Browns rookie Martin Emerson Jr. ready to show off length vs. Falcons; talks lessons from defending George Pickens catch

BEREA, Ohio — Martin Emerson Jr. has rewatched the catch.

Last Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Browns’ Week 3 matchup, the rookie cornerback was on the losing end of a highlight-reel play.

In the second quarter, with the Steelers facing second-and-3, Pittsburgh quarterback Mitchell Trubisky found Pickens down the right sideline. The rookie receiver made a stellar one-handed catch, literally bending over backward so that his upper body was parallel to the ground.

The play has been everywhere since Thursday night, despite the Browns escaping with a 29-17 win.

“It was a great catch by him,” Emerson said on Friday. “I can put myself in the best position to play that ball better, but that was a great catch.

“I feel like I could have done something different. I probably could have just played through his hands, knocked the ball out, get a PBU, instead of trying to find the ball.”

Emerson said he doesn’t mind re-watching plays he was on the wrong side of. It’s all part of his usual film watching habits, and as an NFL rookie, that aspect of game prep and self analysis is one of the biggest changes compared to college.

It’s also important for him to rewatch some of those reps as he starts to see more targets. As a junior at Mississippi State last season, Emerson didn’t see many balls come his way — he was targeted on just 50 of his 375 coverage snaps (13.3%).

Through three games with the Browns, he’s already been targeted 18 times, the most on the team ahead of Greg Newsome II (17) and Denzel Ward (16).

“I would say watch over and over,” Emerson said when asked if he rewatches plays he felt like he made mistakes on. “But it just depends really on the play and how I feel like I did on the play. But I always watch film and try to critique my game.”

Sunday’s game against the Falcons should provide a good test for Emerson, given the size Atlanta has on offense.

The Falcons rely heavily on receiver-turned-running back Cordarrelle Patterson (6-2, 232 lbs.); rookie receiver Drake London (6-4, 219 lbs.) and tight end Kyle Pitts (6-6, 247 lbs.). Pitts and London are the team’s two leading receivers and are averaging 13.9 and 13.4 yards per catch, respectively.

Emerson is the tallest Browns’ corner at 6-foot-2, and boasts 33 1/2-inch-long arms — compare that to Denzell Ward at 5-11 and Greg Newsome II at 6-0.

The rookie going up against Pitts could be an interesting matchup outside heading into the game, one that Emerson is willing to take on.

“Great player, big, physical. He can run as well. He’s a good player,” Emerson said. “I have to be more firm at the top of my routes, because he’ll probably be able to push off, be a little stronger. So that’s probably the only difference. Plus he can run, so I look at him as a true receiver, really.”

No matter who he is up against, Emerson is ready for another tough test in the early stage of his NFL career.

“Really every week is a test, honestly,” he said. “So I’m excited.”

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