Top Takeaways From Cleveland’s Third Preseason Game
Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Thursday Night treated us to the Cleveland Browns’ third preseason game vs. the Philadelphia Eagles. Because of the work the first-teamers got in joint practices this week, we didn’t see a lot of action from the starters.
The Eagles did play a lot of first-teamers on defense the first few drives of the game, and it was a great opportunity to get a look at the Browns’ second-string going up against legit NFL starters.
The Browns ended in a disappointing tie, but the preseason doesn’t matter. However, it was a positive night for the team with a lot of strong moments on all sides of the ball. Here are a few major takeaways as the team is now just over three weeks away from their first regular-season game
Questions Remain at Tackle
I was thrilled to see that the Eagles played their first-string defensive ends on the opening two drives of the game, as Dawand Jones and James Hudson got the start at tackle for the Browns. With Jedrick Wills continuing to struggle, it was a great opportunity to see what they were made of.
The stat line for Jones won’t look as good as it did the prior game, but I don’t think it was as bad as it may have appeared at first glance. While he did get beat around the edge a few times, Dorian Thompson-Robinson got too much depth in the pocket in many situations which makes it difficult on the tackles.
Nolan Smith pushes 375-pound Dawand Jones aside to get pressure on DTR. pic.twitter.com/1u4DWZFXVg
— Victor Williams (@ThePhillyPod) August 18, 2023
Hudson also had a lot of ups and downs. He certainly got beat a few times, but he also had some glimpses of strong play. One thing I noticed on Thursday night was his quickness off the ball, which is something I rarely see from Wills.
I was hoping to see Jones or Hudson really shine, but I’m not sure that really came to fruition. The final preseason game will be huge for figuring out the offensive tackle depth chart.
Defensive Tackle much Improved
The most pleasant surprise of the evening was the play of Maurice Hurst at defensive tackle. While the Browns’ defense gave up a few big runs, overall the defensive tackle play was strong.
While it’s clear that Dalvin Tomlinson is the leader of this pack, with Shelby Harris shortly behind him, Hurst and the rookie Siaki Ika have both had a solid preseason. It’s likely that Cleveland will keep five defensive tackles on the roster, so the final spot will be the big question.
Jordan Elliott and Tommy Togiai have been just okay, and Trysten Hill has been so limited with an injury that it’s really tough to decipher if he can be a contributor.
Some believe that Elliott has the leg up to get the final roster spot because he has been a starter in the past, but I would argue his development is done and we know exactly what he is, which is an average NFL defensive tackle.
I’m not sure I’m sold that Togiai has that much more potential than Elliott, but I also would be willing to bet that Andrew Berry will want to give him another year to see if he can figure things out.
There will be some tough decisions on who makes the roster at defensive tackle, but overall the position should be much improved in 2023 which will be a welcome sight.
Austin Watkins Shines
Austin Watkins is the player who continues to jump out of the TV each week. Not only does he seem to be a quarterback favorite, but he also seems to always come down with the ball and make plays after.
Watkins had an astonishing 14 targets, seven catches, 139 yards, and a tremendous touchdown catch on the evening. He did have one drop in the fourth quarter, but he had played so well by then that most didn’t even notice.
Austin Watkins Jr. is a roster lock #DawgPound. pic.twitter.com/mTyQq6V7pO
— Tyler Johnson (@T_johnson_TJ) August 18, 2023
The Cleveland Browns have strong depth at wide receiver, but I’m not sure how you keep this guy off the roster. The big question will be how much the organization values Jakeem Grant returning kicks. That is a roster spot that could push the preseason star off the roster.
DTR Proves He Is QB2
Even though Dorian Thompson-Robinson only led the offense to eight points in the first half of Thursday’s preseason game, he once again proved that he should be the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart.
I know that the Browns gave Joshua Dobbs a sizable contract for a backup quarterback, but the fifth-round pick from UCLA has continued to prove he is a capable thrower in the NFL, as well as using his athleticism to create havoc for the defense.
DTR was 13/25 for 164 yards with 18 rushing yards in the first half, but the biggest win of the night was him driving right down the field on the opening series against a lot of the Eagles’ starters. Unfortunately, John Kelly ended up fumbling the ball on the one-yard line.
DTR’s completion percentage didn’t match his first two games, but he was often under the gun as the Eagles brought a lot of pressure in the first half.
Don’t take this to mean DTR is ready to be the next starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, but he has certainly put my mind at ease. If something were to happen to Deshaun Watson, this is a guy who can step in and play well if needed.
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