New writers, VR, and Pearl Jam: While We’re Waiting
September 2, 20162016 Browns Preview: Quarterbacks
September 2, 2016If you were about to buy a jersey with a Cleveland Browns player on it, who would you choose? Joe Thomas is the obvious and easy answer as even if he’s traded in the coming months, his legacy will always be tied to the lakefront. Would you spring for a Joe Haden? How about Josh Gordon? Robert Griffin III is on a two-year deal, but so was Jake Delhomme and the rest of the Browns quarterbacks to only get one crack. He’s Jeff Garcia without the CFL stint.
Corey Coleman might be a decent bet, but after watching the Browns close out the preseason with a loss to the Chicago Bears, are you feeling confident? What about one of the rookie defenders? How about that guy from the Jets that is going to be playing linebacker?1 Danny Shelton had the makings of a guy we could rally behind, but he can’t even sniff the field in nickel packages. Casual Browns fans would not be able to name the starting defensive backfield. Are either running backs guys we can associate with?
We may be looking at the most non-descript Browns season in a very, very long time. Even last year, arguably the worst season since the team’s return in 1999, we had a Cleveland guy in Donte Whitner and the hype surrounding Johnny Manziel was still palpable. Sure, both experiences didn’t end as planned, but there was at least a modicum of association. This season? If the Browns went the way of the Yankees and didn’t put names on the back, fans would be beyond lost. After watching them over the last four week, however, maybe that’s not such a bad thing.
LOSER: Robert Griffin III
It may not have shown in the box score, but the goal of rolling with the starters on Thursday night was to produce drives that were in the range of seven or eight plays, ones that went beyond the script, allowing the offense to start to flow. Once again limiting the turnovers, making sound decisions, and giving his weapons a chance to make plays, Griffin controlled that game in a way that will at the very least give his team a chance to win football games once extrapolated over the course of an entire four-quarter set. Fans who wanted to see more scoring from a first-team offense taking on a second-team defense have a right to be skeptical about the entire game as a whole, but by all indications, Griffin did exactly what was asked of him in his limited work.
LOSER: Cody Kessler
When Brady Quinn first started taking live snaps against opposing teams, there were moments where he had that dear-in-headlights look that resulted in a ton of passes to underneath receivers and running backs releasing from their blitz pick-up duty. Kessler has a lot of that, without the talent to turn panic into progress. I have a lot of hope for the kid, but he’s going to need a ton of work if he’s going to have a future in this league.
WINNER: Hue Jackson
The entire preseason was used for Jackson and his staff to evaluate what they have going forward. The play-calling was bland (save for that three-receiver set that led to a touchdown—that was nice), and some of the rotations are obviously not what the team will be using going forward. Jackson, despite his team being 0-4 continues to hold players accountable when they do not hold up their end of the bargain. The trick, now that the preseason is over, will be to maintain this culture once the losses start piling up. And holy crap will there be losses. The Browns are a six-point underdog to the Philadelphia Eagles, widely considered to be one of the worst teams heading in to 2016. By all accounts, the Browns will head into this season with a ton of young players who aren’t exactly used to losing football games. He was able to turn a woeful preseason in Oakland into an 8-8 record once the bullets started flying. This will be a tougher task.
LOSER: Ray Horton
In two different occasions, the Cleveland Browns defensive unit took to the field with just 10 players. One other time, they were flagged for having 12. Sure, it’s the preseason, but this team is less than 10 days away from their Week 1. With a defense has suspect as the Browns have, they can ill afford to make bone-headed moves before the ball is even snapped. Sure, the starters were largely MIA and this could be the product of young, inexperienced players who will not be a part of the final 53-man roster. And sure, Horton is in the booth, leaning on his position coaches to get things in order. But if any man has consistently looked bad through these first four preseason games, it’s Horton who is going to have to squeeze everything he can out of a lemon that may already be dried up before the second week of September.
