Part 3: Weaknesses
I thought his tape was terrible and very troubling. 99% of my notes from his games were negative in nature. In one game, there was an extended stretch where he did something wrong every single play. Very high and concerning frequency of mental errors. Rarely did he do something super impressive and impactful. The positives were drowned in a sea of mistakes that were key factors in his defense getting gashed for big gains in both the run and pass. His highlights were way better than his actual play-to-play consistency when watching his full games. His tape was so shockingly concerning that it really makes me question the wisdom of all of the so-called draft experts. Why don't they talk more about this issue in his draft profiles? Even if they still think that Brown's a great prospect, we have to at least address the elephant in the room and discuss the problem. We can't ignore it and pretend that it doesn't exist.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. from Clemson was widely projected as a Day 2 pick early in the 2024 draft process. He had good football IQ, but lousy pre-draft athletic testing. He ran 4.82 seconds in the 40 at his Pro Day. Trotter's 2023 season was more productive than Brown's 2025 season. Instead of being drafted early, Trotter ended up as a late 5th round pick by the Eagles. In that draft, I thought that Trotter was overrated when he was considered a 2nd round prospect. Trotter's tape is better than Brown's tape. If we went purely off the tape, there's a valid argument that Brown should only be a late round pick, maybe even an UDFA.
Clemson's other starting LB in 2025 was Wade Woodaz, drafted in the 4th round by the Houston Texans. Woodaz is taller (6'3 3/8'') with superior length, a looser athlete, better in space, better ST potential and better in pass coverage than Brown. If we ignored developmental upside and went purely off of the 2025 tape, Woodaz is the better pro prospect. The most critical difference is Woodaz has much better pass coverage value. Lance Zierlein had a 4th to 5th round projection on Woodaz. So, there's a 2nd data point supporting the argument that Brown is only a late round prospect.
Brown and Cooper Barkate are both very smart individuals. Duke played Clemson. Brown's off-field intelligence hasn't translated to on-field IQ; he makes frequent mental errors. Barkate has very good on-field football IQ; he's far more reliable than Brown in knowing what to do and how to do it on the field. I don't understand this contrast. Why doesn't Brown play more like Barkate?
His athletic testing doesn't translate to the field either. At first, I was hoping that the reason he didn't use his hands better was because he had some type of wrist injury that caused him to change his technique. I also hoped that maybe he had some type of lower body injury that kept him from running faster. After watching more games, neither seemed to be the case. Brown might have a reputation as an athletic freak, but that athleticism doesn't materialize in his games. In some situations, he performs like a LB who runs 4.7 to 4.8 seconds in the 40. Average burst pursuing diagonally to the sideline. His pursuit range doesn't math his timed speed. Payton Wilson (3rd round 2024, Steelers) had legitimate elite pursuit range, that guy could really run. Watch Brown and Wilson side-by-side and it doesn't look the same even though they supposedly have identical 40-yard dash times.
One key thing I don't like is that Brown has average length. Relative to the rest of his frame, his arms aren't long and his hands aren't big. He's not a natural mover in space; his hips are relatively tight, inhibiting his COD and his flexibility to turn his body or swivel his hips. He's not sudden. Doesn't have fast hands or heavy hands. Doesn't have elite size, because he's not 6'4'' tall, 250 pounds and doesn't have a huge wingspan. Disappointing short area burst, not able to cover enough ground with 1st or 2nd step. Not light on his feet. Routinely a half-step to full step behind in pass coverage, like his shoes are stuck in mud, whether carrying route vertically or against speed out. Rigid in zone drop trying to swivel or flip his hips. Sluggish COD in space.
Injury history to both his upper and lower body. The flip side of being such a great RB and multi-sport athlete is there is considerable mileage and hits on his body.
The book on Brown is that he's supposed to be weak in pass coverage, but excellent in run defense. I disagree with this assessment. He's not a great run defender and it repeatedly hurt Clemson in 2025.
Outsize zone run to the right, MLB lets the climbing LT wash him too far to the side, not using his hands properly, not stacking the block and not countering back to the RB, opening up a big lane and defense gets gashed for a huge run.
