For years, the slot corner spot has been arguably the Cleveland Browns' lone defensive concern. Myles Harden has left plenty to be desired more often than not, including in the season-opening loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Harden struggled to contain Parker Washington, which played a part in the Browns' man-heavy defense playing more zone against the Jaguars. The result was a game that spiraled into a 31-0 deficit early in the third quarter.
Browns head coach Todd Monken and defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg stood by Harden, and he rewarded their confidence in Week 2. Far from a liability, Harden may have had his best game in a Browns uniform in the win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"It’s a credit to him," Rutenberg said of the third-year pro. "He’s a guy who is self-made. He’s everything you want in a person and a player. And like we were just talking, it’s week to week, right? No matter what happens the previous week, can you find the next inches in your game? And he did that this week, leading up to the Tampa game."
The Browns need Myles Harden's Week 2 breakout to be the start of something bigger
Pro Football Focus gave Harden the highest grade on the team in Week 2 (90.6). He gave up four receptions on five targets for just 26 yards. He also logged five tackles, three run stops, one pass breakup and one interception, and held Baker Mayfield to a 48.8 passer rating in coverage.
Late in the first quarter, Harden made a leaping interception on a sailed Mayfield pass to flip the field for the Browns. It was early in the game, but it definitely helped set the tone and, more importantly, get in Mayfield's head.
The Browns' defense looked much better as a whole in Week 2. Switching to a more aggressive blitzing scheme worked wonders, as Cleveland was able to disrupt Mayfield's rhythm and keep the Bucs behind the sticks.
The Browns will face some stellar slot receivers this season. Players like Jalen Coker, Malik Nabers, Zay Flowers, and Josh Downs all see some usage there, and teams will only continue to test Harden until he proves he can hold up.
Maybe this was just a perfect storm on a day when nothing went the Buccaneers' way. Or maybe this will be the beginning of a much-needed turnaround for a player who's been the Browns' locked-in nickel corner since the start of training camp.
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