Browns lose to Redskins 24-23
August 18, 2014Woe are quarterbacks for Ohio teams: While We’re Waiting…
August 19, 2014Oof. Entering Monday night the quarterback competition was really up for grabs, and unfortunately for Browns fans, neither quarterback took the opportunity to win the job.
You know the drill. It’s time for Winners and Losers.
WINNER: Armonty Bryant. The Michael Lombardi seventh-round gamble is having as good a showing in these preseason games as anyone. Bryant earned some time with the starting unit with his performance against the Lions and made the most of his chance on Monday night. He got a sack and put pressure on the QB on at least one other occasion.
WINNER: Phil Taylor and the run defense. Taylor, Ahtyba Rubin, Ishmaa’ily Kitchen, Billy Winn and John Hughes were all big against the run. Taylor swam and ripped past his blocker on several occasions and just blew up the play. He caused the fumble by Alfred Morris even if he didn’t hit him. And how about the goal-line stand? Morris had four chances from three yards out and the Browns stuffed him. This is not a back that gets stuffed very often. He’s a big back with a low center of gravity—a 224-pound wrecking ball—and the Browns stoned him four times.
WINNER: Ben Tate. Tate had ten carries for 51 yards. On the Browns second possession, after the debacle that took place the first time they had the ball, eveyone knew they were going to start with a running play. I knew it. You knew it. Washington knew it. Tate still got to the edge and around Thomas for four yards. There is no running back competition. The job is Tate’s and West is fighting for carries.
(I like to start with the winners. There weren’t many in this game. You could argue Conner Shaw. Meh.)
LOSER: Brian Hoyer. All Hoyer really had to do was be accurate and move the ball. Put together a drive. Get the ball into the end zone—once. Instead we had low passes and a guy that wasn’t commanding the offense. Would have been the easiest thing in the world for Pettine to take the podium on Thursday and say that Hoyer clearly is the veteran and showed it on Saturday- he’s going to be our starter.
But he can’t say that. Not that Manziel was much better, but Hoyer was not good.
LOSER: Johnny Manziel. Forget the hand gestures. Don’t care. With Hoyer stuck in neutral, I was bracing myself for the idea that Johnny Manziel was going to come into the game and just flat win the job. Didn’t happen. Manziel’s best drive with the starters was when he started on the one and moved the team 60 yards. Actually, there were three penalties on Washington for 35 of those 60 yards. Three first downs by penalty, including one on an incomplete third down pass.
Manziel did eventually put a drive together in the third quarter overlapping into the fourth. He led the back-ups into the end zone capping the drive with a little shovel pass to Dion Lewis who made a good effort to get into the end zone.
LOSER: Royce Adams. I was tempted to include the entire secondary. The group was banged up going into the night, but even the first unit struggled with the holding and illegal hands penalty. It sure didn’t seem like the boxing gloves technique was helping much. But they did record three interceptions, including one by Joe Haden, Tashaun Gipson and Jim Leonhard. Hard to give them loser status when that happens.
Adams however could probably go ahead and pack his stuff and turn in his iPad. Burned badly three times, including twice by Colt McCoy(!!).
LOSER: Browns receivers. Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron were Pro Bowl selections last year. Between them they had one catch for eight yards. And that was Gordon’s slant against the third-team Washington defense. The pair was targeted eight times.
And where in the world is Miles Austin? Two preseason games and one catch for Austin. Nothing against the Skins.
Alright gang, it is your turn. Who are your Winners and Losers from Game 2?
57 Comments
C’mon man.
Connor “There can be only one” Shaw McLeod…
http://www.mattsmoviereviews.net/Images/highlanderimage01.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8jOPX3EIJco/SWPEIuuTOJI/AAAAAAAAADo/nDjuokGaCMc/s320/998SAM_Harland_Williams_001.jpg
XFL ruled. I went to a bunch of games and loved it. In fact one of the hardest tickets to find for me all time was the opening night game that was a real dud.
Because he tore up 3rd-string defenders? I wouldn’t worry RGB, he’ll make it to the practice squad just fine.
Cable might claim him just to be a jerk.
He could, but he’d have to convince the head coach, the offensive coordinator, and the QB coach to do so. Cable is the Seahawks’ O-line coach.
Knock it off!
I’m trying to give Shaw some love. lol 😛