Browns Recap: Preseason Week 2 - "Meh"
Need to start this off by giving a huge, fat F- grade to whatever cable provider The Parker House in Seat Girt, New Jersey uses, because for some odd reason the game wasn’t on the NFL Network. The Bills weren’t even on a local channel, so why I was forced to watch the Dolphins and Panthers for five minutes before walking away is beyond me.
Now that I bored you with that personal story, it’s time to talk about the Browns a little bit because I was able to catch some of the game once I got home.
TYROD TAYLOR & BAKER MAYFIELD
The new Browns starting quarterback threw his first incompletion in Cleveland and I am appalled.
Not really, but Taylor didn’t do anything impressive or crazy. Did you know his name is apparently pronounced Tuh-rod? Wild. He only threw the ball seven times and did so for four completions and 22 yards. The running game was the focus for the Browns last night and we will get to that next.
Meanwhile, Baker Mayfield looked pretty decent with 75 yards on 7-for-13 passing. He tossed two touchdowns but had one called back because of a penalty and the other because of a review. But the rookie still showed off some stuff that made the people happy.
Cajuste! You know that play for the new HBO star is going to be a good 10-minute segment of ‘Hard Knocks’ next week.
The pocket presence from Mayfield is awesome to see, along with his other great mechanics. It doesn’t help that the second-team offensive line Mayfiield has to deal with had a tough night. It’s a shame he had those two touchdowns called back because Baker would have had a pretty nice stat line.
Despite not blowing anyone away, both Taylor and Mayfield led touchdown drives, which is always good.
CARLOS HYDE, NICK CHUBB AND DUKE JOHNSON
Last night’s rushing attack for the Browns, after an abysmal Week 1, was the most encouraging thing to see.
Carlos Hyde shredded the Bills’ defense on the Browns’ opening drive, rushing for 41 yards and a touchdown. Duke Johnson got in on the action as well, churning out 22 yards on the touchdown drive.
Break out the truck stick, because Carlos Hyde also had another nice run which resulted in him bulldozing Jordan Poyer.
The best part of the run game for me, Mr. Nick Chubb Stan, was seeing the Georgia rookie running back have a chance to showcase his skills.
In Week 1, Chubb did virtually nothing and garnered some early doubters, even though he was met at the line by the defense nearly every plasy. Chubb ended his time on the field with 53 yards on 11 carries and what was likely a touchdown had it been reviewed.
The trio of Hyde, Chubb and Johnson (ha, Chubb Johnson) is quietly a super intriguing part of what could be a fun Browns offense.
DEFENSE
Not much to say about the defense, but the first-string unit played okay. They got some pressure and didn’t allow a shaky Bills offense to do all that much.
Myles Garrett also whacked almost-Browns-QB AJ McCarron pretty early and it led to the Bills QB having a collarbone fracture.
People forget that the Browns forgot to call the league office to approve their trade for McCarron last year because they were too busy celebrating. What a franchise! I do feel bad for McCarron, though, who was finally going to get a chance to play this year.
I am super excited about Larry Ogunjobi this year. He got a sack last night off one of the most impressive double teams from an offensive line I have ever seen. The fact Ogunjobi was able to get to the quarterback here is insane.
Ha ha, just kidding, that was fucking horrendous. Two missed assignments in the same exact spot is never what you want from your offensive line.
The backup defensive unit, while they didn’t give up a ton of points, was not good at all. I only got to see a little bit of the defense, but I do know Browns twitter wasn’t all that pleased. ‘Hard Knocks’ is going to have some great Gregg Williams moments this week because some of the missed tackles and assignments were pretty rough.
Only one thing to say about that…
FINAL THOUGHTS
I think the Browns played okay in some spots but would have played better had the bar I was at been able to show the damn game. They knew I couldn’t watch and decided not to waste their energy, which I respect.
The Browns suit up again on Thursday of next week against the Eagles on FOX.