The AFC North has traditionally been known for its defensive superiority. The 2022 season didn’t completely live up to the hype.
With two new defensive coordinators, Mike MacDonald in Baltimore and Teryl Austin in Pittsburgh, there were some adjustment pains. In the 2023 season, there will be one new defensive coordinator in the AFC North, Jim Schwartz in Cleveland.
It remains to be seen whether the second-year coordinators will improve. And now the Schwartz watch is on in Cleveland. Will Schwartz be able to improve a run defense that allowed an average of 135 yards on the ground?
AFC NORTH DEFENSE 2022
|
Team |
Rush Yards Allowed/G |
Pass Yards Allowed/G |
Yards Allowed/G |
Pts Allowed/G |
Sacks |
Interceptions |
|
Baltimore |
89.8 (3rd) |
229.4 (23rd) |
319.3 (6th) |
18.8 (3rd) |
48 |
14 |
|
Cincinnati |
103.5 (5th) |
234.2 (26th) |
337.7 (17th) |
19.6 (5th) |
30 |
13 |
|
Cleveland |
135.0 (25th) |
196.2 (5th) |
331.2 (17th) |
22.4 (19th) |
34 |
11 |
|
Pittsburgh |
108.1 (9th) |
222.3 (19th) |
330.4 (11th) |
20.4 (10th) |
40 |
20 |
Defensive Coordinators in the AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Mike MacDonald—Defensive Coordinator
Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line—Anthony Weaver
Inside Linebackers Coach—Zachary Orr
Outside Linebackers Coach— Chuck Smith
Defensive Backs Coach— Dennard Wilson
Cincinnati Bengals
Lou Anarumo—Defensive Coordinator
Linebackers Coach— James Bettecher
Defensive Quality Control— Louie Croffi
Secondary/Cornerbacks— Charles Burks
Senior Defensive Assistant— Mark Duffner
Defensive Line— Marion Hobby
Assistant Linebackers Coach— Jordan Kovacs
Secondary/Safeties— Robert Livingston
Pittsburgh Steelers
Teryl Austin— Defensive Coordinator
Secondary Coach— Grady Brown
Inside Linebacker Coach— Aaron Curry
Defensive Line Coach— Karl Dunbar
Assistant Outside Linebackers Coach— Denzel Martin
Jim Schwartz, Cleveland Browns Defensive Coordinator
General manager Andrew Berry stated at the NFL Combine, “So I think as you guys hear Jim talk, he’ll talk about being an attack-style front. So, guys that really do get up the field, penetrate, really use either quickness or power to create disruption behind the line of scrimmage.”
The Schwartz era in Cleveland is here. And with the early signings of the free agents, it looks like it will be vintage Schwartz. Dalvin Tomlinson, Maurice Hurst Jr., Trysten Hill and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo all fall into the Schwartz mold.
The Defensive Scheme
Joe Woods’ defensive scheme relied on the Cover-3. In Woods’ defensive scheme, the middle of the field is taken away. This is an attempt to make the opposition complete passes outside the numbers or in the flat.
Schwartz’s defensive schemes also use Cover-3 and, in some cases, Cover-1, utilizing man-to-man coverage in the secondary.
It is up front where Schwartz has made his money. Using his linemen in a double-gap technique. In the double gap, the defensive linemen are tasked to find out if the offensive linemen are pass blocking, zone blocking, run blocking or whatever. He does this by reading the offensive linemen’s technique.
This technique has a learning curve. Currently, only defensive tackle Tommy Togai has played the double gap, and he did that in college.
So, keep a close look at how the defense is adjusting during preseason.
The front four play an aggressive four-man front. With the defense relying heavily on generating pressure with just the front four. Schwartz’s defensive units generally rank near the top in sacks while being in the bottom in blitz percentage.
The Browns need to upgrade their defensive line to play in Schwartz’s style has begun. He relies on impact players in the middle of the defensive line. The addition of Tomlinson and hopefully a resurgent Perrion Winfrey.
The Fantasy Advantage
We know what matters most is how will this affect our fantasy fortunes.
Myles Garrett, Defensive End
Last season Garrett finished the season as DE3 in fantasy points. He averaged 12.2 fantasy points per game.
Grant Delpit, Safety
Last season, Delpit finished as DB11.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Linebacker
Look for Schwartz to use more three-linebacker sets. This is good news for Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah believers in fantasy. Last season Owusu-Koramoah averaged 9.8 fantasy points per game.
Remember to know the scoring of your IDP leagues. But we will get more on that later, you know, after the season starts.
