Proof the Preseason is Meaningless

I know I didn't promise to try and be Mr. Positive this year, but I'm trying my best not to be super negative.

That's why I decided to wait a day before I posted my thoughts on Sunday's loss to the Bucs, because, let's be honest, there weren't a whole lot of positives to take away from that game.

Where to start?

Hmm ... To steal a phrase, let's "start with the good stuff."


The Good
On paper, the Browns should have won this game (everyone thought so even before it was played). Seriously, though. Both teams ran the exact same number of plays (61), but the Browns out-gained the Bucs in yardage, 340-288. The Browns threw for 236 yards to the Bucs' 169 and our boys averaged 4.5 yards per rush (.5 yards per rush more than the Bucs averaged).

What else? Let's see ... The Browns had 15 first downs to the Bucs' 13 and the Browns had fewer penalty yardage (47) than the Bucs (55).

Now, it may seem all I'm doing is pointing out all the nice details on the pig's dress. And that's true, but remember, I said I was going to start with the good stuff, so now would not be the appropriate time to point out two glaring statistics from the box score (Turnovers: Browns 3, Bucs 2 and Score: Bucs 17, Browns 14).

Another nice thing to see on Sunday was the way Peyton Hillis really hustles with the ball. I think a lot of people were surprised to see him, and not Jerome Harrison, start the game. Harrison did get the ball quite a bit though. He was still the Browns' leading rusher with 52 yards on 9 carries (Hillis also had 9 carries, totaling only 41 yards). I think having both these guys in our backfield this season will certainly help the running game.

Probably one of the biggest positives to take away from Sunday's game was that beautiful touchdown grab from Mohamed Massaquoi. I mean, you can argue that Jake Delhomme's pass was dangerously thrown, but I really have to give credit to Massaquoi for plucking it out of the air between two defenders and, holding on to it, running to the endzone. I really hope we see more of this.


The Bad
Obviously, the loss is bad. This is a game everyone thought the Browns could and should win. But, they didn't. New season, same old Browns.

The Browns started off a little slow, then really got into a groove. They jumped out to a 14-3 lead with 5:35 remaining in the second quarter, then reverted back to their old ways and never came close to the endzone again.

The turnovers killed us. It's cliche, but it's true: You cannot turn the ball over that many times and expect to win. Hmm, that sounds familiar ... oh yes, I said that during the preseason after the loss to the Lions.

Jake Delhomme. I don't really know what to say here, except that he belongs in "The Bad" category. I hate being right all the time (it's a curse), and I truly hope I'm not right about Jake Delhomme. I wasn't thrilled when the Browns signed him. I felt as if we were trading in an interception-prone quarterback (Derek Anderson) for an older model.

Throughout the preseason, Delhomme seemed to silence a lot of critics. I wasn't fooled though, because I place no value in preseason games. Sure, he looked pretty good in the four exhibition matches. Then again, he only played two or three series on offense in each game. On Sunday, against the Bucs, he again looked pretty good those first few series. Then, his demons got the better of him.

The interception Delhomme threw to Ronde Barber was, perhaps, the most ill-advised pass I've ever seen a veteran quarterback throw (my apologies to Brett Favre). I mean, that pass was almost forgivable if Delhomme was a rookie or even a second-year player. But he's not. Delhomme has been around (he played in the freakin' Super Bowl, for cryin' out loud). He should know better.

Passes such as that one are precisely the reason he was available for the Browns to sign.


The Ugly
I know I'm going to catch a lot of flak for this one, and I really do hate belaboring this point, but I simply must point out how ineffective Josh Cribbs was on Sunday. He had three kick returns for an average of 15.3 yards per return and he had three punt returns for an average of 9.7 per return. Oh, and he fumbled (thankfully, it wasn't lost).

Now, I'm no stat guru, but those look like pretty average numbers, at best. Here's the point I've been trying to make for so long now: You shouldn't pin your hopes on a great return man, because it's super easy to neutralize him as a threat. You simply don't kick the ball to him.

"Oh, but Josh Cribbs is so much more than a return man," you say? OK, let's see here ... Yes, you're right. Josh Cribbs did throw one pass for 9 yards. That's a QB rating of 104.2! Quick, someone alert the media! Oh, and he ran the ball three times for 11 yards! Crazy!

I know it's only one game, but if I were the Browns, I'd want my money back.

One more ugly thing of note (also, so I can't be accused of playing special teams favorites) was that missed 62-yard field goal attempt by Phil Dawson. I mean, who in the world attempts a 62-yard field goal? Seriously? Then again, it had the distance. OK, I can't really blame Dawson for missing it. I blame Mangini for making him go out there and attempt it (would have been sweet if he made it though).


Game Balls
In an attempt to end on a positive note, I'm going to give out game balls (not physically, just figuratively).

Offense — This one goes to Mohamed Massaquoi for hauling in that ill-advised pass and taking it in for a touchdown. Honorable Mention: Peyton Hillis.

Defense — This one goes to Mike Adams for that sweet interception. Honorable Mention: T.J. Ward.

Special Teams — This one goes to Reggie Hodges, for some nifty punting. Honorable Mention: Ryan Pontbriand.

My immediate reaction after Sunday's loss to the Bucs was this: If you love football, you ought to be a Browns fan because we have the longest seasons.

Go Browns!