WINNER: Josh Gordon
The kid has managed to make game-changing plays look effortless over the last two weeks. Gordon was so dominant in his limited time that the Bears defensive backs, at one point, were forced to tackle him at the top of a fly pattern before the ball arrived. No penalty was called, because preseason, but it’s clear that Gordon’s impact on this team’s offense will be integral in it’s success.
https://vine.co/v/5id5qQI5HD2
“It’ll be a grind,” said Gordon of missing the next four weeks. “I’ll be working out every day with the strength and conditioning staff, getting in shape, sitting in meetings, and being around the guys. Mentally, I’m prepared for it. I know what to expect.”
LOSER: Corey Coleman
Looking just like a rookie who missed two weeks of drills and practice during training camp, Corey Coleman has a ton of work to do in the next few days if he’s going to fill in for Gordon during the first month of the season. The Browns are trying to get him the ball (four targets on Thursday), but the box score has yet to reflect it. There was also a timeout that had to be called as the rookie was not lined up properly in a goal-to-go situation.
“At Baylor every ball got thrown to him and he had many opportunities,” said Robert Griffin III of Coleman. “Teams are going to roll coverage to him to try and take the ball out of his hands. He just has to continue to work and put his head down and just keep grinding.”
WINNERS: Carl Nassib and Joe Schobert
I could easily add Emanuel Ogbah here as well due to his sack, but that was largely the product of what Nassib was able to do on the other side. If you’re looking to take anything away from this Browns season, specific to the defense, it will be the growth of these three player. Nassib, once again, is looking like the real deal. With just rushes of the passer on Thursday night, the Penn State product was able to generate a hurry and also a batted pass with his gargantuan wingspan. The third-rounder has totaled two sacks, five hurries, and two batted passes for the preseason and should be on the field more often than not come the regular season. Schobert has shown flashes throughout the preseason and looks like a guy whose motor Eric Mangini would absolutely love to have on his team. Four tackles, a sack and one hell of a celebration were all in a days work for the fourth-rounder out of Wisconsin.
“[Carl] is the type of guy we need,” said Xavier Cooper following the game. “We are making progress because a lot of these guys are hungry to get on the field, and that’s what we need.”
For all of the warts on this defense, it’s good to see the kids prospering.
LOSER: Entire second-team defense (save for Joe Schobert)
Bears running back Jordan Howard was so polished against the Browns’ second unit, tallying 107 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, that the Chicago play-by-play folks began comparing him to a combination of Jerome Bettis and Bam Morris—two running backs who had predominant roles on Super Bowl teams, one of which is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Buckeyes fans should know Howard, the junior year transfer to Indiana who was a part of the unit that hung nearly 200 yards on the ground in a nail-biter October game. Now Browns fans can recognize him as the poster child for how bad this run defense could be in 2016.
https://vine.co/v/5id5gEbzITz
WINNERS: Alvin Bailey and Spencer Drango
The Browns’ offensive line has had very few bright spots with Joe Thomas taking the last few weeks to rest up for the long haul, but Alvin Bailey and Spencer Drango are worthy of the mention. According to Pro Football Focus, Bailey played 41 passing snaps on Thursday night, allowing just one pressure—his first of the entire preseason. Drango allowed two pressures in 23 snaps, but totaled just three throughout the entire preseason (60 total pass-blocking snaps). Cameron Erving continues to look lost, but for a Browns team that will be looking to fill in for the loss of key veterans in the trenches, Bailey’s play at right tackle could be crucial. Drango may not get a lot of run this season, but in the event the Browns were to trade Thomas, he’d be the one filling in.
LOSER: Nate Orchard
A second-rounder in his second season should not be playing in the fourth quarter of the fourth preseason contest. I’m hoping it was merely a matter of lacking depth on the outside—what with the trades of Paul Kruger and Barkevious Mingo—but things are not looking good for Ray Farmer’s replacement of Jabaal Sheard.
WINNER: Isaiah Crowell
Yeah, 1.8 yards per carry is not ideal, but Crow continues to look like a guy who wants to make a difference for this offense. His catch-and-run in the red zone was powerful and would eventually lead to him finding pay dirt.
https://vine.co/v/5idiTE3XXF7
I’m concerned about the team’s ability to run to the right side, and there was some suspect decision making on a stretch play behind the left tackle, but by no means are these indicative of No. 34’s ability to move the football. The Browns will need Crowell to continue running with power if they’re going to want to set up the pass.
