When the Browns defense takes the field in the season opener against the Cowboys, there will be one jersey number in particular they narrow in on – 88.
WR CeeDee Lamb, who led the league with 135 receptions and 181 targets during the 2023 season, is one of QB Dak Prescott's main targets on their offense.
"I like our matchups," defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. "This is NFL football, man. This is awesome. One of the best receivers in the NFL and what I consider the best corner group in the NFL. We play a lot of man-to-man, so, it's going to be fun to watch those guys."
The Browns recognize how the Cowboys can line up Lamb in different spots and move him around the formation. They can put him in motion, can have him run all the routes in the route tree and he knows how to control his body and use his speed to his advantage.
Yet, the Browns cornerback group – which consists of Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome II, Martin Emerson Jr., Cameron Mitchell, Myles Harden and Kahlef Hailassie on the active roster – is prepared for the challenge. Newsome believes that from the top to bottom in the cornerback room, there isn't a drop off in talent.
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their first regular season game this week against the Dallas Cowboys at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) and the defensive line during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle James Hudson III (66) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) and Defensive Line Coach Jacques Cesaire during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) and Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Assistant Offensive Line Coach Roy Istvan during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Offensive tackle James Hudson III (66) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
The defensive line during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle Lorenzo Thompson (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelon Darden (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Bubba Ventrone during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Tight end Cameron Latu (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Wide receiver Tulu Griffin (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 5, 2024.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 6, 2024.
"Meaning, like, if one of us, needs a sub, we could easily bring somebody in, and we don't have to change anything. With us, like, top to bottom, we got all guys that can play. So, I think we're very special," Newsome said. "Then we got a lot of guys with a lot of unique talents. MJ's length. We got Ward's quickness. Me, I'm kind of in the middle. You got Cam Mitchell's speed, Myles Harden's feet and everybody. So, I just think we got a great room where a lot of guys can do a lot of things."
Emerson – who led the team with four interceptions and tied the team lead with 14 passes defensed and also ranks tied for fifth in the NFL with 29 passes defensed since 2022 – is poised to have a strong third season.
Newsome dealt with a hamstring injury during the offseason, returned to practice and feels prepared to take the field during Week 1. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Newsome looked healthy throughout practice this week and made a number of plays.
Ward – a three-time Pro Bowler and the first NFL player since 1999 to have at least 10 passes defensed and two interceptions in each of his first six seasons – also returned from a concussion he sustained during training camp and is ready to take the field in Week 1. Ward said he is excited about the opportunity to face one of the top receivers in the league.
"He's a receiver that can play in the slot or play outside," Ward said. "So, they move him around a lot. Great hands. Good route runner. And we know the ball is going to be going to him. Dak is going to get him the ball, so he gets targeted a lot out there. But he's a great receiver."
In the first year of Schwartz's defensive scheme, the Browns used man coverage at the fifth-highest rate in the NFL at 38.2 percent. They also had the highest pass defense success rate at 66.1 percent of any team in a season in the NFL Next Gen Stats era. Their success in man coverage played a role in the Browns only allowing a league-best 164.7 passing yards per game.
Newsome said their success in man coverage starts with each player being a technician.
"Our coach (Brandon Lynch) is the best corners coach in the league, and he strives for us to be great and to be perfect out there," Newsome said. "But also, that competitive edge, like when we got a defensive coordinator that's trusting you, no matter we get beat or not, we're gonna go to what got us there. So, I think that also helps too, with the confidence piece, having a defensive coordinator that trust us and our corners coaches doing a great job with emphasizing technique."
Yet, Schwartz said that while the Cowboys move Lamb to different spots around the field, they have to be able to adjust in order to limit his success on Sunday. The Browns will have to have a good key on where he is going to be on the field.
"Even if we're man, it's not always going to be no help," Schwartz said. "We're going to have a little different way, whether we're putting pressure on to try to help that way, or we have leverage help or over the top help and things like that. It's not going to be one person or a one-on-one most of the time, but it's a great matchup and it'll be exciting to watch."
When the Browns defense and Cowboys offense takes the field on Sunday, it's also a matchup that Lamb is looking forward to himself. Lamb noted the talent across the board of the Browns defense, from the defensive line all the way through their secondary, and the challenges they present in the pass game. It's one of the marquee matchups for both sides of the ball.
"They're nice, all around the board," Lamb said. "Edge rushers, linebackers, they got fast defensive backs. Very familiar with a couple of them. I know them on a personal level. So, it's going to be fun out there. I'm ready to compete."
