"It is a great honor to be thought of that highly, to be recognized with the best in the country," Brown said. "But at the end of the day, you have to go out and make plays. You have to win games."

Brown explains the changes installed by new linebackers coach Mike Ward are minimal.

"We have a few more drops into passing lanes, and this defense is a little less aggressive," he said. "With Coach Vic, we were always pressuring, and that helped us make some plays behind the line. We're more alert to the pass right now."

Tate