BEREA – Jacoby Brissett knows exactly what his eyes will soon be on when the Pittsburgh Steeler defender hits the line of scrimmage on the Browns’ offense on Thursday. He’s the one who wears his No. 39, Safety Minka He’s Fitzpatrick.
“Obviously we have to know where 39 (Fitzpatrick) is,” the Browns quarterback said this week. “He’s as good as he’s advertised in the movies. We’re going to need a match of… with a game plan to make the right decisions.”
Well, it would be accurate to say that the Steelers’ safety is one wrecking crew. The return on investment Pittsburgh made from the first-round draft pick the team spent to acquire Fitzpatrick in a 2019 trade with Miami was huge.
In Fitzpatrick’s 48 games with the Steelers, he picked 13 passes, returned three scores, had three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries (one touchdown), and three He lost the tackle and made a total of 223 tackles. This year alone, he picked a pass each of his first two games in Pittsburgh, and he returned one for a touchdown in the season opener in Cincinnati.
That’s right, the Browns are well aware of the 11th overall pick in 2018.
Manager Kevin Stefanski said of Fitzpatrick, “He’s a really, really great football player. He’s got the skills to play in corners early in his career and he can match receivers.” He has incredible ball skills and incredible instincts.In my opinion, he plays safe at a higher level than anyone in the game. He’s a really, really great football player. ”
The Steelers have already moved Fitzpatrick a bit in two games. According to Pro Football Focus, he has 116 defensive snaps in free safety, while he has 33 snaps as in-the-box safety, 16 snaps in the slot, and scrimmage he has even 3 snaps at the line.
Due to his ability to move Fitzpatrick, he is the newest safety of Steeler and maintains a constant presence in the minds of enemy attacks. Like Troy Polamalu, the Hall of Famer before him, he’s a defender above his ground.
“He’s a hell of a player,” said Browns receiver Amari Cooper. So I think he’s their leader and that’s where it all starts. We must always be fully aware of where he is.”
The Browns aren’t ignoring other players on the Steelers’ defense. They know Cam Hayward up front and they know what Alex Highsmith did in place of the injured TJ Watt along with his fellow linebackers Miles Jack and Devin Bush.
But not ignoring those players, there’s the kind of attention the Browns pay Fitzpatrick. Entering the match, he set the tone for a 38-7 Steeler rout.
That’s why Fitzpatrick is in the spotlight, even with limited pre-fight prep time.
“I mean, that goes for all great players,” Cooper said. “They’ve shown they deserve it, so you’ll want to give them extra attention. If you don’t, they’ll pay you. Minka is a great player. He’s already made two interceptions and won one, and he’s going to be in his crib, so you always have to know where he is.”
This is especially true for receivers like Cooper. Even if the two Alabama products are only for a short amount of time during Thursday’s game, there will always be matching points.
The impact that Fitzpatrick brings is one that makes receivers think and adjust in ways that many players would not normally do. Specifically, it affects a fundamental part of the recipient’s job.
“It doesn’t affect how routes run,” Cooper says. “So it affects how you catch the ball. , for example, wanting to high point the ball and do everything right is that he’s not just trying to come down with the ball, but some other safety device that isn’t necessarily going down with the ball. I’m trying to prevent you from catching it.”
What Fitzpatrick has done really well for the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s impossible not to pay attention to him when he’s on the field.
Especially if it’s your opponent’s offense.
Please contact Chris at coasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.
Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ
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