Cleveland Browns: Review Pt. 3 Defense, ST, and More
Dec 14, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals guard Clint Boling (65) blocks versus the Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo (51) at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Back Ups At Linebacker Should Not Be Overlooked
Scott Solomon
Do you know who this is? Do you remember him from last season? I didn’t at first. I kept hearing all of this hype about someone named Scott Solomon and I thought he was a player Farmer claimed off an injured reserve waiver list of some kind.
Maybe he was a guy who played for a team like Seattle or Dallas and was overshadowed by the other talented players around them? Nope, Solomon is a fourth year journeyman who has played for the Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before coming to Cleveland late last season.
Yet his play in the final two games really laid an impression on Pettine, his coaches, and Farmer. So much so that Solomon is actually listed as a starter at outside linebacker over former first round pick Barkevious Mingo.
I’ll admit that the jury is still out on Solomon who had an effective preseason, but it’ll be up to him to prove himself on game day. I know I’ll be looking for #54, I want to see what the hype’s all about.
Barkevious Mingo
Speaking of hype, is there even any hype left here? Mingo is one of those players that could have been, should have been, and could still be. Mingo is still young enough of a player at 24 years old that he could develop into an elite pass rusher, but at this point he’s being passed up on the depth chart by a journeyman LB in Solomon.
So the question here is, what will Mingo do to save his career? He’s coming back from surgery to his hand, and finished last season playing one handed. Yet it doesn’t matter if it’s one handed or two, Mingo hasn’t lived up to his sixth overall pick status. He’s got a lot to prove in 2015, his career with the Browns could be on the line.
Known more as a special teams player, Tank Carder fills in for Dansby in the middle at times, but doesn’t really stand out in a regular role. Chances are, you’ll see Carder’s number more making plays on special teams.
It’s crazy to think, but the Cleveland Browns actually have a lot of depth at linebacker. No there’s not a Ray Lewis or a Brian Urlacher, but there are a lot of solid players who contribute to this team differently. Pettine and O’Neill have a lot of different combinations they can use this season.
I’m sure that with the exception of Carder, all of these guys will see significant playing time. One thing they won’t have to worry about? Guys beating them deep, with one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL and hardest hitting safeties leading one of the NFL’s best secondaries.
Next: Welcome To Haden's Island