Sheldon Richardson quietly making big impact for Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns have received good production from the defensive line this season, and that includes the quiet impact being made by Sheldon Richardson.

Entering the 2019 season, Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens said multiple times that the defensive line was the strength of the team. After adding Sheldon Richardson and Olivier Vernon to the starting front with Myles Garrett and Larry Ogunjobi, it made sense for Kitchens to say that.

The group has done nothing but prove Kitchens right, as the starting unit has been a stout group who provide an impact for the defense in different ways. Garrett is at the forefront with his ability to rush the passer, but the other three have helped build a tough defensive front to go against.

The two additions this offseason, Richardson and Vernon, have not been making the splashy plays that get the attention of the fans. Instead, they are playing fundamentally sound football that puts the offense in difficult positions to make plays.

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Against the Dolphins, Richardson had his chance to make his impact widely known with the three other starting defensive linemen not playing. The Browns used Richardson up and down the line, playing him at both tackle and end. The movement did not hurt Richardson, as he put up his biggest statistical game of the season.

Richardson made five total tackles, including one tackle for loss, two sacks, and one forced fumbles. With the Browns struggling to generate a pass rush without blitzing, Richardson was getting into the backfield often. He was also stacking and shedding his blocks to help stop the Miami rushing attack.

Although he made his first sacks of the season against Miami, Richardson has been one of the most consistent players for the Browns defense. He has been stout up the middle for the Browns and has been generating pressure, but wasn’t able to turn the pressures into sacks.

Richardson is still building up solid numbers this season, even without a bunch of sacks on the box scores. On the season, Richardson has made 43 total tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and three quarterback hits.

He may not be making the big plays fans expected of him after signing a three-year, $39 million deal in the offseason. But his presence in the middle of the defensive line has created trouble for opposing offenses this season.

Richardson will become more important during the final games of the season due to Garrett’s absence. But as evidenced by his play against the Dolphins, he seems to be ready to take the extra pressure on and make the big plays the defense needs.