His eye balance and the way he reads his keys are out of whack. When there are pull blockers, he routinely loses track of the RB with his eyes, too focused on the blockers, so he fails to anticipate the hole RB will attack and doesn't adjust to get to the POA, stranded in the wrong gap. Gap run, MLB doesn't aggressively stack the pulling TE, then loses sight of the RB when the RB bounces off the back of the RG, like the Barry Sanders play where Ken Norton Jr. is looking around and thinks that Sanders has disappeared, a 15-yard gain instead of Brown stuffing the run at the LOS. Overreacts to pull blockers instead of glancing back to check on the direction of the RB. Late to find ball on jet sweep. Lost sight of ball at mesh point vs zone read, 3 steps in the wrong direction before he realizes who has the ball. Shovel pass, misdirection, pulled 2 steps in the wrong direction, losing leverage on the ball.
TE climbs diagonally to 2nd level. Brown doesn't see him coming in his peripheral vision, so TE gets a free shot, knocking MLB off balance.
Basic read option, no players in the way, so Brown has a clear line of sight to the mesh point, MLB takes 2 lateral hop steps in the wrong direction when he didn't have to move at all, RB has taken 4 steps after the handoff before MLB begins moving in the proper direction, late to find the ball and move his feet, so by the time he gets to the RB, he's chasing down the RB from behind instead of helping to close down the angle from the side.
Sammy Brown, we need to have an intervention. If there are 5 pass rushers, man pass coverage, the OL is in man protection, and you are in the middle behind the DL, when the RB leaks out as a safety outlet to the side, don't jump forward towards the LOS, because the RB immediately has leverage on the route and now you're hopelessly out of position. A fast NFL RB will destroy you in man coverage, plus all the DBs have turned to run with their WRs, so there is nobody left to help you. This scenario is a potential long TD from any spot on the field, even if the offense is on their own 20 yard-line.
Similar thing if it is man coverage and you are responsible for the RB to the side of the QB in shotgun and you know that outside of the RB there's a WR in a tight split and a TE. You've watched football before, right? Have you ever seen the offense run a rub route combination for the RB? As soon as you see the formation and know you are in man, the potential for a rub has to be one of the keys to look for. So, as the ball is snapped, when the RB goes out wide, why are you a step late reacting? Why do you compound the problem by running directly into the WR's rub? It is just a very basic flat route to the RB and you just make it a chunk play for a 1st down. It is like the defense only had 10 players and nobody was on the RB. Too easy for the opponent.
Help me understand this one, Brown. The coverage rotation calls for one S to come up in run support while the 2nd S drops into the deep middle of the field. It is a run up the middle. The goal should be to force the RB into the unblocked S. So, why are you using the wrong shoulder to run directly into the middle of the climbing RG and get in the way of the S? You are just hanging that defender out to dry, blocking his path to the RB and allowing the RB to hit the 3rd level at full speed, making it difficult for the deep S to make the tackle, causing a big gain.
Brown, I need you to "make enemies" on the field. When a small TE climbs up to you at the 2nd level, don't try to rip under him. Stack him with power like Christian Alliegro and plant that TE on his rear end. That guy's not going to be playing on Sundays. You should be insulted that the opponent is trying to block you with him. Dominate him. Humiliate him. You're the superstar, not these other stiffs. Moreover, if you're going to rip under the TE, at least go to the correct side. On a gap run where the designated lane is going to be to the left of the TE, when you go to the right side of the TE, you're immediately out of position. What did you expect to happen even if you successfully ripped through the TE? The RB's not going to be there, he's running in a completely different direction. I need you to disengage from those types of blocks and find a path to the RB more consistently.
I know you played RB in HS, Brown. So, if the middle of the LOS is plugged up, shouldn't you anticipate that the RB will try to bounce it outside? Read the block development just as you would if you were still playing RB. Why are your feet late to react after the RB cuts, making you slow to get to the edge? It doesn't matter if you run 4.4 seconds if you are regularly a step or multiple steps behind the action with poor instincts. Instead of hitting the RB right at the LOS, you end up making first contact 3-yards past the LOS and it ends up as a 6-yard gain instead of at most a 2-yard gain. making it an almost slam dunk short 3rd down instead of a medium 3rd down.
