The Opening Drive 9/9: Isaiah McGuire Thrives in Week 1
If the opener was any indication, a breakout season is on the way.
One of the many spots the Browns needed to use 2025 to solve was whether they had an internal option that was worthy of being the starting EDGE opposite Myles Garrett. The key battle was between Isaiah McGuire and Alex Wright with some others lingering, but those two draft picks have the best shot. After Week 1, McGuire took some strong steps in the right direction with a performance where he put up five pressures, five total tackles, four “stop” tackles, and one sack. He was disruptive in his 29 snaps and capitalized on every opportunity.
Kevin Stefanski talked about his progress in time spent with the media yesterday. “Yeah, I think that’s just been his body of work. Going back to last season and into the offseason program, into training camp. He’s been a very steady player for us, a very physical football player, and he did a nice job.”
Obviously one week doesn’t define the outcome but McGuire took some promising steps in showing how he finished 2024 was no fluke and he has enough juice in both phases to be worthy of a second contract in Cleveland. Let’s dig in on his best work.
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The thing that stands out with McGuire is effort. He just plays hard from snap to whistle and that cannot be taken for granted. Across the NFL you will see players who give a quality initial burst but then fade as the ball leaves their direction or they lose the physical battle. McGuire doesn’t play that way. Sure, he loses some of the physical battles but he wins enough of them that when paired with his passionate play style you have a player that finds good outcomes.
There are two reps in particular that stood out to me to highlight that effort. On this first half snap, watch McGuire lose the pass rush rep failing to get the hands of Amarious Mims swiped down, so he loses the turn and ends up on the ground.
Most players would end this rep but his effort to get up despite Mims trying to land on top of him, force Burrow off his spot, and then run him down is teach tape for how to play with an “all gas” attitude.
The second one is the same lesson. He closes down the c/G counter and condenses the hole, but instead of just “doing his job” and stopping the effort once the ball turns inside his fit, he himself spins off the block and then makes the play downfield before the run turns into a possible touchdown. Six yards instead of a possible 20. The play style is so valuable.
Even the final sack was another display of effort. Similar to the pass rush rep above, McGuire doesn’t get Mims hands off in a way that would allow him to quick turn so he is leaned too far forward and goes down trying to bend the edge. But again, no quit. Watch him crawl on the ground as Mims is trying to lay on top of him again and get to Burrow’s feet as he tries to escape Mason Graham’s interior pressure. Fun to watch.
One last effort example. He gets surprised by the running back chip here but adjusts course once he processes where Burrow is going. Sure, he might lose the first two seconds of the rep, but he is winning the final moments more often than not.
But McGuire’s best work doesn’t just stop at effort. He has a set of pathways to the quarterback that involve both speed and strength. He had this forklift power rep in the second quarter where he put Orlando Brown into Joe Burrow’s lap.
He is also at his best when closing down run lanes and condensing schemes looking to create voids to his side. This is where his arm length mixed with upper body power serve him so well.
All the traits are there. If Week 1 is any indication, McGuire is set to have a strong season in 2025. He will have plenty of chances to clean up in the chaos this defensive line is going to create. Let’s hope it results in an extension sooner than later.
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Jake, thank you for providing s narrated version of your articles! Love BFB perspective, analysis and commentary, but won't take time to read it because of "things." Appreciate all BFB does!