preseason game 1
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Not much to complain about on offense, much better then expected.
The Defense however had some concerns. I thought the DB's looked lost and played chase a bit to much. I didn't like how the Rams seemed to gain 6+ yards up the middle on us and the pass rush was so-so.
Not bad ... but preseason (yawn).
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Browns preseason debut is a hit, beat Rams, 27-19
Aug 08, 2013 -- 11:05pm
By Tony Grossi | ESPNCleveland.com
Photo/Cleveland Plain Dealer
If they could bottle their preseason opener and pour it out on Sept. 8 against the Miami Dolphins, the Browns would jumpstart their latest new era unlike any season since their rebirth in 1999.
The first-team offense was inexplicably crisp and efficient. Quarterback Brandon Weeden looked satisfactorily deprogrammed of the confines of the West Coast and liberated by the new vertical, shotgun passing game.
The No. 1 defense was aggressive, as advertised, though nothing exotic was displayed. It forced a turnover and a punt in two series against former Pat Shurmur pupil Sam Bradford now coached by Brian Schottenheimer, Marty’s son.
Alas, it was only a practice game, where good impressions often are distorted.
But the Browns’ 27-19 win over the NFC West-tested St. Louis Rams was an impressive beginning for coach Rob Chudzinski and coordinators Norv Turner and Ray Horton.
"I was pleased with the first game. It’s good to win," Chudzinski said. "All our guys responded early in the game, able to make plays. It was a combination of all phases doing it. We didn’t have any turnovers."
For Weeden, it was a good outing absolutely necessary to lift the rampant skepticism about him – inside the building and out.
In two series, Weeden orchestrated scoring drives of 67 yards in 15 plays and 74 in nine with accuracy and aplomb. Overall, Weeden was 10 of 13 for 112 yards and a touchdown of two yards to Trent Richardson fill-in Dion Lewis.
“I thought we looked pretty good,” Weeden said in quotes distributed in the press box. “We maneuvered well. We didn’t have any penalties. We didn’t do anything to move backwards. We got some first downs and put together a nice scoring drive.”
Lewis did an impersonation of Darren Sproles, Turner’s electrifying water bug in his San Diego Chargers days. Though Lewis had only 12 yards on five rushes and 22 on three catches, he introduced himself as a potential asset.
Jordan Cameron had a Weeden bullet glance off his hands on his first attempt, an error that resulted in Greg Little leaping high for the deflection and 14-yard gain. But Cameron redeemed himself on his second attempt. He took a short Weeden pass on a crossing route, turned it up the left sideline and accelerated for a 30-yard gain to the Rams’ 4.
On defense, Horton kept his exotic blitzes under wraps for the real games. But the aggressiveness was evident. The defense forced two turnovers and linebacker Quentin Groves had a sack.
Bradford felt pressure from right end Desmond Bryant on the second play. On the other side of the Rams’ line, right tackle and Cleveland native Roger Saffold suffered a shoulder injury and left the game. Four plays later, Phil Taylor forced a fumble of back Isaiah Pead and Buster Skrine recovered.
Skrine also forced a Bradford incompletion with tight coverage of receiver Austin Pettis on second down on the next series. On third down, Rams rookie speedster Tavon Austin mishandled a Bradford on-target pass 20 yards downfield. The interesting thing was Browns linebacker Craig Robertson was right there, running with the fastest player in the 2013 draft.
Rookie linebacker Barkevious Mingo debuted in a first-team nickel package that included Paul Kruger and Jabaal Sheard. Later, playing with the second defense, Mingo had a sack taken away when the Browns accepted a Rams tripping penalty. Mingo had pressure on backup quarterback Austin Davis after a nice spin move, but Davis actually spun himself into the ground while escaping contact from Mingo.
The special teams, large concerns throughout training camp, also had a grand debut.
Travis Benjamin ran out of Josh Cribbs’ shadow on his first punt return. Benjamin accepted a St. Louis punt at the 9-yard line, broke to the right sideline off a block from Mingo, and then sped the rest of the way untouched for a 91-yard TD.
On a calm summer night, both kickers, Brandon Bogotay and Shayne Graham, booted kickoffs out of the end zone. Each had a PAT and field goal, Bogotay from 25 yards and Graham from 41. Bogotay later missed wide left from 54 yards.
