The Opening Drive 8/25: Jim Schwartz Blitz Package Preseason Preview
More creativity to come for the Browns defense hunting a return to elite.
We’re back with another day of Browns content at Browns Film Breakdown, and I couldn’t be more excited to share the defensive film I’ve been studying since last night. Jim Schwartz’s group brought the juice all preseason, stacking three strong performances. After a disappointing 2024, it remains to be seen just how much better this defense can be — but I’ve got a good feeling about the unit.
That optimism carries into the regular season, provided the front office gets aggressive over the next 24 hours to address roster needs. We’ve talked at length about the hole at cornerback, and at this stage, if something doesn’t shake loose, it’s a red-flag concern. The Browns must act decisively there. Beyond corner, they could look at running back, tackle depth, or even linebacker, but the secondary is priority number one. (Mike Hilton, anyone?)
If they whiff on corner, it’ll feel a lot like one of those Kevin Stefanski pressers where he’s asked about sabotaging his own players.
The decisions for trades and some minor roster waiver news might come this afternoon before the front office will get very busy tomorrow before the deadline. Keep yourself dialed into our News Tab and we will have all the information throughout the day.
Below you’ll find the latest from the All-22 study and more in the BFB catalog for supporters to dig into. Click the link to become a supporter if you haven’t already, and enjoy all the latest from Browns Film Breakdown.
What’s Going On at Browns Film Breakdown
Latest Podcasts:
Latest Roster Movement Updates and “What We Learned” From PS Week 3
VICTORY EDITION: Quarterback Process and Analysis from 19-17 Win
Latest Film Rooms:
Latest Articles:
When breaking down the defense tape, two schemes in the early portion of the game caught my eye. The Browns under Schwartz have always used a variety of fronts for blitz looks — single mug, double mug, overloads — but they haven’t always been consistent with bringing the linebackers from those tight looks and they get rigid in the coverage behind it. Well, the Rams first drive on Saturday they got after it. Watch them bring Carson Schwesinger into the shade A-gap and force the Rams to slide protection to the right (tight man coverage walked up). This leaves the Rams to sort out who has Schwesinger after the slide and the running back never identifies him. This is called a “dead red” blitz result.
Then the Browns defense got creative again on the following drive when the Rams were backed up deep in their own territory. Schwartz has never been afraid to drop his defensive line in “fire zone” concepts and he flashed it again here dropping Maliek Collins into coverage while using Grant Delpit to overload the left side. What I enjoyed about it was the usage of Cover-3 behind it. The answers for the Rams were tough to sort out and it results in an eventual sack.
Usually Schwartz prefers to drop his edge players on these fire zones but dropping an interior defensive lineman is a wrinkle they need to lean on more to create confusion on those quicker throws. Let the edge rushers cave outside and bring that athletic safety from the interior.
While these are not revolutionary or new, per se, the usage of zone types or man varieties behind them are the details I enjoy. The current Browns defense is going into their third year in the system and their third year with their own tendencies. Schwartz has to keep altering those tendencies and mixing up the coverages behind his pressure looks is an ideal way to start. I enjoyed it.
If you’re not subscribed over there, rectify that—the Opening Drive remains free, but there’s so much quality Browns content available and more coming over the next few days. If you’re not with us in a supporter capacity, you’ll want to rectify that as well so you don’t miss any of the key content coming this week. Also, tell a Browns fan in your life about what is happening over here. We appreciate all of you.
Browns Film Breakdown will return later today with some All-22 from the rookies!