LOSER: Duke Johnson Jr.
I don’t want to read too much into one game, but Johnson had just two carries and one target on Thursday night. With a mobile quarterback like Robert Griffin III, I’m getting the feeling that we may see more instances of RG3 pulling the football down and running as opposed to feeding his running backs. Couple this with the ascent of Terrelle Pryor Sr. and the hopeful emergence of Corey Coleman, I’m starting to get a bit bearish on Johnson’s ability to grow from last season’s use in the passing game. Don’t get me wrong—he’ll have an impact. All signs, however, are not pointing in his favor.
LOSERS: Those guys who aren’t Andy Lee
What the hell was that?
LOSER: Patrick Murray
The last several minutes of the first half seemed to drag on for hours. After Hue Jackson called a timeout with five seconds remaining (following Solomon Wilcotts wondering if they could get two plays off—despite it being fourth down), the Browns special teams unit was practicing long snaps in the rain. When play resumed, the snap was a bit high, but was placed in a spot for Murray—an NFL kicker—to put it through the uprights for three. He didn’t. This all falls under the rule that this team cannot afford to give away points. Fully plan on Murray being in this spot every week that he’s not flawless as the spotlight will be shining bright. Fair? Not at all. But neither is the fact that Browns fans have been forced to watch garbage for nearly 20t years.
WINNER: Armonty Bryant
Bryant played 42 snaps on Thursday and came away with a sack, a quarterback hit, and a batted pass. He had two stops against the run and blocked an extra point for good measure. The kid may very well be the Browns’ most polished member of a rough front seven. The only down side is…
LOSER: Armonty Bryant
…Bryant, much like teammate Josh Gordon, will miss the first four weeks of play following his Adderall-related suspension. Hue Jackson stated that the team was going to “take a stand” against off-field issues, but it’s telling that Johnny Manziel is no longer employed, while the team is doing everything they can to ensure both Gordon and Bryant are ready for Week 5. Bryant has proven to be a damn good football player when he’s on the field. It’s a shame that the team will have to wait a month to earn dividends from their persistent patience.
- Yes, I know his name is Demario Davis, but the point is even the captain of the defense isn’t exactly a household name. [↩]
68 Comments
http://imgur.com/gallery/nPIQnVF
Oh, I’m not saying that the Browns necessarily should have drafted one of those other guys. In fact, I’m completely content to let the RG3 experiment play itself out.
But, they probably shouldn’t have reached for the guy.
-100 for allowing Mike Patrick dominion over your body. Harv probably couldn’t remember how to pronounce his own name.
What is the deal with that? How incredibly stupid is that administration?
I’m not saying you have to wipe him from the face of the earth, or pretend his teams never existed. But don’t honor the man, individually. Especially don’t honor him when the law suits are ongoing and the victims are all still very much alive and aware.
agreed … and i think most of us thought that r,louis & devalve were reaches as well. other than that , i thought the HBT did real well.
Happy Valley is a very, very strange place
http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lulw6dHx3f1qgmt5yo2_250.gif
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZMu3qQSmz6I/RabBYmgH-VI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/h9NWGM7aqeA/s320/cowher_02.jpg
speaking of which (sorta): how is there any issue about whether the Browns should pay for the surgery of K’Waun Williams? This makes me nuts. The league makes billions. The TV money alone guarantees each team hundreds of millions. There should be cradle to grave health care on any player body parts potentially affected by this game.
He was injured while a member of the Browns. If he isn’t covered by health insurance from the NFL/Browns, then the NFLPA is worse at their jobs than I thought they were (and I am not a fan).
Also, humboldt and you should appreciate this line about the Steelers. Eschewing practice limitations on full contact despite that they have been shown to have lasting effects (those constant little hits hurt big-time it is shown). But, naw, not for Pitt
https://twitter.com/mgbode_WFNY/status/771799682339135488
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This was written before preseason play, disqualified
Thank you.
The Browns will have different commentators every week right? Because I can’t take those two again.
haha, I can ask, but pretty sure Mark would stand by his comments.
Undercover, the night before….
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