As the saying goes, what a difference a week can make in the NFL. Entering Week 4, that’s particularly true for coordinators John Morton and Jim Schwartz.
Feeling good about themselves and their units after strong Week 3 performances, the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator and Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator have exchanged subtle trash talk this week.
Morton fired the first shot, telling reporters the Browns have yet to face a running offense like the Lions.
The Browns defensive coordinator responded in a respectful but strongly direct way Thursday.
“I mean, we’ve faced some good running offenses,” Schwartz said to the media, via Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. “I mean, Green Bay was running the ball really well, so was Baltimore. Cincinnati was more of a pass-game offense. So, you know, it’s one of the major things we have to do is stop the run.”
The game within the game in the Detroit-Cleveland Week 4 matchup could very well be the Lions rush offense against the Browns run defense.
Entering Sunday, the Lions are fourth in the NFL with 149 rushing yards per game. The Browns own the No. 1 run defense, giving up just 57.3 yards on the ground per contest.
Jim Schwartz Shares What Browns Are Prepared to Stop With Lions Run Game
Schwartz didn’t just offer the typical coaching clichés about how his unit has to stop the Lions run offense. The Browns coordinator shared specifics on what his defense will try to do versus Detroit running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
“Two different running backs, you got to protect your edges. You got to defend all 53 and [a] third [yards], particularly with [Jahmyr] Gibbs,” Schwartz said. “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’s run defenses have often been one of the best in the league over the years. In 2017, his Philadelphia Eagles defense was No. 1 against the run.
Last season, the Browns were 11th in run defense under Schwartz. Cleveland was also fourth in passing yards during 2024. Behind those marks, the Browns allowed the fewest yards in the entire league.
The Lions, though, have been one of the best rushing offenses for the past few years. They were ranked in the top six in rushing yards during both 2023 and 2024.
Detroit has continued that success early this season despite a coordinator change with Morton.
Lions Have Opportunity to Defeat Old Head Coach
It’s been more than a decade since Schwartz coached in Detroit. So, the storyline is a bit old.
But Schwartz will return to Ford Field on Sunday, where he was Detroit’s head coach for five seasons. He led the Lions to their first playoff berth in 12 years during 2011.
Overall, though, Schwartz was 29-51 as the team’s head coach. The Lions parted ways with Schwartz after the 2013 season.
Since then, Schwartz has not received another head coaching opportunity. He’s served as defensive coordinator for the Browns, Eagles and Buffalo Bills. Schwartz has coached in Cleveland since the start of 2023.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Ex-Lions Head Coach, Browns DC Reacts to Subtle Detroit Trash Talk Before Week 4 appeared first on Heavy Sports.