In the first half of yesterday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, the Browns looked like the team that Eric Mangini envisioned. They played solid defense and although the offense left some points on the table, they were reasonable efficient.
In fact, the Vikings’ points were set up by uncharacteristic poor special teams play. A bad punt by Dave Zastudil gave Minnesota the ball in Cleveland territory, and a very good punt return set the Vikes up inside the Cleveland 30 yard line. Minnesota converted these two mistakes into their ten first half points.
However, the second half reverted back to the 2008 season.
The defense couldn’t get off the field as Adrian Peterson gashed them for large chunks of yardage, and once the offense took to the playing surface, it couldn’t convert first downs. The most telling stat of the game was the Vikings third down conversion rate was 6 of 14, while the Browns managed just 4 out of 12. Getting the defense off the field and keeping them off could have made for a different result.
The first drive of the third quarter was started at the Minnesota 45 after a 41-yard return by Percy Harvin, another poor special teams play. The Vikings then marched 55 yards using just one pass play, a 13-yard pass from Brett Favre to Vinsathe Shiancoe, and they picked up another 16 yards on a pass interference penalty on Brandon McDonald as Minnesota took a 17-13 lead.
The offense could only stay on the field for three plays since Brady Quinn threw an interception after Jamal Lewis, who played well, gained 22 yards on his first two carries of the second half.
The Vikings then marched 82 yards to make it 24-13 mostly due to the running attack of Peterson and Chester Taylor. Since stopping the run was a major concern coming into the season, allowing 225 yards on the ground in their opener is not an encouraging sign.
It was a good sign to see the Browns get four sacks, two on safety blitzes. Coordinator Rob Ryan moved guys around in his schemes, which was a welcome sight after last season’s mostly vanilla sets. Ryan gets a first game benefit of the doubt since he was going up against the league’s premier running back in Peterson. However, improvement needs to be made against the run.
Quinn wound up the game 21 for 35 for 205 yards with a late meaningless touchdown to Robert Royal. However, he threw the interception and had another turnover when he fumbled trying to throw a pass in the fourth quarter. Since he was supposed to be a guy who controlled the ball, this was not how he or Mangini wanted to start the season.
In Quinn’s defense, the play calling seemed a little odd as well. Remember that this is Brian Daboll’s first experience as a coordinator, so hopefully he will improve too. Using three running plays, two using the “wildcat” formation on first and goal at the Viking 6 in the second quarter was hardly imaginative play choices.
On the other hand, Minnesota has a very good defense, leading the NFL against the run the past few seasons. They are a Super Bowl contender, and will be one of the better team the Browns face all season. If he plays the same way against Denver next week, then there will be cause for concern.
The special teams were supposed to be a strength, The Sporting News ranked the Cleveland unit as the second best in the NFL, but they didn’t play like it yesterday. There are plenty of new faces on these units, so that could be a reason for the slippage Sunday.
One could question the head coach’s non-decision at quarterback as a reason for the inconsistency during the first game of the season. Mangini has a lot to emphasize this week at practice. Hopefully, the same improvement made from the first pre-season game to the second will apply to the regular season.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 