And for posterity, Mingo’s first play was a tackle of Pead on the first Browns kickoff.
Weeden’s backups lapsed into dink-and-dunk mode. Jason Campbell came in first and put up three points in two series. He was 6 of 7 for 37 yards with a sack and a run of 12 yards. Brian Hoyer played the entire second half and was 10 of 14 for 100 yards and a touchdown. He beat a St. Louis blitz and hit ridiculously open receiver Cordell Roberson for a 26-yard TD. That possession was set up on an interception by rookie linebacker hopeful Justin Staples.
As for negative plays, there were a few. Backup cornerback Trevin Wade allowed Chris Givens to get behind him for a 59-yard reception. Bradford’s ball hung or else it would have been an 80-yard score. That led to the Rams’ only touchdown, a 3-yard pass to Givens when Bradford had time to count the house, which was fairly empty. Later, journeyman QB Kellen Clemens flipped a short pass to receiver Raymond Radway, who was uncovered and raced home for a 53-yard TD.
The announced ticket sale was 56,943. There may have been half as many bodies actually in attendance. But that will change. Word of mouth travels fast.
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love the optimism and glad the positives outweighed the negatives
BUT
it is a preseason game. as a matter of fact the first vs. a team rated just 1 or 2 spots higher or lower as us. so let's not go predicting a super bowl win right now.
many a team have looked great in preseason and sucked ass in regular season and vice versa.
let's wait until we see the main event: opening day.
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Not gonna get too pumped up by one pre-season game, but the team looked like a team that had a plan and the coaches and players executed that plan. I haven't seen that in a few years.
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love the optimism and glad the positives outweighed the negatives
BUT
it is a preseason game. as a matter of fact the first vs. a team rated just 1 or 2 spots higher or lower as us. so let's not go predicting a super bowl win right now.
many a team have looked great in preseason and sucked ass in regular season and vice versa.
let's wait until we see the main event: opening day.
love the optimism and glad the positives outweighed the negatives
BUT
it is a preseason game. as a matter of fact the first vs. a team rated just 1 or 2 spots higher or lower as us. so let's not go predicting a super bowl win right now.
many a team have looked great in preseason and sucked ass in regular season and vice versa.
let's wait until we see the main event: opening day.
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We were at the game & what we saw was very encouraging.....That is a different style of football than we have seen in Cleveland in many years. Aggressive, attacking football & yes, we'll make mistakes, but at least they will be mistakes of aggression. We have to remember we have new systems on both sides of the ball being played by pretty young players who are still learning. Plus these Coaches aren't going to show everything in the pre season.
It was fun watching tonight & I believe that will continue.
Mike
IN DORSEY I TRUST -
It was great to watch a Cleveland Browns game, and it was great that I didn't have to run and hide in my bedroom like I usually do when I think the Browns are going to lose! I've been a Browns fan since the 70's! I am so glad that they played as well as they did tonight, and I'm looking forward to having a great year. GO BROWNIES!!
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I know it was just a preseason game; and the first one at that but MAN that was fun to watch. It was actually FUN to watch a Browns game
I really liked the performance from the O-Line as well as the RBs. St Louis had some (in my opinion) dirty hits in the first half one of which was flagged for 15; will have to check out their press corps take on the game
Looking forward to more improvement for week two
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Didn't see the game--but hopefully the concern about the defense is misplaced.
Grossi said that Horton kept things pretty vanilla, which is what I would expect.
Tell guys to be aggressive, but don't show your hand in a meaningless "game".
Save the fun stuff for the regular season.
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Wait ... It was ONLY a preseason game???
(... as neighbor mows around my naked painted body in his tree lawn...)
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Wait ... It was ONLY a preseason game???
(... as neighbor mows around my naked painted body in his tree lawn...)
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Orange85 said:
Weeden looked sharp! I think he will be just fine in the Turner offense. The guy has stated that since he was in the 8th grade he has taken 90% of snaps from the shotgun. He was never under center in college. So what last years coaches were thinking is beyond me!
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First half observations
* best hit of the night was B Winn tattooing DRich at the 13:49 mark of second. couldn't find vid. somebody post it if u find.
