CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Saturday night’s preseason finale came close to the worst-case scenario for Jacoby Brissett and the Browns offense as far as calming fan’s fears.
If that’s what things are going to look like in Deshaun Watson’s absence, it’s going to be a very long 11 games, but it is the preseason so take a deep breath and don’t freak out.
“I think the preseason, you are supposed to set the results aside, and not just win-loss, just in terms of we want to get a true evaluation of these guys,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “There are things that you are doing to make sure that you are getting another rep of this or another rep of that. Operationally, I thought it was decent. Offensively, we wanted to spread the ball around and make sure a bunch of guys touched it, the skill players that is. Then defensively, some good moments. Had a couple too many blown coverages, and blown coverages can turn into seven points so that is something that we definitely have to get better at.”
Here are our Top Takeaways from Saturday night’s 21-20 loss to Chicago.
1. The Bears are supposed to be among the league’s worst this year, yet it was the Browns that looked like the team that is destined to wear that hat for much of the night.
2. Cleveland’s first-team offense was in midseason mediocre form. Just seven first downs, 142 total yards, dropped passes, multiple three-and-outs, penalties, a poorly executed reverse during the first six possessions. Just an ugly performance from the supporting cast of Jacoby Brissett. “Obviously, we would have wanted to move the ball more consistently as an offense early,” Stefanski said. “I thought Jacoby saw it very clearly in terms of coverage and did a nice job operating in the huddle, at the line of scrimmage, on the sideline and those type of things.”
3. Brissett’s final numbers: 12 of 23 for 109 yards and an interception that came as a result of Anthony Schwartz getting blown off his route. More on Schwartz’s awful night to follow, but this wasn’t a Brissett problem as it was a supporting cast issue. “I think he played well,” Stefanski said. “I think as an offense, we did not do enough early, just not getting first downs. In terms of what we ask him to do, getting us into the correct plays, seeing the defense and delivering the ball on time, I thought he did a good job.”
4. For the “don’t play the starters” crowd in the preseason, these reps clearly matter, especially when the backup quarterback is set to start the season. Just look to Brissett, who hadn’t played until Saturday night, and the lack of offensive cohesion as Exhibit A as to why.
5. Schwartz had a brutal first half – at least two, maybe three drops and he caught just one of six targets for eight yards. “As you saw, I kept going back to him because of the confidence I do have in him,” Brissett said. “Look, it is part of the game. It is nothing to beat him up about. I was talking to him on the sidelines like, ‘It is just scar tissue. Just go back to work. Keep trusting yourself. When the page turns, you are on the other side of it.’ Just continue to feed him and continue to give him opportunities.” The very first pass of the night went off his hands. Schwartz was unable to haul in a deep ball up the far sideline on third down ending their second offensive possession. The third time was the charm as Schwartz made an eight-yard reception on the third drive.
6. The only reason Schwartz makes the team is because Andrew Berry drafted him. That’s it. Otherwise, he’d be cut, and frankly, should be. “Any and all receivers, they work very hard at this game,” Stefanski, who added Schwartz is not in danger of being cut, said. “You understand that there are going to be drops. That is how it works. It is something that comes with being a receiver so you just have to work through it.”
7. Meanwhile Justin Fields and the Bears were sensational. Fields completed 14 of 16 passes for 156 yards, three touchdowns and a 146.9 passer rating. He connected with Ryan Griffin, Dante Pettis and Cole Kmet and for scores of 22, 12 and 24 yards as the secondary appeared to get mixed up on coverages.
8. The first and only sustained offensive drive in the first half ended in a missed 58-yard field goal into the dawg pound for Cade York. York bounced right back and drilled a 57-yarder into the west net capping the second 10-play drive of the evening to make it a 21-3 game. York hit from 46 to end the first half and the Browns trailing 21-6. “Whatever they put me out there for,” York said of his range. “Missed a 58 today, so obviously didn't hit the best ball then. But I think they were just kind of testing me in the preseason a little bit for if the game's on the line and we need something then they can put you back a little bit, so we'll see what happens moving forward.”
9. Right guard Wyatt Teller went to the locker room with a knee injury in the first quarter and was officially listed as questionable to return. He did not.
10. D’Ernest Johnson, on the roster bubble, ran seven times for 29 yards in the first half. “I like what I have seen from D’Ernest from the minute I got this job,” Stefanski said. “He does what he is supposed to do. He is accountable to his teammates. He always makes sure that he knows what to do and plays at a high level so he has done a nice job.”
11. The return game is a hodge podge, difficult to evaluate mess – mostly due to the volume of touchbacks on kickoffs this preseason. Jerome Ford opened the game returning kicks but the first two were over his head for touchbacks before he had a 22-yard return. Demetric Felton had nine on the first punt return after Chicago went three and out on their first offensive possession. Easop Winston also had returns of nine and three yards.
12. Joshua Dobbs' excellent preseason continued Saturday night. He found tight end Miller Forristall for a 6-yard touchdown on fourth and goal early in the fourth quarter. Dobbs then spun out of a potential sack, rolled left and leaped inside the pylon for the 2-point conversion to pull the Browns within 21-14 of the Bears. It capped a 19-play, 89-yard drive that took 8:56 off the clock. Dobbs finished 11 of 20 for 82 yards and a touchdown on the night.
13. There is no quarterback controversy, but Dobbs appears game-ready if needed. “Jacoby is our starter, yes, but I am proud of Josh Dobbs,” Stefanski said. “He has done a really nice job. Again, he is somebody who has worked very, very hard form the beginning when he walked in the door with us in the spring and through now. He plays well in these games.”
14. Defensive end Chris Odom had to be carted off the field in the fourth quarter after suffering what appeared to be a left knee injury.
The former USFL defensive player of the year entered the night on the roster bubble. Cornerback Lavert Hill also went to the locker room in the final quarter and was ruled out with a groin injury.
15. Punter Corey Bojorquez showed off the leg Saturday night. Bojorquez averaged over 47 yards per punt, but he did have one deflected in the fourth quarter.
16. D'Anthony Bell forced a fumble and Jordan Kunaszyk recovered it to give Josh Rosen a second chance at pulling off a comeback in the fourth quarter. Rosen took advantage with a quarterback sneak for a touchdown but his fade to Javon Wims on the 2-point conversion was off the mark keeping Chicago in front, 21-20.
17. Bell definitely has made a strong case for a roster spot, but like so many of his teammates, the waiting game begins. “I never think I made the team,” Bell said. “I am really nervous. Hopefully, God will help me make this team. It is nervous in a good way, though. I think I put my best foot forward, but there is more to come. I have to improve my game more and learn a lot more. I have to be the best I can.”