Gregory Shamus - Getty Images
over 1 year ago: DETROIT - AUGUST 28: Ndamukong Suh #90 of the Detroit Lions tackles Jake Delhomme #17 of the Cleveland Browns during a preseason game on August 28 2010 at Ford Field in Detroit Michigan. Suh was called for a personal foul on the play for grabbing the face mask. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
These two teams just can't face each other in a low-scoring affair, can they? The Detroit Lions defeated the Cleveland Browns 35-27 in their third preseason game of the year, but there were still a lot of positives to take away from the game if you're a Cleveland fan. Most of those positives came on the offensive side of the ball, but I'll get to the specifics when I do my in-depth game recap. For now, let's get to the instant recap of how the scoring went down...
The Browns once again began a preseason game with the football and Jake Delhomme marched the team down the field for an eventual 35-yard field goal attempt from Phil Dawson. The drive saw a lot of different throws going to different receivers, but when the offense got inside the ten yard line, things got interesting. The Browns brought in backup quarterback Seneca Wallace on first down for two plays. It really didn't help the Browns move the ball very much, but it's the first time in a preseason game that the Browns have inserted Wallace into the offense before Delhomme was done for the night.
After Dawson connected on his field goal, Detroit rookie running back Jahvid Best bolted 51 yards on the Lions' first play of the game. Two plays later, Matthew Stafford hooked up with Bryant Johnson for a 7-yard touchdown pass. For all the work the Browns did to get a field goal, the Lions made things look much easier and quickly punched it in for the score, giving them a 7-3 lead.
That would be their final lead until late in the second half though. On the Lions' next drive, running back Kevin Smith was stripped of the football by Brian Schaefering. The ball literally scooted into the lap of Eric Wright, who took off 44 yards and a walk-in touchdown, giving Cleveland the 10-7 advantage. After forcing a quick punt, Delhomme marched the Browns' offense down the field again, but not before first overall pick Ndamukong Suh grasped his facemask and then threw him to the ground well after the ball had been thrown. The personal foul penalty allowed Delhomme to toss a touchdown pass to fullback Lawrence Vickers a few plays later.
Unfortunately, on the Browns' next offensive series, running back Jerome Harrison fumbled on the first play and the Lions ran the ball back for a touchdown to make it a 17-14 game toward the end of the first half. It wasn't a great game for Harrison again, who had 11 carries for 34 yards, 3 catches for -3 yards, and the coughed up touchdown.
With Peyton Hillis in the game for the hurry-up offense to close out the second half, the versatile running back was all over the place, eventually scoring on first-and-goal from the one on a handoff. That gave the Browns a 24-14 lead at halftime.
The Lions received the ball to start the second half and Stafford led his team right down the field again for a touchdown, channeling the same type of "shootout" feeling from when these two teams met last season. Although Delhomme had a great first half (20-of-25 for 152 yards and 1 touchdown), it was surprising that he didn't get a series in the third quarter. Instead, Seneca Wallace came in and led the Browns to one field goal over two drives.
Although the Browns' first-string defense didn't exactly shine, the second-string defense was so bad that it's kind of hard to believe. Lions running back Aaron Brown had two fourth quarter touchdowns to give the Lions the 35-27 lead. The Browns played Colt McCoy for a couple of series in the fourth quarter, and while the third-round rookie made a few better throws this week, the offensive line didn't give him enough time to throw again.
McCoy should receive some more reps against the Chicago Bears on Thursday as the Browns close out their preseason.
0 recs | 69 comments
Schaffering is really growing on me. He seems to be around the ball a lot.
Hillis looks good and has better hands than I expected.
Haden looks good as well. I really like how he uses his hands. He is always choping at the ball as soon as the WR seems to catch it. This is good, because I am starting to believe that Sheldon Brown is borderline washed up.
Delhomme looked like he was in complete control. I am cautiously optimistic that he can keep this going when the games count.
Our pass rush straight up blows. We couldn’t even get to the passer going against the Lions second string line. Even when we blitzed we got stoned. Marcus Bernard needs to play more because he seems to be the only guy who has the ability to get to the passer.
