By: G.Stryker, Twitter @SNStryker and Instagram @SNStryker
SteelerNation.com
Games are full of special moments. Most are easy to see and are part of the highlight reel each week. Some moments happen just out of the limelight of the big play, but without their efforts, those big plays don't happen. These hidden plays can be a block, a pressure, a tip, or football IQ creating the impact that is the difference between success and failure.
To be a great cornerback in the NFL, you don’t have to always make plays on the ball to have success. Sometimes you just have to know where you are on the field. Joe Haden is a great cornerback and on Sunday, he showed you that the savvy move is the smart move on 3rd and long.
On the Cleveland Brown’s 3rd drive of the game, Baker Mayfield was trying to get the offense moving and delivered a good pass to Odell Beckham Jr., running a 15-yd out on 3rd and 10. The ball was delivered quickly, and on time, and Beckham would have had the first down if it wasn’t for Joe Haden playing defense.
Many times, young cornerbacks feel you have to play the ball in the air to defend the pass. Smart veterans like Joe Haden, know they have help with the out of bounds line to let them make the right play to get off the field. In this instance, Joe Haden watches Beckham jump for the ball, then delivers a hit to his back and drives him out of bounds. Beckham had no chance of coming down in bounds, even though he caught the ball.
The sideline helped slam the door on the chance for that first down, and limited Beckham’s ability to make plays, as he only had 2 catches for 25 yards before he decided to stay out of bounds for good with his cleats off and his spirit broken.
View the video from our YouTube channel to see for yourselves:
