Browns’ coach on improvement of Bengals’ defense under Marvin Lewis: ‘It’s no shock to me’

Gregg Williams is doing his best to avoid controversy this week as he prepares his Cleveland Browns to face the Cincinnati Bengals in a matchup that will bring former head coach Hue Jackson back to FirstEnergy Stadium for the first time since he was fired.

»RELATED: Bengals-Browns rivalry heating up again

He deflected the attention back on the players when asked about Jackson in a conference call with Cincinnati-area media members Wednesday and quickly shut down questions about some of the “bulletin board material” surrounding the game in his press conference in Cleveland.

The Browns beat the Bengals 35-20 in Cincinnati last month and did a little gloating during and after, especially directing it toward Jackson.

»RELATED: 5 takeaways from Browns win over Bengals

Here are five things he said about the matchup Sunday:

1. Players deserve credit

Williams is 4-2 as Browns interim head coach and has won more games in six weeks than Jackson did in two-and-a-half years, but Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap emphasized this week that “we all know Hue built that team.”

When asked if Jackson deserves any of the credit for Cleveland’s turnaround, Williams didn’t want credit to go anywhere but to the players.

“He’s a great friend of mine and is a really, really good coach,” Williams said. “Sure, he’s had it here and right now it’s give the players credit for rallying and doing what they need to do and taking the next step, so they’ve done a great job. Young team, but they’ve rallied together.”

2. Mayfield improving with experience

Baker Mayfield has become one of the AFC’s top quarterbacks since taking over as the starter in Week 4, as he has thrown for 3,065 yards and 21 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.

Williams said he continues to improve with each game and has developed into a quality leader for the team.

“I think he’s a really good football player, and the biggest thing is just the experience of playing the NFL game over the college game, at the speed you have to play at this level, and that only comes with time on task, that only comes with the experience of success and failure on a particular play,” Williams said. “I think he’s done an excellent job of doing what needs to be done to lead this football team and continue to grow as a pretty dog-gone quarterback at this level.”

3. Bengals defense has evolved

The Bengals defense has turned a corner the past few weeks, and Williams said it looks like a completely different defense than the one the Browns saw in Week 12 when they jumped out to a 28-0 lead in the first half.

Cincinnati has allowed less than 300 yards of offense the past two games, which Williams said is a credit to Marvin Lewis’ work as defensive coordinator.

“I think Marvin has done a really good job, and I have so much respect for him and all the years we’ve known each other,” Williams said. “It’s no shock to me.”

4. Cincinnati adjusting with backups

It’s no secret the Bengals have been relying on backups and newcomers to the roster because of a slew of injuries this season, but Williams said it seems like Cincinnati is starting to adjust with new talent.

The Bengals have sent 15 players to the injured reserve list, including wide receiver A.J. Green and quarterback Andy Dalton, and the loss of so many key players contributed to a five-game losing streak, which Cincinnati snapped on Sunday.

“I think Marvin has done a very good job of doing the things that are best for his team and whether it be the scheme or the calls he makes defensively and how he and Bill Lazor on the offensive side have done things to adapt to the people that are playing at that time, I think they are doing a great job,” Williams said. “It’s about utilization of personnel you have and giving them the best opportunity to succeed and Marvin has always done a very good job at that.”

5. Browns enjoying some success

After winning just one game last year, the Browns are enjoying a six-win season that has them still holding out hope for a playoff spot with help in the wild card race.

Williams said players’ hard work has been validated in those things, but they continue to work and compete.

“It’s always fun to win, so there are more smiles, more laughter, but you have to compete every single day and you have to do your job at this level every single day because there’s a lot of change that goes on in our league, as we’ve witnessed,” Williams said. “These guys are very fired up. The locker room is a good locker room to be in. They love to laugh and joke together, but all that comes from the competition they have in practice and the success of competition on game day. When those things are successful, the bond, the loyalty to each other, the trust and respect to each other just builds and builds and builds. They are a young team and just have to keep on growing.”


SUNDAY’S GAME

Bengals at Browns, 1 p.m., WHIO-TV Ch. 7, Ch. 12, 700, 1530, 95.3, 101.1, 102.7, 104.7

About the Author