Tom Dahlin - Getty Images
almost 2 years ago: GREEN BAY - AUGUST 14: Jake Delhomme #17 of the Cleveland Browns calls out a play during the NFL preseason game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field August 14 2010 in Green Bay Wisconsin. (Photo by Tom Dahlin/Getty Images)
It might be just a preseason game, but there were a lot of positives to take out of the Cleveland Browns' 27-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers, especially when you compare it to how we played in last year's preseason game against them.
Quarterback Jake Delhomme only played one series, but that was enough for him: the veteran was 6-of-7 for 66 yards, making good reads and accurate passes as the Browns marched down the field against the Packers' first-string defense. When the Browns were four yards away from the end zone, running back Jerome Harrison punched it in for the four-yard score.
The Browns got the ball right back after Packers running back Ryan Grant fumbled on the team's first play. Backup quarterback Seneca Wallace then entered the game early in the first quarter, with all of the first stringers still playing. On third down, he rolled out far to his left and fired a picture perfect strike to second-year wide receiver Brian Robiskie for a 13-yard touchdown.
With the Browns up to a quick 14-0 advantage, Aaron Rodgers quickly got to work though and was a quarterback machine. He directed the Packers to back-to-back touchdown drives, having no problem diagnosing where the Browns were blitzing from every play. Even with the Browns' defenders having decent coverage, it didn't matter -- the passes were that good. Rodgers finished the game 12-of-13 for 159 yards and 1 touchdown, but he saw action well into the second quarter.
Although Rodgers was very good, it's worth noting that safety T.J. Ward had an outstanding game, tackling better than Browns fans have seen any of their members of the secondary tackle in a long time.
It wasn't the greatest debut for Browns rookie quarterback Colt McCoy, who threw two bad interceptions and ended up leaving the game after he banged his throwing hand on the helmet of an offensive lineman. The second half was pretty uneventful offensively until the final two minutes, when the Browns brought on Phil Dawson to attempt an incredible 58-yarder. Dawson drilled it with another yard or two to spare, which tied the game at 24-24. The Browns' defense quickly forced a punt, and Ratliff got the offense down the field in less than a minute to set up Dawson's game-winning 46-yard field goal.
Be sure to tune back to Dawgs By Nature on Sunday, when I'll have my detailed recap/column of the game and individual players.
0 recs | 116 comments
My player of the game: Tuba Rubin. Forced a fumble and helped to hold the Packers to 14 yards rushing inthe first half.
Honorable mention: TJ Ward and Phil Dawson.
golanbatrac - August 14, 2010
i just watched that play again, great nose tackle play by rubin, held his position, kept his eyes in the backfield and forced the fumble on the running back cut back. great play. phil dawson and tj ward co-players of the game. tj ward reminds me of eric turner. gotta love it!
rockybrown - August 15, 2010
Didn’t Ward get beat on the Packers’ first TD pass? I was only watching the game occasionally because I was at a restaurant with some family but it seemed like he made some mistakes in coverage.
Buckeye Brad - August 15, 2010
It depends how much you want to deem it a mistake vs. a good catch and throw. Joe Haden was lined up on the receiver and then blitzed. Ward came over to cover Greg Jennings streaking down the sideline and had his back to the play. He stuck his hands up in an attempt to guess the ball’s arrival, but it was placed just right for the score.
Ward also had a crack at bringing the fullback down on the Packers’ second touchdown. It was far from a perfect game from Ward, but I wanted to see some good tackling and I don’t think he disappointed.
Chris Pokorny - August 15, 2010
The TD pass was a very good throw. Ward needs to first be 1/2 step closer so that he doesn’t have to worry about making up ground and can turn his head and look for the ball. If he finds himself in that position where he is trailing, he needs to fight the WR’s hands better.