I know we are missing Big Baby, but I can’t shake the feeling that we are going to need to send 7-8 men to get to the QB.
Bernie19Kosar - August 29, 2010
We are getting rushers free. The problem is that when we send blitzes they aren’t disguised enough or complex enough to make the QB take the extra second or two on his read so that the free rushers can make it.
rufio - August 29, 2010
I think Ryan has firmly decided to go the smokescreen route for our preseason defense.
Villeslgr - August 29, 2010
I didn’t see anyone coming free, granted I didn’t see half of the Ram and Packer games.
The Veikune play was the only one where I remember a blitzer coming free. Too bad he got tripped up, he had a nice chance to lower the boom.
Bernie19Kosar - August 29, 2010
It is happening, just trust me.
rufio - August 30, 2010
When McCoy plays next week, will he be playing behind the first or second o-line?
StuckInPa - August 29, 2010
Why will we put Thomas and Mack in the 4th preseason game?
SpecialBrownie - August 29, 2010
A good gauge would be to find out which linemen were active or played last year when Ratliff started.
Chris Pokorny - August 29, 2010
They are indestructible machines?
rufio - August 29, 2010
I would doubt that the Browns will risk playing Joe Thomas, Alex Mack and Eric Stienbach.
Poor kid will be running for his life again.
Bernie19Kosar - August 29, 2010
He may have Lauvao and Pashos and St. Clair though, which would be a marked improvement over anyone else he’s had in front of him.
golanbatrac - August 29, 2010
There may not be many 2nd or 3rd string NFL lines that aren’t an improvement over ours.
Browns town - August 29, 2010
I still can’t figure why we dumped Hadnot.
golanbatrac - August 29, 2010
Not sure what Hadnots contract with us was, but he’s on AZ’s cap this year for 1.8 mil. That’s a lotta $ to pay, especially considering Joe Thomas is gonna make less than that this year.
Browns town - August 29, 2010
I wish we had not
Bumblyjack - August 29, 2010
We didn’t dump him, just let him walk.
Roger Dorn - August 29, 2010
I’m really trying to temper my enthusiasm for Delhomme. I’m scared to death that Jake of last year will return.
Not entirely sure how valid of a comparison this is, but I compared Delhomme’s preseason stats last year with the Panthers vs. this years preseason.
Through the first 3 preseason games last year, Delhomme was 21/32 for 265 yds, 0 TDs and 0 Ints. This is 65% completion and 8.3 YPA. Combined, this is good for a rating of 91.3.
Through this years preseason, he is 38/49 for 345 yds, 2 TDs and 0 Ints. This is 77.5% completion and 7.04 YPA. This equates to a rating of 109.7.
Looking at last years preseason stats, you could say that he was serviceable those first 3 games, but then the regular season started…we all know how that ended up.
Thoughts?
Browns town - August 29, 2010
He’ll either be good, average or bad. The important thing to remember is that no matter what, we’re not winning the superbowl this year. Relax. Enjoy the rebuild.
golanbatrac - August 29, 2010
I would’ve actually liked to see him throw an interception at some point this preseason. That seems to be something that has rattled him in the past. That history is also something that probably will always sit somewhere in the back of his mind as well, as much as he may not want to admit it. How he manages to deal with those will probably play a big factor into how he does this season.
He throws the ball pretty hard obviously. If you saw the game yesterday, Im sure you noticed a few times that the receivers tipped a couple of balls that could have turned into an interception. That is a big thing that haunted Jake last year. Tipped passes that became interceptions. It’s going to happen this year, but hopefully not nearly as often.
I’ve watched all three preseason games so far and I feel much more comfortable with him running the offense than the other 2 qb’s last year. I would think that the other players on offense look up to Jake and I think he gives them more confidence too.
Big Daddy Hickman - August 29, 2010
Entirely different contexts for the stats. If Jake is throwing shorter, it would make it easy for his completion % to go up and YPA down. He is throwing to different receivers. He has a different support system around him. He is in a different system.
