its performance against different opponents, and whether adjustments are needed to keep the Browns competitive in the tough AFC North.

Defensive Coordinator's Scheme Evaluated for the Cleveland Browns begins with the core of the scheme—blending pressure and coverage. The Browns’ defensive coordinator has built a system that prioritizes two things: generating consistent pass rush and limiting big plays in the secondary. At its heart, the scheme uses a base 4-3 alignment (four defensive linemen, three linebackers) but frequently shifts to a 3-4 look (three linemen, four linebackers) to confuse opposing quarterbacks. This flexibility allows players like Garrett—one of the league’s top edge rushers—to line up in different spots, making him harder to block. The coverage scheme leans heavily on zone principles, with linebackers and safeties dropping into specific areas to cut off passing lanes, while cornerbacks play tight man-to-man on the perimeter in obvious passing downs. “The scheme is designed to create chaos for offenses,” said a former NFL defensive lineman turned analyst. “By mixing alignments and coverage, it forces quarterbacks to make quick decisions—and that’s where mistakes happen.” Through the first 10 games, this approach has led to 28 sacks (tied for 8th in the NFL) and 11 interceptions, showing it can disrupt opposing attacks.

A key part of the evaluation is performance against run and pass—mixed results this season. While the Browns’ defense has excelled at pressuring quarterbacks, it has struggled to stop the run consistently—a notable flaw in the scheme. Through 10 games, the Browns rank 22nd in the league in rushing yards allowed per game (120.5), giving up big plays to running backs like the Bengals’ Joe Mixon and the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson. Analysts point to the scheme’s tendency to overcommit to pass rush on early downs, leaving gaps in the run defense that opponents exploit. On the flip side, the pass defense has been more solid, ranking 15th in passing yards allowed per game (225.3) and holding top quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes to under 250 yards in their matchup. The zone coverage has been particularly effective against short-pass offenses, forcing teams to dink and dunk instead of hitting deep plays. “The scheme is better suited for stopping the pass than the run,” said a defensive analytics expert. “Against teams that commit to the run, the defense often looks out of sync—something the coordinator will need to fix.”

Defensive Coordinator's Scheme Evaluated for the Cleveland Browns also includes adaptability against different offensive styles for the Cleveland Browns. One of the biggest tests of a defensive scheme is how well it adjusts to opposing offenses—and for the Cleveland Browns, this has been a mixed bag. Against spread offenses (like the Kansas City Chiefs), the scheme has performed well: the zone coverage clogs passing lanes, and the flexible alignments allow the defense to match up with multiple receivers. However, against power-running teams (like the Pittsburgh Steelers), the scheme has struggled. The Steelers, for example, rushed for 165 yards against the Browns in Week 8, using simple gap runs that exploited the defense’s overshifted linemen. “The scheme lacks a clear run-stopping package for power teams,” said a Browns beat writer. “Instead of adjusting to slow the run, the coordinator stuck with the same pressure-heavy approach, which backfired.” For the Cleveland Browns, this lack of adaptability is a concern—especially in the AFC North, where teams like the Ravens and Steelers rely heavily on the run. To compete in the division, the scheme will need to add more run-focused packages that keep gaps plugged.

Another factor in the evaluation is player fit—maximizing star talent for the Cleveland Browns. A good scheme should highlight its players’ strengths—and for the Cleveland Browns, the current defensive scheme has done well by Myles Garrett but hasn’t always maximized other stars. Garrett, who thrives on one-on-one matchups, has 12 sacks this season—thanks in large part to the scheme’s ability to line him up in favorable spots (like against backup tackles). However, the scheme has underutilized linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, a fast, athletic player who excels in coverage. Owusu-Koramoah has been limited to run-stopping duties for much of the season, leaving his coverage skills untapped against pass-heavy teams. “The scheme should let Owusu-Koramoah roam more in the secondary,” said a former NFL linebacker. “He has the speed to cover tight ends and running backs, but right now, he’s stuck in a rigid run-stopping role.” For the Cleveland Browns, getting more out of players like Owusu-Koramoah could elevate the defense from good to great. The coordinator will need to tweak the scheme to give these players more freedom to use their unique skills.

Defensive Coordinator's Scheme Evaluated for the Cleveland Browns also highlights fan and media reaction—calls for adjustments for the Cleveland Browns. As the season has progressed, fans and media have grown more vocal about the scheme’s flaws—especially after losses to division rivals. After the Week 8 loss to the Steelers, local sports radio hosts criticized the coordinator for not adjusting the run defense, while fans took to social media to demand more aggressive packages. Even some former Browns players have weighed in: “The scheme works when it’s balanced, but right now, it’s too focused on pass rush,” said a former Browns defensive lineman. “You can’t win in this division if you can’t stop the run.” For the Cleveland Browns, this external pressure is something the organization is monitoring. While team leadership has publicly supported the coordinator, they’ve also hinted that adjustments may be coming. “We’re always evaluating every part of our team, including the scheme,” said Browns general manager Andrew Berry. “If changes are needed to help us win, we’ll make them.”

Defensive Coordinator's Scheme Evaluated for the Cleveland Browns wraps up with the path forward—tweaks vs. overhauls. After a thorough evaluation, it’s clear the Browns’ defensive scheme isn’t broken—but it needs adjustments. The core of the scheme (pressure and zone coverage) works against pass-heavy teams, but adding more run-stopping packages, utilizing players like Owusu-Koramoah in coverage, and being more adaptable to different offensive styles will be key. The coordinator has already shown signs of change: in Week 10 against the Arizona Cardinals, the defense used a new “heavy” package (five defensive linemen) to stop the run, holding the Cardinals to 89 rushing yards. If this kind of adjustment becomes more consistent, the scheme could reach its full potential. “The scheme has the bones to be elite,” said a national NFL analyst. “It just needs a few tweaks to fix the run defense and maximize all the talent on the roster.” For the Cleveland Browns, a strong defensive scheme is essential to competing for a playoff spot—and with the right adjustments, this one could help them get there.