TT: How have Greg Newsome II and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramorah adapted to Joe Woods’ defense and life in the NFL?
RG: Greg Newsome seemed to hold his own and the fact that he was starting right away was encouraging. As for JOK, he seemed to really be doing well in the preseason but then logged just 25 snaps on Sunday.
That indicates to me he hasn’t gained the full trust of Joe Woods, but I still expect that number to climb in Week 2 and beyond.
TT’s take:
These are two rookies that were phenomenal picks for a Browns defense that needed help. They nearly took another win away from Kansas City last week. It will be interesting to see how JOK is used, as the Chiefs had a lot of mid-range success against the Browns last week. Will Houston Texans Offensive Coordinator Tim Kelly find a way to exploit that weakness?
Meanwhile, Greg Newsome was a shutdown corner at Northwestern and showed he can hold his own against some of the league’s best receivers. Look for Tyrod Taylor to not throw to Newsome’s side of the field on Sunday.