Cleveland Browns: Which defensive rookies will make the team?
By Joel W. Cade
The drafting of Joe Schobert continued the Browns theme of highly productive college players. Like Nassib, Schobert was a walk on player to earn All-Big Ten honors. Schobert was among the league leaders in sacks and tackles for loss. He plays with a high motor. Nicknamed “The Show”, Schobert played outside linebacker for Wisconsin, starting for two seasons.
Related: 5 Questions on Joe Schobert
The Browns picked Joe Schobert with the first pick of the fourth round of the 2015 Draft. He was a highly productive outside linebacker. Schobert uses good hip and upper body movement combined with excellent hand placement for success. His technique makes up for what he lacks in size. Make no mistake, size is a big issue. At 6-foot-1 and 244 pounds, Schobert lacks the size to play outside linebacker in the NFL. He struggled in college at times to set an edge in the run game.
Schobert does not fit Ray Horton’s scheme as an outside linebacker. He is too small to take on pulling linemen. He would be unable to set an edge in the run game. In college he has shown the ability to get to the quarterback. If he can translate that to the NFL, he could see time as a rotational pass rusher.
Schobert is a great fit for weak inside linebacker in Horton’s system. He would need to be protected by the strong inside linebacker but he has the size, speed and playmaking ability to succeed as a weak playmaking linebacker. He would be competing with Scooby Wright and Christian Kirksey.
Verdict: Schobert makes the team as a weak side inside linebacker. He contributes on special teams.
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