It’s always a nerve-racking time when the promise of a first-round pick meets the harsh reality of the NFL gridiron but for outside linebacker Jared Verse, it’s been business as usual for the former Florida State Seminole.
In two games, Verse has eight tackles, one sack and one forced fumble. A firecracker coming off the edge, Verse’s natural explosiveness and bend on the edge give him the pass-rushing tools only known by the best to play the game.
When asked about his hot start, Sean McVay praised the rookie edge rusher, while also recognizing there’s room for improvement.
“He’s been active. I thought he played really hard. I thought he made some really good plays and I think there are still opportunities for him to continue to grow and learn,” McVay said. “He’s really coachable. [OLBs coach] Joe [Coniglio] does a great job with that group, understanding exactly where all those play opportunities fall within the framework of some of the different calls and what the offense presents. But you talk about a guy who played disruptive, I love the fumble that he forced and it was unfortunate that they ended up recovering it for a touchdown, but you feel him. You guys have heard me mention that. I like the way this guy plays the game.”
While there are some clear shortfalls in Verse’s game, those flaws are primarily due to a college body playing in the NFL. Given the fact that Verse spent this past offseason preparing for the draft, he had limited time to dedicate to his physique.
Once Verse is able to have a true offseason spent on strength and conditioning, expect what has already been an explosive start to turn into high levels of consistent play, especially in the run game.
