1. Joe Schobert
Joe Schobert bolstered his reputation as a coverage linebacker by picking up two interception in victory. The final pick, made well downfield, saw Schobert sliding to make an amazing play. It set up the Browns’ final touchdown, putting the game on ice.
Schobert tallied 10 total tackles after two straight weeks where he tallied eight total takedowns.
The Wisconsin product also had a sack, in addition to a big-time pressure on Rudolph on third down early in the fourth quarter.
Schobert may have found himself on the stock down list recently, but this game has him back trending in the right direction and is a reminder that the Browns need to extend his contract, as Schobert is in his walk year.
The linebacking corps has been one of the Browns biggest areas of weakness, and is one of the reasons that Steve Wilks’ employed the 4-2-5 base defense for most of the season. That of course, was a disaster, and the Browns have moved away from it, especially after Jermaine Whitehead was cut.
For as weak as the Browns are at linebacker, Schobert is a Godsend. No, he’s not elite, but he’s a very, very good player and he just had the game of his life against a team the Browns haven’t beaten in five years. Get a deal done!