The Believeland Windians
August 13, 2011While We’re Waiting…Indians Beat Twins and Browns Preseason Begins
August 14, 2011
I only ask because I remember how overly encouraged I became when Jake Delhomme took the first team down the field this time last year with the precision of a surgeon. That didn’t end up translating into the healthiest of regular seasons though, and I’m legitimately wondering what a successful Pat Shurmur debut would look like tonight when the Browns kick things off at home against the Super Bowl Champs. So let me know what you’re hoping to see, and in the meantime I’ve listed a few aspects of tonight’s game I’m particularly interested in; for whatever that may be worth.
Brandon Jackson and the RB position: Peyton Hillis is on the cover of Madden so he is obviously awesome, and he proved his substantial worth last season while hurdling his way to a solid campaign. It was Peyton Hillis and then nobody though in that Browns backfield, and every time he attempted to jump over a linebacker I saw his life flash before his eyes. He survived the high-flying acrobatics and hopefully learned from his occasional fumble issues, and now he has help in the backfield this season. Legitimate help, at least I think he does. Brandon Jackson was the third down back for a team that won the Super Bowl last season, and I thought the guy was pretty good before he ever became a Brownie. So as much as I’d like to see what Monterio Hardesty can bring to the table as well – and can’t tonight due to injury – I’ll have all eyes on Jackson. I hope he looks pretty good while he’s in there, for however long he plays.
Colt McCoy and Shurmur’s Offense: Even though I down-played Delhomme’s drive down the field last season in the open here, I suppose I’m hoping for the same thing from Colt McCoy tonight. If he’s able to demonstrate that same command of the offense, and maybe even cash in a TD, I’ll probably become more bullish on his quarterbacking skills than I am right now. It’s probably not logical to do that though, but I will if he looks like a world-beater tonight. If he ends up throwing three picks in the ten or so plays he has tonight with the first team, I’ll just say he was bad in the preseason last year too and played pretty good in real games so I’m covered either way. I hope Camp Colt paid off though, and he looks solid in his short stint tonight.
Dick Jauron’s Defense: Looking forward to seeing big Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard and I’m also looking forward to seeing Cleveland’s favorite corner Joe Haden back pedal and cover for a couple plays as well before their pads and helmets are sitting on the ground next to the water-cooler station. More than that though, I’m hoping to see signs of a defense that is potentially scary and cohesively in tune with one an other building off in the horizon. I’m essentially looking for evidence that this side of the ball might be as solid as it seems they could be this season – not great, but solid. So I guess I hope three of Rogers’ five passes don’t go for TD’s tonight.
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Craig posted what to watch for after the starters go out yesterday, and if you missed that it’s right here. Feel free to treat this as an open thread during the game later if you’re so inclined too; in the meantime let me know what would have happen tonight for this to look like a successful Cleveland Browns outing in your opinion if you feel like it.
Kick-off is at 7:30, and it’s on TV in Cleveland on Channel 3 – B. Kosar on the call. It’s also on WMMS radio-wise, and I was looking around for a website that might be streaming the game live for out-of-towners but couldn’t find one. If you know of one, let me know. Go Browns.
8 Comments
No injury headlines tomorrow morning.
its on NFL Network for the out of towners
oh i dont need to see a whole lot.. just:
will pashos/lauvao win their matchups?
will rubin/taylor bullrush/penetrate?
how will sheard look because from camp reports it sounds like thomas has been schooling him (not a shock)?
will evan moore do any WR?
will we see any 3 TE sets?
hardesty.
is dqwell looking to hit, will he be an impact MLB?
is tj ward ‘over’ his suspension and ready to hit again?
will we show signs of passrush from the four man front? (understood aaron rodgers is almost unsackable)
will jauron do any corner/safety blitzing?
colt, colt, colt.
greg little.
taylor or rubin with a couple TFLs.
i guess that’s it off the top of my head.
Just glad to watch our Brownies again after an arduous off-season – won’t draw too many conclusions from what we see (remember, we beat the Packers a year ago).
@Kunai – yep, long live the NFL Network, although I’d pay to listen to Bernie Kosar do play-by-play and constantly harp on our QB’s for not reading the coverage right (nothing sounds more like northeast Ohio/Cleveland than Bernie’s voice). Am a bit saddened that we won’t get to hear him mispronounce “Brent Radcliffe’s” name anymore.
This seems to be fairly well thought out, but perhaps unfocused commentary, so I’d like to add another perspective that might bring some clarity to what are otherwise quite solid observations.
I am in agreement with the author’s point that it’s premature to ascribe too much weight to the results of the preseason games, yet we have to look for key points otherwise their is no point to watching at all! I also agree that the first possession TD by Delhomme last season seemed very encouraging at the time. The problem is the author seemed to forget how our continually pathetic offensive (pun intended) offensive line blew up that whole plan from the start of the regular season. Of course no one can say for sure what would have happened without the predictable string of QB injuries; my point is that encouraging signs at some positions may be justifiably encouraging- while completely useless for all intents and purposes in the regular season if other key areas are left lacking!
So my main addition to the strong insights presented here is to watch the O-line especially. It seems to me to be the same old garbage coming back so i unfortunately am not expecting much different results. If McCoy looks good then maybe there is hope for him, but it will all be for naught if the first talented DE we face ends another supposedly promising season in its tracks. Its the same old story for some time I am afraid.
NFL network is showing the game tonight
@1 I agree. I just want to see the team stay healthy through this preseason. We don’t have the depth to lose starters.
But hey, as long as we don’t have to worry about Ndamukong Suh this week we should be fine. Anyone see how he slammed Andy Dalton yesterday just like he did Jake Delhomme last year?
I really dont think we’ll see much from the 1st teamers. On Offense, Id like to see a good line (just had to see SF and Cincy to see what a bad one does). Also good timing will be nice to see. From D I would just like to see evidence of a front 7.
After that I want to see the 2nd team D/ who we have in the event of injuries. Id like to see Skrine/Dockery do well. From O, just that we have a solid group of WRs.