In the Cleveland Browns’ loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, it was clear that the Browns weren’t ready to match the intensity that the Steelers were playing with. Pittsburgh was far more physical and violent than Cleveland was early in the game, and the Browns struggled to return the energy as a whole.
There was one Cleveland player who was up for the challenge, and that was tight end Harold Fannin Jr.
Once it became clear the kind of physical game that it was going to be, the Browns turned to their most physical player in Fannin.
The second-year tight end responded by having a career day. Most importantly, he helped set the tone for a Cleveland team that was struggling.
Harold Fannin Jr.’s physicality was Browns’ lone bright spot in loss to Steelers
Fannin had the most productive outing of his career, catching 10 passes for 154 yards — both single-game career highs. However, it wasn’t just what Fannin did. It was how he did it.
The tight end is already one of the best tackle breakers in the NFL. That was once again on full display Sunday.
Going against a Steelers defense that was bullying the Browns’ offensive line and looking to deliver bone-crushing hits on anyone with the ball, Fannin made it clear that he only knows how to be the hammer. The tight end caught the ball looking for contact, dropping his shoulder and ramming through defenders’ chests.
Even on the play that Fannin fumbled the ball, it took six defenders to get him down to the ground and pry the ball out of his hands. While that was ultimately a negative play for the young tight end, it showed Fannin’s never-quit mentality. He refused to be pushed around, and as a result, he was responsible for Cleveland finding a way to move the ball.
In the ugly loss, that was a positive sign for Cleveland. The Browns now know that they have a player they can turn to when things get tough; someone who is going to match violence with violence.
The physical nature of Fannin’s game has the ability to set the tone for Cleveland. His teammates just need to follow suit.
If they do, the Browns should never get pushed around like they did on Sunday.
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