Browns: 3 players who need to step up against the Jaguars
By Chad Porto
Porter Gustin
Porter Gustin has had some really good moments in his brief three games as a starter, but against Jacksonville, he’ll need to do more. Gustin has shown some solid work with his containment skills, and he does get some depth on the offensive line but Gustin is more of a run stopper than a pass rusher. He can get into the backfield and chase down a quarterback but he just comes up short the few times he’s nearly pulled down the opposing quarterback.
Against Jacksonville, that will need to change, he’ll have to at least lay out Mike Glennon with a hit or two, even if it’s right after he’s just released the football into the air. The Browns can’t rely on Olivier Vernon to do all the work, mostly because Vernon is as inconsistent as rainfall in Arizona. You never know which Vernon is going to show up anymore and with Sionne Takitaki out of the game on Sunday as well, Vernon may be lining up off tackle in a two-point stance, with Adrian Clayborn filling in on the line.
If that does happen, then Gustin will have more opportunity to go one on one with the Jaguars offensive tackle and if he gets those opportunities, he’ll need to make the most of them.