Same deal if there is a hole in the middle. You can see the gap open between the C and the RG, so trigger and fill it with conviction and purpose to stuff the run. Don't tentatively tip-toe forward. You should have anticipated hole to the left of the LT and gotten over the top of the combo block to get to the POA, not passively waited in the middle of the field, giving the LT extra time to work up to the 2nd level and get a good angle to seal you off.
If the WILL is on a run blitz and it is a read option going to the left, why are you jumping forward directly into the RT's block? Since the WILL is attacking the LOS, you need to help patrol the middle in the vacated gap. If you don't keep your arm free to control that gap, when the RB goes towards the left side of the formation, there isn't going to be anyone there, just a huge express lane to the 3rd level. Stack and shed that RT, then go get the RB.
Brown, if you're lined up in the slot vs a RB, you have to formulate some type of plan. Try to deke him, try to jam him, get your feet moving and shade him to try to take away either the inside or the outside, do something. If you just stand there and hope to mirror, you're going to lose. You don't have the recovery twitch or length to stay with the RB. On an angle route, that RB will beat you every single time. Seriously, the offense might call that play 10 times in a row and complete it on you in man coverage 10 out of 10 times. I don't expect you to win every time or even a majority of the time, but we have to try something. Just win 3 or 4 out of the 10 reps. What you're doing now, it isn't good enough, it isn't going to work. We have to try something else.
If the defensive call is to blitz the QB, but the offense goes with an empty backfield, then brings the RB down in short motion pre-snap behind a bunch set to your side of the field, what did you think they were going to do? It's a screen, man. Why did you charge upfield on the snap, then hit the brakes when the QB throws the pass, out of position to help close down the screen? You're killing me.
The same issue with Brown's eye balance vs run plays shows up vs pass plays as well. QB after snap begins reading the left side of the field. There is a whip route to the right side. Before QB has even turned his helmet or his shoulders to look at the right side of the field, MLB jumps hard at what he thinks is an out route, too focused on the receiver and not glancing back at the QB, so when the receiver pivots back to the inside within the timing of the progression, MLB is completely smoked. Instead of limiting it to a 4-yard gain, it becomes a chunk play for the offense. Offense puts TE in the backfield in HB position, next to the QB. After the snap, QB looks way out wide towards WR and MLB reading QB's eyes drops well off the LOS and widens towards the WR. Don't do that, Brown. If the TE is running an angle route after his chip block, you are way out of position and will get beaten badly to the inside. You need to pre-snap identify the potential threats to your area of the coverage, then keep track of those threats with your eyes as the play progresses. You can't just look at the QB the whole time. RPO slant pass, MLB is reading the QB's eyes, not attuned to the route development, so as he goes out wide to try to close down the WR after the catch, his angle is too shallow, resulting in him being out of position. Distracted by pre-snap motion, got fooled and wasn't aware to slant route behind him. As spy, focus entirely on QB, no awareness to shallow crosser, no adjustment to squeeze the route, pass goes over his hand for a TD.
Short 3rd down, MLB in zone coverage. After the snap, MLB scanning the routes, turns his helmet and looks towards the sideline, then turns even more and looks 135 degrees from the LOS to look at potential deep curl behind him, almost with his back turned to the QB, so when the short pass goes underneath to a different WR, MLB is late to react. Medium 3rd down, levels route conflict over middle of field put MLB in conflict. Brown's eyes are so focused on QB, he doesn't cover either route, both the WR running shallow crosser in front of him and the TE running intermediate route behind him are wide open, MLB is caught in no-man's land, not squeezing either passing window, then after WR makes catch, 3 other defenders make the tackle and MLB doesn't even get in on part of the tackle.
Zone coverage, overreacted to fake RB swing pass, got pulled way out of position, leaving huge void in the zone.
