Rodney McLeod Confident in Browns Defense, Excited to Unite with Jim Schwartz
New Browns safety Rodney McLeod spoke to reporters in Berea after the conclusion of the first day of minicamp on Tuesday afternoon.
McLeod signed with the Browns after spending last season on the Indianapolis Colts. The six years before that, he was with the Philadelphia Eagles where he won a Super Bowl in 2018 after an Eagles 41-33 win against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in Minneapolis.
McLeod shared his goals, the biggest one being replicating his championship success he had in Philadelphia.
"I'm really fiending for a championship so that's my purpose and that's what I'm here to do," McLeod said.
McLeod was asked about his success with the Eagles and how the defense played into that. He pointed out several players on this Browns defense that he sees playing great so far in camp and guys he sees being big for the team during the season.
"I think what helped us win in Philly was we had great cornerback play and that's obvious here with Denzel Ward, Greg (Newsome), and also Martin (Emerson Jr.) and the back end, and then you add (Grant) Delpit and Juan Thornhill, reminds me a lot of my times with myself and Malcolm (Jenkins)."
One familiar face for McLeod is on the coaching staff. Jim Schwartz. The 57-year old went to the Eagles in 2016 and departed after announcing he was stepping away from coaching on Jan. 7, 2021. Schwartz returned to the NFL as a senior defensive assistant with the Tennessee Titans during the 2021 season. On Jan. 18 of this year, he was hired by the Browns.
McLeod had a lot of great things to say about his former coach.
"He's a culture shifter. Jim, he probably is the smartest guy in the building to be honest."
McLeod also talked about how Schwartz's love for the game has made the defensive players better knowing that he is holding them accountable and bringing the energy day in and day out.
McLeod shared how he has helped the rest of the defensive unit to get used to the Schwartz defense, as he was a part of it from 2016-2021.
"Yeah I've been dropping a lot of knowledge on them, just over my time being with Jim, 5 years in Philly, and trying to help them get up to speed a lot quicker, that's what I can bring to this team outside of my abilities on the field and leadership."
The former Virginia Cavalier also commented on new Browns coach Bubba Ventrone, again having only good things to say about him. Ventrone coached in Indianapolis through the 2022 season, the only one in which McLeod was a Colt.
"Fiery, still thinks he could play the game, keeps himself in good shape, very knowledgeable, passionate coach, and another guy who really holds everybody to the highest standard possible."
At the end of the day, McLeod wants to fit into this talented defense and do what he can. He feels confident in the unit to perform and he will do what he can to help them deliver and help the team win.
"I'm just really looking to be an asset to this team and however that looks, if it means coming in three safety packages, X amount of snaps or if that means eventually being a starter, I'm ready for it all."
