New Cleveland Browns DC Mike Rutenberg is leaning into the current Cleveland Browns staff, elevating Jason Tarver and Ephraim Banda to key roles
New Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator, Mike Rutenberg, is promoting two key position coaches to bigger roles on his defensive staff.
According to multiple reports, linebacker coach Jason Tarver is being promoted to the team's defensive run game coordinator, while safeties coach Ephraim Banda is being promoted to defensive pass game coordinator.
It appears those roles will be in addition to their responsibilities to their current position groups. That news comes on the heels of Rutenberg also promoting cornerback coach Brandon Lynch to DB coach and pass game specialist this week.
All of these moves speak to Rutenberg's desire to keep several key members of Jim Schwartz's defensive staff in place to continue building on the foundation he laid for what's been one of the best defenses in football over the last three seasons.
New head coach Todd Monken has also been adamant about not straying too far philosophically from what's worked on that side of the ball in recent years. Hiring Rutenberg, while an outside candidate, also helps those efforts.
The 44-year-old is plenty familiar with the concepts of Schwartz's defense, from the wide-nine to the heavy man coverages he liked to deploy.
Retaining guys on staff like Banda, Tarver and Lynch and giving them increased responsibilities will also help that transition, as all three of them have been here to see what's made the defense so successful.
For what it's worth, both Banda and Tarver also interviewed for the defensive coordinator job that ultimately went to Rutenberg. Tarver, in particular, wound up being one of the three finalists for the job, along with Houston Texans defensive passing game coordinator Corey Undlin.
Meanwhile, Banda has interviewed for DC positions in each of the last two offseasons. These advanced roles will be resumé builders for all three as well, as they pursue future opportunities to rise up the coaching ranks.
For now, it will keep them all in Cleveland, as Rutenberg blends some old with some new as he takes over an already dominant Browns' defense.
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