Almost never uses his hands to properly stack climbers. Very frequently uses his shoulder when he should be using his hands. Plays like there's a new rule in football preventing defenders from using their hands against blocks. Power run, the DE does a great job eating up 2 blocks. The LT will try to combo up to MLB after displacing the DT. MLB needs to stack, control and shed the LT so that he can get to the RB at the POA but instead decides to use his shoulder to slam directly into the LT, running himself directly into a blocked position, making it easy for the RB to cut to the right of the LT and through the hole for 11 yards.
Doesn't scrape with sound technique, tends to turn his shoulders too far to flow laterally towards the sideline and this can result in blockers shoving him very wide and out of position, not in his gap.
Poor ability to adapt and make correct decision in the middle of the play to adjust to how things are developing. Different from Adam Trick, who is very good at adjusting on the fly. Duo run. DT is doing good job eating up 2 blocks, helping to keep MLB clean. Brown needs to feel this and use his hands to stack the C, then scrape over the top when the RB cuts towards outside. Instead, MLB slams directly into the LOS, wedging himself between the DTs, taking himself out of the play, contributing to a huge run. Read option, the DE is doing good job eating up the LT and LG, keeping MLB clean. Due to DE's efforts, the LG never technically climbs to the 2nd level on combo. MLB gets sucked forward and runs himself into a blocked position, badly beaten when the RB cuts to the outside. Tunnel screen to the left, horrible decision to try to backdoor the RG, all he ends up doing is running himself out of position. Needs to read block development better so that he deosn't take himself out of the play so frequently, on one play he goes inside of the RG, exactly where the opponent wanted him to go, out of position, opening up a huge run lane right in the middle of the LOS. Shovel pass to RB, MLB loses sight of the RB and goes to the right when the RB is cutting back to the left.
Speed option with pitch to RB. The MLB engaged with the RT should string the play out to the sideline then try to force the RB to cut back towards the help pursuit coming from the middle of the field. Initially, Brown is going in the proper direction but then suddenly he makes the bizarre decision to turn his shoulders and charge upfield, opening up the corner and the RB races down the sideline for a long TD.
Gap run, overreacts to the pullers, jumping 3 steps wide, should have been more patient and anticipated that due to DL slant, that RB would cutback, doesn't end up close to the actual POA.
Green dog blitz, the DEs push upfield on their pass rushes, MLB inexplicably tries to go inside of the RG instead of staying in his pass rush lane, opening up a huge scramble lane of the QB, gift wrapping big yardage for the offense.
Inside zone run, MLB jumps to the outside of climbing RT, then tries to dip under the block, going too far upfield, taking himself way out of position. it is one thing for the OL to move a defender out of the way, but too often Brown voluntary goes the wrong way on his own, like he's trying to get away from the RB. He needs to stack the climbers with his hands while keeping his eyes on the RB so he'll know how what to do next and which direction to go as the run develops. I don't understand why his football instincts are poor. It isn't like he just starting playing LB and was just a RB in HS. He was supposedly the best LB in the nation when he was in HS. Why doesn't he already know how to play LB better?
Average effective play strength, length and almost complete absence of technique to deconstruct 2nd level blocks results in him playing like he's a small LB, not commensurate with his listed size. Plays like he's about 6 feet tall. Gets pushed around by 2nd level climbers. Lacks effective length even against solo TE blocks. Average anchor at POA vs OL blocks. By regularly taking on climbers square but not using his hands, this can result in him getting blasted off his feet by guards as if Brown is a small safety. Outside zone to the right, the RT at POA blasts Brown off his feet, flying 2 yards backwards, creating a huge hole for the RB. Gets chewed up by 2nd level blocks like he's an undersized LB with a ceiling of an NFL backup.
I don't like how he loses to bad blocks. TE climbs to 2nd level and ducks his head into the block. Beat that guy, it isn't a good textbook block. Instead, Brown catches the TE. Weak RB pass block commits early and tries to chop out MLB's legs. Use your hands and a pass rush move to get by the RB, don't just slam directly into the RB and allow your pass rush to get stopped.
