Two games in and Browns outside linebacker Paul Kruger is already just under half of his sack total from the 2013 season.
After having a not-so-good first season in Cleveland, Kruger has gotten off to a fast start with the Browns, recording two sacks and applying plenty of pressure off of the edge. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Harbaugh explained that Kruger is in a familiar defensive scheme under coach Mike Pettine as compared to what the Browns ran a year ago.
That's allowed Kruger to thrive as a pass-rusher early on.
"It's not the exact same defense that we run here, but there are a lot of similarities, and he's playing two positions," Harbaugh said. "Now he's playing both sides. We call it the ‘Sam' and we call it the ‘Rush,' and I assume they call it the same, probably. So, he knows what he's doing. [He's got a] tremendous motor. [He is] really playing in all three phases; he's playing run, he's rushing the passer and he's dropping in the coverage well. So, he's doing a great job."
With Kruger playing well, he'll be one the Ravens will want to pay extra attention to on Sunday. At the same time, with the similarities on defense that Harbaugh mentioned, perhaps it will be easier to scheme against Kruger and the front seven based on how familiar the Ravens are with this kind of defense.
Kruger will be looking to make a statement against his former team, the Ravens. The Ravens will be hoping to slow down his fast start to the 2014 season.