Defensive Backs Coach/ Pass Game Specialist Brandon Lynch (8.6.26)
So we just heard from Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Ephraim (Banda) the other day talked about not wanting to overload him with too much right away. How has he come along, especially as the pads get on for a big safety who likes to be physical?
“Eph (Ephraim Banda), myself, Rudy (Mike Rutenberg), we all pride ourselves in making the complex as simplistic as possible, but then having trusted teammates around you. When you think of Grant (Delpit) coming in, when you think of Ronnie (Hickman), Denzel (Ward), Tyson (Campbell) coming in and really showing the rook practice habits, study habits, the correct way to notate things in your notebook, and then also living that and experiencing that. So it’s really fortunate that he gets a chance to learn from pros.”
There have been 12 interceptions in seven practices, not all of them been by DBs, a couple by linebackers. Do you think this is the effect of any schematic changes back in the secondary, disguising and making it a little more uncomfortable for the quarterback?
“Absolutely. We say rush and coverage work together, so it’s a combination of one plus one equaling three. Our rush getting home, our linebackers doing exactly what they need to do, our safeties getting us in the right coverages, and then our corners’ executing. So, when you think about just schematically the 12 interceptions, it’s really everybody doing their job and working on the precision and being precise. We talk about endurance and precision; everybody in the league has talent and passion, so we want to really focus on our endurance and precision.”
Is this the most you’ve seen in seven days of practice since you’ve been here?
“Yeah, it has. It’s infectious. We want to supply the city.”
How different is the disguise that Rudy’s bringing than what you guys did previously?
“I think from different systems come with different strengths and weaknesses. Rudy’s background as a DB guy, as a second-level guy, he really brings in our front, our coverages, how we tie into different situations, how we’re trying to affect the quarterback. And then we just really want to force a hitch on the back end. We have the best defensive line in football, so we want to make sure that we can supply the engine.”
A lot of those interceptions it has not just been the starters some other guys making plays. Chris Edmonds has three this summer. What have you seen from him in particular as he tries to carve out a role?
“Attention to detail. He’s a trusted teammate, He’s a guy that comes in early, he stays late, he plays with a very hard edge the things that are very important to us. He displays those things. He’s a kid where when you’re in the summer, he’s always a young guy in here; we’re doing certain work with our family, trying to get ahead on opponents. He’s a young man that if he’s not in the weight room, he’s outside running, and if he’s not running, he’s looking at film, and if he’s not doing those things, he’s talking to Eph (Ephraim Banda) trying to get better. So that’s just a combination of the development of the young man.”
Are you concerned at all about the depth behind Tyson (Campbell) and Denzel (Ward) at corner?
“No, sir. I really see these as great opportunity areas for young players to develop and really help our team get a chance to expose exactly who we say we are.”
How happy were you to see Denzel (Ward) get rewarded for everything he has done and will do, and just address it?
“You know what, it’s shocking. We talk about being world class, right? We talk about being the very best in the standard. What a great opportunity for a young man from Cleveland to play for the team that he wants to play for. I was looking at a stat that said since he’s been drafted here, he has the most PBUs in the NFL. But that’s really a combination of attention to detail, his consistency to put the focus on the work, and then being a trusted teammate. We talk about his leadership, he’s a young guy that when he’s coming in, he’s really a coach in the classroom. Oftentimes when you talk about Chris Edmonds and were talking about the other young players, he’s able to give them certain tools, certain language that we use, certain football one-of-ones, so that we can all play fast. So, it’s great to see that type of priceless selflessness be rewarded.”
With the new coverage principles, what’s the right balance for you guys between trying to mix it up and confusing quarterbacks and also knowing you guys were pretty good in what you were doing before?
“We’ll never put scheme over our style. In our style, we want to be connected with our brothers. We want to make sure our mind is always working so we’re staying ahead of plays, we’re always communicating. We say communicate, attack the ball, play fast. So, we want to make sure we’re executing those things first, and then we want to be the most violent team in the NFL. We want to make sure that our winning habits are always on display.”
Is Myles Harden locked in at nickel, or is that up for grabs?
“That’s a great question. We’re always looking for versatility and guys that can help us in the back end. Every single day, we’re all out working.”
You guys were the heaviest man-coverage team in the league last year by a fair margin. What about that style suits Tyson (Campbell) and Denzel (Ward)?
“Technique and fundamentals. The guys are different within their strengths, but the biggest thing is both of those guys are tough and competitive. Those are guys that they seek competition; they don’t shy away from it. They’re guys that when they get out here on the field, they work extremely hard. And the thing I don’t think people give them enough credit for is it’s not just instincts they have great intelligence, so they’re able to stay ahead and keep others ahead of them as well. And then they have great relationships with our defensive line. You can’t be a great corner in the NFL if your front four are not making the quarterback operate on time. So that type of relationship, that type of connection they have with their other peers, you really see it on display.”
Andrew Berry referred to Tyson (Campbell) as one of the most underrated guys on the team. Why do you think he can be overlooked, and why shouldn’t he be overlooked?
“The great thing about Tyson (Campbell) is he puts the focus on the work. We don’t outwardly think about how people may view him. But when you think of maybe overrated the young guy just works. He’s a guy just like Denzel (Ward) as well. He’s a guy that as soon as we’re talking about the coverages, he’s talking about the second-level players, the third-level fits. He openly speaks to the young men on the field about things they can openly do better. And that’s how you see this young man’s talent keep rising. At the end of the day, we’re only a reflection of the guys around us, and he’s around some really great players.”
What have you seen from Michael Coats Jr. that makes you think he can be part of the mix?
“Toughness, competitiveness. The young guy has speed, length, athleticism, he’s versatile. Really like him outside; he can play inside. He’s going to be a very violent player on our special teams. When you look at young players that are like that, he’s going to have an opportunity to be developed within our system, and that really suits him well.”
Going back to Tyson (Campbell), how has a full offseason with the team helped him in camp so far? What do you see differently about him?
“I think really the verbiage, understanding the words and the true meaning of them, and then just situational ball. Every team, all 32 teams, are going to situationally operate differently, so now he understands what are we wanting to look like from a disguise aspect. What are we trying to take away from the quarterback, first and second down that may change on certain looks that we want to do on third down, fourth down. Then we talk about looks to own. From being here now he’s able to really put his natural strengths on tape. Very intelligent player.”
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