Armonty Bryant Continues to Shine Brightest in Preseason

Yes, it has been another abysmal preseason for the Cleveland Browns especially on the offensive side of the ball. Brian Hoyer was finally named as the team’s starter last week and he has looked more like the career backup that he is than an NFL veteran quarterback. Johnny Manziel is showing positive signs within each game but he is still a long way from a finished product and needs more molding. It certainly hasn’t helped that the offensive line isn’t blocking and that the wideouts couldn’t catch a cold.

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However, the defense has looked in mid-season form besides the game last Saturday against the St. Louis Rams. The defensive line has been dominant, Karlos Dansby‘s hard work and play seems to be rubbing off on Craig Robertson and rookie Christian Kirksey and Joe Haden is looking like the best cornerback in the NFL. Through all of this, one player has stood out in every game just as he did last year when he was used sparingly and that is defensive end, Armonty Bryant.

Bryant has been all over the field making plays. Whether he is getting a pressure on the quarterback or stopping the run behind the line of scrimmage, he is always around the ball. He is quick for his size and finds a way to shed blockers as he is pursuing the ball. In Ray Horton’s defensive scheme he was used as a defensive end and played some outside linebacker. He was mainly used in blitz packages and against the pass. He only finished with 12 combined tackles and 2 1/2 sacks but he was impactful.

Mike Pettine is likely to use him in the same capacity. In three preseason games he has 6 tackles and 2 sacks which isnt bad for a backup defensive end/linebacker. It is still early in his career but he reminds me of a poor man’s Adalius Thomas.

Thomas was one of those players that had the size of a linebacker at 6’2′ 270lbs but could also play with his hand down and be just as impactful. He never truly had a position when he played for the Baltimore Ravens or New England Patriots but he always made plays and it even led to him making two Pro Bowls. Its a bit of the opposite with Bryant. He has the size of a defensive end at 6’4′ 265lbs but can play standing up. He still needs work in coverage but that will come with experience and playing time.

“I would say yes, because i thought at times that I was above the game, and thats one thing they taught us at the symposium — don’t be above the game.

He was seen as a troublemaker coming into the league out of East Central (OK). He got busted twice for selling marijuana in the campus parking lot at East Central and was charged with a DUI not even one month into being drafted by the Browns in the 7th round. Bryant finally admitted that he had a substance abuse problem and learned from his mistakes. “I would say yes, because I thought at times that I was above the game, and thats one thing they taught us at the symposium — don’t be above the game.”

It seems that he has followed his own advice and it has shown. Hopefully these performances lead to something even bigger.

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Armonty Bryant Continues to Shine Brightest in Pre-Season

By Jamyson Frierson | Aug 28, 2014