Christian Kirksey, Joe Schobert debut in Steve Wilks’ defense: Good, bad or average?

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Browns linebackers Christian Kirksey and Joe Schobert got their first regular-season taste of being at the center of Steve Wilks’ 4-2-5 scheme on Sunday. Results were mixed.

Schobert had a team-high nine tackles (seven solo), while Kirksey had six tackles (five solo) with two tackles for loss. Each missed one tackle while playing all 61 defensive snaps for the Browns in the 43-13 loss.

Pro Football Focus defensive grades put them 27th (Kirksey) and 38th (Schobert) among linebackers who played at least 40 snaps in Week 1, although Schobert was ranked 12th in run defense.

Here’s a closer look at how they matched up against Titans running backs, and where they were as tight end Delanie Walker was running wild.

RUNNING BACKS

Derrick Henry had 19 carries for 84 yards and, outside of runs for 18 and 16 yards, was held in check on the ground. Schobert and Kirksey each had three of their tackles against Henry, with another two each on running back Dion Lewis (three carries, seven yards).

The Titans’ second-quarter scoring drive was an example of both linebackers making plays to put the defense in good positions. Unfortunately, Browns penalties kept helping the Titans along.

For example, on first-and-10 from the Titans 49, Lewis was held to a one-yard run thanks to Kirksey avoiding a lineman and filling a gap. Lewis had to try another running lane and was swallowed up by Myles Garrett and Schobert.

On first-and-10 from the Browns 34, Henry tried to run around right end, but Schobert was able to avoid center Ben Jones and run Henry down after a two-yard gain.

Henry’s biggest running play came on first-and-10 from the Titans 15. It’s a good example of how Henry likes to bounce runs to the outside. He ran for 18 yards on a play that saw Schobert blocked, and Kirksey unable to get an angle on Henry in the backfield, although he eventually ran him out of bounds.

The best play by either linebacker was on third-and-two with 7:00 left in the third quarter. The Browns trailed 15-6 and the Titans were backed up at their own 14. Marcus Mariota threw a pass into the flat for Lewis, but Kirksey tackled him for a two-yard loss, resulting in a punt.

The Browns scored on the next drive to get within 15-13.

Of course, it was another short pass that yanked momentum away the Browns. Dan Labbe broke down Henry’s 75-yard touchdown off a screen play. Kirksey was blocked out of the play on what some thought was an illegal block. CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore pointed out on the broadcast that because the block happened behind the line of scrimmage, it wasn’t pass interference.

FINAL THOUGHT

Schobert and Kirksey didn’t remind anyone of Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis, Wilks’ standout linebackers in Carolina. But they weren’t shouldering the blame for Sunday’s loss, either. PFF graded 58 linebackers in Week 1, and the Browns’ duo was in the middle of the pack at 27th and 38th overall.

In other words, they were near the bar for average. That sounds about right.