Coach Lou Holtz says Buckeyes should be wary of Michigan trap – WFNY Podcast – 2015-09-03
September 3, 2015Gimme RG3, plus music from Atmosphere: While We’re Waiting…
September 4, 2015Hooray, the preseason is over for the Browns and we can now get to the games that truly matter! To finish up their preseason schedule, the Browns traveled to Chicago to take on the Bears. The Browns held out almost half of the team and it showed in their performance, as they lost to the Bears 24-0 to finish the preseason with a 1-3 record. Most of the Browns starters were on the sideline, leaving the team to rely on backups to play the majority of the game. Here is what happened in the Browns preseason finale loss to the Chicago Bears.
Game Recap
The game started with both teams going scoreless on their opening drives. The Bears, behind quarterback David Fales, quickly were stopped on their opener. The Browns had a solid first drive going, but it stalled abruptly when the team was pushed back to an unattainable third-and-34 situation, resulting in the Browns being forced to punt. The Bears “faled” to move the ball again on their ensuing drive. The ever-exciting first quarter ended with no points being scored by either team.
The Browns offense opened the second quarter with a quality drive that reached the red zone, but a fumble by rookie receiver Darius Jennings ended it. The Bears offense woke up from hibernation on their third drive, matriculating down the field for the game’s first touchdown. The Browns defense gave up an 86-yard drive that ended with a 19-yard touchdown catch by Bears receiver Marc Mariani from quarterback David “I did not” Fales. The Browns once again looked like thay had something going, but Thaddeus Lewis acted like there was no one rushing, held onto the ball too long and was strip-sacked for another Browns turnover. Luckily for Lewis, Bears kicker Robbie Gould shanked the field goal at the end of the half. The first half ended with the Bears leading the Browns 7-0.
The second half began with a sputter for the Browns offense, which went three and out on its opening drive. David Fales continued his hot streak in the second half, driving the Bears 57 yards on seven plays, ending with an 11-yard Ify Umodu touchdown reception. The Browns also continued a trend, going three and out on their second drive of the half. The Browns defense finally slowed down the unstoppable Fales to force the Bears to punt on their second possession of the third quarter. The most exciting moment of the game for the Browns came when Terrelle Pryor lined up at quarterback and ran for a couple yards. On the ensuing snap, Lewis threw a perfect pass to the Bears’ Sherrod Martin, who took it all the way for six, increasing the Bears lead to 21-0. Lewis ended his day with a dud, almost throwing one more interception. The Bears took pity on the Browns, replacing the successful Fales with rookie quarterback Zac Dysert,1 who went three and out on his first drive.
The fourth quarter began with the arrival of the great unknown Browns quarterback Pat Devlin. Devlin did a great imitation of Thad Lewis on his first drive, going three and out. The Bears drove down on their opening fourth quarter drive, tacking on a field goal to move the lead to 24-0. The Browns ended the game with the ball, finishing the game scoreless. The Browns lose their preseason finale 24-0 to the Chicago Bears.
Observations
- The Browns moved the ball well early, but could not finish off the drives with points. The offense had a couple of good drives going, but mistakes like turnovers quickly ended the threat.
- The Browns defensive line had a good start to the game, holding the Bears to nothing in the first quarter.
- But, on the third drive, the Browns defense completely lost focus, looking horrible when it came to the simple task of tackling. Multiple players took bad angles to the ball carrier or just whiffed on the tackle.
- Josh Lenz was probably the brightest spot on the offense in the first half, catching three passes for 41 yards.
- In an amazing first half stat, Thad Lewis went 12-of-13, but the offense could not muster a point.
- Lewis struggled with his pocket presence, holding onto the ball like he was Brandon Weeden.
- I like the idea of Terrelle Pryor running the wildcat. It gives teams another wrinkle to have to gameplan for when facing the Browns.
- You cannot take much out of this game because the majority of the players in the game will not be on the roster by Sunday.
- Boy, is the fourth preseason game hard to watch.
Game Stats
Browns | Bears | |
Total Yards | 147 | 279 |
Passing Yards | 80 | 140 |
Rushing Yards | 67 | 139 |
Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
Penalties | 4-25 | 8-61 |
Time of Possession | 31:30 | 28:30 |
Browns Stats Leaders
Passing: QB Thaddeus Lewis – 14-of-20 for 100 yards, one interception and a fumble
Rushing: RB Terrance West – 9 rushes for 35 yards
Receiving: WR Josh Lenz – 4 receptions for 49 yards
Bears Stats Leaders
Passing: QB David Fales – 14-of-18 for 131 yards and 2 touchdowns
Rushing: RB Ka’Deem Carey – 12 rushes for 68 yards
Receiving: WR Marc Mariani – 3 receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown
- ED’S NOTE: Miami University’s Zac Dysert. [↩]
15 Comments
God bless you sir for watching this preseason garbage so the rest of us don’t have to.