I am still cautiously optimistic that he will experience a mild bounce-back from last year’s regular season. Much better than DA/Quinn, probably in the 80s in terms of passer rating.
Regardless, he is an improvement over what we had and not a long term option. He is who we thought he was.
rufio - August 29, 2010
Loved how our first string offense looked. Not sure how that will translate to the regular season since the last two defenses (Rams and Lions) are not exactly the Jets or Ravens out there.
Defense needs a bit of work. First string looked ok. But like was said above, our pass rush is severely lacking, even when blitzing. Hope Rogers gets healthy soon, because we sorely need his pass rush.
And we better pray none of out top guys get dinged on defense too bad, the backups didn’t give me any confidence today at all.
talonk - August 29, 2010
i have to wonder how the browns’ defense would fare if they kept jhavid best in there longer. it seemed like they gave up a lot of yards to detroit’s TEs whenever they ran those short crossing routes. also, in case you missed it: suh hunting QBs
davus - August 29, 2010
Good question about Best. The defense got shredded by Steven Jackson last week against the Rams as well.
Monsters of the Midway - August 30, 2010
Our pass rush is pretty bad right now.
emily522 - August 29, 2010
Our defense is built with larger players that might lack a bit in speed. This will become more apparent when we play in a dome, and I think the team will struggle in these games. I am not that concerned with the pass rush because I tend to believe we aren’t using our best defensive schemes until the regular season.
Roger Dorn - August 29, 2010
I tend to think that when we get our two best defenders back things will improve.
notthatnoise - August 29, 2010
Rogers and ? DQ?
Ryan Kelsey - August 29, 2010
Mosley
SpecialBrownie - August 29, 2010
for as much as we rag on DQ he is our best linebacker and (arguably) second best defender. maybe wright is better, but that’s debatable.
notthatnoise - August 31, 2010
I’d say Rogers then Wright or DQ in some order.
Roger Dorn - August 31, 2010
it would be hard for me to argue against wright.
notthatnoise - September 1, 2010
I personally think Roth may be our best LB, but DQ would be a very close second.
bross09 - September 1, 2010
Hello, this is the Department of Redundancy Department. How can I help you?
BrownDawg1409 - August 29, 2010
Here are some scary numbers:
1 sack in 96 pass attempts against. The offensive lines we have faced were horrible at allowing sacks last year (Worst, 7th, 9th in order).
The three starting QB’s we have faced have combined for 30-36, 345 yards, 3 TD’s, 0 INT’s.
Yikes.
Bernie19Kosar - August 29, 2010
Oh, God…
emily522 - August 29, 2010
Preseason. I’ll start worrying when we come out of games 1 & 2 without any sacks.
StuckInPa - August 29, 2010
That’s fair.
Bernie19Kosar - August 29, 2010
Although, the same could be said about Jake Delhomme, and we should hold back our enthusiasm just a tad until we see some regular season play.
StuckInPa - August 30, 2010
I’m already there.
rufio - August 30, 2010
Any L. Asante or C. Francis sightings? Did they see the field? Any idea how the did?
BuckeyeInTheBay - August 29, 2010
Francies was inactive, I think. Asante was in in the fourth quarter and looked like a rookie.
golanbatrac - August 29, 2010
Too early for the panic button on the pass rush, guys.
Not saying we are gonna be beasts, but it won’t be this bad.
rufio - August 29, 2010
How about some deep uncertainty?
RelapsingDawgCatcher - August 29, 2010
cautiously pessimistic.
notthatnoise - August 29, 2010
gut-wrenching concern?
Dawg Nuts - August 29, 2010
If nothing else, Rob will play Man-0 and get someone to the QB.
rufio - August 30, 2010
One of my favorite Buddy Ryan quotes….
“You can’t stop a passing game unless you put pressure on the quarterback. Some people are good enough to put it on with a 3 man rush. Well we’re not. In fact, I don’t know if we’re good enough to put it on with a four man rush. If we have to send 8 we’ll send 8 but we’re not gonna let you sit back there and pick us apart.”
