The Opening Drive 2/17: Tarver and Banda Will Be Critical To Mike Rutenberg's Success As Browns' DC, and Ronnie Hickman Escapes Scary Situation
How well Rutenberg works with existing staff will be crucial for Browns vision on defense.
The Browns made a somewhat unexpected choice for the second time in their offseason hiring cycle when they hired Mike Rutenberg as defensive coordinator on Monday.
Rutenberg was the only finalist without prior defensive coordinator experience and the only candidate who had never worked under Jim Schwartz, which immediately separates this hire from the original direction many assumed Cleveland would take.
Early in the process, continuity with Schwartz’s system felt like the priority, given Todd Monken’s commitment to running the same defense in his opening press conference.
Instead, the Browns chose Rutenberg, who is highly regarded by those who have spent time with him, including Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbich, who says he has a “PhD knowledge” of coverage schemes.
The decision, however, puts even more importance on the rest of the defensive staff, particularly Jason Tarver and Ephraim Banda. Keeping Tarver and Banda now feels critical. Tarver brings prior experience as a defensive coordinator, front-seven expertise, and, as of 2025, probably the best understanding of the Browns’ personnel, terminology, and scheme.
For a first-time coordinator like Rutenberg, having a veteran voice who understands how to organize game plans, manage adjustments, and connect the scheme to the players can provide essential stability. Tarver also serves as a bridge between the previous defensive structure and whatever evolution comes next.
Rutenberg’s background is rooted primarily in the secondary, most recently with the Atlanta Falcons and previously with the New York Jets, where he developed defensive backs and worked within multiple coverage systems. His reputation around the league is that of a strong teacher and communicator, traits Monken clearly values as he builds his staff culture.
ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi is expecting the same core concepts utilized under Schwartz to remain central to what they do under Rutenburg, as he wrote here:
The defensive fronts that the Browns utilized under Jim Schwartz are very similar to the ones that new DC Mike Rutenberg coached up alongside Robert Saleh in New York...I'd expect that to remain intact. The Browns were impressed with Rutenberg's knowledge of all three levels of the defense and ability to add some wrinkles.
Still, first-time coordinators rarely succeed on their own. If the Browns want this transition to be smooth, giving Tarver more agency isn’t just helpful; it is crucial. I would expect both Tarver and Banda to play major roles in helping Rutenburg’s vision for the secondary come to life while effectively marrying it with the Browns’ attacking wide-nine front, which has become a staple of this defense’s identity.
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Perspective Matters After Ronnie Hickman Incident
News broke Monday that Browns safety Ronnie Hickman was the victim of an assault in New York City, reportedly jumped by multiple individuals inside a Lower East Side hotel early in the morning. He was transported to a hospital, treated for minor injuries, and later released.
The most important part of this story is that Hickman is okay.
In the NFL world, it’s easy to shift the conversation immediately to football, talking roster implications, offseason timelines, and contract status. Hickman is a restricted free agent coming off another good year where he started every game and established himself as a legitimate piece of Cleveland’s defense. But situations like this should reset the perspective before anything else. Players are human beings first.
They have lives outside the facility, outside meeting rooms, and outside the controlled environment people often imagine. And the reality is that professional athletes, especially recognizable ones, can become targets in ways most people never experience. Reports indicate the group may have recognized Hickman as an NFL player, which adds another layer to what happened.
From a football standpoint, there is no indication this will affect Hickman in the long term. The injuries were described as minor, and it is expected he will make a full recovery. That’s obviously positive news for the Browns as they continue to navigate a defensive transition under a new coaching staff.
But the real takeaway here isn’t about the depth chart.
It’s about perspective. A young man was attacked and walked away relatively unscathed. That’s the story. Everything else comes second.
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I agree. I think establishing a connection with existing staff and key players on defense will be critical. I was a little worried due to how things went down with Schwartz that anything could happen if internal candidates didn't receive the promotion. That being said, seems like so far all is good in the building. I've always had mad respect for Tarver and I'm sure Banda is a great coach as well. I'll be looking forward to the wrinkles they presumably will look to add to help Myles receive his 3rd DPOY award and break his own record.
Glad Hickman is alright. I can't imagine being a person of any importance that someone would think, hey, let's get him. No matter their profession, all people are people and deserve privacy and the freedom to do as they please.