* Bradford was virtually untouched. Need to mount some pocket(pussy) pressure or it's going to be a long year for secondary. fixable
* zero turnovers! when was the last time you saw that in a Browns preseason game? Chud seems to have them
fundamentally dialed in. No wasted time outs for not getting the play in on time or having 12 men on the field. Only one penalty in the first
half. good sign
* Cameron dropped the first ball to him but redeemed himself with the big gainer in 2nd? quarter. was nicely surprised to see this kids speed!
* Little made an aggressive play catching the ricochet from Cams. good sign
* Bernie looked better and it sounded like he wasn't drunk/high. good sign
* almost forgot TBens punt return. Smooth as silk with speed to burn. best punt return I've seen in a long mfuckin time. good sign
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I think concerns about the defense are misplaced. They were consistently disrupting Bradford, got a turnover, and gave up no points. In case you weren't watching, Bradford's deep ball and subsequent TD pass were against our second team defense, specifically Trevin Wade who will probably make the team but won't be active most Sundays. I would expect an NFL starting O to be able to go down and take advantage of a second team. Mingo looked good, man he has a nice spin move he pulled on the play he got the sack. They could be better against the run, but overall played well and got results. Jackson and Robertson in the middle looked awesome.
The offense was impressive, particularly the play-calling. They were out of the huddle with 12 to 16 seconds left on the play clock every play. Weeden hit 6 different receivers and played extremely efficient. Was not expecting that. Let's hope they can keep it up and build a nice rhythm and get a little momentum going...
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Oh, and is anybody still wondering who our starting QB is going to be?
#Justsayin' -
Well, I was disappointed. They never showed Canton Mike and his Wife eating his deluxe nacho cheese chippies on TV. GGG
This game was "only" a preseason game. But what I saw, was a highly disciplined, freakin aggressive football team.
On TV, ole Felix Wright was stated to be the field inspector for both teams (proper uniform pads etc), and they said Wright said
that this Browns team was the most disciplined Browns team he'd seen since 99.
For the first time out, I was concerned they'd have trouble with mistakes. Not much. You bring in smart, talented players
who love the game, and legit coaches to teach them a legit aggressive system that suits their strengths... and everybody gets
to watch some very fine football the first game that doesn't even count.
The backup offensive line was impressive. My favorite backup oline guy, Gilkey, did pretty good. And he has a lot
to learn coming from a smaller school. I underestimated Hoyer from watching him that practice, bigtime. Now I
see that he has "it". But sure, he doesn't have the arm of Weeden. Weeden did a nice job of seeing things
far quicker. That seems to say "we used to play for coaches that didn't teach, and implemented a dumbass
"looks good on paper system". And Dion Lewis surprised in the practice, and in that first quarter.
And yes, Little showed that intensity again, fighting up in the air for that tipped pass by Cameron.
Everybody was having fun out there. They've been set free to play freakin aggressive, smart football !
Lb Craig Robertson being there with Austin was amazing. He shows serious speed, quickness, intincts and strength
even in practice. Lb Staples? He showed up hugely, I can't imagine he doesn't make the roster. Mingo is amazing.
His first short outing, and everybody heard his name, He's scary fast. Mingo "barked" in his first preseason game.
And, Bernie Kosar, my God I love listening to him comment these games. He instantly sees all sorts of stuff. He's
amazing. And last night, he was on top of his game. The foundation he has now, working with kids, is a classy move.
Seems he has gotten himself all straightened out. It was cool, them talking with Jim Brown. And, Jim Brown calling
Kosar "big guy"...that's just fun.
Real nice start. Detroit will also be tough business. We'll see.
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Well, I was disappointed. They never showed Canton Mike and his Wife eating his deluxe nacho cheese chippies on TV. GGG
This game was "only" a preseason game. But what I saw, was a highly disciplined, freakin aggressive football team.
On TV, ole Felix Wright was stated to be the field inspector for both teams (proper uniform pads etc), and they said Wright said
that this Browns team was the most disciplined Browns team he'd seen since 99.
For the first time out, I was concerned they'd have trouble with mistakes. Not much. You bring in smart, talented players
who love the game, and legit coaches to teach them a legit aggressive system that suits their strengths... and everybody gets
to watch some very fine football the first game that doesn't even count.
