The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Linebacker battle is on
Takitaki, Schobert vying for starting spot in middle
The Browns had seven draft picks in 2019 and used five of them on defensive players. The message was loud and clear: The Browns have to tackle better to have success in the season ahead. To that end, rookie Sione Takitaki, picked in the third round with the 80th overall pick, is competing with veteran Joe Schobert for the starting job at middle linebacker.
Takitaki was a little too aggressive the first two days of training camp. He got into a brief skirmish with running back Duke Johnson on July 25 and was told to tone it down.
The players on July 27 were in pads for the first time this summer (it was the third practice). So the 238-pounder from BYU was able to do some hitting, but his full force won’t be on display until the preseason, when he can hone in on someone in a different uniform.
“I feel like I’m a high-energy guy. So I just go out there and try to attack stuff and do everything right,” Takitaki said. “It kind of got chippy, but that’s just me being a rookie and not understanding what the NFL is and coming out here and practicing right. Over these three days, I’ve been learning from the vets and the coaches just to play under control, keep everybody healthy — things like that.”
The Browns last year missed more tackles than any other team in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. Schobert, a fourthround pick by Sashi Brown in 2016 (99th overall), was graded harshly by PFF.
“Bringing up the rear, Cleveland Browns’ Joe Schobert missed 24 tackles across his 110 tackle attempts in 2018, giving him an NFLlow 4.6 tackling efficiency among the 71 off-ball linebackers with 400-plus defensive snaps,” Pro Football Focus concluded on Jan. 15.
Head coach Freddie Kitchens is confident Schobert will be a more efficient tackler with Steve Wilks as Browns defensive coordinator. But it is clear Schobert will have to stave off the challenge from Takitaki to keep the job.
“(Schobert) is a very conscientious guy who wants to do well,” Kitchens said. “He’s an intense guy. I think a lot of his missed tackles falls on technique, and you can get better at technique. I think he’s put the effort in, and I think he’ll be a much better tackler this year.
“You’re going to have good players on the other side of the ball, but we definitely need to eliminate some missed tackles.”
The pre-draft NFL.com scouting report on Takitaki was not flattering.
“Usually plays with a proactive demeanor vs. run … Once he hits the gas, he’s all in … Plays faster than timed speed … Good reaction quickness to tackle from zone,” were listed as some of Takitaki’s positive traits.
The negatives on the scouting report indicate tackling will be an issue for Takitaki in the NFL. But scouting reports have been wrong in the past, and Takitaki did not really mature as a football player until his senior year at BYU, so he has room for improvement.
“Erratic tackler in space,” the scouting report read. “Juke steps can ‘break his ankles.’… Full-tilt style leads to over-pursuit and excessive missed tackles. …Slow to process from middle linebacker.”
Takitaki played middle linebacker at BYU last fall, but he is capable of playing outside, too. He is trying to digest Wilks’ schemes early in camp.
“Definitely the playbook, but I feel like I need to improve with everything,” Takitaki said. “There’s not specifically one thing. I need to improve in my coverage, tackling - it’s kind of an everything-type deal.
“I definitely want to come out here and compete for a job, but the talent in the room is high. There are lot of guys in there. It just makes the room better.
This is a battle that could be contested throughout the preseason.