Cleveland Browns Vs. Detroit Lions: 10 Things To Look For From The Dawgs
The Great Lakes Classic game is this weekend, and other than the marketing attempt to attract more viewers to a preseason game, Week 3 is also known as the "dress rehearsal" game.
This game will feature the most time with the first team before the third and fourth stringers come in next week to battle it out for the final roster spots.
This is the preseason that as a fan, you WANT to win, or at least you don't want to lose it in the first half.
The Browns and the Lions are both teams in the second year of their current rebuild, and this game should be a good litmus test for both teams to see how they're progressing.
Jake Delhomme and His Receivers Need Some Quality Time
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Jake Delhomme and his corps of wide receivers need more than just practice time to become an effective team.
Expect to see a focus on the aerial attack for at least one series so the timing patterns can get some work in a live game setting.
Look for the Browns To Stretch the Field
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In addition to Delhomme just working on his timing, the Browns offense needs to prove it can stretch the field in 2010.
The dink-and-dunk mentality of 2009 seriously hampered the effectiveness of the offense, meaning the Browns are going to have to demonstrate to the league they are once again a threat with the long-ball.
The Running Game Should Dominate the Second Half
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Once Delhomme and Seneca Wallace have gotten their reps in, don't be surprised to see the Browns focus in on the ground attack because there's a lot to sort out in the Browns' backfield these days.
Head Coach Eric Mangini said it's doubtful Montario Hardesty will play this weekend, even though he has returned to practice, but the fight is on between James Davis and Chris Jennings for the final RB roster spot.
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The Cyclone!!
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The Cyclone has been teased throughout the preseason, and look for it to make its first full appearance versus the Detroit Lions.
Mangin's take on The Wildcat formation has a good chance of seeing the light of day versus the Lions' defense, and it will throw an added element into game prep for upcoming opponents.
Pay Attention to the Right Side!
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The right side of the Browns offensive line was questionable at best last year, with rotating faces and a sieve-like quality to it.
The line did improve somewhat as the season began to wind down, but there still are questions as to how it will look in 2010.
Pay special attention to the personnel and where they play in the first half, as that will probably determine who plays where going into the regular season.
Jerome Harrison Has Got To Bring It
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Jerome Harrison has never been high on Mangini's like list, that much is obvious by the way Harrison was played last year, and the drafting of Montario Hardesty this past spring.
Harrison has to prove the last three games of 2009 were no fluke and that the case of the fumbles he contracted last week is long gone.
Harrison has shown he can be a feature back, he needs to go out there versus the Lions and prove that all over again.
Such is life in the NFL.
Where's Joshua Cribbs?
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Joshua Cribbs hasn't had much playing time this preseason, but let's face it, it's probably for good reason.
Cribbs will be featured on the special teams once the season starts, and you don't want to risk major injury in the preseason.
That being said, Cribbs still needs some reps, so expect him to figure into the game a little more this week.
The Browns Defensive Line Needs To See Improvement
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There's no doubt the Browns defensive line is a work in progress. They were pushed around a little too easily by the St. Louis Rams last week and there are too many questions over who is going to start where once the season starts.
While the answer to the David Veikune question may not be answered until next week, the question over where guys like Eric Barton and Marcus Benard play this season should be answered.
The T.J. Ward Show
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T.J. Ward has been raising a lot of eyebrows for all the right reasons throughout training camp.
Ward should be a terror on the Lions passing game this weekend. Look for him to show improvement over last week as he grows more accustomed to the speed of the NFL.
Coaching, Coaching, Coaching
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Eric Mangini has shown great improvement as a head coach since he took the job in January 2009.
The sting of the regular season defeat from the Lions last year still lingers, and Mangini probably will approach this game with a little more intensity than the normal preseason game.
Mangini will be keen to see the mistakes of the Rams game not repeated versus Detroit, and the fans and players can expect quick hooks should anyone repeat the sins of the past.
Final Score: Browns 33, Lions 24
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