The Cleveland Browns lost their pre-season (read: exhibition) opener to the New York Jets 24-20 Thursday evening in a contest delayed during the first half by a lightning storm. Who cares. The most important thing was that the team suffered no key injuries, and they should the attitude of a squad that expects to contend for a spot in the playoffs in 2008. The Browns led at the half 14-10, and that was the last time anybody who will play a key role on this team this season played, for the most part.
Derek Anderson looked good in his brief stint on the field, and Brady Quinn overcame an early interception to play well too. Braylon Edwards caught a touchdown pass from Anderson that was thrown over the wrong shoulder by design, according to the QB, for the Browns first touchdown, showing the chemistry between the two is in mid-season form. Kellen Winslow sat the game out due to injury so we did not see DA hook up with him. Newcomer Donte Stallworth caught two passes as well, and the offensive line performed well. Everything looked good when the brown and orange had the ball.
Defensively, the biggest question is the play of the two young cornerbacks, Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald, and both passed their first tests. NT Shaun Rogers made the tackle on his first play for Cleveland, but the pass rush was non-existent in the first game. Perhaps it is a case going very, very vanilla on defense in the first pre-season game, and Mel Tucker will be adding much, much more in the way of stunts and blitzes as training camp continues. It would be very surprising if the defense didn’t do a lot of different things when they take on the Cowboys in the season opener.
Where the Browns will be made or broken is in regards to depth. Injuries are a fact in the National Football League, so the good teams have quality depth. That is why the most troubling thing to come out of camp thus far is the knee surgeries done on LBs Antawn Peek and rookie Beau Bell. The linebacking crew is not a point of strength anyway, and losing two players expected to be contributors hurts. Both players needed to be on the field during the pre-season, especially a rookie like Bell, so he can be evaluated in the new defense.
That’s why it was good to see third year WR Travis Wilson play well. The Browns need to develop a third wide receiver, especially with Joe Jurevicius’ injury problems. Wilson caught three passes for 58 yards. Rookie TE Martin Rucker also showed an ability to get open, grabbing five balls for 70 yards. Backup RBs Jason Wright and Jerome Harrison ran the ball effectively. And we know the offensive line has depth. As for the defense, the reverse secondary was burned by two long passes by Jets’ reserve QB Brett Ratliff. That’s not a good sign, although the only DB involved that will probably make the team is special teams ace Zach Sorenson.
Otherwise, the first game was a non-event, although it was good to see football being played downtown again. The Browns are now off until a week from Monday night, when they take on the Super Bowl champs, the New York Giants. The starters should play around a half in that game before turning it over to the reserves. As long as the attitude is there and injuries are avoided, that game will be a success as well.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 