Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens spoke with Bay Area reporters via a conference call on Wednesday and was asked about the San Francisco 49ers' improved defensive front. The Niners (3-0) will host the Cleveland Browns (2-2) on Monday night at Levi's Stadium.
"They play hard," Kitchens said. "They're very talented. They're very long. Big guys that play with quickness, and play hard. I mean, they've got I don't know how many first-rounders up there, but there's a lot of them up there, and they're up there for a reason."
The 49ers defensive front, by the way, is made up of five former first-round picks (DeForest Buckner, Arik Armstead, Solomon Thomas, Dee Ford, and Nick Bosa).
"I think they're very deep," Kitchens continued. "They can rotate guys in and out. I think they're the best front that we've faced this year."
The 49ers already have six different players with at least one sack through three games this season and three (Buckner, Armstead, and Ford) who have gotten to opposing quarterbacks twice. The lack of a significant pass rush has been a concern in recent years, and the 49ers defensive unit was tied for No. 22 in the league in sacks last season.
Needless to say, the unit appears to be much improved this season.
The Browns have allowed 12 sacks this season, which is currently tied for the seventh-most in the NFL.