Cleveland Browns: 4 defenders making noise at camp
By Randy Gurzi
3. Joe Schobert, Linebacker
He may have been tied for the most tackles in the NFL last season, but Joe Schobert seems to still be a forgotten man in the Browns defense. He made the Pro Bowl in what was his first season playing the middle linebacker spot, and even though the team signed Mychal Kendricks, he finds himself as the starting mike in the team’s first unofficial depth chart of the season — via Nate Ulrich.
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Schobert has been getting praised by linebacker coach Blake Williams, who is not only impressed by the knowledge the young linebacker has but also the way he’s worked in the offseason to better prepare his body for the beating he’s taking at the NFL level.
According to Nathan Zegura of the team’s official website, he’s “light years” ahead of where he was a season ago. That’s a scary thought for anyone already worried about how to deal with this linebacker corps which is easily five deep considering players like Kendricks and rookie Genard Avery are listed as backups.
In the end, the depth may hurt the overall numbers of players like Schobert as Kendricks and Avery will be subbing in and out a lot to keep players fresh. What won’t be hurt though is their effectiveness.