Monsters of the Midway - August 30, 2010
Excellent.
RelapsingDawgCatcher - August 30, 2010
Exactly.
rufio - August 30, 2010
I was a bit worried when it seemed at first that the Browns had opened up last year’s playbook, or maybe just trying to see how short they could throw the passes before they were called laterals. I know, they were working on specific aspects of the offense because it’s preseason, but it had me worried a bit anyways. Then Cribbs hauled in a 30-yarder on the sideline and that killed two worrisome birds with one stone.
The Browns can and will throw deeper than five yards and Cribbs can indeed be one of the intended receivers for those longer passes.
JustBob - August 29, 2010
The defense dictates where you throw, almost definitely, in this offense.
If we are forced to throw short and into the flat, we should have guys like Harrison, Hillis, Cribbs, Watson, Moore, and Hardesty in space with some momentum against someone with a bad angle.
This is cheap, easy yardage and we should take it every down if the D will give it to us.
rufio - August 30, 2010
I hope Suh gets fined. That was an asshole move.
Brownie's Year - August 29, 2010
yup.
Dawg Nuts - August 29, 2010
I agree. The guy is a beast and he seems like a good guy…but that facemask and body slam was way, waay out of line.
johnnyphoenix - August 30, 2010
I’d also like to have seen someone else get in Suh’s face……Protect your QB….
Big Daddy Hickman - September 1, 2010
I liked that Ward was the one who caught Best on his big run. He can’t be too slow if he pulled that off.
NM Dawg - August 30, 2010
Eric Wright
“The ball literally scooted into the lap of Eric Wright, who took off 44 yards and a walk-in touchdown, giving Cleveland the 10-7 advantage.”
I think this guy is reading too much of his own press. He got a gift and danced it into the end zone like he’d done something impressive. Not the end of the world in and of itself but he looked pretty bad in coverage before and after that play.
Monsters of the Midway - August 30, 2010
Yeah, he’s full of himself. And not in a good way.
golanbatrac - August 30, 2010
His support of DA saying we didn’t deserve a winner on Twitter last week was tough for me to stomach.
Roger Dorn - August 30, 2010
I missed that. Doesn’t surprise me a bit, though.
golanbatrac - August 30, 2010
didnt we know that was part of the deal a few years ago when we brought him on board? Hes didn’t make to the NFL based on his character or leadership ability.
troy145 - August 30, 2010
i mentioned this in the game thread and was branded a curmudgeon, but i agree. it was a little overdone for a preseason game, especially from a player on a 5-11 team.
Dawg Nuts - August 30, 2010
I missed the game thread this week so pardon me bringing it up again. We seem to be in agreement though and I applaud your use of the word ‘curmudgeon’, haha
Monsters of the Midway - August 30, 2010
I don’t mind that he danced in to the endzone. I myself screamed "Yeah, Dion that sh*t".
It’s not everyday that a CB is "gifted" with a fumble recovery to the house.
Brownie's Year - August 30, 2010
If E. Wright had been making plays in the secondary like Deion Sanders, then by all means, take it to the house any way you want! But all I saw on Saturday was him getting burned by Calvin Johnson and Co.
Monsters of the Midway - August 30, 2010
…I was not watching the same game you were apparently.
SpecialBrownie - August 30, 2010
How many times did he get burned in the first quarter? 2, 3, 4? A TD makes up for that in the 1st.
Brownie's Year - August 30, 2010
I don’t have the game on my DVR anymore so I can’t point out specific instances.
However, from reading this site, I know most of you have a much better grasp of defensive schemes and what particular personnel are supposed to be doing in the secondary than I do. I have probably over stepped my bounds and proven the old adage “It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.”
Monsters of the Midway - August 31, 2010
I actually thought Wright played pretty well from what I could see.
I don’t have a huge issue with the celebration before the TD, but if he pulls a Lett or a DeSean, we should fine the hell out of him.
rufio - August 30, 2010
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