Johnny Manziel made his NFL debut on Saturday night (Photo: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports)
DraftBrowns.com Staff Writer: Justin Higdon
In the most anticipated preseason game since they returned to the NFL with the 1999 Hall of Fame Game, the Cleveland Browns fell to the Detroit Lions in a very Browns-like fashion. Despite never finding the end zone, the Browns led 12-6 on four Billy Cundiff field goals, only to surrender a late touchdown pass from Lions’ third-stringer Kellen Moore. Cleveland’s own third-string quarterback, Tyler Thigpen, was picked off on a last ditch attempt to lead a comeback, and that was that. A familiar ending for an organization that has struggled to break .500 since the mid-‘90s. Luckily, preseason wins and losses don’t count, but there is no question this is a game several players would like to have back. Here’s a look at the highs and lows from last night, and what to look for heading into next Monday’s game against Washington.
The Quarterback Competition
Brian Hoyer’s first pass was a pre-snap decision to hit tight end Jim Dray in the flat. On Hoyer’s next attempt, he looked off two receivers before dumping off to fullback MarQueis Gray, who was coming left to right. Gray turned it upfield for one of the Browns’ best offensive plays of the day.
Hoyer delivered a couple more strikes, including one to Josh Gordon down the middle for a sizable gain. The journeyman veteran also sailed one over Gordon’s head on a third down pass. On the play, Hoyer had pressure in his face and didn’t fully step into his throw. Otherwise, Hoyer was moving well on his surgically repaired knee – including a play on which he was pressured and forced to roll to his right – and showed no ill-effects from the injury. He also had a would-be touchdown pass slip through Gordon’s hands. It was the closest the Browns came to hitting pay dirt all day. Hoyer was better than his six for14 stat line would suggest, looking like a steady hand who can keep the Browns in games. In other words, he’s the same guy he was last season.
Rookie Johnny Manziel also hit on his first pass attempt. But on a third and short option run, he failed to follow a straightforward block from Terrance West, and opted to bounce outside instead. Manziel was stopped short, and his first possession ended in a three-and-out. The only other pay he saw in the first half was a kneel down.
Manziel warmed up in the second half. He scrambled for a first down on third and short (although he likely could have dumped the ball off for a bigger gain), and he ran 16 yards for another first down, punctuating the play with a slide to safety. On his final series, Manziel looked sharp passing the ball. He was a little late on a few passes during his stint, but also had two accurate throws dropped. All in all, he looked perfectly capable of playing on Sundays, and should get time with the first team offense next Monday. If Hoyer is ahead in the quarterback derby right now, his margin for error is razor thin.
In the Running
Ben Tate started the game and was the only back to average more than 3.0 yards per carry. He ran six times for 25 yards, and looked faster and more explosive than his cohorts. Unfortunately, Tate also fumbled the ball. He runs tall and carries the ball loosely, which helps to explain his five fumbles last season, and the ten he’s coughed up in 40 career games. Tate should start right now, but there is no way he will keep the job if he can’t do a better job protecting the rock.
Rookie West saw a team-high ten carries, but he ran hot and cold. West had a 10-yard gain on a short yardage run, but also danced on several carries, failing to get a head of steam. West gained eight yards on a swing pass from Manziel, and the rookie runner finished his plays with power. Once he gets some of the tip-toeing out of his system, West should be fine. It’s obvious that the coaching staff has a big role in store for him.
Surprisingly, the third back in was Dion Lewis, a Chudzinski/Turner holdover who missed the 2013 season with a broken leg. Lewis promptly lost a fumble, but returned later to show some nice burst on a 12-yard run. On the day he finished with three carries for six yards, and gained two yards on a Manziel check down. it will be interesting to see how much he plays next week. It’s unclear what the team’s plans are for him at this point.
Edwin Baker, who showed glimpses late last season, saw three carries in the fourth quarter. Chris Ogbonnaya didn’t receive a rep on offense, but did show up for a big special teams tackle late in the game. Curiously, undrafted rookie Isaiah Crowell was left out of the action. Perhaps the team is trying to hide him and stash him on the practice squad later, but more likely Crowell will see playing time in the next two games as the coaches work to keep everyone engaged.
Expanded Role for Gray
MarQueis Gray started at fullback and was involved in the game plan throughout the evening. His 28-yard catch and run on the Browns’ first series was the longest gain of the day for either team, and his 23-yard catch down the seam was the second longest. Unfortunately, Gray added a couple of drops. He failed to secure a pass in the flat near the goal line, and had another throw bounce off his hands later in the contest. He also took a huge hit down the middle of the field after being hung out to dry by Thigpen. Gray appeared to be shaken up, and the training staff tended to him on the sidelines, but judging from Mike Pettine’s post game comments, it doesn’t sound like there is any lingering injury. Gray saw five targets on the day. Granted, Jordan Cameron and Nate Burleson didn’t play, but Pettine seems serious about his desire to get Gray involved in the passing game.
