Browns vs. Packers: Live Preseason Week 2 Report Card for Cleveland

Thursday marks the second preseason contest for the Cleveland Browns and our most extended look yet at their revamped starting offense and defense. And with the Green Bay Packers as their opponents, it should be an interesting and difficult test.

First-team players will see action for at least the first half of the game; this should allow us a better idea of rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden's development. We'll also get a chance to see if the Browns are better at stopping the run than they were last week against the Detroit Lions, considering the Packers have a far weaker ground game.

There's a lot to watch for through all four quarters. If you want to know how every Browns positional group handles their business tonight, quarter by quarter, you're in the right place. I'll be updating the performance of every player, live, as it happens. 

QBs

Brandon Weeden is the first-team quarterback against the Packers and is scheduled to play the entire first quarter. He'll then be followed up by Colt McCoy, Seneca Wallace and Thaddeus Lewis, all seeing considerably less playing time than they did last week against Detroit.

Q1: B

Q2: A

Q3: A

Q4: B+

Overall: A-

Weeden's biggest test is how he faces the pressure—and inevitable blitzes—from the Packers front seven. Though his offensive line has kept the running game going, Weeden still looked frazzled by pressure in the first quarter. As with any rookie, his decision making is still dubious. He did connect with receiver Josh Gordon for 19 yards but there wasn't much passing in the first quarter until the team's final drive.

As the first quarter progressed, Weeden seemed to get into a better rhythm, understanding when to throw the ball away, and the use of play-action gave him more time and protection. He threw a first-down completion to Greg Little near the end of the quarter. He ended the first with a big, over the middle completion—again to Little—that put them squarely into the Packers' red zone.

The Browns indeed scored, at the top of the second quarter, via the run. On the Browns' next possession, Weeden began looking less like a rookie, likely due to a combination of falling into a rhythm and dealing with the Packers' defensive backups.

Weeden was able to get the ball out quickly, making short and intermediate throws to Josh Cribbs, Evan Moore and Jordan Norwood. A Greg little drop, however, killed the drive.

To close the half, Weeden successfully passed the ball into field goal range with a 18 yard completion to Norwood. He ended his tenure against the Packers completing 12 of 20 passes, for a total of 118 yards.

Colt McCoy had just one drive in the third quarter, thanks to the Browns picking off Packers quarterback Graham Harrell in his first possession.

McCoy looked sharp—certainly better than Harrell did for Green Bay—completing more short and intermediate throws to fullback Brad Smelley and receiver Rod Windsor. A 21-yard pass to tight end Dan Gronkowski put them on the backdoor of the Packers' end zone. All in all a successful drive for McCoy.

Seneca Wallace took over in the fourth quarter and did a lot of passing, targeting Bert Reed, Josh Cooper and Owen Spencer. With a 32-10 lead over the Packers as the fourth quarter ran down, there was a lot of clock control—nothing deep, nothing fast. Wallace handled his cleanup job well.

RBs

With Trent Richardson out after undergoing knee surgery last week, the starting Browns running back is Montario Hardesty. He is backed up by Brandon Jackson, Chris Ogbonnaya and Adonis Thomas.

Q1: B+

Q2: A

Q3: A

Q4: A

Overall: A

The quarter started off auspiciously for Montario Hardesty, who fumbled on the Browns' very first possession of the game. He redeemed himself, however, helping the Browns convert first downs and running both hard and decisively. 

Hardesty scored the Browns' first touchdown of the night at the top of the second quarter and played one more series before being replaced by Brandon Jackson, the former Packer. Jackson's second-quarter carries weren't as fruitful as Hardesty's, but he was still able to find holes and show a bit of burst.

Jackson looked far better in the third quarter. Though the Packers' defense stiffened at the start of the Browns' lone third-quarter drive, his little scrambles kept things alive, including a gain for eight yards. The drive was capped off by a Jackson rushing touchdown on third down.

The fourth quarter was all about clock management for the Browns and as such, both Jackson and Adonis Thomas saw a number of carries. While neither broke off any large runs, they kept the ball in the Browns' possession for much of the fourth quarter.

WRs

The ongoing knock against the Browns is their lack of a receiving corps. Rookie Josh Gordon is under the most pressure after being targeted three times last week without pulling down a single pass. Mohamed Massaquoi, who suffered a concussion against the Lions, did participate in pregame warm-ups, but will not be playing. As such, the other receivers to watch include Greg Little, Carlton Mitchell and Bert Reed.

Q1: B-

Q2: B-

Q3: B-

Q4: B

Overall: B-

There wasn't much passing for the Browns in the first quarter. Gordon had the lone big reception, worth 19 yards, but dropped a pass near the end of the quarter, committing the all-too-common mistake of running before the ball has been actually caught.

