3 defensive players who shined for the Browns in Week 8
By Jacob Roach
No. 2- Sione Takitaki, Linebacker
The linebacker position for Cleveland has struggled so far in 2022 and has desperately been looking for someone to step up and provide a spark. Sione Takitaki was that guy against the Bengals in Week 8 as he was flying all over the field making plays every time you looked. H
e did it in coverage, against the run, and rushing the quarterback on a blitz resulting in a strip sack fumble that the Browns recovered.
Takitaki didn’t miss any tackles — which is great to see after missed tackles had plagued the defense— and he finished with nine solo tackles, two assists, and a sack. The most important part of his game was his reaction speed. Takitaki wasn’t waiting for a play to come to him he was reading and understanding at a quick rate and reacted quickly to make the play.
After the injury to Jacob Phillips, along with his struggles, the team really needed someone to step up and Takitaki turned in what might’ve been the best game of his career. If the defense can continue to get this play from the linebacker position with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah returning after the bye this defense might finally be able to put it together and win some games.