FOXBORO — In considered one of his remaining video games as a Brown, linebacker Mack Wilson excelled in protection and made seven tackles, together with a vicious cease on the objective line.
It hardly mattered. That day, the Browns misplaced 45-7 of their most excruciating defeat of the season.
But in one other sense, the timing of Wilson’s efficiency couldn’t have been higher. That afternoon, he performed considered one of his greatest video games towards the Patriots, who traded for him 5 months later. Now, Brown performs in a system that higher suits his skills, a scheme that mirrors the protection he realized in faculty at Alabama.
And this week, he can face his former crew, which relegated him to a backup position after a robust rookie season in 2019. So, sure, Wilson can be packing further motivation on the crew’s flight to Cleveland this weekend.
“Oh yeah, definitely,” he mentioned Wednesday. “There’s always going to be a chip, and I’m pretty sure anyone would feel the same way. But at the end of the day, it goes back to not letting my emotions get too high or get the best of me. And (I) go out and have fun and make plays when they come to me.”
Over three years in Cleveland, Wilson totaled 178 tackles, 10 move deflections and one sack. He began 31 of a potential 54 video games, together with six he missed as a result of damage. In his remaining season, Wilson performed simply 21% of the crew’s defensive snaps, a demotion after logging 88% two years earlier and 43% the yr earlier than.
Still, Wilson is trying ahead to his reunion together with his former coaches — and never only for payback.
“It’s going to mean a lot,” he mentioned. “Obviously just to see the people I spent the last three years with: old teammates, coaching staff, training staff, nutrition staff, everybody. It’s going to be fun.”
The 24-year-old confirmed his present teammates and coaches have been selecting his mind in regards to the Browns. But he downplayed the impression that intel can have on Sunday’s consequence.
“At the end of the day, it’s going to be all about us going out and executing the game plan and playing Patriot football,” he mentioned.
Then once more, the non-public recreation plan Wilson carried into final yr’s kickoff at Foxboro paid main dividends. Against the Patriots, he handled fullback Jakob Johnson as a strolling inform. Wherever Johnson went, both as a lead blocker or move protector, the ball adopted, and so did he.
Seven tackles and 5 months later, Wilson is a proud Patriot, and his new teammates are excited to see what comes subsequent.
“He’s picking up more of the game and more of the lingo and seeing things faster, which is going to make him play at his natural speed. And he’s got unbelievable speed for a guy his size,” Pats edge rusher Matt Judon mentioned Thursday. “He’s still learning, though. He’s still learning a lot, but he’s an incredible player and an incredible athlete.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com