Near the end of the quarter, Greg Little pulled down a 12-yard pass, good for a first down. He followed that up with an over-the-middle reception that put the Browns in an and-goal situation.

Gordon was off the field in the second quarter, putting Little front-and-center. Unfortunately, he had a drive-killing drop. Jordan Norwood had an eight yard reception and then had the final Browns catch of the half—an 18-yarder that set up a Phil Dawson field goal attempt.

Again, the third quarter didn't produce too much action for the wide receivers. Rod Windsor was targeted twice, and one of his receptions produced a first down on a third-and-nine.

The fourth quarter featured receivers fighting for a roster spot. Josh Cooper was targeted once, but had a drop. Bert Reed had a pair of productive catches on third downs which resulted in a conversion. Owen Spencer had a 27 yard reception on the Browns' final, clock-eating drive.

TEs

Tight ends Ben Watson and Jordan Cameron will not play tonight, leaving the bulk of the tight end work to Evan Moore, Alex Smith and Dan Gronkowski. Pay closest attention to their blocking abilities.

Q1: C

Q2: B

Q3: A

Q4:  N/A

Overall: B-

There weren't any passes thrown the way of the Browns' tight ends in the first quarter. Instead they were tasked with run blocking and pass protection, with greater success in the former than in the latter.

It was a quiet second quarter for the tight ends as well. The only noise made by the group was a first down catch by Evan Moore.

In the third quarter, two throws to fullbacks and tight ends made the drive a success. The first was a nine yard first-down reception by fullback Brad Smelley and then tight end Dan Gronkowski had a 21-yard reception which set up the eventual Brandon Jackson touchdown, which gave the Browns a 30-7 lead over Green Bay.

Nothing happened, passing-wise, when it came to the Browns' tight ends in the fourth quarter; all of Seneca Wallace's passes went solely to wide receivers.

O-Line

The offensive line is the only Browns unit that isn't dealing with injuries. As such, all of their starters will be able to take the field against the Packers. All eyes will be on how well they protect Brandon Weeden as well as their ability to advance running back Montario Hardesty down the field.

Q1: B-

Q2: A

Q3: A

Q4: A

Overall: A

It was a mixed bag of returns for the Browns' offensive line in the first quarter. They could have protected Weeden better but helped Hardesty with his many runs, which included up-the-middle success.

The offensive line stepped up their protection of Weeden, which was also aided along by the use of play-action and quicker-release passing. They were again strong in run support, which is a good sign for the Browns' run game this year, especially once Trent Richardson returns.

In both the running and passing games, the Browns offensive line depth looked nearly as sharp as their starters, helping enable a successful touchdown drive.

The offensive line depth managed to hold their own in the fourth quarter, protecting Seneca Wallace well enough to get passes out and blocking for running backs Brandon Jackson and Adonis Thomas as they controlled the clock.

D-Line

The Browns defensive line is without a number of starters. Defensive tackles Phil Taylor and Ahtyba Rubin will be replaced by rookies Billy Winn and John Hughes. Though the Packers aren't the best at running the ball, with two rookies at tackle, they might have an easier go. 

Q1: C

Q2: B-

Q3: A

Q4: A

Overall: B-

Aaron Rodgers is a hard quarterback to successfully pressure and in the first quarter, he was never in any trouble of hitting the turf. They had greater returns against the run game, but that's also not an area of strength for the Packers presently.

Defensive end Emmanuel Stephens recovered a Randall Cobb fumble (which was forced by cornerback Sheldon Brown).

With Aaron Rodgers off the field in the second quarter and backup Graham Harrell under center in his place, the Browns' defensive front seven had greater success in getting pressure on the quarterback. Defensive end Brian Sanford drew a neutral zone penalty that negated a Browns pick-six.

Pressure came much more easy to the Browns' defensive line in the third quarter, when faced with Harrell and the second- and third-string Packers offensive linemen. They also successfully stuffed any Packers' attempts at running the ball.

The pressure continued on into the fourth quarter, though of course some of the play quality dipped simply because these are third-string players on the field. They kept Green Bay from scoring anything more than a lone field goal and helped force an early-fourth quarter safety.

LBs

Along with two rookies on the defensive line, the Browns also are without starting linebackers Scott Fujita and D'Qwell Jackson, with rookie James-Michael Johnson and backups Benjamin Jacobs and L.J. Fort all seeing time in their place. Kaluka Maiava will start on the weak side, replacing the injured Chris Gocong who tore his Achilles tendon.

Q1: C

Q2: B

Q3: A

Q4: A

Overall: B-

Just like the defensive line, the Browns' linebackers struggled getting consistent pressure on Rodgers. Obviously, they were not going full speed, however they cannot allow a passer like Rodgers to have so much time.

