Cleveland Browns winners and losers from preseason game: Who impressed vs. Vikings
Anyone who could take much in the way of good in the Browns’ 27-12 preseason loss to the Minnesota Vikings may have been dozing in and out.
There wasn’t much and fans looking for a smidge of the team that captivated Northeast Ohio last season will turn eyes to next week’s preseason finale against the Seattle Seahawks in Lumen Field. That’s when many of the starters are supposed to play, however limited it might be.
In the interim, Game 2 of the preseason will have to do. It often was not pretty, however, and when picking losers and winners, the former was certainly more prevalent.
Losers
Cornerback Tony Brown has a rough game
The Browns signed cornerback Tony Brown II for depth and special teams prowess. In the former category, he didn’t have the best beginning. Brown gave up the first TD pass of the game and then was called for a 15-yard tripping penalty on the Vikings’ second drive. It didn’t get much better. He was later torched on a fade play in the end zone with 10:14 left in the third quarter after a Tyler Huntley interception.
In a loaded defensive backfield, committing mistakes like that doesn’t make anyone stand out in a good way. Brown did have a nice pass breakup with 8:23 left in the second quarter.
The Browns allowed defensive tackle Mike Hall to play
Never mind that Mike Hall showed he could have an impact on a game at any given moment, the fact the team allowed him to play after he was arrested last week on domestic violence charges isn’t exactly the best look given the team’s history.
Browns fans who had to sit through that monstrosity
Let’s face it. You have to be a die hard to want to sit through a preseason game that features no starters and the second-tier players on the field are fighting for slots at the bottom of the roster. Most, such as myself, would rather watch paint dry. And, yes, the NFL makes people pay for these things.
In the case of this production, sloppiness reigned for the most part — at least on the Browns’ part — with turnovers in the red zone (two) and three overall, generally stagnant offense and a Cleveland defense giving up big plays (two touchdowns of more than 30 yards).
If they were wise, they’d do what they can to make these things into mini family festivals and sell the tickets for cheap. But, you know, why do that when you’re forcing season ticket holders to foot the bill already?
The Browns offensive line depth
James Hudson, who was working out at the right tackle spot for Saturday’s game, left with 1:43 left in the first half. The Browns tackle positions are in tenuous spot right now with Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin both still recovering from injuries, and the team went into the game looking for answers at those spots to start the season. Hudson did not return to the game due to an ankle injury.
Two consecutive drives with negative plays led to Browns punts.
Winners
Defensive tackle Chris Williams showed some skills
One thing that couldn’t be missed was the fact the defensive line managed to generate pressure. Minnesota quarterbacks had some success, but it wasn’t easy. Eventually one guy will pop on film, however, and Saturday that was Chris Williams, a defensive tackle who spent a couple of seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, with two sacks in the game.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson continues to flash
Dorian Thompson-Robinson continued to show why the Browns invested a draft pick in him last year. While he flashed last season in limited play, he’s showed consistency and playmaking ability thus far in the preseason.
In answering the Vikings open drive of the game, he connected on 3 of 4 passes for 40 yards and showed cool in doing so.
He looked less impressive on what appeared to be a busted play early in the second quarter and narrowly avoided a safety. In fact, officials may have done him a favor where they ruled the initial contact came. He could not generate much after that first drive primarily because the Browns found themselves behind the chains on two consecutive drives and the team didn’t produce much on the ground.
Still the good outweighed the bad for Thompson-Robinson.
