Game overview:
I was watching/scouting this game and taking notes, and rewinding things, etc., the normal flow...and after the game, I looked at the box score and saw the Vikings won by 15...and I was confused. If you would have asked me, before I looked at the box score -- who won the game and by how much? I would have definitely said ‘Cleveland’ for the win, and would’ve guessed by 10-20? I have no idea how the Browns lost this game by 15...they were the far superior team on tape.
Anyways, who cares about preseason final scores... I just can tell you the Browns were the better team here. And it was a battle of the backups...no real starters in sight. And the battle was led by really weak QBs/QB play, so it’s hard to evaluate things when the QB play is this bad...but we’ll give it a-go!
The Vikings looked OK, not bad/not good, but the most impressive thing to watch this game was Cleveland’s defense. Every level of the defensive personnel, every quarter (except the 4th-quarter got a bit loose with the real deep backups) this Browns defense was moving around so quickly and hitting hard – 5 sacks, 13 QB hits, 2 fumbles.
The three combined QB picks by the Browns QBs helped force this loss, but the big takeaway is – the Browns have defensive depth and talent, and are well-coached/motivated.
Scouting Notes from the game:
-- The main RBs here...
1) Kene Nwangwu (7-45-0) looked great again. Ty Chandler is going to be the #2 RB for Week 1, but he is feeling pressure from Nwangwu’s great preseason. Nwangwu is forcing his way into touches...hopefully. If Aaron Jones goes down, Nwangwu has a shot (again) to catapult into the limelight at the rate he’s going.
2) Pierre Strong (3-2-0, 1-3-0/2) started this game for the Brown, which was mystifying considering D’Onta Foreman (10-18-1, 5-46-0/5) was making his preseason/Browns debut. And, of course, Foreman looked 10x better than Strong...and he’s better than Aaron Jones or Ty Chandler or Jerome Ford as well, considering/comparing to the RBs on these teams -- but Foreman gets treated like he’s a nobody.
Well, Foreman was somebody here – tough running, got a bully run TD and was a fresh surprise in the passing game (5 catches in a 2+ quarters of play. He looked like Kareem Hunt from a few years ago, in that role for the Browns, back when Hunt was good.
I don’t know how Cleveland doesn’t do a 50/50 split of Foreman/Ford out of the gates...assuming Chubb is out/on PUP. And if Foreman gets touches with Ford...it’s only a matter of time before Foreman is the lead between the two, in a 60/40 or more situation. Foreman has some FF value again...deep sleeper for some split role work off the jump while Chubb is out.
-- The deep backup RBs...
Browns UDFA rookie Aidan Robbins (6-17-0, 2-12-0/4) has looked decent this preseason, but he’s headed for the practice squad/
2nd year Vikings RB, who I kinda lost track of, DeWayne McBride (6-17-0)...he looked good, he looked legit running the ball. He’s got an issue with understanding all the aspects of the NFL RB game...but as a pure handoff and go RB...the guys got something with size and good movement skills.
-- Browns WR/TE report...
Nothing really radical to discuss about the Vikings receivers in this game, Jalen Nailor (3-39-1/4) is solid and starting this year...and everyone else in the game at WR for Minny doesn’t really matter/have my attention.
But the Browns had a couple guys jump out at me, again/2nd week in a row...
Rookie WR Jamari Thrash (3-25-0/5) played well Week 1, but really took a step forward this week. I already knew he was a terrific route runner...loved him at the Senior Bowl, but kinda faded out on him with more study on his hands being inconsistent and his pre-Draft workouts not really being anything special – but the dude knows how to play WR, and in this game he showed a toughness I didn’t think he had. He’s kinda slender, but he played tough in this game. He’s impressing me and the Browns...he’s gonna make this team and be a distant backup probably all season. He’s more for the future.
TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden (4-59-0/4) impressed even more this week. Huge, muscular body. Improving receiving skills. Enough movement skill to work the passing game. Showing good hands. His stock is on the rise.
-- IDP Report...
Defenders that stood out to me scouting this game:
Browns rookie SAF Chris Edmonds (6 tackles) played really nice at SAF this game...a hard-hitter, quick to the ball, confident, and covered TEs in the pass game really well. Impressed that he might be someone to watch for the future...a year or two.
Browns rookie LB Winston Reid (3 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 QB hits) is a traditional middle linebacker...and he was really good here and looks like he could be not only the future...but end up being a ‘now’ ILB because the Browns ILB group is pretty bad.
Vikings former high draft pick/bust (who I really liked coming out of Georgia, but that has been a terrible call) SAF Lewis Cine (11 tackles, 1 sack, 1 PD, 2 QB hits) really showed up here. Good play is usually a false start/ends up going nowhere with Cine...I’ll hear a bunch of positives on Cine one week...and then they’ll be no follow through in reality the next week/year. This is his third year...and he’s running 4th team strong safety on the depth chart, so...
