Friday, August 11, 2006
One Game Down, Plenty of Work To Go
By John Chandler
Eagles 20 Browns 7.
I'm sure many Browns fans saw that score in this morning's paper and headed for the Detroit-Superior bridge to jump. They saw Charlie Frye's 23 yards passing and thought couldn't Vinny Testeverde do better? Or saw Jeff Garcia's 8-of-11 for 125 yards and two touchdowns and wondered why the Browns dumped him in the first place.
If you find yourself asking this, then I'm going to have to ask you to remember that this is preseason football we're talking about here. In the preseason, you're supposed to watch games with your chips and beer, and a touch of perspective.
With that in mind, here's what I took from (Pre) Game 1:
No Offense, but...
The first team offense struggled to move the ball. Big deal. If you watched closely, the play calling made Bill Belichick's idea of offense seem revolutionary. The point is not to show off, but to just show up. Get your snaps, and get out healthy. And considering the way this training camp is unfolding, that's no small task.
On the topic of snaps, Charlie Frye and trial-by-fire starter Alonzo Ephraim exchanged 10 of them without a problem. Ephraim hung in "pretty good" according to coach Romeo Crennel, though the starting center position is still very much up for grabs (Bob Hallen will announce his retirement Friday, it's believed.)
The first team offense gained 39 yards -- hardly worth evaluating. But they did get TE Kellen Winslow into the flow for his first game action in nearly two years. You know just his presence will allow them to get creative with formations down the road.
Now, for the bad news. The depth at quarterback is an issue. Ken Dorsey looked awful. Derek Anderson was no better. There's a concept coaches teach about avoiding pocket pressure; looks like both skipped that lesson. What was Testeverde's phone number, again?
Wimbley Impressive
Rookie LB Kamerion Wimbley continued his solid, if not spectacular, debut in Brown and Orange. The Browns first round pick seemed to be everywhere, including on the goalline, where he teamed with S Brodney Pool to stuff Eagles RB Reno Mahe for a loss.
His athletic ability is obvious; just look at the way he fills out that #95 jersey. But even more encouraging is the quickness with which he seems to be picking up the NFL game.
It appears the Browns have drafted themselves a flat-out playmaker on defense. Finally.
Third Down Back Battle
Did Jerome Harrison make a bid for a roster spot that previously belonged to either Lee Suggs or Willam Green? The rookie RB found the end zone last night on an 8-yard pass from QB Lang Campbell. He's a pint-sized, but promising prospect in the Browns crowded backfield.
A few more games like this, and he just may have Suggs or Green looking for work. While we're on that topic, choosing between the two will be difficult. Suggs, when healthy, runs well. But honestly, when is the guy ever healthy? Green, on the other hand, remains a tireless worker. His effort is second-to-none in camp, but his skills? The Browns might be able to deal one of the backs just before the start of the season.
All in all, the best thing about the Browns preseason opener was the uniforms. How can you not love the grey facemasks?
Remember, Cleveland, it's the preseason. Let's not be afraid to mix in a little perspective.
Browns Nation, what do you think? Send in your thoughts to 5sports@newsnet5.com and watch for them every Sunday night, at 11:32 PM, on the Toyota Sports Sunday.
Eagles 20 Browns 7.
I'm sure many Browns fans saw that score in this morning's paper and headed for the Detroit-Superior bridge to jump. They saw Charlie Frye's 23 yards passing and thought couldn't Vinny Testeverde do better? Or saw Jeff Garcia's 8-of-11 for 125 yards and two touchdowns and wondered why the Browns dumped him in the first place.
If you find yourself asking this, then I'm going to have to ask you to remember that this is preseason football we're talking about here. In the preseason, you're supposed to watch games with your chips and beer, and a touch of perspective.
With that in mind, here's what I took from (Pre) Game 1:
No Offense, but...
The first team offense struggled to move the ball. Big deal. If you watched closely, the play calling made Bill Belichick's idea of offense seem revolutionary. The point is not to show off, but to just show up. Get your snaps, and get out healthy. And considering the way this training camp is unfolding, that's no small task.
On the topic of snaps, Charlie Frye and trial-by-fire starter Alonzo Ephraim exchanged 10 of them without a problem. Ephraim hung in "pretty good" according to coach Romeo Crennel, though the starting center position is still very much up for grabs (Bob Hallen will announce his retirement Friday, it's believed.)
The first team offense gained 39 yards -- hardly worth evaluating. But they did get TE Kellen Winslow into the flow for his first game action in nearly two years. You know just his presence will allow them to get creative with formations down the road.
Now, for the bad news. The depth at quarterback is an issue. Ken Dorsey looked awful. Derek Anderson was no better. There's a concept coaches teach about avoiding pocket pressure; looks like both skipped that lesson. What was Testeverde's phone number, again?
Wimbley Impressive
Rookie LB Kamerion Wimbley continued his solid, if not spectacular, debut in Brown and Orange. The Browns first round pick seemed to be everywhere, including on the goalline, where he teamed with S Brodney Pool to stuff Eagles RB Reno Mahe for a loss.
His athletic ability is obvious; just look at the way he fills out that #95 jersey. But even more encouraging is the quickness with which he seems to be picking up the NFL game.
It appears the Browns have drafted themselves a flat-out playmaker on defense. Finally.
Third Down Back Battle
Did Jerome Harrison make a bid for a roster spot that previously belonged to either Lee Suggs or Willam Green? The rookie RB found the end zone last night on an 8-yard pass from QB Lang Campbell. He's a pint-sized, but promising prospect in the Browns crowded backfield.
A few more games like this, and he just may have Suggs or Green looking for work. While we're on that topic, choosing between the two will be difficult. Suggs, when healthy, runs well. But honestly, when is the guy ever healthy? Green, on the other hand, remains a tireless worker. His effort is second-to-none in camp, but his skills? The Browns might be able to deal one of the backs just before the start of the season.
All in all, the best thing about the Browns preseason opener was the uniforms. How can you not love the grey facemasks?
Remember, Cleveland, it's the preseason. Let's not be afraid to mix in a little perspective.
Browns Nation, what do you think? Send in your thoughts to 5sports@newsnet5.com and watch for them every Sunday night, at 11:32 PM, on the Toyota Sports Sunday.
Posted at 8:26 AM
<< Home