Cleveland, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The dress rehearsal for the Browns at Tampa Bay will look like a dress rehearsal, for the most part, as Freddie Kitchens intends to play his starters.
The question is for how long.
With the usage of starters in the preseason landscape shifting throughout the NFL and following a physical training camp, it seems unlikely Cleveland’s starters will see the field in the second half.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield, who did not play last week against the Colts, said earlier this week he’d like to play at least two quarters but Kitchens was non-committal when asked about Mayfield’s thoughts on how playing time should be handled Friday night.
Odell Beckham Jr., who has been held out of team drills to rest what has been described as a minor hip injury, may not play.
With the final preseason game next Thursday night reserved for the backups and fringe roster players, this will be the final game-speed tune-up for the Browns’ primary players.
What to watch for – The kickers. It feels like Groundhog Day when it comes to a preseason storyline, but the fact remains the Week 1 kicker may not even be on the roster. Greg Joseph and Austin Seibert have underwhelmed throughout training camp. Joseph is in the lead while Seibert, a fifth-round pick this year, has been a massive disappointment and has done nothing to show he can be consistent, kick with pressure or be counted on. We’d opt to see more Joseph Friday night but it’s likely Kitchens will continue alternating the two on kickoffs and placekicks.
Eric Kush will likely start his third straight preseason game at right guard, and he can lock the job down Friday night. Austin Corbett, last year’s 33rd overall pick, has disappointed and despite claims by Kitchens that he’s still in the running, our money is on Drew Forbes having a better chance at the starting job than Corbett does at this point. Watch the shuffling on the offensive line late in the first half and the second half as Kitchens tries to figure out who lineman sox, seven and maybe eight will be.
Behind Beckham, Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins are three jobs at receiver waiting to be taken. Jaelen Strong has had a strong – pardon the pun – camp and preseason and he could be the No. 4 WR with Antonio Callaway’s impending four-game suspension to start the year looming. DJ Montgomery was placed on IR this week opening the door for two spots to be up for grabs between Derrick Willies, Damion Ratley, Ishmael Hyman, Dorian Baker, Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi and newcomer Braxton Miller.
Kitchens fumed at the volume of penalties and missed tackles last week in Indianapolis and he’s expecting that will not be repeated Friday night against the Buccaneers.
Defensively, the starting 11 jobs appear to be spoken for with Terrance Mitchell having the edge at corner over rookie Greedy Williams, who will see plenty of playing time this season regardless of who starts. Friday night and next Thursday against the Lions will decide who the rotational and role players on the defensive line, linebacker and secondary will be.
With the corners appearing to be set, the final spot at safety remains up for grabs. There’s no guarantee for rookie Sheldrick Redwine to make the 53 and he needs strong showings over the last two preseason games to earn a spot.
Last week – Browns beat Colts 21-18, Buccaneers beat Dolphins 16-14
Last Time – (Preseason) Aug. 26, 2017: Browns 13, Buccaneers 9
Series – (Preseason) Tied 5-5
Rankings – Points scored: Browns 20 (22.4), Buccaneers 12 (24.8)
Yards: Browns 13 (368.8), Buccaneers 3 (414.5)
Rushing: Browns 14 (118.3), Buccaneers 29 (95.2)
Passing: Browns 13 (266.3), Buccaneers 1 (320.3)
Points allowed: Browns 12 (24.5), Buccaneers 31 (29.0)
Yards allowed: Browns 3 (393.0), Buccaneers 27 (383.4)
Rushing yards allowed: Browns 5 (135.2), Buccaneers 24 (123.9)
Passing yards allowed: Browns 8 (257.8), Buccaneers 26 (259.4)
Turnover ratio: Browns 8t (+7), Buccaneers 31 (-18)
Note: based on 2018 results
Probable Starters – Offense: WR Jarvis Landry, TE David Njoku, LT Greg Robinson, LG Joel Bitonio, C JC Tretter, RG Eric Kush, RT Chris Hubbard, QB Baker Mayfield, WR Jaelen Strong, WR Rashard Higgins, RB Nick Chubb
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Larry Ogunjobi, DT Sheldon Richardson, DE Olivier Vernon, WILL Christian Kirksey, MIKE Joe Schobert, CB Terrance Mitchell, CB Denzel Ward, CB TJ Carrie, FS Damarious Randall, SS Morgan Burnett
Note: based on player availability
Injury report – S Juston Burris (hamstring), WR Antonio Callaway (ankle), WR Ishmael Hyman (concussion), G Kyle Kalis (concussion), FB Joe Kerrigan (concussion), WR D.J. Montgomery (hamstring), DT Brian Price (concussion), LB Sione Takitaki (hamstring) and S Jermaine Whitehead (groin).
Broadcast – Radio: 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX and the University Hospitals Cleveland Browns radio network. TV: WEWS TV-5 (Local), NFL Network (National)
Kickoff – 7:30 p.m. – Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida
Our prediction – N/A for the preseason