Haden did a nice job of disguising the blitz on the play. Ward didn’t do too poorly considering he had to cover Greg Jennings and he was supposed to be some sort of epic liability in coverage if you listen to some scouting reports. He can easily make up that 1/2 step by doing a better job of getting in Jennings’ way and using his body positioning to re-route Jennings.
rufio - August 15, 2010
Thats reassuring. Sounds like as long as Ward remains coachable, he won’t be near the weakness in coverage as some people thought he’d be. I have to admit, I am getting a bit excited about our defense this season. Its a high ceiling/low floor kind of situation IMO.
troy145 - August 15, 2010
As an aside: In Mangini’s post game press conference, his explanation of Ward’s coverage on that play was exactly as you explained here and as you explained to me in the game thread.
Rec.
golanbatrac - August 15, 2010
I pretty much tried to directly quote Saban, so don’t give me the credit. Say what you want about that guy, but he knows what he is doing.
rufio - August 15, 2010
Ward had an awesome first game. Yes he got beat on the TD pass but Rodgers was stupid good on his throws tonight. He placed them perfectly with the exception of one and that throw was pretty good to but they threw it at Brown. Ward had some awesome open field tackles and he laid the wood on Flynn. I can only imagine how good he will get as the year progresses.
LiveandDiefortheDawgPound - August 15, 2010
I don’t think he got beat as much as it was a perfect throw and catch. Mostly the coverage was really good, except for when sheldon brown got run out of his drawers.
HenryDawg - August 17, 2010 via mobile
Brown also gets credit for breaking up one of those blind, back shoulder throws, if you are going to burn him for getting burned.
It was a very good throw and catch, but Ward can get to the point where he is breaking that pass up. I posted a back and forth with Golan about it in the game thread.
rufio - August 17, 2010
but I wouldn’t realistically expect him to be at the point where he is breaking that pass up with any sort of consistency. However, from what I remember, he was only a couple steps behind the guy and he DID get burned, but in context of him being a rookie, this being the first preseason game, and him not being known for his coverage skills, its not AS bad. he got burned, but i honestly wouldn’t have expected him to do better than he did.
bross09 - August 18, 2010
your comments seem like you’re arguing with yourself
Villeslgr - August 18, 2010
Those are his personalities fighting each other, don’t mind them.
North Coast Flea - August 18, 2010
He could have literally reached up more and deflected the ball at the last second.
If you are that close to a guy, you have to fight his hands, you have to rip one of his arms off the ball. If he pins it to his helmet and maintains possession through ground contact, there wasn’t much more you can do. But you gotta fight his hands either way.
rufio - August 19, 2010
like every pass aaron rodgers threw last night, that play was a perfect pass to greg jennings. aaron rodgers could throw thread thru a needle from ten yards.
rockybrown - August 15, 2010
Overall, Ward was solid I would say. He got beat, but considering he was trying to guard Jennings and it was an almost perfect throw, it was not terrible coverage. it was not great, but he got beat less than those scouting reports about his coverage skills would suggest. Plus, he laid out some very nice hits.
bross09 - August 15, 2010
Watching the first drive again, Green Bay has Charles Woodson following Josh Cribbs around quite a bit, guarding him in the slot, guarding him out wide. A little curious that they were worried enough to put their best CB on him.
rufio - August 15, 2010
Very surprising.
golanbatrac - August 15, 2010
Because he's our best play maker?
We all know the potential for the game breaker with Cribbs hands on the ball and so does the Packers D.
Balky Needs - August 15, 2010
but how many times has he managed to get his hands on the ball as a WR? If I were an opposing D-coordinator, I would love to see Cribbs lined up at wide out all the time.
notthatnoise - August 15, 2010
Sadly, this is true.
SpecialBrownie - August 15, 2010
I believe it was more so to prevent any sort of trick plays or sudden ‘wild dawg’ surprises. Sadly, there were no Cyclone plays.
BrownDawg1409 - August 15, 2010
Don’t want to show everyone our hand before all the cards are dealt.
North Coast Flea - August 16, 2010
This. MoMass had a good year. Why your best CB who is a pro bowler on a marginal receiver?
bross09 - August 15, 2010
Putting Woodson on MoMass is a waste. Use your best defender on the teams best weapon.
Woodson guards all positions. If I am remembering correctly, Woodson covers Greg Olsen when they play the Bears.
