Browns Rookies Intrigued to Play for DC Jim Schwartz

Coming into the NFL, Cleveland Browns rookies on the defensive side of the ball should be ahead of the game learning from Jim Schwartz.

Brandon Little | May 13, 2023

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Cleveland Browns

This weekend in Berea, Ohio it is all about the rookies. Rookie minicamp is underway and the Browns have all seven of their rookies out there on the practice field. For three of them, it’s their first time getting to work with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.

DB Cameron Mitchell, DT Siaki Ika, and DE Isaiah McGuire all spoke to the media on Saturday and shared their first thoughts on Schwartz and his scheme.

“I’ve only been around him for two days, but I could tell he’s really serious,” said Mitchell out of Northwestern. “He’s probably got a joke side to him behind closed doors. He seems like a real stern coach, about his business, get on you when he needs to.”

Ika enjoyed his first time really being around Schwartz. Schwartz was visibly excited about the pick of the nose tackle and surely had some say in the selection.

“It’s fun. Real fun. I like him a lot. He’s a fun guy to be around and makes practice fun,” Ika stated.

One thing about Schwartz’s defense you can count on, the defensive line is going to get after it. It makes sense why the Browns have invested so much into the group this off-season. The latest addition was yesterday when the Browns traded for DE Za’Darius Smith.

“I think it really fits my style because more so, even last year at Mizzou with Coach Baker, he really emphasized an attack defense and now it’s just Coach Schwartz eliminate a lot of thinking process and just going to wreaking havoc,” said the fourth round pick, McGuire. "So for me, that’s exciting.”

Ika and McGuire will both figure into the defensive line rotation at some point this season and will be able to showcase what they can do as a rookie. The scheme is going to be a little different for Ika but he’s up for the challenge.

“A little bit different than what I’ve been used to. I’ve been playing a lot of blocks throughout college,” Ika explained. “All I pretty much know. So I’ll be able to get here and be in a system where everything goes forward, vertical, I will just disrupt, really excited about it.”

Mitchell is a player that can potentially benefit from a ferocious defensive line on the back end. Tipped passes, inaccurate passes, and even fumble recoveries will be there if the defensive line performs like they want to.

“I like the way he calls his stuff,” said Mitchell. “He’s all about running his stuff and making offense beat us. So I’m excited to keep learning and keep growing in the defense.

When the defense is built off the front, every corner in the world will tell you when you only got to cover for two seconds instead of four, you would much rather cover for two. That helps a lot and I’m excited. We just got that big trade yesterday, so I’m excited for that.”

Right now, things are essentially in walk-through mode. The majority of the team isn’t in Berea as it is just the rookies and tryout players.

“We’re just working on basic fundamentals for this defense, having the mindset attack and mess everything up, create havoc on opposing offenses, for sure,” said McGuire.

The rookie minicamp will wrap up on May 14, then organized team activities begin on May 23. Cleveland’s mandatory minicamp isn’t far away, it’ll run June 6-8. That’s when these rookies will be able to really meet the veterans and build that chemistry prior to training camp and the season.

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