Dropping the Ball
The Browns have been plagued by dropped passes for years, and the issue reared its ugly head again last night. In addition to Gray’s two drops and Gordon’s missed touchdown, Miles Austin missed a pretty pass from Hoyer on a deep corner route to the sideline, and rookies Jonathan Krause and Willie Snead combined for three more drops. Manziel had Krause on a deep cross only to see the ball bounce off the receiver’s knee. It appeared as though Krause never expected or looked for the ball. Snead missed two catchable throws and had a catch on a comeback route ruled incomplete when his second foot grazed the sideline. Gordon, Austin and even Gray are safely on the team, but Snead and Krause are in a dogfight with others for a roster spot, and didn’t do themselves any favors last night. With Burleson and Cameron on the sidelines and targets available, the undrafted rookies failed to seize the opportunity, and appear to be on thin ice.
Learning to Let Go
Last week the Browns defensive backs practiced with kickboxing gloves on, in an effort to get used to the newly-emphasized defensive holding rules. Second year cornerback Leon McFadden may need to take the gloves into the games with him. After making a solid stop after a short kickoff return, McFadden was flagged three times for holding during Detroit’s game-winning drive. At least the first two of those penalties were ticky-tack calls and may not have drawn flags in the past. But if the rule will be called that way in the regular season, McFadden and others will have no choice but to abide. After being selected in the third round of the 2013 draft, McFadden barely saw the field as a rookie, and when he finally did, he struggled mightily. His standing already seems precarious with a new regime in town and five corners who look like roster locks (Joe Haden, Justn Gilbert, Buster Skrine, Pierre Desir and probably Isaiah Trufant), but McFadden legitimately had tight coverage on those penalty downs. Hopefully last night’s game can be a teaching moment and everything will click for the youngster, but for now he is in danger of being cut. Luckily for McFadden, one of his competitors, Aaron Berry, was also flagged for holding during the game.
Forcing the Issue
For some reason, the Browns’ preseason broadcasting team of Jim Donovan and Solomon Wilcots chose to praise the Cleveland players who recovered fumbles without mentioning those who actually knocked the ball loose. Fumble recoveries are random, typically a case of being in the right place at the right time. A forced fumble is a huge play though, and deserves to be celebrated. On a second quarter kickoff return, Lions running back Steven Miller was forced inside by Johnson Bademosi and flipped into the air by linebacker Keith Pough. Reserve linebacker Tank Carder, who has missed all but two days of training camp with an injury, knocked the ball out before Miller hit the ground. The officials botched the call in real time and in replay, but Carder most certainly forced a fumble on the play. It was a big moment for a player fighting for a roster spot.
Later on defense, second-year safety Josh Aubrey flew into the backfield and forced a fumble on Detroit running back George Winn. Linebacker Justin Staples was lauded for his recovery, and rightfully so. Staples was active in the second half, and had broken up a pass earlier. But Aubrey had also broken up a pass, and his strong tackle on Winn forced the turnover. Aubrey deserved equal praise for his performance during the game, and is on his way to securing a spot on the 53-man roster for the second consecutive preseason.
Also Noteworthy:
- While Snead and Krause were dropping passes, fellow rookie Taylor Gabriel saw a team-high seven targets, and hauled in a couple of tough catches, adjusting to the ball and showing excellent body control. With Travis Benjamin out, Gabriel started on kickoff and punt returns. He took too long to get north and south on his first kickoff, but he averaged 16 yards on his two punt returns.
- Mystery man Charles Johnson saw six targets in the passing game. He gained 15 yards on a wide receiver screen on third and 16, and made a couple of catches across the middle. Unfortunately, Johnson appeared to hear footsteps down the field and slow up on Thigpen’s game-sealing interception. Still, his first game action in a year was somewhat encouraging.
- Newly-signed receiver Marlon Moore returned a kickoff for 52 yards. He is suspended for the first week of the season, but he may still be able to secure a roster spot with strong special teams play.
- The Browns defense had trouble with missed tackles early in the game. Jordan Poyer, Barkevious Mingo and Pierre Desir were among the guilty parties. Mingo made amends with a sack, and Poyer made a strong tackle later. Desir gave up a couple of passes underneath, but reportedly held his own on coverage down the field.
- Linebackers Chris Kirksey and Craig Robertson appear to be neck and neck in their competition for a starting gig. Both played well last night, but Kirksey is expected to secure the job sooner than later.
- While the secondary struggled on a second quarter series, backup defensive linemen John Hughes and Ishmaa’ily Kitchen combined to snuff out a screen pass, helping hold Detroit to a field goal. Kitchen also stuffed a run play on the drive.
- Another reserve defensive lineman, Cam Henderson, is a long shot to make the 53-man roster, but he may have helped himself get work elsewhere. Henderson combined with linebacker Jamaal Westerman on a run stop for a big loss, and later recovered a botched snap in the red zone.
- The second-string offensive line struggled as a unit. They left little room for West and Lewis to run, and allowed several pressure on Manziel. Tackle Martin Wallace gave up a huge hit on Manziel, and was later flagged for an illegal hands to the face penalty. Backup center Jeremiah Warren drew a penalty for an illegal snap. Things will get dicey if any of the first-teamers go down with an injury.
- Udrafted rookie quarterback Connor Shaw didn’t see the field despite the fact that Thigpen was only three for 12 passing.