Bernie19Kosar - August 15, 2010
I would say use him against the teams best weapon in the passing game. Cribbs is maybe more of a threat in the passing game than the running game. I agree put him on your best weapon, but your best weapon in the passing game. Would you put him on Adrian Peterson? No, I would put him on Sidney Rice. MoMass had a very good rookie season and IS our #1 receiver.
bross09 - August 15, 2010
But he doesn’t have to get it as a WR, he can line up as a WR and then take handoffs etc. like we had him do last year off of the IS zone stuff. My guess was that they thought Cribbs could break a play if he got the ball, so don’t let him get the ball. Then live and die with our other WRs on their 2nd and 3rd CBs/Safeties.
rufio - August 15, 2010
bross, this is your question:
Here’s the answer:
IMO other teams view our WR corp as one of the team’s weaknesses. MoMass had a good but not stellar season and Robo had a lousy season. Obviously they viewed Cribbs as the biggest threat and put their best player on him. As rufio brought out, this can work to our advantage if teams continue to line their up #1 CB on Cribbs to free up MoMass and Robo. We’ll see if the other teams adjust after this week.
dawgtribe - August 16, 2010
I am not denying that lining their #1CB up is GOOD for us, I just thought them doing that didn’t make SENSE. I do see why a team would do it, but I personally wouldn’t if I was the other team. Woodson is a very good tackling CB and is reigning DPOY so if they do hand it off to Cribbs, I can see him stuffing cribbs. However, a CB like Revis or Asante Samuel are not great run stuffers so in that case, It wouldn’t make sense to me, because though those guys are great, I dunno how effective they would be at stuffing cribbs running the ball.
It does make some sense for Charles Woodson to guard cribbs b/c they are both versatile, but putting a cover corner like a Samuel or a Revis on him wouldn’t be as effective and would be a waste of their skills considering Cribbs’ marginal ability as a receiver.
bross09 - August 16, 2010
Me talk pretty one day.
Villeslgr - August 16, 2010
I’ll admit, Delhomme looked solid.
TheRealSlimShady - August 15, 2010
Great Game
The Packers are a good team and possibly superbowl contenders. That we held them at all , much less forced the fumble and recovered the others was Great! Delhomme could be stopped only by Mangini. The Packers sure couldn’t stop him. He found the open reciever time and again. The line held. The D had trouble but against one of the highest scoring teams in football. We’ve come a long way, baby! Feels good!
jimgreen8c - August 15, 2010
The game summed up in one sentence:
This finally looks like a professional team out there.
jaws. - August 15, 2010
Hard not to feel positive about this team. If you scripted the entire game you couldn’t have written anything better.
Even seeing McCoy get extended time in the first half is huge. Now he can sit back the rest of the season and learn with the knowledge of the speed of the game.
Spidey - August 15, 2010 via mobile
Finally!
Positives- Browns had the “look” of a NFL team. The starting wide receivers got open and the QBs actually got them the ball! The running game looked like they had a clue. I don’t think we are in for the “agony” that was put on the field for us to cheer for last year, thank God. BTW, nice play calling from start to finish.
Negatives- Not much of a pass rush. Rodgers had all day to throw.
Sure , it was only one game but I doubt we we’ll be looking for things to do on Sundays this fall.
Juannieboy - August 15, 2010
I think Ryan's D will look anything but vanilla, once the games begin to count.
Balky Needs - August 15, 2010
Vanillia? Were we watching the same game? We were blitzing a LOT, Rodgers and his are just very exceptional and intelligent when it comes to picking it up.
BrownDawg1409 - August 15, 2010
Maybe he meant it’ll be like chocolate since it’s the color Brown ;]
SpecialBrownie - August 15, 2010
We didn’t do a good job of disguising and timing the blitzes. I hope they work on that soon.
Better coverage will help give the blitzes time to get there (i.e. once Wright comes back and we don’t have Mike Adams as the #3). Except that one throw on the fade/stop to Haden’s guy, that is pretty much unstoppable.
rufio - August 15, 2010
From what Coach Mangini said in one of his press conferences, they were simply using this game to see how well certain things transitioned from the practice field to the game and thus to see what they needed to work on. So, while I would have liked to see better, I’m not too worried – yet.
