Joe Schobert's knack for knocking ball loose pays off for Steelers in win over Browns

In the two seasons they were teammates on the Cleveland Browns, linebacker Joe Schobert couldn’t recall wide receiver Jarvis Landry fumbling in a game.

It happened in practice, with Schobert being the culprit, but not in a game to the best of the his recollection.

“Jarvis is a great competitor and fierce athlete, and he’s obviously very protective of the ball — as all ball carriers are in the NFL,” Schobert said Monday, a day after his forced fumble against Landry helped preserve the Steelers’ 15-10 victory at FirstEnergy Stadium.

“I do remember a few times in training camps when I was back there and he would catch the ball on little spot routes and juke me, and I came from behind and punched the ball out a couple of times,” Schobert said. “Maybe it’s something I have on him, but in games I can’t remember him ever fumbling when I was there.

“It was a pretty rare thing to get done.”

Landry, in fact, fumbled just one time over the 2018-19 seasons when he and Schobert were teammates. And, until Sunday, Landry hadn’t lost a fumble since December 2018. Known for putting the ball on the ground during his tenure with Miami — he fumbled 14 times in his first four seasons — the five-time Pro Bowl pick has fumbled four times in four seasons in Cleveland.

Landry, though, wasn’t surprised that Schobert was the Steelers player that jarred the ball loose with 6 minutes, 4 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. T.J. Watt recovered at the Steelers 20 to snuff out the Browns’ scoring threat.

“It’s something he is known for doing,” Landry said. “I really was not trying to fight for extra yards. I was trying to get down. He made a great play.”

Since acquiring Schobert from Jacksonville in training camp, the Steelers have been waiting for him to make such plays on defense. It took seven games for it to happen, but it couldn’t have come at a more opportune time for Schobert considering it came in his first game at FirstEnergy Stadium as a visiting player.

“I told a couple guys on the team that it was weird busing into the stadium because I’ve driven into Cleveland so many times as a player over there,” Schobert said. “Seeing all the familiar faces of the attendants and people working the game, walking right by the home locker room and going to the visitor locker room and going out on the field and being able to get a win was a great feeling.”

The forced fumble was the 10th of Schobert’s six-year NFL career. It was the only turnover produced by either side in the game, and it came on a day when he led the Steelers with nine tackles.

“We’re always looking for a splash any way that we can,” Watt said. “Whenever we can do that for our offense and get the ball back in their hands, it’s huge. Joe has been doing that for years, especially when he was playing for Cleveland. I’m glad to have him on our side.”

Schobert was part of a defense that limited the Browns to a season low in points; Cleveland was averaging 24.7 entering the game. The Browns also rushed for 96 yards after averaging an NFL-best 170 on the ground.

“To play well and limit their offense to not a lot production, it was a job well done by the whole defense,” Schobert said.

And for someone who experienced only one victory in eight career games against the Steelers when he was on the other side of the rivalry, it was a chance for Schobert to walk off the field with a smile on his face.

“I know he was happy to get the win,” defensive captain Cameron Heyward said. “Joe has been learning on the fly. I’m just glad we got the ‘W’ for him.”