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September 14, 2016On a new-look defensive line for the Cleveland Browns, rookie defensive end Carl Nassib looks to be a mainstay, even after just one regular season game. For his efforts in Week 1’s loss against the Philadelphia Eagles, Nassib landed No. 4 on Pro Football Focus’ top rookies list following the opening week of the season:
4. Carl Nassib, DE, Browns
On a defense bereft of many standout performers against the Eagles, Carl Nassib was a welcome alternative. The Penn State product paced the Browns’ defense with four pressures, including a sack and a hit. He also added three stops in the run game for an all-around solid first outing.
The team may have struggled throughout the game on both sides of the ball, but the rookie played well in his first NFL game, finishing with three tackles and one sack while being given the start. Drafted in the third round in the 2016 draft, Nassib could (finally) be a high defensive draft selection who contributes on the field during his rookie season (and hopefully for years to come).
The team’s most improved rookie during the preseason, the 23-year-old has continued to impress since he first donned a Browns jersey in rookie training camp. He may have only had three tackles and a sack against the Eagles, but the rookie made plenty of noise in the opponent’s backfield. Whether it batting one of quarterback Carson Wentz’s passes down, helping stop the run, or applying pressure on the Eagles’ backfield, Nassib showed his versatility in the opening week of the season.
Watching some Nassib plays. This was good one. Reads Matthews coming left to right, ties him up, then disrupts pass. pic.twitter.com/WNuJtsOXcr
— Dan Labbe (@dan_labbe) September 13, 2016
Nassib's (wide left) timing on this snap was incredible. Forces Wentz into a hit and incomplete pass. pic.twitter.com/DTKRNWSvse
— Dan Labbe (@dan_labbe) September 13, 2016
The Browns defense may struggle in 2016, but with so many young players, they will only get better with more experience. While there will be plenty of growing pains along with obvious inexperience and “rookie moments”, defensive coordinator Ray Horton will continue to develop his young defense. It’s only the first week of the season, but Nassib has showed plenty of promise and could turn into a very good pick for the Browns front office, one that could be an anchor on the defensive line for years to come.
Here are PFF’s top-10 rookies following Week 1:
- QB Carson Wentz, Eagles
- WR Will Fuller, Texans
- FB Andy Janovich, Broncos
- DE Carl Nassib, Browns
- WR Tajae Sharpe, Titans
- C Ryan Kelly, Colts
- DE DeForest Bucker, 49ers
- G Laremy Tunsil, Dolphins
- RB Jalen Richard, Raiders
- CB Rashard Robinson, 49ers
For his work, Nassib was also nominated as Pepsi’s Rookie of the Week along with Wentz, Fuller, Sharpe and New York Giants receiver Sterling Shepard.
20 Comments
Hooray! We have one nice thing!
he’ll get hurt by week 4
… bite your tongue !!
We’ll see how things go when the opponents realize they don’t have to double team anyone else on the line and focus on him.
In that top one: Who is the DT fighting through the double team? Shelton? Whoever it is, that dude looks more impressive on that highlight than Nassib.
hi NJO … it’s Shelton.
That is Shelton, but I think Meder is seeing more double teams than Shelton.
can’t wait for corey coleman & ogbah to start making this list.
i like Meder as well … but in that 1st video Meder can’t get off the single blocker , where Shelton is double-teamed … not tryin’ to be contrary , just sayin’.
Thanks… That’s what I thought. That was a legit nice play. Draws a double team and still collapses the pocket. Actually, all those plays are highlights for the day. In the second one, it’s great to see the entire defense stay home and not get fooled by the play action. In the third one, they rush four and still get to the QB (thanks to Nassib, though it’s good to see that DT work hard and be there once Wentz has to step up). It’s plays like these that make me believe the whole “we’re building something here” narrative.
Not only does he not get off the block, he doesn’t appear to even try. He’s in a mono y mono combat. Completely unnecessary and utterly worthless.
i’m looking for Shelton & everyone’s favorite whipping boy (Erving) to show some improvement … it would be nice to get something / anything out of our 1st round picks.
That’s not Nassib’s fault. I’d say that’s doing his job.
It reminds me of those times in Madden when I’d throw my controller over a player not making a tackle because they were too busy executing some stock animation move. “A real football player wouldn’t just mindlessly fight the guy in front of him! He’d try to get to the ball carrier!” How wrong I was.
Get something more than a 6th rounder in 2018
Don’t get me wrong, I love Nassib. I just think he may come back down to Earth a little when the double teams start to rotate to him. But if they don’t, well, go get ’em kid!
http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/19cnbbxo9olnogif/ku-xlarge.gif
Is this actual game film from last week? That center in the White vs Green game is indistinguishable from Erving!
I have often thought, over the course of the last 16+ years, that this is what I’m watching on Sundays.
DE DeForest Bucker, 49ers
I’ll always presume CLE was taking him there at 7 and then punted the pick when he got taken.