The Cleveland Browns are hopeful that Myles Garrett finally has a high-end running mate in Jadeveon Clowney. The return of Takk McKinley to practice provides hope that the team also has some quality depth at the defensive end position.
While Porter Gustin, Joe Jackson and Curtis Weaver fight for a spot on the depth chart, it is Clowney’s presence, and health, that has Browns fans excited. The idea of Garrett and Clowney opposite of each other, with their size, length, speed and strength, should scare offensive coordinators.
Clowney likes the idea of him and Garrett lining up next to each other with at least one lined up opposite of an interior defensive lineman:
“We love that matchup,” Clowney said. “We feel like they’re the unathletic guys. That guard position, they’re not real athletes down there. So they’re just physical and maulers. But we try to get in there and create those matchups for certain guys and hopefully we get some wins.
While Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller may not take kindly to the comments, Clowney’s stereotype is often accurate. Interior offensive linemen tend to be stronger, anchor-oriented players who don’t have the speed and quickness traits of an offensive tackle.
While that is true, it can be easier to double team defenders on the inside than those rushing from the edge.
The idea of Garrett, Clowney and McKinley all lined up on the defensive line gives hope to Cleveland’s goals of slowing down the powerful offenses in the AFC. Clowney, for one, is looking forward to clowning some unathletic guys on the inside.