JustBob - August 17, 2010
While I am not too worried either, timing and disguising blitzes is something the defense should be working on often, especially with Ryan at the helm. Something about the blitzing isn’t translating to the game yet.
rufio - August 18, 2010
we had a good pass rush. Their line did protect better than last year (guys back from injuries, bulaga). Plus, Rodgers was getting the ball of quickly and not getting fazed when we pressured him the pass rush was ineffective, but not because it was never around him. I have to give credit to Rodgers for making our pass rush look worse than it was.
bross09 - August 15, 2010
In the olden days the best would play. Nowadays benching or cutting the fluffered up players is seen as expensive, thus Delhomme. I´m still for a baptism by fire for Colt McCoy, how else will we know whether we should look for quarterbacks in next year´s draft. He´s certainly not the type of player you would get to potentially not start in the end.
mooncamping - August 15, 2010
I totally disagree with you. We have two QBs who are better then McCoy and I see no reason to let a rookie lose games for us while we have them. Honestly I dont think we need to even bother to care about McCoy starting while we have Wallace on the team. Let him take his time like they did with Rodgers and develop him slowly and maybe we will get Rodgers 2.0.
LiveandDiefortheDawgPound - August 15, 2010
This poor guy must be relatively new here.
Simmsinns - August 15, 2010
hahaha I started to rebut than I remembered to look at who posted it and moved on.
troy145 - August 15, 2010
You’re not officially a part of DBN until you’ve attempted to debate with Moony. XD
BrownDawg1409 - August 15, 2010
What I´m saying is, to some people it will look like you´re brewing up the next quarterback controversy. Now that we´ve solved the Anderson/Quinn predicament it´s right back into the next uncertainty. People will think it´s endemic to Browns management. Either we merit Colt McCoy his chance to show he can be a top quarterback, or we can start looking for one in college action this year. I don´t see the point in leaving a player of potential simmering in the depth chart.
mooncamping - August 16, 2010
Tell that to Aaron Rodgers.
North Coast Flea - August 16, 2010
This.
Rodgers simmered for more then a few years, came in and was outstanding. I think McCoy needs to be treated the same way. Give him a few years to learn, put some more muscle on his scrawny butt, and have a chance to develop.
Besides we have Jake and Seneca for the next 2 years as well. I think Seneca could be around longer since he hasnt taken alot of abuse so far. No need to rush anything.
As for the thoughts, no I am not new here, just new to posting. I know who mooncamping is and just wat it entails to debate with him but I cant help myself sometimes. Im a a sucker for punishment.
LiveandDiefortheDawgPound - August 16, 2010
Oh, well if THAT’S the case it’s perfectly fine. :)
BrownDawg1409 - August 17, 2010
It lets the juices get all worked up.
Villeslgr - August 16, 2010
Add salt for taste.
BrownDawg1409 - August 16, 2010
And makes their play on the field a bit easier to digest.
JustBob - August 17, 2010
Some preseason games are bigger than others, and to me this was not “only a preseason game”. First we have struggled for QB leadership, and Jake himself was simply horrendous last year. So for him to lead a drive like that will make the rest of the preseason go better. Secondly, Mangini has seemed to become a little more player friendly, and for the team to come out like that will probably help cement the team together, and more cohesively than last year. Finally, TJ Ward is the key to the defense this year. If he is a player, the Browns have a chance for a nice defense, and he looked like a keeper. Nice start Browns, and continue to build on that momentum!
realmccoy - August 15, 2010
does anybody know where i can go to watch highlights of the game? i missed it, so i go to espn.com and watch this:
http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/15978/video-delhomme-browns-beat-packers
by the title of the video and final score of the game you’d have no idea what is actually shown
sww2109 - August 15, 2010
NFL network will replay the game in its entirety Mon. afternoon…after they are done playing all other games twice.
