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Linebacker Jacob Phillips is poised to start for the Cleveland Browns in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens. That was not something many expected when the Browns selected Phillips in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
An injury to Mack Wilson, who started as a rookie linebacker a year ago, opens the door for Phillips to step right in and face reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson in his debut game.
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Linebackers coach Jason Tarver believes the rookie from LSU is as ready as he can be.
“He is intense. He likes contact,” Tarver said Friday. “He has gotten better and better at using his hands and his length, which is going to be critical as he gets into playing the opponents that we play one week at a time because what you see at this level is just the speed and the length of the big people that you playing against. So, he has to make sure he masters that and he has gotten better and better at it.”
Tarver mentioned Phillips’ length, and that is an asset that none of the other Browns LBs offer. At 6-foot-3, he’s two inches taller than anyone else at LB. His wingspan is nearly 79 inches and his 10-inch hands can help Phillips reach more plays and balls in the passing game, too.
Filling in Wilson’s spot on the depth chart means a lot of coverage responsibility for Phillips. It also means quickly reading Jackson and making the correct decision on the RPO and play-fakes.