The Cleveland Browns opened their first preseason game on the road against the Green Bay Packers. A low scoring defensive affair suited great for a team trying to establish a solid defense after a horrific 3-13 season.
After a long drive by the Packers which ended in a punt, the Browns successfully gained confidence and let their offense go to work. We are going to break down the five takeaways from this 17-11 loss.
5. Quarterback Cody Kessler Needs To Improve: The last time the Browns drafted a third-round pick it was Colt McCoy in 2010. McCoy went on to start several games for the Browns but never satisfied the organization with mediocre quarterback play. In Kessler’s first NFL debut and his first offensive snap, he threw a complete strike for a touchdown. Early it seemed like Kessler might start a quarterback competition with Griffin, well, for a second anyway.
After he threw the touchdown pass, his football knowledge went down hill. Kessler pulled a Dan Orlovsky and forgot how close he was to the back of the endzone.
In the fourth-quarter with two minutes left, the young quarterback didn’t sense the pressure coming and got sacked in the endzone for his second safety of the night. If he wants to become a valuable backup quarterback and potentially a starter in the future, he needs to be able to use basic football knowledge and sense pressure coming straight up the “A gap”.
4. Wide Receiver Terrelle Pryor Shows Up BIG: I mentioned in the pregame analysis that Pryor might just lead the team in receiving yards and you shouldn’t be surprised. The once sensational Ohio State quarterback had to make a difficult change to receiver after his struggles in the NFL. Last night, Pryor caught a 49-yard pass from quarterback Robert Griffin III. His presence was felt early and he looked solid. These next few preseason games are a make it or break it for Pryor and his spot on the 53-man roster. Let’s hope he continues to shine like he did last night.
3. Special Teams Had Mixed Results: The kicking battle has begun. Travis Coons versus Patrick Murray, who will win? Well last night the special teams unit did both solid and horrible at times. In the game Patrick Murray kicked a 46-yard field goal. Veteran punter Andy Lee had a solid game. He was averaging over 50 yards per punt and kicked four times. Those were two positive plays from the special teams last night. The not so positive play was Raheem Mostert and his fumble on a kickoff.
2. First Team Defense Looked Solid: When your defense produces a three and out and no points from the other team is on the board, then your defense did it’s job. The Cleveland Browns struggled to get off the field last season and with Ray Horton back as the defensive coordinator, the team hopes that he can revamp this defense and make these young players produce at a high level. While several starters did not suit up and play, some younger players showed up big. Expect this defense when healthy, to produce at an even higher level. I am just glad they produced a three and out and gave their offense early confidence to shine.
1. First Team Offense Looked Okay: Quarterback Robert Griffin III showed up to play. On the offense’s first drive, the former Heisman winning quarterback threw a complete strike to wide receiver Terrelle Pryor, who came down with it.
Right after this spectacular 49-yard play, Griffin botched a handoff with Isaiah Crowell in the backfield. He threw a couple of nice passes and took his offense to the redzone where he threw an interception due to a bad route ran by tight end Gary Barnidge.
Griffin III looked solid in his first preseason game in a Browns uniform. The team is pretty confident in the fourth-year quarterback from Baylor and should be. Expect RGIII to continue to improve as the preseason goes on.
Conclusion:
The Cleveland Browns will indeed be better than last season. I can guarantee you that. If it is with the help of quarterback Robert Griffin III, the healthy defense that will be available, or head coach Hue Jackson and his magical coaching, this team will win more than 3 football games in 2016.
You now saw a glimpse of the Browns. Some good plays and some bad. We will have to wait until August 18th to see them face the Atlanta Falcons at home. Go Browns!
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