Karl made a great play for an interception in the end zone, preventing 7 points by Giants.
Browns notebook: Safety Karl Joseph downplays big game, glad he chose Cleveland
Marla Ridenour | Akron Beacon Journal
Strong safety Karl Joseph wouldn’t say he turned in his best game as a Brown, but that was because the five-year veteran has his eye on the future.
In Sunday night’s 20-6 victory over the New York Giants in MetLife Stadium, Joseph tied his career-highs with 10 tackles and eight solos and also had a hand in several crucial plays.
On second and 11 from the Cleveland 19 on the Giants’ second possession, Joseph broke up a pass to tight end Evan Engram, who was wide open in the end zone. Joseph came through with another breakup with 6:15 remaining in the fourth quarter, his hit preventing Engram from pulling in an 8-yard reception on second and 10 from the Giants 23.
The Giants reached the red zone on their first three possessions and managed only three points, in part thanks to Joseph.
On fourth and 2 from the Cleveland 6 with 5:16 remaining in the first half, Joseph lined up as a standup defensive end, rushed from the offense’s right side, dove and tripped running back Wayne Gallman. Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson got his arm on Gallman and Sheldrick Redwine completed the tackle as the Browns halted the drive at the 5 and hung on to a 7-3 lead.
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“That’s a play we worked on a lot during the week, and we actually happened to be in the perfect play call, too. I just knew it was coming,” Joseph said Monday on Zoom. “The running back made a great cut. I tried to get to him. I’m glad I was able to kind of get something and trip him up a little bit. Redwine and Sheldon did their part to stop his momentum.
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“Hopefully, it’s not my best game as a Brown. My focus and goal is always to continue to get better every week and keep raising the bar for myself and for our team.”
Joseph’s tackle total was his highest since his rookie year in 2016 with the Oakland Raiders and he hadn’t had eight solos since Sept. 24, 2017.
“Karl Joseph really played well, making a lot of tackles. He ran our punt team for the first time with [Andrew] Sendejo being out, and he recovered an onside kick. He made a big impact last night for us to get that victory,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said.
“Running the punt team is no small feat. I know it was only three reps, but he had never done it in his career. He took it very seriously and spent extra time with [special teams coordinator Mike Priefer] to make sure he knew the whole operation.”
For the Giants game, Joseph received the best grade among Browns defenders from Pro Football Focus. Quarterback Baker Mayfield was tops on offense.
Joseph said having a big impact in the clutch is not a confidence boost for him.
“Not really. You guys don’t know me well yet, I am a very humble guy. I expect those things of myself so I don’t get too high on it,” he said. “What it’s about is keeping points off the board and getting the win.”
Coming off surgery on his right foot in November that cost him the final seven games in 2019 with the Raiders, Joseph signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract in April. He said part of the season he came to the Browns (10-4) was their potential for success.
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“I felt like I saw the potential that we had obviously with the talent we had on the offensive side, and I know the talent we had on the defensive side,” he said. “I knew they were putting a good staff together that was going to come in and try to build this thing up the right way. I’m happy I made that decision to come here.
“We can’t get too far ahead of ourselves. It is exciting to be where we are, but that is all we have earned.”
Joseph had a message of caution for the Browns in Sunday’s road game against the New York Jets (1-13).
“We can’t look at them as a lesser team or we are going to go in there and get punched in the mouth,” Joseph said. “We have to get ready and prepared and act like this is a playoff game for us.”
Browns notebook: Safety Karl Joseph downplays big game, glad he chose Cleveland
Marla Ridenour | Akron Beacon Journal
Strong safety Karl Joseph wouldn’t say he turned in his best game as a Brown, but that was because the five-year veteran has his eye on the future.
In Sunday night’s 20-6 victory over the New York Giants in MetLife Stadium, Joseph tied his career-highs with 10 tackles and eight solos and also had a hand in several crucial plays.
On second and 11 from the Cleveland 19 on the Giants’ second possession, Joseph broke up a pass to tight end Evan Engram, who was wide open in the end zone. Joseph came through with another breakup with 6:15 remaining in the fourth quarter, his hit preventing Engram from pulling in an 8-yard reception on second and 10 from the Giants 23.
The Giants reached the red zone on their first three possessions and managed only three points, in part thanks to Joseph.
On fourth and 2 from the Cleveland 6 with 5:16 remaining in the first half, Joseph lined up as a standup defensive end, rushed from the offense’s right side, dove and tripped running back Wayne Gallman. Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson got his arm on Gallman and Sheldrick Redwine completed the tackle as the Browns halted the drive at the 5 and hung on to a 7-3 lead.
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“That’s a play we worked on a lot during the week, and we actually happened to be in the perfect play call, too. I just knew it was coming,” Joseph said Monday on Zoom. “The running back made a great cut. I tried to get to him. I’m glad I was able to kind of get something and trip him up a little bit. Redwine and Sheldon did their part to stop his momentum.
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“Hopefully, it’s not my best game as a Brown. My focus and goal is always to continue to get better every week and keep raising the bar for myself and for our team.”
Joseph’s tackle total was his highest since his rookie year in 2016 with the Oakland Raiders and he hadn’t had eight solos since Sept. 24, 2017.
“Karl Joseph really played well, making a lot of tackles. He ran our punt team for the first time with [Andrew] Sendejo being out, and he recovered an onside kick. He made a big impact last night for us to get that victory,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said.
“Running the punt team is no small feat. I know it was only three reps, but he had never done it in his career. He took it very seriously and spent extra time with [special teams coordinator Mike Priefer] to make sure he knew the whole operation.”
For the Giants game, Joseph received the best grade among Browns defenders from Pro Football Focus. Quarterback Baker Mayfield was tops on offense.
Joseph said having a big impact in the clutch is not a confidence boost for him.
“Not really. You guys don’t know me well yet, I am a very humble guy. I expect those things of myself so I don’t get too high on it,” he said. “What it’s about is keeping points off the board and getting the win.”
Coming off surgery on his right foot in November that cost him the final seven games in 2019 with the Raiders, Joseph signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract in April. He said part of the season he came to the Browns (10-4) was their potential for success.
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“I felt like I saw the potential that we had obviously with the talent we had on the offensive side, and I know the talent we had on the defensive side,” he said. “I knew they were putting a good staff together that was going to come in and try to build this thing up the right way. I’m happy I made that decision to come here.
“We can’t get too far ahead of ourselves. It is exciting to be where we are, but that is all we have earned.”
Joseph had a message of caution for the Browns in Sunday’s road game against the New York Jets (1-13).
“We can’t look at them as a lesser team or we are going to go in there and get punched in the mouth,” Joseph said. “We have to get ready and prepared and act like this is a playoff game for us.”
