5 Matchups to watch in Cleveland Browns Week 1 game against the Ravens
By Mitch Zoloty
3. Jedrick Wills Jr vs Calais Campbell
If I was Don Martindale, I would be lining up Calais Campbell on top of Jedrick Wills Jr the entire game. It’s a hard block in any run scheme for a backside tackle to try to control a 4i defensive end against an odd defense. Asking Jedrick Wills Jr to do that as a rookie against one of the best veteran defensive linemen in the NFL is a tall order. Jedrick definitely has the talent to, but it takes time for NFL tackles to develop.
Campbell is one of the most respected defensive linemen in the NFL. He is an absolute freak of nature with his size and is incredibly intelligent and savvy with his play. There’s a reason that he made the Pro Bowl last season at the age of 33. Mother Nature hasn’t shown many signs of slowing Campbell down, which could be a huge problem for the Browns.
Wills, along with being a rookie going up against such a talented vet for his first career NFL game, has had no preseason to prepare himself to NFL speed and hasn’t played a full game in a left tackle stance in ages. Be prepared to watch Wills struggle a lot in this matchup.
It’s highly unlikely he’s going to go out there and dominate Calais Campbell or Matt Judon, who will likely be blitzing off his edge a ton too. Of all these matchups, even though this likely isn’t the most important matchup for the Browns, it’s definitely going to be the hardest to win during the game.