Drexel Dawg - August 15, 2010
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2010081453/2010/PRE1/browns@packers#tab:watch
Aaron Rodgers is a good quarterback.
TheDriveStillHurts - August 15, 2010
Sweet, we won! Not that it really matters, but still.
emily522 - August 15, 2010
Oh, it matters!
Simmsinns - August 15, 2010
Not the final score though. What matters is Ward, Delhomme, Wallace, etc. looked good.
emily522 - August 15, 2010
I didn’t get to watch the game, thank you charter, but I did watch the highlights.
From what I saw, the first INT of McCoy’s he threw off his back foot. He didn’t have a rush in his face, just looked like a bad habit. He never should have thrown the pass in the first place.
I hope Delhomme can keep this going.
Thanks for the awesome write-up Chris.
Bernie19Kosar - August 15, 2010
His own lineman was getting pushed back into him. Better footwork could help him step into the throw/avoid the pressure, but it looked to me like he didn’t have many other options than throwing the ball to that route. He should have stepped into the throw and put it where it was a TD or 4 yards out of bounds.
rufio - August 15, 2010
You guys may have discussed it in the in game thread, and if so I apologize, but do yall think there was any particular rationale in bringing Delhomme out after just one drive? Do you think they wanted to see Seneca with the first team O against many of the first team defenders? Or do you guys think they simply wanted to keep Jake healthy? I didn’t get to watch the game, and I doubt I’ll be able to catch the replay unless I can get to somewhere with NFL channel, so I have to ask: was the play calling as vanilla as I expected? I know its preseason and we don’t want to tip our hand too much.
troy145 - August 15, 2010
As far as Jake goes, he played a series and looked great. why bother with the risk of sending him out there again, both from a physical and mental standpoint?
notthatnoise - August 15, 2010
I don’t know if the coaches planned taking Jake out after one series or not. There are advantages and disadvantages to weigh in taking him out that early. My guess is that making sure they saw Seneca against a 1st string defense won out over letting Delhomme get more in-game chemistry with his targets.
The playcalling had us in many more 3+WR* formations than I expected. On the first series, we had:
Three plays with 2 backs, 1 TE
One play with 1 back, 2 TE
One play with 2 backs, 2 TE
One play with 4 WR, 1 back
Three plays with 1 back, 1 TE, and
the critical 4th and 1 was 4 WR, 1TE.
Opening sequence was:
Pass
Pass
Run
Pass
Run
Pass
Pass
Pass
Run
Pass
Run
For a total of 7 passes, 4 runs.
*I may have mistakenly counted Evan Moore, Watson, or other players as WRs if they were aligned as WRs, especially if they didn’t catch the ball.
rufio - August 15, 2010
Thanks man. Best technical poster on any sport on SBNation.
troy145 - August 16, 2010
To me, this seems like two things:
1) The staff wanted to see how Jake would do with the passing game right off the bat.
2) They wanted to see if we could pass when we had to. Our first stringers were up against a team that ranked (I forget which) either first or second in the NFL in rushing defense. Obviously if you’re up against a team that good at stopping the run you have to be able to pass in order to win.
BrownDawg1409 - August 16, 2010
Can anyone tell me how well Wallace played overall?
I watched the highlights and he looked pretty good, but I know at least one those touchdowns came off a nice defensive play against 2nd stringers. I was more excited to see him making smart plays with the first team than Delhomme. I mean I think their about equal in talent and with Jake’s age I like having a solid backup like Wallace.
BiggieBrown - August 15, 2010
He played well, though not as well as Delhomme. Also, the Packers first team was still in when Tuba stripped Grant,
golanbatrac - August 15, 2010
Indeed, the strip came off the first play from Green Bay’s offense in the game. It was definitely their first team.
TheDriveStillHurts - August 15, 2010
exactly. I don’t think they would send out second stringers in the first play of the game…
bross09 - August 15, 2010
It’s amazing how much difference just average, competent QB play can make to a team. We’re so used to not only bad, but in fact, horrendous QB play—we’ve forgotten what it looks/feels like.
johnnyphoenix - August 15, 2010
…last night I was amazed to think that we actually have a chance to win games without Cribs running 2 returns back for TD’s and Harrison rushing for 200 yards. (not saying those wouldn’t still be nice, though, but anomalies they are)
johnnyphoenix - August 15, 2010
rufio - August 15, 2010
I still have feint memories of Kosar……
North Coast Flea - August 16, 2010
I was wondering if someone was going to go back to the pre-theft era…..
