Roy Horton at Cleveland Browns training camp: Monday, July 29, 2013

Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton has made an immediate impact.

(John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Since the Browns returned in 1999, they've never had a defense this good. Not even close.

It's only five games and much can change, but the fact is that Ray Horton's defense is ranked No. 4 in the NFL.

The highest the Browns have ever been before is 10th in 2011, under Dick Jauron. After that, it's 15th with Dave Campo in 2004, the season the Browns finished 4-12 and coach Butch Davis quit after 11 games because he was having panic attacks -- or something.

Ah, the memories for those who follow the orange helmets. Which is why I wanted to write this story, risking the possibility of jinxing the defense.

There is more behind the three-game winning streak than all the quarterback talk about Brian Hoyer and Brandon Weeden. Some weeks, the defense has been good. Other weeks, it's been close to great, as was the case in the 17-6 victory over Cincinnati.

Offensive coordinator Norv Turner mentioned the defense at his Thursday press conference. He said the offense has to continue to keep away from turnovers, "so we give our defense a chance to keep playing like they've been playing."

The impressive aspect is how solid the defense has been in nearly every aspect: Third in sacks, seventh vs. the pass, eighth vs. the run, ninth in points allowed. It's the type of quick, swarming, aggressive defense that the front office and head coach Rob Chudzinski pictured when they hired Horton, who lost his job as Arizona's defensive coordinator following a head coaching change.

In his job interview with the front office, Chudzinski said he favored a 3-4 defense because he found it harder to face than the 4-3 played by the 2012 Browns. Chudzinski didn't know Horton on more than a very casual basis. CEO Joe Banner was very impressed when interviewing Horton for the head coaching job. When Banner decided on Chudzinski, he suggested the new coach meet with Horton.

The two men talked for several hours, and Chudzinski was sold on Horton and his defensive style.

Like it or not -- and I think most fans love it -- Horton brought his version of the Steelers defense to Cleveland. He had been a Pittsburgh assistant from 2004-10.

Making the investment

The front office decided to back Horton with two major free agent signings worth up to a combined $74 million -- Desmond Bryant and Paul Kruger. The first-round draft pick was Barkevious Mingo, a 4-3 defensive end converted to outside linebacker.

Horton often asks his players to "trust" him and his judgment. Well, the front office and Chudzinski have trusted Horton to transform the 23rd-ranked defense in 2012 into a totally different model. Bryant, Kruger and Mingo are huge additions. Bryant leads the team with 3.5 sacks, right behind is Mingo at 3.0.

But consider that the Browns' 18 sacks have been recorded by 13 players. Outside linebackers coach Brian Baker has done a tremendous job taking Jabaal Sheard and Mingo -- both 4-3 defensive ends -- and converting them into 3-4 linebackers. That doesn't always work.

Mingo missed the first two games with a bruised lung. Sheard has missed the last two with a knee injury. Veteran linebacker Quentin Groves hasn't played for three weeks with an ankle injury. The grand plan was for the Browns to have four outside linebackers rotating in to keep the pressure on the quarterback. But in most games, they've only had two healthy. Kruger is the only outside linebacker to play in all five games.

"(Horton) puts us in position to make plays and gives us some free rein," said Kruger. "He trusts us to make plays."

Up front matters

Defensive captain D'Qwell Jackson set the tone by accepting Horton immediately. One of the first phone calls Horton received after being hired was from Jackson. Drafted in 2006, Jackson was getting his fifth defensive coordinator. The same is true for Ahtyba Rubin, drafted in 2008.

Both veterans embraced Horton, who talked about the need to "overlook the past performance and history" of the defense. Horton knew that for some players, the changes in coaches and schemes kept coming -- Jackson went from the 3-4 to 4-3 to 3-4 -- but the results were the same. For the Browns, it was either 5-11 or 4-12 with a defense that could not stop the run. Horton intended to change that.

"We can talk about trust, but the best way to get by past (losing) performances is to go out and play well," said Horton.

That's what the team has done. Younger players such as second-year safety TaShaun Gipson almost worship Horton.

"I've never heard anyone like him," said the undrafted free agent from Wyoming. "He's so intense, so inspirational."

Horton praises the "character" of his team, especially the veterans. He talked about how they have "overcome adversity" and how they "are doing the work" in the classroom and film rooms.

Horton's hiring was greeted with great expectations, and so far, he and his players have delivered.

BROWNS DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT

Category 2013 2012

Overall 4th 23rd

Sacks 3rd 11th

Pass 7th 25th

Rush 8th 19th

Points 9th 19th