Giants’ defensive curveball leads to relentless pounding of Deshaun Watson
NY Post
CLEVELAND — The team that does not specialize in applying pressure via the blitz changed things up and that made all the difference.
“I mean, they switched up the game plan,” Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson said Sunday, after he finally picked himself up off the turf after a hard day’s work at Huntington Bank Field.
The Giants sacked Watson eight times and hit him 17 times, severe punishment that had Browns fans booing and jeering as the Giants went on the road and notched their first victory of the season, 21-15.
Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen is not known for heavy blitz packages, preferring to rely on establishing pressure up front with his four defensive linemen.
The Browns started out double-teaming both edge players, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Bowen adjusted by sending pressure up the middle, where Dexter Lawrence was dominating anyway.
“We knew there would be opportunities to get home because he’s a dynamic player, he looks for the big play, he likes to extend play,” Burns said. “We just kept in our minds to stay relentless and stay in the rush and that’s kind of what we did.”
The Rangers’ trade-deadline picture continues to come into focus.
Deebo Samuel is a man of few words on his way out of San Francisco.
MLB’s controversial all-time hits king could have a shot at the Baseball Hall of Fame.
MIAMI — Mitchell Robinson said his minutes limit was “supposed to be about 18” after his encouraging season debut Friday night.
INDIANAPOLIS — So many of the questions directed his way at the NFL Scouting Combine prompted an almost bewildered — and amused and delighted — response from Howard Cross III.
DETROIT — Cade Cunningham broke out of a slump by scoring nine of his 15 points in the fourth quarter and the Detroit Pistons pulled away to beat the Brooklyn Nets 115-94 on Saturday night.
INDIANAPOLIS — Tyler Warren wears No. 44 because of an old Jet.
Of course this is not 2018, this deadline does not represent a sea change in philosophy resembling that one. But, just as seven years ago, the hierarchy — different general managers, same CEO — is not homing in at making a run at eighth place at the expense of acquiring future assets in exchange for expiring contracts.
TAMPA — It was all but certain even before Giancarlo Stanton left camp last Monday to tend to a personal matter, but now it is official: The Yankees DH will begin the season on the injured list.
Chris Kreider missed his third straight game with an upper-body injury Friday, when the Rangers lost to the Maple Leafs 3-2 in their fourth game back from the 4 Nations Face-Off break.
MEMPHIS — Mitchell Robinson’s long-awaited return was about as promising as the Knicks could’ve envisioned.
The time to string wins together is now, but the Rangers haven’t been able to do that since mid-November.