Never counters and redirects himself back to the RB when on a run blitz. Gets stuck on blocks and swallowed up by guards. Needs to develop spins or some other way to extricate himself but doesn't have good feel for the location of the RB and how to get back to the ball. Loses leverage on the ball by jumping too far upfield against climbers. On one such play, he hangs 2 other defenders out to dry, resulting in 10-yard run.
So poor in man coverage that if defense always played man, the QB could intentionally target him and in theory complete a pass on him on nearly every play. Won't hold up against good receiving TEs, RBs and slot WRs. Hopeless against quality angle routes. Has a bad habit of grabbing receivers if he feels they are about to separate from him.
Man coverage, the RB releases from the middle of the LOS, then goes into the flat. MLB shows poor anticipation and spatial awareness, runs himself into traffic, then has to jump sideways to avoid a collision, losing speed. RB picks up 25 yards and MLB gets a tackle at the end of the play.
Not dynamic or fluid dropping back in zone. From simulated pressure, as LBs drop back into coverage, Brown drops back too far, so the RB checkdown releasing from the backfield is wide open, MLB is 7 yards away from the RB when the RB catches the pass.
On short routes by WRs out wide, Brown repeatedly overran the play, allowing the WR to beat him inside on whip routes or cut inside of him after the catch.
Average length resulted in missed diving tackles, unable to grab the runner's legs. Below average short area burst makes it difficult for him to redirect to the RB if the RB cuts into a new gap, not able to adjust on the fly to be tackle-ready at the POA. Vulnerable to missing tackles or not even being close enough to attempt a tackle against sharp angle RB cuts. Didn't break down or arrive under control pursuing to sideline against RB screen pass, whiffed when the RB cut back inside. Small effective tackling radius relative to his measured size, can get exposed in space and ends up diving and whiffing on tackles. By not using his hands better to shed blocks, ends up not being ready to tackle at POA, resulting in weaker and more easily broken tackle attempts.
Not dangerous or explosive as blitzer. Not threatening when in the A-gap pre-snap. Below average value in pass rush. Leaks speed and momentum if he has to change angle on blitz or as looper. Average acceleration on blitz. Even if 100% unblocked on blitz, not fast to close to the QB. If I were the OC or the RB in pass protection and it was an overload situation where we didn't have enough blockers for all the blitzers, I'd intentionally leave Brown as the unblocked guy, because he's probably not as dangerous as the other guys. Doesn't convert speed to power. Poor hand usage as blitzer up middle results in him getting knocked off balance and to the side, colliding with other defenders, impeding them on their pass rush. Not difficult to block if he's pass rushing around the corner. Completely buried into the ground by RG on blitz. Tentative even when unblocked on blitz, doesn't cut it loose and explode to the QB. Gets pinballed and shoved laterally when working twists. Not sudden if he's the looper, which can make him a split-second late getting to the QB even if he's unblocked.
Didn't play 100% of his team's defensive snaps. Sometimes was rotated out and replaced by another LB.
His stat are misleading. A key reason he doesn't have more missed tackles is that by taking himself out of position too often, he never even attempts tackles, because he's not at the POA. On several plays, he makes "bad tackles" at the very end of a long run, where he made a mental error or technique error, so he gets credited with a tackle after messing up. Got some cheap, "nothing" tackles just by being in the middle of the defense, where he doesn't really do anything positive to contribute to the cause.
Wasn't clutch. Nowhere to be found at critical moments of late 4th quarter drives, held back by same weaknesses and mental errors that plagued him the rest of the game. 4th down, late 4th quarter, poor awareness to sift action TE, bites hard on poor play action that wasn't very deceptive, immediately 5 yards out of position, leaving TE wide open in flat for a very easy 1st down, still got credit for a tackle on the play, but this is a "failed" rep on one of the most critical plays in the game. Beaten at POA on some critical run plays late in games. 4th quarter drive, falls asleep in zone, not alert to danger of TE leaking out after chip block.
