At 5-3, the Cleveland Browns are in a better position than their most wildly optimistic fans could have imagined at the start of the season. They are in the race for an AFC playoff spot (and maybe even the AFC North) and have a roster with a lot of young talent on it.
But not everything will be good this season, and one of the biggest disappointments has been the play (and more specifically, the production) from edge-rusher Jared Verse. Verse was one of the key pieces acquired in the Myles Garrett trade this offseason, and the hope is that he can come into Cleveland and at least provide some of the pass-rushing impact that Garrett did.
No one should expect him to be the perfect replacement. But in his first two years with the Los Angeles Rams, Verse has at least shown the ability to be a disruptive force and emerging star.
The Browns are not only getting a level playing field, but they are getting something worse.
A distraction without responsibility.
The Browns may have a problem with Jared Verse
When it comes to on-field performance, the Verse simply doesn’t match up to expectations.
In the first eight games he had no sacks, only 10 solo tackles, eight assisted tackles, no forced fumbles, no pass defenses, no interceptions and no splash plays.
That’s enough trouble.
But where it becomes a distraction is that he started Week 8 by writing a mighty big check heading into their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in some of his pregame talk, and then didn’t cash it in a no-show performance. Then he doubled down on that talk after a 27-6 loss in which he did nothing but wreak havoc on the body.
Four days after the fact, he’s still at it, while also making excuses for his lack of production.
Along with throwing his teammates under the bus for not defending him when Steelers offensive lineman Mason McCormick hit him to the ground, he had this to say about his lack of production in terms of some stats.
“I think the focus is on me not doing enough in this aspect, in that aspect, I don’t think we’re getting enough 3rds and wanting to put myself in position to get the stats.”
There’s only one problem with that.
The Browns have been one of the best defenses in the league at creating third and long situations.