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Cleveland Browns: Three team MVP’s through first quarter of season

By Matthew McFatridge

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 29: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns hands offsides to running back Nick Chubb #24 during the first quarter of the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 29: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns hands offsides to running back Nick Chubb #24 during the first quarter of the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 29: Middle Linebacker Joe Schobert #53 of the Cleveland Browns sacks quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens in the second half at M&T Bank Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 29: Middle Linebacker Joe Schobert #53 of the Cleveland Browns sacks quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens in the second half at M&T Bank Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images) /

Defensive MVP – Joe Schobert

While much of the focus during the 2019 offseason was on the additions to the Cleveland Browns offense, the defense also made some solid moves. Be it depth or overall upgrades to starters, such as the addition of Olivier Vernon and Sheldon Richardson, for example, these moves by John Dorsey were seen as ways to make significant improvements this season.

While the new additions have been great, it’s actually a familiar name that’s been with the organization that garners the defensive MVP title for the team thus far. Joe Schobert has elevated his game to new heights, and in doing so, has taken this Browns defense from good to on the verge of being very special.

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Coming off back to back seasons with over 100 tackles, it was still seen by some that perhaps Dorsey drafted linebackers in the 2019 draft to eventually replace Schobert and let him either walk or trade for future assets. But coming off of a 17 tackle game against the division rival Ravens, it’s going to be hard to let him leave at all.

Barring injury, Schobert is on pace to well exceed 100 tackles this season, and may even break his career-high of 142 that he racked up in 2017. It’s one thing to have that many tackles on a team that doesn’t win any games. Should Schobert rack up those numbers on a team that wins, or at least competes, for a division title, it’s a whole different story.

Not only would he have the team title for defensive MVP, but he may also even get some respect as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year honoree.

It’s often easy to get overlooked on this Browns defense, especially when you have a freak of a talent such as Myles Garrett wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks on a weekly basis. Joe Schobert, through the team’s first four games, however, has hit his stride and is becoming a proven player and leader.

If he’s able to help out by forcing a few turnovers a year and get a handful of sacks, on top of his already impressive numbers, there’s no reason to think Schobert can’t help this defense and Cleveland Browns team reach heights not seen in a long time.

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