Keeping OBJ in check
The biggest offseason acquisition for the Browns was undoubtedly Beckham. He is an elite receiver in the NFL who can change a game in one play, and the best opposing defenses can hope for is to slow him down because stopping him completely is nearly impossible.
Aside from some memorable blemishes, the Tennessee Titans did a good job overall of limiting explosive plays in 2018, as ESPN’s NFL Matchup noted in August.
Explosive plays can turn games in an instant. These are the defenses that are best at keeping the offense in front of them.#Bears #Jaguars #Vikings #Bills #Titans #Steelers #Cowboys #Lions #Texans #Colts @gregcosell | @MattBowen41 pic.twitter.com/jVyHgzdWeQ
— NFL Matchup on ESPN (@NFLMatchup) August 23, 2019
So, who covers No. 13?
That job will go to Adoree’ Jackson, who can have days when he looks like an elite corner in the making, and others when he looks completely lost. With that said, depending on him to cover OBJ in one-on-one coverage for an entire game could be disastrous.
Instead, Tennessee could give Adoree’ help, and as former Titans Director of College Scouting Blake Beddingfield suggested to Paul Kuharsky, bracketing OBJ and using double coverage might be the best bet.
.@BlakeBeddingfi1 on @Midday180: I wouldn't put @AdoreeKnows one-on-one with @obj. I'd bracket him. Logan Ryan on Jarvis Landry. #Titans
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) September 3, 2019
To be fair to Jackson, there aren’t many corners in the NFL who can cover OBJ one-on-one with much success. Jackson has no doubt shown he has the ability to shadow good to great receivers, but that also depends on which Jackson shows up.
Former Titans defensive back Bernard Pollard thinks playing zone will be a better bet.
Do that if you want to and you leave everybody else 1on1. Not a smart move. Zone them up and play high. Take away the big play. They haven’t played in the Preseason. Make them work their way down the field. Make them force plays and then capitalize off their mistakes.
— Bernard Pollard Jr (@Crushboy31) September 3, 2019
Of course, a lot of this concern will be alleviated if the Titans can get pressure. Doing so will give Beckham less time to get open, and will inevitably force Mayfield into mistakes.