Cleveland Browns: 5 Browns who need great games vs Colts

5. Veteran LBs

The veteran has to be feeling the heat following Mack Wilson‘s debut in the preseason opener, which included two interceptions–one of which was returned for a touchdown.

The linebacking corps has been a point of discussion all offseason because it was viewed as one of the Browns biggest weaknesses.

Kirksey is coming an injury-derailed year, and now it just seems a matter of “when” Wilson will supplant him as the starter.

Can Kirksey make enough plays to stave off the rookie challenger? One preseason game won’t make a huge difference in the long run, as practice is probably telling the coaches everything they need to know. The games are the icing on the cake, and Wilson was the Cake Boss again the Redskins.

That’s why the pressure is on Kirksey to be noticeable and make some plays.

Joe Schobert is also expected to play and he’s being pressed by Sione Takitaki. Schobert led the NFL in missed tackles a season ago and is in a contract year. He was excused from the preseason opener for person al reasons.

Takitaki just plays with an aggressiveness Schobert doesn’t seem to have.

On the flip side, Schobert is a cerebral player known for “quarterbacking” the defense. That superlative hasn’t been used with Takitaki.

Of the two veterans, Schobert might be the safest best to start the regular season, but neither look to have long-term job security.