In his first go-round in answering questions from the Browns media at his introductory press conference, new head coach Todd Monken tried to skirt controversy when asked about defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. He intimated that he’d spoken to Schwartz, and further said it would not be appropriate to delve too deeply into that situation, with Schwartz having registered his anger at having lost out on the top Browns job to Monken.
Schwartz remains under contract for Cleveland, though, as the defensive coordinator. And Monken has not yet made a move to hire a new DC, leaving open ample speculation that Schwartz could be strong-armed into coming back and taking his old job.
But later, Monken took a subtle dig at Schwartz, suggesting that the Browns will stick with their defensive system whether Schwartz returns or not–and saying that, when he was in his old job as the Ravens‘ offensive coordinator, he feared the Browns’ defensive players–especially star pass-rusher Myles Garrett–and not Schwartz.
Myles Garrett Posted Concerning Meme After Jim Schwartz Drama
Last week, when it was reported that Monken would be hired as the Browns’ coach and that and angry Schwartz had stormed out of the Browns’ facility vowing not to return as defensive coordinator, Garrett posted a cryptic meme to Instagram. It showed an exhausted Popeye’s restaurant employee outside his workplace, sitting on a bench with his head down. It seemed Garrett, too, was exhausted by his employer.
But on Tuesday, Monken revealed what he’s told Garrett and other defensive players, including the fact that the scheme won’t change, with or without Schwartz.
“First off, my anticipation is we are not going to change the system,” Monken said. “Very difficult to go against. Not planning on changing the system. We’re built for the system that they’re in currently. I am not gonna get into staffing, because now is not the time to get into that. But they can be rest assured that we’re going to be in the same system. We’re still going to let them attack, we’re still going to let them play free. I can’t see another way.”
Todd Monken Throws Some Shade at Browns DC
But Monken continued and appeared to throw some shade Schwartz’s way by pointing out that the Browns players make the defense, not the coordinator. That may not be entirely fair–Schwartz certainly helped develop several Browns defenders into better players–but Monken still delivered the message. He said:
“They’re a big reason why I took this job. The defensive players. I didn’t take this job because of Jim Schwartz. I have a lot of respect for Jim Schwartz, as I would hope he has for me. But I took it because of the players who are here, the ownership, Andrew Berry and the ability to build this roster from the ground up on the offensive side.
“And I said this to the other guys, I didn’t think I’d say it but I am gonna say it: When I was preparing for the Cleveland Browns, I wasn’t chipping Jim Schwartz, I was chipping Myles Garrett. When I was sliding in protection to the outside linebackers, to Grant Delpit if they were blitzing off the edge, I was sliding the protection for the players. When I was worried about throwing to the right at Denzel Ward or Tyson Campbell to the left, that’s who I was worried about.”
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