Dalvin Tomlinson doesn't need to see his new defensive line teammates in pads to guess how dominant they'll be this season.
When he looks to his right, he'll see an All-Pro player in Myles Garrett. To his left so far in mandatory minicamp has been Za'Darius Smith, his former teammate in Minnesota and a three-time Pro Bowler. To Smith's left has been Ogbo Okoronkwo, the first player the Browns signed in free agency who's looking to build on a breakout season.
"I already know what Za'Darius can do on the inside," Tomlinson said, "and just watching Ogbo and Myles on film and playing against them over the years and with all of us together and bringing our skill sets together, I feel like it's going to … "
Tomlinson stopped, smiled and shook his head.
"I don't know how to put it into words. It's going to be amazing."
There's a long list of reasons to believe him.
Not only have the Browns replenished the defensive line with veterans such as Smith and Tomlinson, a six-year veteran who signed with the Browns in free agency in March, but they've paired them all with new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, a D-Line mastermind.
The talk all offseason since Schwartz was hired has been about improving in the trenches, and Tomlinson believes the Browns are poised to do it because of how simple, yet effective Schwartz's system is geared for them. Under Schwartz, defensive linemen will focus more on swarming whoever has the football rather than controlling certain gaps and working in limited space to penetrate the pocket.
"Attack" is the word that's often been used to describe their duties, and to Tomlinson, it really does feel as simple as that.
"I don't think I've ever been a part of a defense this simplified, especially in the NFL," he said. "For multiple defenses, it'd be a 3-4 (scheme) or a 4-3, but it's a multiple defense and it depends on who you're going to play.
"This one is straightforward — it's just line up and go play football."
Check out the action from practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus as the Browns go through Veteran Minicamp
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) and Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) and Cornerbacks Coach Brandon Lynch during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Wide Receiver Amari Cooper (2) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Quarterback Joshua Dobbs (15) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Wide Receiver Amari Cooper (2) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Defensive tackle Trysten Hill (98) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Linebacker Charlie Thomas III (35) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Safety Rodney McLeod (26) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Cornerback Chris Westry (49) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (20) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Assistant GM & Vice President of Football Operations Catherine Raiche during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Vice President of Player Personnel Process & Development Ken Kovash during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Defensive end Lonnie Phelps (63) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Defensive Line Coach Ben Bloom during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Safety Grant Delpit (22) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (11) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (19) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Wide receiver Mike Harley Jr. (82) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (19) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) and Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Punter Corey Bojorquez (13) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the first day of Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 6, 2023.
Tomlinson knows the philosophy appeals to everyone in his position group.
He especially knows that for Smith, who was his teammate last season with the Vikings. Both players performed well when they played together, with Tomlinson registering 42 tackles and 2.5 sacks and Smith totaling 10 sacks, his third double-digit sack season in the last four years.
Both players, however, haven't quite played in a defensive line system where aggressiveness is the core — and frankly, only — feature, and the idea of playing together in it was one reason why Tomlinson was excited when he learned about Smith's trade to Cleveland.
"I was at home on my computer, and someone texted me, 'We got Za'Darius! We got Za'Darius!" he said. "I was just super excited. We're going to make some crazy stuff happen with this front up here."
Add in a player as established and consistent as Garrett and a possible 2023 breakout candidate in Okoronkwo, and Tomlinson sees the makings of a defensive line that can do damage against anyone.
"I feel like we're going to be putting together a lot of schematics together with that front," he said, "and it's going to get crazy."
Here are other observations from Day 2 of minicamp:
- After participating in team drills Tuesday, WR Amari Cooper watched practice on the sidelines as he continues to recover and take things easy after undergoing core muscle surgery earlier in the offseason.
- K Cade York went 5-for-6 during a field goal session. His lone miss was on his fourth attempt from a deeper distance, but he nailed the next kick from a similar length.
- QB Deshaun Watson looked smooth for the second consecutive day in red zone seven-on-seven drills and connected with WRs Jaelon Darden, Cedric Tillman and TE David Njoku on touchdowns. Darden, in particular, has made some nice plays during first-team reps in the two minicamp practices — he also caught a deep ball from Watson on Tuesday.
