​The Cleveland Browns have seen defensive greatness for several years now. All-World EDGE rusher Myles Garrett has won two “NFL Defensive Player of the Year” awards, and just last year, first-year linebacker Carson Schwesinger took home the “NFL Rookie Defensive Player of the Year” award.The franchise has a history of having very good defensive units going all the way back to Paul Brown. During Marty Schottenheimer’s tenure in the late 1980s, Cleveland ranked in the Top-11 all four years on this side of the ball, including being ranked #2 in 1987. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRELATED: LINEBACKER DEPTH CHART & EXPECTATIONSDefense has always been important to the fanbase. Coaches have relied on having a stiff core of resistance.Year 1: eyes wide open, and learnYear 2: sophomore slumpYear 3: show you belong and produceYear 4: contract year, play your tail offAny rookie who has an exceptional year in their rookie season has a leg up on the remainder of the league. But with great success comes expectations.Now that Schwesinger is the darling of 2025, he is gearing up for the upcoming season. He is coming in with a sense of excitement to prove his worth and value, and has familiarity, having played a year at the next level.He led every NFL rookie defensive player with 146 total tackles. He also had 11 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 9 QB hits, 4 knockdowns, 2 hurries, 9 pressures, 3 batted passes, 10 missed tackles, and was tied for third in interceptions.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTraining camp is right on top of all of us. He told team reporter Kelsey Russo:“I think there’s a lot of things to get better at. Whether it’s just the preparation throughout the game week and figuring out really what to watch, how to watch film, and things like that.” All during the offseason, Schwesinger has been at OTAs, minicamps, and working out at the facility. He has also been in attendance for the voluntary workout program the team has offered.As much success as Schwesinger had last year, there has been plenty of change. The head coach is gone, and when the boss is let go, all of his assistant coaches are fired as well. The new head coach is able to retain any of the former staff, but usually the new guy will bring in his own people.The Browns had plenty of defensive success with Jim Schwartz. In his place is Mike Rutenberg. For all of the defensive players, this means there is basically a clean slate going forward. Stats can be viewed in black and white, but seeing and doing in person trumps all paperwork.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSchwesinger wanted to meet his new bosses:“Obviously, we have Rudy here and a lot of whole new coaches, so I think it’s important to get to meet them as well and understand them. I was excited to be around all the guys again and see them and be able to work with them.”Among the changes this year is a guy the team signed in free agency that Rutenberg and the rest of the coa