Browns LB Sione Takitaki could earn playing time with run-stuffing ability

The Cleveland Browns defense needs to improve at stuffing the run in 2019, and Sione Takitaki’s ability to stop the run could earn him snaps as a rookie.

The Cleveland Browns selection of linebacker Sione Takitaki in the third-round of the 2019 NFL Draft was surprising to many. But just one week into training camp, his selection is starting to make sense to more people.

Takitaki has shown off his intensity during the first five practices of training camp and it has helped him make plays all over the field.

The 24-year-old linebacker’s aggressiveness was especially noticed when the Browns started live tackling during Monday’s practice after Takitaki made multiple run stops.

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Takitaki’s relentless nature when pursuing a play became his biggest strength during the draft process. It helped him make plays against the run as he was able to get in the backfield before runners can hit any running lanes. But his aggressiveness would sometimes come back to bite him because it could cause him to overrun a play and cause tackling inconsistencies.

But if the Browns have already coached up Takitaki enough to where he has cleaned up some of the tackling inconsistencies, it could pay off and turn the rookie into one of Cleveland’s best run-stuffers. And Cleveland’s defense needs more players who are strong against the run.

Joe Schobert is one of the Cleveland Browns’ best players on the defense. He is said to be a coach on the field and puts the rest of the defense where they need to be. He is also one of the best coverage linebackers in the league. But last year showed his issue with missing tackles, which ultimately hurt the Browns’ run defense.

The Browns run defense will get some help in 2019 with Christian Kirksey having a healthy return, as well as Schobert not having to deal with injuries that hindered him in 2018. But they still need another linebacker to show up as reliable tackler against the run. And that could be where Takitaki steps in.

If the rookie can consistently slow down the run, the Browns may not have a choice but to give him meaningful snaps during the season. Even though the Browns are expected to only have two linebackers for the majority of games, Takitaki could push one of the two veteran linebackers for playing time if he is effective against the run.

Takitaki’s strong start has opened the eyes of the coaching staff and defensive leaders. And his strong start to the 2019 campaign could result in the linebacker getting more playing time during the regular season than initially expected.