The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Kirksey centerpiece of defense
Christian Kirksey
POSITION » Middle linebacker HEIGHT, WEIGHT » 6-foot-2, 235 BIRTHDATE » Aug. 31, 1992 COLLEGE » Iowa YEARS PRO » Fourth season RANKING » Fourth of 25 KIRKSEY’S BACKGROUND » Don’t believe everything you see, particularly when it comes to Christian Kirksey.
A glitch in Madden 15 has Kirksey measuring 1-foot-2. Any running back that has been creamed by the Browns leading tackler can testify he is actually five feet taller than the video game says he is.
The error brought notoriety to Kirksey in the form of interviews on ESPN and CNN. He easily laughed off the mistake, but he also used it as a platform to spread the wisdom of his mother, Patrice, who once told Kirksey that no matter how small a person is, he should always dream big and live big.
That is exactly what Kirksey has done since being drafted in the third round in 2014 with the 71st overall pick.
Kirksey has played drums since he was 7 years old. When he isn’t playing football he enjoys bowling and skating.
Often when new management takes over a football team, players selected by the previous regime are cut adrift.
Browns Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown wisely signed Kirksey to a fouryear contract extension in the offseason.
WHY KIRKSEY IS RANKED FOURTH » The Browns defensive scheme runs through Kirksey – literally. As the middle linebacker, he is busy on every play whether the opponent is running the ball or throwing it. It was that way when the Browns were in a 3-4 defense the first three years of his career. He will be even busier, if that’s possible, in the three-linebacker set the Browns will use this year.
2016 RECAP » Kirksey started all 16 games at inside linebacker and was on the field for all but two defensive snaps in 2016, missing one against the Bengals and one against the Jets. It was the first time in his career he started every game. Kirksey led the Browns with 143 tackles, and according to NFL.com had the third most tackles in the NFL. He had nine or more tackles in 10 games.
WHY KIRKSEY IS IMPORTANT FOR 2017 » The Browns gave up an average of 4.6 yards a carry, allowed 18 rushing touchdowns and finished 31st in run defense last season. As impressive as Kirksey’s individual numbers from last season were, teams aren’t going to win many games posting those kinds of stats. Still, if they are going to make a big jump defensively, the Browns need Kirksey to hustle on every play as he did last season.
PREDICTION FOR 2017 » Kirksey should again lead the Browns in tackles. Part of it is the nature of his position, but it is more because of the way Kirksey plays. He is durable, which is testimony to the way he takes care of his body in the offseason. He hasn’t missed a game, and by the end of the season that streak should be at 64 games.