The Cleveland Browns opening game unveiled defensive coordinator Steve Wilks’ 4-2-5 defense which features only two linebackers and five defensive backs. Analyzing the snap counts for each player confirms that the two linebacker formation will be extensively used, much like Wilks’ Arizona Cardinals team of last year when he as their head coach.
Linebackers Joe Schobert and Christian Kirksey played all 61 snaps on defense versus the Tennessee Titans. Third linebacker Adarius Taylor got in all of three snaps. That was it. No other linebacker got into the game except on special teams.