So we should expect Fales in brown and orange by 2017?
hi Joe … i think lenz is going to make the team. he even lined-up at safety last night. don’t be surprised if dwayne bowe gets cut.
hi HOP … yes , it was hard to watch. i didn’t last long.
LMAO !!
It’s Friday so three things although this game deserves no comment:
– Thad Lewis is awful. Forget the QB rating. Awful, even behind a laughable o-line. Can’t recognize a blitz, molasses speed decision-making, stares down receivers like Weedon, never raises his eyes downfield. He supposedly started a few regular season wins a few years ago. I’d like video proof and a closer analysis. They’d be better off bringing Ken Dorsey out of retirement and breaking into Thad’s house to seize the compromising photos of Haslam he surely possesses.
– Lentz was put in at DB. Folks, you only do that if you love the kid. I say he’s practice squad minimum. Despite the unspoken NFL policy discouraging teams from having more than one “precise, reliable possession receiver” (what! That was NOT Full Trump). And why not carry a Brian Hartline clone if you have 2 Andrew Hawkins clones? Btw, Ray, please, realize that you just don’t get the receiver thing and hire a special assistant. In the ’80s the Browns kept whiffing until they hired Paul Warfield to find a Webster Slaughter. It’s ok to get help, Ray. Everyone needs help sometimes.
– Mike Pettine’s sideline expression all game was that of a guy getting a colonoscopy without anesthesia. It did not appear he was having the slightest bit of fun.
I’d argue Lewis made the o-line look worse than it was. A lot of his pressures came after 3-4 seconds in the pocket, and some of the blitzes are his responsibility to see and make an adjustment for. (that thing we miraculously saw Manziel do in game 2, Lewis showed no sign of) And because of the lack of any pre-snap reads, he always resorted to see-target, hit-target, which takes too long to work in the NFL and nullifies any deep routes, which kills your running game. He’s got a great arm, but that’s just not enough. I’m afraid they’ll keep him just because there’s uncertainty surrounding Manziel’s elbow and he’s been around for the whole offensive scheme installation, but if I were the Browns I’d be looking for somebody else to consider a long term project if they’re keeping 3 qb’s. Lewis is what he is at this point.
Lenz has been pretty impressive and I wouldn’t mind seeing him on the team, but that’s going to be a tough decision. I, for one, would rather have multiple undersized guys who run great routes and have great hands than keep somebody just because of their body, (give me 5 Wes Welkers over another Quincy Morgan or Earl Little) but the Pryor situation gives me pause. I didn’t see him during those early days of practice when he apparently made such an impression, but given our lack of impact playmakers he may ultimately just be too talented to let go. (TTLG) Also, they did some things with Pryor that suggested they were trying to give the Jets something to think about as much as trying him out to make the team. Call me crazy, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see them both on the roster. And Bowe was left in that game for an awful long time for a guy whose contract guarantees him a spot.
Pettine said Bowe will make the 53, but would anyone care if he didn’t?
Agree with almost all. The issue with receivers being all smurfs/all the time is those guys usually excel at quick-cutting short and intermediate routes, but get blown off deep patterns by the opponent’s top corners. Like all teams, the Browns need someone who presents a consistent and credible downfield threat. Without that they become easy to stop. The safeties and corners creep in, the LBs in turn have less ground to defend, the RBs are met with extra defenders. I think this is exactly why the hope Pryor can learn a new position – so that some defenders are assigned to shadow him instead of all 11 defending one 5-15 yard deep area of the field.
Nope and he doesn’t deserve it if anyone is wasting a roster spot that could be used elsewhere it’s Bowe.
Are you sure Bowe’s contract guarantees him a spot because between the things I’ve heard and the great Solomon Wilcotts it sure doesn’t seem that way?
What I meant was that conventional wisdom would say he’s guaranteed a spot, but I’m not so sure. He didn’t do anything terrible to cost himself a spot last night, but he didn’t exactly light it up either, and they left him in there for a long time – a lot more snaps than Pryor who doesn’t have much prior (har!) tape as a WR. I got the distinct feeling that he’s on the bubble and Pryor isn’t.
Ah okay I thought maybe Farmer in his infinite wisdom had given a guarantee like that to Bowe which is why I asked. I’m not a Bowe fan never was other then his size he presents little help for this team. I agree because of the line and play of Lewis it was difficult to judge Bowe but considering he was playing against the Bears third and fourth teamers I’d like to think more was possible. In the end Bowe will probably make the team but honestly I hope he doesn’t.
Here’s to the front office admitting their mistakes. No mas Bowe, por favor.
I don’t feel confident that they will but you made me wonder…when if ever have you heard a front office admit to a mistake publicily?