The backup offensive line was impressive. My favorite backup oline guy, Gilkey, did pretty good. And he has a lot
to learn coming from a smaller school. I underestimated Hoyer from watching him that practice, bigtime. Now I
see that he has "it". But sure, he doesn't have the arm of Weeden. Weeden did a nice job of seeing things
far quicker. That seems to say "we used to play for coaches that didn't teach, and implemented a dumbass
"looks good on paper system". And Dion Lewis surprised in the practice, and in that first quarter.
And yes, Little showed that intensity again, fighting up in the air for that tipped pass by Cameron.
Everybody was having fun out there. They've been set free to play freakin aggressive, smart football !
Lb Craig Robertson being there with Austin was amazing. He shows serious speed, quickness, intincts and strength
even in practice. Lb Staples? He showed up hugely, I can't imagine he doesn't make the roster. Mingo is amazing.
His first short outing, and everybody heard his name, He's scary fast. Mingo "barked" in his first preseason game.
And, Bernie Kosar, my God I love listening to him comment these games. He instantly sees all sorts of stuff. He's
amazing. And last night, he was on top of his game. The foundation he has now, working with kids, is a classy move.
Seems he has gotten himself all straightened out. It was cool, them talking with Jim Brown. And, Jim Brown calling
Kosar "big guy"...that's just fun.
Real nice start. Detroit will also be tough business. We'll see.
Well, I was disappointed. They never showed Canton Mike and his Wife eating his deluxe nacho cheese chippies on TV. GGG
This game was "only" a preseason game. But what I saw, was a highly disciplined, freakin aggressive football team.
On TV, ole Felix Wright was stated to be the field inspector for both teams (proper uniform pads etc), and they said Wright said
that this Browns team was the most disciplined Browns team he'd seen since 99.
For the first time out, I was concerned they'd have trouble with mistakes. Not much. You bring in smart, talented players
who love the game, and legit coaches to teach them a legit aggressive system that suits their strengths... and everybody gets
to watch some very fine football the first game that doesn't even count.
The backup offensive line was impressive. My favorite backup oline guy, Gilkey, did pretty good. And he has a lot
to learn coming from a smaller school. I underestimated Hoyer from watching him that practice, bigtime. Now I
see that he has "it". But sure, he doesn't have the arm of Weeden. Weeden did a nice job of seeing things
far quicker. That seems to say "we used to play for coaches that didn't teach, and implemented a dumbass
"looks good on paper system". And Dion Lewis surprised in the practice, and in that first quarter.
And yes, Little showed that intensity again, fighting up in the air for that tipped pass by Cameron.
Everybody was having fun out there. They've been set free to play freakin aggressive, smart football !
Lb Craig Robertson being there with Austin was amazing. He shows serious speed, quickness, intincts and strength
even in practice. Lb Staples? He showed up hugely, I can't imagine he doesn't make the roster. Mingo is amazing.
His first short outing, and everybody heard his name, He's scary fast. Mingo "barked" in his first preseason game.
And, Bernie Kosar, my God I love listening to him comment these games. He instantly sees all sorts of stuff. He's
amazing. And last night, he was on top of his game. The foundation he has now, working with kids, is a classy move.
Seems he has gotten himself all straightened out. It was cool, them talking with Jim Brown. And, Jim Brown calling
Kosar "big guy"...that's just fun.
Real nice start. Detroit will also be tough business. We'll see.
Great post Cal. I think these three quotes sum up this new administration best:
Wright said
that this Browns team was the most disciplined Browns team he'd seen since 99.
It's all about the coaching. We have been wandering through the desert for 14 years without true leadership and discipline. Chud was the hire .. they nailed it.
They've been set free to play freakin aggressive, smart football !
Great statement. And we haven't really "seen" the defense yet .. just wait, tannehill.
It was cool, them talking with Jim Brown. And, Jim Brown calling
Kosar "big guy"
Remember Mangini painting over the murals and Holmgren dissing Jim Brown? Jimmy Haslem is embracing the Cleveland Browns. It just hasn't felt right from slippery Carmen Policy to lazy Fat Mike ... THIS is feeling right.
Feeling like the Cleveland Browns
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