Just as the defensive line had greater success with Rodgers off the field, so did the linebackers. Craig Robertson picked him off for what would have been a touchdown if it weren't for a defensive penalty negating it. Emmanuel Acho showed flashes of his run-stopping skills and the entire front seven were able to keep the Packers offense stuck in their own end zone near the end of the second quarter.

Again, the linebackers shared into the defensive line success in the sense that they were facing the second- and third-string offensive line and quarterback Graham Harrell. There is a lot of youth and speed in the Browns' front-seven depth.

The Browns' defensive front-seven forced a great deal of pressure on Harrell to start the fourth quarter, which resulted in him intentionally grounding the ball while he was in the end zone. That, my friends, is a safety.

DBs

The Browns also are short-handed in their secondary, thanks to injuries. Cornerback Dimitri Patterson is being held off the field, with Sheldon Brown and Trevin Wade getting time in his place. At starting free safety will be Eric Hagg, and T.J. Ward will be starting ahead of Usama Young at strong safety. Star corner Joe Haden will be with the starters as well.

Q1: C

Q2: B

Q3: A

Q4: B

Overall: B

The first-quarter returns for the Browns' secondary are mixed. On one hand, Sheldon Brown continued to play so far off of his receivers that he was being successfully picked on throughout the quarter, but on the other, he also forced a Randall Cobb fumble that the Browns recovered

The lone touchdown of the quarter came in the Packers' first possession, on a short field. Jordy Nelson beat Joe Haden, but Haden returned to form as the quarter wore on. T.J. Ward was used as a blitzing safety, to marginal success.

Second-string cornerback Buster Skrine was the standout of the Browns' secondary in the second quarter and Trevin Wade nearly had an interception. 

In the third quarter, the Browns' secondary depth got in on the party that the defensive front seven was throwing. Strong safety David Sims picked off Graham Harrell; the interception resulted in a touchdown. 

Coverage, especially over the middle, was softer in the fourth quarter, but there was still very little happening out of the Packers' passing game. Fourth-string strong safety Emmanuel Davis ended the Packers' offensive night with an interception with just a few dozen seconds remaining.

Special Teams

The Packers have a dangerous return weapon in Randall Cobb whom the Browns kick coverage teams will have to work hard to stop. Josh Cribbs, whose role as a receiver has been again diminished, will return kicks and punts for Cleveland.

Q1: A-

Q2: B-

Q3: A

Q4: A

Overall: A-

The Browns didn't allow a lot of Packers return yards and had some good returns of their own. Josh Cribbs carried the opening kickoff 22 yards and Adonis Thomas returned another for 34 yards. Kicker Phil Dawson had two field goals, including one for 53 yards. So many flags on special teams plays, however, hence the minus next to that "A" grade.

Flags, flags and more flags marred special teams play for both the Browns and the Packers. Once Oniel Cousins, special teams player and backup offensive tackle, notched his second special teams penalty of the game he was pulled from the field.

Dawson hit another big, 52-yard field goal to take the Browns into a 16-7 lead, but then their kick coverage team gave up a 60 yard return. Finally, with just a handful of seconds remaining, Dawson attempted a 56-yard field goal; he missed. It was a mixed special teams bag in the first half.

It was a cleaner special teams outing for the Browns in the third quarter, with fewer penalties. Nothing of note happened, however, considering the two fruitless Packers possessions and the one touchdown drive for the Browns.

Special teams continued to tighten up, with fewer penalties incurred in the fourth quarter. Josh Cooper had a good, 23-yard return and the Browns ended their final possession of the game with a Jeff Wolfert touchdown; the Browns led 35-10 after that kick.

Coaching

The Cleveland Browns coaching staff is under almost as much scrutiny as their players right now. Can Dick Jauron get the best out of a triage unit defense? Does Brad Childress' play-calling really make a difference? And will head coach Pat Shurmur take the blame if Brandon Weeden struggles?

Q1: A

Q2: A

Q3: A

Q4: A

Overall: A

It was a conservative but effective playcalling approach for the offense. Though the defense could have performed better, that has less to do with coaching than with the players physically on the field.

To keep Weeden better protected, the Browns changed tactics in the second quarter, with more play-action and quick passing, strategies which Weeden took to immediately. 

The third quarter featured playcalling that worked to Colt McCoy's strengths and a defensive tightening that was also helped along by the Packers' offensive depth being fairly weak.

Coaching remained strong into the fourth quarter. Clock control and closing out games is something the Browns struggled with last year, but their extremely long, final possession seems to indicate this may not be an issue this season. Perhaps Brad Childress as offensive coordinator is an upgrade?