PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 07: T.J. Watt #90 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on from the sideline prior to an NFL football game against the New England Patriots at Acrisure Stadium on December 7, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Why Maurice Hurst Will Have a Difficult Time Making the Browns Roster.
The Cleveland Browns have been aggressively improving their roster as they hope to compete for the Super Bowl. As a result, an impactful role player in Maurice Hurst might find himself on the outside looking in when the team cuts down their roster to 53.
There were a number of great stories from the 2023 season for the Cleveland Browns. One of the best was defensive tackle Maurice Hurst. After two seasons with season-ending injuries that limited him to 41 snaps, Hurst was an impact role player for the Browns, helping elevate the defense to one of the best in the league. Hurst is back and healthy, but the landscape in Cleveland has changed as the Browns prepare for the 2024 season and Hurst now faces an uphill battle to make the opening day roster.
As an undersized, penetrating defensive tackle, Hurst is a great fit in the Browns defense guided by defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. He’s able to shoot gaps, blowing up runs and generating quick pressures on the opposing quarterback.
In the 13 games Hurst played, he was an energizer in the middle of the defense. Part of that is just the style Hurst plays. His game is predicated on quickness, beating opponents off the ball to gain an advantage. It’s also Hurst’s passion that endeared fans, which included his trademark belly rub after making a play. He registered 1.5 sacks and four tackles for loss, but it was his 18 pressures that helped to show his full impact.
In the 13 games Hurst played, he was an energizer in the middle of the defense. Part of that is just the style Hurst plays. His game is predicated on quickness, beating opponents off the ball to gain an advantage. It’s also Hurst’s passion that endeared fans, which included his trademark belly rub after making a play. He registered 1.5 sacks and four tackles for loss, but it was his 18 pressures that helped to show his full impact.
