The Browns expect Mason Graham to be a more active pass rusher in their scheme than he was at Michigan. (Cleveland Browns)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is an analyst on the Cleveland Browns for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Leftover takeaways from Browns second OTA practice open to media …
Two positions that Jim Schwartz historically has featured on his defenses have been lacking in his two seasons as Browns defensive coordinator.
Those are a penetrating, get-to-the-quarterback defensive tackle and a ball-hawking free safety. The Browns addressed the DT position with the selection of Mason Graham with the fifth overall pick of the draft. The ballhawk is still MIA.
Here’s an update on both positions:
Mason Graham
“I’ve had a lot of good defensive tackles over the years, and this [scheme] has featured a lot of those guys,” Schwartz said. “It allows them to penetrate, play without handcuffs and make some impact. I think he can fall into that category.”
Graham’s sack total of nine in three years at Michigan is reflective of a system that called for him to read and react to blocks rather than to attack the quarterback. Schwartz believes Graham will fit in well over time.
“It’s been an adjustment for him just because the style of play [he was used to], reading blocks, protecting linebackers and things like that,” Schwartz said. “You know, that’s not what we do. We’re a penetrating team that makes a big emphasis on defensive linemen being able to make the plays.
“So there has been some growing pains. He’s pretty far ahead right now. When we get pads on, that’ll be the next step. And then when you go live contact, that’ll be a next step. So it’ll be a process for him. I do think there’s a lot of meat on the bone as far as his production, and we can see better production from him than even we saw, and he had outstanding production and college. But I think he can even have a chance to make more plays here.”
Schwartz agrees that Graham can help to free up Myles Garrett to more sack opportunities.
“Myles sees a lot of double-team chips,” Schwartz said. “But a thing that goes a little bit unnoticed is he sees so much center slide too, which lets the tackle overset him because the guard is there to play all the inside moves. So, in essence, a lot of times you can be triple-teamed on those plays.
“And the best way to combat that is have a pass rusher that’s on the opposite side that can make offenses pay for singling up a defensive tackle on a guard. And like I said in my history, I’ve had a lot of guys that can do that, most recently guys like Fletcher Cox in Philadelphia that could do that. You’re closer to the quarterback when you’re a tackle. But there’s only a few ways you can really combat a defensive tackle. And one of those is the center slide. And if the center always slides into Myles, that provides a lot of opportunities for a player there. We have to take better advantage of those situations than we did last year.”
The ball-hawk free safety
After spending big bucks in free agency on John Johnson and Juan Thornhill and not getting the expected return (a combined four interceptions in four years), the Browns paused their spending.
They hope to find some INT production from a combination of third-year undrafted free agent Ronnie Hickman and eight-year veteran free agent Damontae Kazee.
“I think some of being a ball hawk has to do with pass rush, but guys that are wired to the ball that can get an extra jump on the ball, we didn’t do enough of that in the past,” Schwartz said. “And that’s certainly a position we can improve on.
“So many of those deep ball things come from the ball coming out before the quarterback wants to or being hit before as he’s throwing. You know, they both work hand in hand.”
Hickman has one INT – a 30-yard Pick 6 – in 24 games, including nine starts, with the Browns.
“He’s always been a ball hawk,” Schwartz said. “Last year there were some injuries, things that kept him from being on the field. This is a really big season. He’s in his third year. He should really hit a stride for us. We’re surrounding him with some veteran players. Brought Rayshawn [Jenkins] in, brought [Damontae] Kazee in, have Grant [Delpit] returning. We’re a safety heavy team. We run a lot of three safety system, but we need Ronnie to really bring it all together.”
Kazee, 32, led the NFL with seven interceptions with Atlanta in 2018. In spot duty with the Steelers the last three years, Kazee turned in five interceptions in 38 games, including 14 starts.
“We’ll see [if Kazee can answer the call],” Schwartz said. “You know, this time of year is more about individual improvement. You’ll see sometimes out there where you see players that will avoid contact and plays they could make or hits they could make, and that’s not the time of year for it. So, it’s probably too much to read into it right now, but through training camp, through the preseason, through the course of the season, I mean, that’s where the proof will be.”
Happy returns?
Special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone is hoping veteran pickup DeAndre Carter can supply some consistency as a return specialist, which has been a snake-bitten position on the Browns for years.
“I had D.C. his rookie year, we had him on practice squad in New England,” Ventrone said. “So, me and C.O. [receivers coach Chad O’Shea] were pretty familiar with him. Extremely hard worker, undrafted kid that has a lot of talent and experience. He’s done a really good job. He’s been a combo returner since he’s been in the league, had a lot of production. Last year, he had good production in the kick return game. I would say that he’s at the top of the depth chart for us right now in both of those phases.”
In seven seasons, Carter has a 9.7-yard career average on punt returns and 23.5 yards on kickoff returns. His only TD came on a 101-yard kickoff return in 2021 with Washington.
Carter is 32.
“He’s got gas in the tank,” Ventrone said. “If you watch the film from last year, I think that you can see he’s got the same type of run style, the same type of mentality that he had when he had production early in his career.”
The return game under Ventrone has been a disappointment.
In 2024, the Browns ranked 31st in punt return average (10.0 yards) and 20th in kickoff returns (25.3). In 2023, they were 22nd in punt returns (8.4) and 31st in kickoff returns (23.7).
“I would say we’ve left too many yards out there,” Ventrone said. “Yeah, I think we’ve left too many yards out there for sure. I think having consistency at that position is definitely going to help us.”