The Cleveland Browns have a chance to build some momentum that they could not have expected this early in the season. They can take advantage of Myles Garrett’s highly disappointing debut with the Los Angeles Rams by making a statement in their season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
After a no-tackle, no-sack, no-pressure performance by Garrett for the Rams in their loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Australia on Thursday, the Browns can make a loud declaration that they might actually be better off without the NFL single-season sacks record-holder. If Jared Verse can record even just one sack, Cleveland can convince itself, its fans, and some skeptical analysts that the path it is on now is the better one.
Heading into Week 1, Verse is sending a big warning to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, saying the Browns defense is “going to get after him.”
“Trevor Lawrence is a great player. He can go back there, he can dot you up all day, but he can also run the ball around you if you give him those gaps, those seams,” Verse said. “We’re going to get after him. We’re going to try to sack him a couple times, hopefully a lot more than a couple, but we’re just going to do what we have to do to get that win.”
Even though the Jaguars were 13-4 and won the AFC South last season, Lawrence was sacked a career-high 41 times. He also had a career-high 359 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.
So, the Browns should be able to pressure Lawrence, but he also has the ability to make plays with his legs. It should prove to be a difficult challenge for a Browns defensive line that was dealt a significant loss when Alex Wright suffered a season-ending Achilles injury during training camp.
That puts even more pressure on Verse, who is coming off 7.5 sacks in his second season with the Rams. He will now be primarily responsible for making up the production that was lost when Garrett was traded away, as the defensive ends with him are a mix of 10-year veteran Derek Barnett and potential upside younger players Isaiah McGuire and Sam Williams.
It will be interesting to see if new defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg has schemes to increase the pass rush with alignments, stunts, and maybe some blitzes from the secondary, but it will be up to Verse and his linemates to do most of the work getting to Lawrence.
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