Browns defensive coordinator might be using a comment from Lions offensive coordinator John Morton to inspire his defense in Detroit. (Cleveland Browns)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Trash talk among players bores me.
Now, trash talk coming from coaches … that’s when I perk up.
In his weekly availability in front of Detroit media, Lions offensive coordinator John Morton was asked about the Browns’ No. 1-ranked run defense.
“I don’t think they’ve seen a run game like ours yet,” Morton said.
The quote made the social media rounds a few minutes before Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz approached the podium in the press room for his weekly availability with Cleveland media.
The first question to Schwartz was about Morton’s comment.
He took the high road.
After a short hesitation, Schwartz responded, “I mean, we’ve faced some good running offenses. Green Bay was running the ball really well, so was Baltimore.”
Anyone who knows Schwartz expects him to use Morton’s comment to fire up his defense. But he won’t do it publicly.
“Does it really affect the game?” he said. “I mean, maybe it makes things nice for you guys or for people to say stuff, or whatever. I don’t play the game. I’m just out there trying to put a good plan together. I’m trying to put our guys in position and turn the game over to them. So, anything that I think or anything that I would engage in my mind just is distracting from what our job is. So, we’ll just keep it, we’ll keep it there. The players on the field will decide the game, not anything else.”
The Lions are strutting their chests out after a 224-yard rushing performance against the Baltimore Ravens in their crushing, 38-30 victory on Monday night.
Their “Sonic and Knuckles” rushing duo of David Montgomery (151 yards, two touchdowns) and Jahmyr Gibbs (67 and two TDs) controlled the game for the Lions.
Through three games, the Lions rank fourth in rushing, averaging 149 yards a game. Montgomery averages 6.9 yards per rush and Gibbs 4.2. Each has found the end zone three times.
Schwartz’s defense is stifling opposing teams to 57.3 yards per game. In the last two games, the Browns held Baltimore’s Derrick Henry to 23 yards and a 2.1 average and Green Bay’s Josh Jacobs to 30 yards and a 1.9 average.
“Two different running backs,” Schwartz said of Detroit’s formidable duo. “You got to protect your edges. You got to defend all 53 and a third [width of the field], particularly with Gibbs. And then there’s a lot of passes that are just extensions of the run game. A lot of screen game, a lot of quicks. Even the checkdowns are sort of an extension of the run game. So, our ability to play run defense, our ability to tackle in the open field, you know, that’s a major part of this game plan going forward.”
Schwartz was Lions head coach from 2009 through 2013. He was fired after going 29-51 with one playoff appearance in five seasons.
“I really enjoyed my time there, my family did,” he said. “I loved the players, I love the city, really loved the organization. I’ve been back a couple times since. When I was with the Eagles, it was hard to root for them when you weren’t playing them because they’re in the same conference and you don’t want any of those NFC teams to win. Now that I’m here, you can root for them.
“I admire what Dan [Campbell has] done with the team. You know, they’re in his image, they play tough, they play physical. So, it’ll be fun to go against them.”
Let ‘er rip
Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees indicated that the conservative passing game so far exhibited by quarterback Joe Flacco is not by design.
“Just got to get him comfortable,” Rees said. “Haven’t been able to get back into rhythm again. Our job as coach is to get him feeling comfortable and confident and, we’ve been working at that. He’s not a guy that gets real up and down, so you wouldn’t sense any of that, but just in the course of the game, allowing him to feel confident that he can rip it and really that’s our job as coaching staff to make sure that we get him there.”
Rees said he feels Flacco and Jerry Jeudy are getting closer to making some longer-range connections.
“There are a lot of parts of the offense that allow some of that to happen and putting Jerry in position to make sure that we’re giving him the best opportunities to get open, finish some things,” he said. “And yeah, we’ve had some chances there that maybe were just a little bit off, we’ve had some chances maybe we’ve missed, we’ve had some looks that we like that maybe just haven’t connected. So, just continue to find ways to get him going and get the ball in his hands.”
Fannin fodder
On Wednesday, I asked Flacco a question about the impact of the rookies in general so far this season. He singled out tight end Harold Fannin, who leads all rookies – tight ends and receivers – with 15 receptions and is third with 136 yards.
“Just getting the ball in his hands and the physical catches and then the runs have just been amazing to watch,” Flacco said.
Rees was Browns tight ends coach last year, and I asked him if he sees something special in Fannin.
“Some guys have a knack of getting open and finding ways to do it, and hopefully we can continue having him put himself in position to do that for us,” he said. “But it really starts with just, he’s a very humble kid that came in with his head down, and put himself in position to move around, and learn the offense and understand what we’re asking him to do. And him and Joe have had a nice connection here through the early part.”
Brownie bits
All players participated in practice. The three DNPs from Wednesday – cornerback Denzel Ward (toe, shoulder), defensive tackle Mike Hall (knee) and defensive tackle Shelby Harris (hamstring) – were limited …
The Browns had a kicker ready to be signed when Andre Szmyt suffered a minor calf injury on Thursday last week. Szmyt recovered and made that 55-yard game-winning field goal against Green Bay …
Denzel Ward on safety Grant Delpit, whose interception spearheaded the comeback win over Green Bay: “Grant’s about to be All-Pro, Pro Bowl … he’s been getting it done for us. He’s having a great year so far and I’m looking forward to seeing him keep it going.”