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Predicting the Cleveland Browns Week One starters

By Dan Justik

BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 11: Cleveland Browns helmets rest on the bench prior to a game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on October 11, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 11: Cleveland Browns helmets rest on the bench prior to a game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on October 11, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 08: Christian Kirksey #58 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates play in the first quarter against the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 8, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 08: Christian Kirksey #58 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates play in the first quarter against the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 8, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Linebackers – Mychal Kendricks, Joe Schobert, Christian Kirksey

The linebacker situation will certainly be an interesting storyline to follow during the preseason. The Browns have four starting caliber linebackers in a league that defenses tend to only play with two linebackers on the field. Trying to guess who the three starters will be is challenging task.

The one player that seems to be a lock to be a starter is Joe Schobert. Schobert was tied for the most tackles in the league and was named to the Pro Bowl in his first full season playing middle linebacker. He is in charge of setting the defense, and he seems to be too valuable to lose his starting role.

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Cleveland made an aggressive move signing Mychal Kendricks late in the off-season. Kendricks wanted out of Philadelphia because he was not playing as many snaps as he wanted. Upon his agreement with Cleveland, reprots surfaced that Cleveland planned on making Kendricks a starter.

Although the coaching staff has denied those reports, Kendricks would not have signed with Cleveland unless he felt he was getting a large role on the defense. He definitely has the talent to be the full-time starter. But other than Schobert, the other two linebacker spots may be used for different situations.

Kendricks is an excellent pass rusher and solid at stuffing the run, but plays stiff when in coverage.  Kendricks’ ability to get into the backfield will help him earn a starting job.

Jamie Collins and Christian Kirksey also have their troubles in coverage as well. But Kirksey gets the nod over Collins as the starter as Kirksey has been the emotional leader over the defense for the past couple of seasons. He is solid against the run, and has the athleticism to make plays at the line of scrimmage.

Collins is returning from rehabbing a knee injury, and the Browns may decide to not force him into a huge role this season. But when he was on the field last season, he was not the play-maker that the Browns traded for and gave a four-year, $50 million contract. Although he is still a talented player, the Browns may want to see him get back to that performance level before giving him a starting role.

Although three of the linebackers will be named starters, all four linebackers will receive a lot of playing time. They each have different sets of strengths, and Gregg Williams will use them in creative ways in order to capitalize on their strengths.

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