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Cleveland Browns looking to keep clamps down on Steelers big-play threat George Pickens
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- Cleveland Browns looking to keep clamps down on Steelers big-play threat George Pickens
CLEVELAND — There's always that "Welcome to the NFL" moment for any rookie. It's just not always that it's one rookie providing that moment for another one.
Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. knows when that moment came for him in 2022 . He just didn't know it when it happened.
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Emerson's moment came in a Week 3 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on "Thursday Night Football." He was guarding fellow rookie George Pickens on a go route with less than 90 seconds left in the first quarter, when quarterback Mitch Trubisky rolled to the right and threw it Pickens' way.
The then-rookie cornerback seemed to have tight coverage on the Steelers wide receiver. However, Pickens, with a slight push-off, made a sensational grab with his right hand as he was falling backward for a 36-yard gain.
"I didn't even think nothing crazy about that play, actually for real until after the game," Emerson recalled this week to the Beacon Journal. "Then I seen everybody's reaction. I'm like, 'OK, nah, that was a great catch.' I'm pretty sure that was [Thursday] night."
Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) defends a pass intended for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) during the first quarter on Jan. 8, 2023, in Pittsburgh.
Fast forward to Thursday night, and the Browns and Steelers will once again meet in Cleveland in a prime-time matchup. One of the keys to the success of the Pittsburgh offense has been Pickens' growth into one of the league's top big-play wide receivers.
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Pickens is second in the league in 40-yard-plus receptions with 11 and third in average yards per reception at 15.2. He's fourth in the league with 728 receiving yards and second in third-down receptions with 19.
"I think he's been a great player since he was a rookie," cornerback Greg Newsome II told the Beacon Journal. "Honestly, I just feel like now ... they're just targeting him more. He's getting the ball more. I think he possessed the same ability that he has now that he did as a rookie. Obviously he's more polished in route running, understanding what coverage it is and how to beat leverage and things like that. But I think he's been as good since he was a rookie."
The Browns have faced Pickens four times over his first two seasons. He has 14 catches for 276 yards (19.7 average) and two touchdowns on 29 targets in those four games.
Of all of the Browns defenders to go against Pickens, Emerson has been matched up the most. According to Pro Football Focus, Pickens has been targeted 15 times with six catches for 86 yards with Emerson in coverage.
Jan 8, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) makes a catch against Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Pickens was ruled out of bounds on the play. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
"Playing against an opponent, obviously you kind of know what to expect," Emerson said. "Even just watching tape, but just actually getting multiple reps against him, and anybody on that team, just knowing how those guys like to play with certain traits. So it's helpful for sure and just knowing what to expect. You know who a guy is, he show you who he is. You respect that, you know what I'm saying?"
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The only other Browns defensive back to be in coverage on Pickens for more than two targets is cornerback Denzel Ward . Pickens has three catches for 104 yards — 75 of those on a touchdown grab — on five targets, all in last season's Week 2 matchup in Pittsburgh, with Ward in coverage.
The Browns defense is coming off a game in New Orleans in which the Saints averaged 9.2 yards per pass attempt, the third-highest total by a Cleveland opponent all season. They allowed the Philadelphia Eagles to average 10.6 yards per attempt in Week 6, and the Los Angeles Chargers averaged 10.4 yards an attempt in Week 9.
The Steelers are averaging 7.3 yards per attempt, including a 7.79 yards per attempt by quarterback Russell Wilson . Pickens, though, can change that number in a big way, in part because of his ability to make plays like the one he made as a rookie against Emerson.
"I think he has one of the best catch radius that I've went against at least," Newsome said. "So that's definitely a guy where if you're fighting for the ball, you got to be very physical at the top of routes with him because he can catch pretty much any ball that's in the air. So it's definitely a challenge to go against a guy like that, but we're definitely up for it."
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Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns look to keep clamps on Steelers' big-play threat George Pickens