RelapsingDawgCatcher - August 16, 2010
I guess “we” does still include the pre-baltimore era. My bad.
rufio - August 16, 2010
Yes it does. As a matter of fact, due to my age all QBs of the Browns will be compared to Bernie since he was the best Browns QB I ever saw play.
LiveandDiefortheDawgPound - August 16, 2010
Brady Quinn with a nice 0 for 3 start
superbacker56 - August 15, 2010
Thank you for reminding me of that game!
Quinn and Tebow. Awesome.
SpecialBrownie - August 15, 2010
Haha. I’ve been looking forward to it all day
superbacker56 - August 15, 2010
BQ just got pick 6’ed.
Awesome.
SpecialBrownie - August 15, 2010
I love it!
superbacker56 - August 15, 2010
Ha!
emily522 - August 15, 2010
1-6. 1 yard per attempt.
emily522 - August 15, 2010
Yay for 6 yards! =D
SpecialBrownie - August 15, 2010
5/11 now.
emily522 - August 15, 2010
He does not look like BQ, it’s weird haha.
SpecialBrownie - August 15, 2010
What do you mean?
emily522 - August 15, 2010
Like with the #9 and in Bronco Blue. It’s odd and from the camera, it doesn’t look like BQ Haha.
SpecialBrownie - August 15, 2010
Oh yeah I’ve seen a picture of him in the Bronco uniform.
emily522 - August 15, 2010
An impressive 14.6 QB rating at the half for BQ
superbacker56 - August 15, 2010
and 5-14
emily522 - August 15, 2010
6 for 16 and their already talking about moving Tebow ahead of him into the #2 spot! I don’t know how DA did, but it doesn’t matter. It was a great weekend for Browns fans.
dawgtribe - August 16, 2010
I just checked the highlights from the Cardinals game. DA was 13 for 22 for 82 yds a TD and 2 INT. I was actually impressed the passes they showed by John Skelton. He showed poise, a nice touch, and put the ball where only his receiver could get it. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s the #1 QB in Arizona in a year or two.
dawgtribe - August 16, 2010
here’s the link to the highlights:
dawgtribe - August 16, 2010
I can’t seem to post the link. sorry.
dawgtribe - August 16, 2010
I assume Tebow hasn’t played yet?
Brownie's Year - August 15, 2010
Not till 4th.
SpecialBrownie - August 15, 2010
About to take the field
superbacker56 - August 15, 2010
Same Tebow cock. Threw it down to his thigh. Haha!
SpecialBrownie - August 15, 2010
“cock-back”
Oh hell, forget it. This is gonna be bad.
SpecialBrownie - August 15, 2010
lol that sounds wrong on so many levels. I’ll leave you alone with that one.
Brownie's Year - August 15, 2010
Ugh, seriously, we need a damn edit button.
SpecialBrownie - August 15, 2010
Actually, when I see something like this, it makes me glad there’s not an edit button ;)
Chris Pokorny - August 16, 2010
This made me laugh.
golanbatrac - August 15, 2010
Down to his thigh?
Bravo Mr. Tebow.
Bernie19Kosar - August 15, 2010
Facepalmed myself.
SpecialBrownie - August 15, 2010
Pure comedic gold.
North Coast Flea - August 16, 2010
frickin’ hilarious
doggrad87 - August 16, 2010
Kimble_79 - August 17, 2010
had to give you the last rec to make this green. good stuff.
Dawg Nuts - August 17, 2010
Until you see him try to pass.
JustBob - August 17, 2010
FYI, my full game recap is now up on the front page:
http://www.dawgsbynature.com/2010/8/15/1624467/jake-delhomme-and-the-browns
Chris Pokorny - August 15, 2010
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