Jauron trying to mold Browns’ defense

Akron Beacon Journal

BEREA

Even on the hottest sweat-drenched days of August, Browns defensive coordinator Dick Jauron stands on the practice field in slacks, a long-sleeve shirt and a big straw hat.

He’s calm, collected and, above all, tough.

Jauron wants his defense to develop a similar personality, but it’s still searching for an identity. The NFL’s lockout stalled the Browns’ transition from a 3-4 defense to Jauron’s 4-3 scheme. The metamorphosis didn’t start in earnest until late July.

After two weeks of training camp, Jauron and his men conducted their first real trial run this past Saturday in the preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers. They’ll face another test when the Detroit Lions (1-0 in the preseason) visit the Browns (1-0) at 7:30 tonight in the second exhibition game of the year for both teams.

“I would say we’re about where we expected,” Jauron said of his defense’s progression. “It’s more difficult to judge than it has been because in recent memory, we’ve never not had [time with the players during the offseason]. So when we started our actual camp, we’d never had them in a camp, we’d never had them in a classroom, we hadn’t seen them. So it’s very different in terms of trying to evaluate, and you’ve got to have patience but keep moving along. That’s what we’re doing.”

The first-string defense faced Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in two series last week. It forced Rodgers to settle for a three-and-out on the Packers’ opening possession, but the defense also was on its heels when Rodgers employed a no-huddle offense to orchestrate a seven-play, 73-yard touchdown drive.

Browns coach Pat Shurmur said he plans to play his starters for about a half tonight. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who completed 6-of-7 passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns last week, awaits the defense.

Not only are Jauron’s players trying to learn a new scheme on the fly, but most of them are young, too. The starting defensive line features two rookies: tackle Phil Taylor, a first-round draft pick (21st overall), and right end Jabaal Sheard, a second-round selection (37th overall). They’re going to take some lumps early in their careers, though they appear to have bright futures, Jauron said.

“I believe they’re gonna be as advertised,” he said. “They’re both tough guys. They like playing the game. I think they’ll compete against anybody. It doesn’t appear to me that either one of them is intimated by anybody you could put across from them.”