1. I get pleasure from watching preseason video games as a result of I need to see the place battles with the underside third of the Cleveland Browns roster. Take the offensive line as an example. Sure, this was a sport with backups in opposition to backups. However finally, these guys turn into plug-in gamers and typically even starters when accidents decimate a roster. Two gamers stood out on this sport: OT Dawand Jones and OG Wes Martin. Jones lacked that fast first step whereas at Ohio State, and now he has developed this because of O-Line Coach Invoice Callahan.

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From what I noticed, no defensive participant was capable of get round Jones throughout his time within the lineup. Primarily, he simply retains pushing his man deeper and deeper on passing downs. Martin was stout in his stance and had an excellent sport, particularly run-blocking. OG Drew Forbes then again regarded dangerous. The sack within the first half was his man, a holding name, and he couldn’t determine a counter to the spin transfer of DT Isaiah Mack. C Nick Harris labored nicely at heart and even sealed off the second stage at the least thrice I noticed after chipping his man he then attacked the linebacker. Rookie Luke Wypler had some good snaps and will likely be studying however didn’t look nice nor horrible. Each of those males ought to make the ultimate roster as succesful backups. Michael Dunn is unquestionably the primary offensive lineman off the bench.

2. I completely loved the sideline interview with Jets QB Aaron Rodgers whereas he was on headset. Love him or suppose he’s odd, he at all times says what’s on his thoughts and doesn’t embellish or sugarcoat. He gave like to not solely the Inexperienced Bay group but in addition to Jordan Love and (gulp) Brett Favre. That was bizarre. Him in his ballcap and salt-and-pepper beard regarded so much like Kevin Stefanski 2.0. Possibly in two years when Rodgers lastly retires, he’ll turn into a QB coach, then an OC earlier than operating his personal group? He’s single and with none youngsters, so what else is he going to do? He owns 4 properties in three states. However his views of the New York space and all the large metropolis stuff he has been launched to since changing into a Jet had been good tales like he was a vacationer. It made residing in Wisconsin all these years appear small city. Oh wait, Inexperienced Bay is a small city.

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3. Only one yr I wish to see Cleveland RB John Kelly make this 53-man roster. Yearly he tears up the preseason after which will get minimize earlier than languishing on the observe squad all season. He runs laborious and isn’t the best to convey down. The largest holes he discovered on this sport had been to the aspect of Jones and Martin. Completed the sport with 10 carries for 42 yards.

4. When you didn’t know who Joe Thomas was once they launched him and his son on the printed, however knew he was about to be inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame, your finest guess would have been he’s a decent finish. Possibly a defensive finish. However no means an offensive deal with. The dude have to be like solely 260 kilos. In my interview with him final month, he instructed me even again to his Wisconsin days, he needed to work at holding the burden on. Geez, who wouldn’t need that drawback? Did you learn what he did each night time simply earlier than mattress so as to add poundage? Woman Scouts Skinny Mint cookies include two plastic sleeves in a single field. He would down two massive glasses of entire milk with one sleeve, then fall asleep and let that churn and add weight. Now, he swims consistently, does yoga, and watches what he eats. Photographs of him massive with a spherical face and large shoulders are lengthy gone.

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5. Wish to see rookie WR Cedric Tillman in the principle offense a bit extra earlier than passing judgment on him at this stage. He has nice palms, that’s sure. His dimension is a little bit of a mismatch. However how is his route operating in opposition to cornerbacks who’ve seen strikes like that and already know how you can assault it? How is his catch level? Does he combat for the ball whereas in flight or attempt to work across the defender as an alternative? Had two catches and three targets for 35 yards.

6. The Browns discovered the reply to “when Deshaun retires” who will likely be underneath heart with the debut of rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson. He didn’t make each nice determination, however he made a bunch of them with each his legs and arm. DTR has a pleasant contact and is elusive sufficient. Troublesome to think about how nice his development will likely be in a number of years if he can shine now in his first sport. And he can lay down an excellent block. What quarterback does that? Hopefully, Deshaun will work his magic this yr, and hope he stays upright. I’m not bought on Josh Dobbs in any respect. It appears clear already that QB Kellen Mond is the odd man out. No a part of his sport appears to be like such as you would insert him into an precise sport.

7. The offense give up throwing to WR Anthony Schwartz as a result of he was fumble-fingered and so the jet sweep seemed to be his contribution. Besides he simply can’t maintain onto any ball on any given day. They’ve tried him at each kickoff and punt return and are operating out of issues for him to do. What use is that Olympic velocity if he can’t deal with the ball? Is that this the start of the tip for him? Exhausting to dump a third-round draft decide. Demetric Felton is one other enigma. He ran again kicks whereas at UCLA and isn’t displaying him being a menace in any respect. The lanes he chooses are performed too late and he doesn’t appear to have a lot of a burst. The large receiver room is full so going again to that appears a lifeless finish, so both he makes it as RB3 behind Jerome Ford and forward of Kelly or he could also be carpooling with Schwartz to the unemployment workplace.

8. You already know I’ve to throw in some professional soccer historical past. The Jets started because the Titans of New York of the NFL-rival entity the American Soccer League in 1960. They weren’t the “New York Titans” as a result of their official identify was “The Titans of New York.” The unique colours had been yellow and blue.

The AFL felt that they needed to have a franchise in New York Metropolis and located an proprietor who operated on a shoestring all three years he owned the franchise. In 1962, the league backed the group with a $40,000 reward to maintain it afloat. The next yr the AFL took over the membership halfway by the yr and began on the lookout for a brand new proprietor. Because the Titans struggled financially early, New York promoting government Artwork Modell turned down a proposal in 1961 earlier than shopping for the Browns. In 1964 the league lastly discovered Leon Hess who owned a string of gasoline stations and was the founding father of Hess Oil and Chemical. He moved the franchise from the traditional Polo Grounds to their new dwelling Shea Stadium which was positioned between two airports after which modified the identify to “Jets.” The stadium was additionally dwelling to the baseball “Mets” so the brand new group identify appeared to suit. Hess additionally altered the colours to inexperienced and white to honor his Irish heritage, and since his birthday was on St. Patrick’s Day.

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9. That loud thud you heard within the fourth quarter was the work of LB Charlie Thomas III. I did an article on him final week and for those who learn it, you see he comes with loads of accolades. The difficulty is that he’s solely 207 kilos. Can the Browns transfer him to security? In highschool, he had a military of colleges attempting to recruit him as an All-State security. So, that isn’t out of the query. However for now, his house is the linebacker room. One other linebacker, Tony Fields, was in every single place in opposition to the Jets. In my interview with him, he stated he has waited for this flip to compete for a beginning place and feels that is his yr. If he retains taking part in like a Ninja, DC Jim Schwartz goes to need to discover a method to get him on the sector. One factor I discover about his play, he doesn’t hesitate to react after which fills a gap to go after his man. He has nice instincts which you’ll’t coach. Fields is the son of a highschool soccer coach. He led the Browns’ protection in opposition to the Jets with six complete tackles and one deal with for loss. Thomas was second in complete tackles with 5 and one deal with for loss. Make that one deal with for a really loud loss.

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10. What number of dropped interceptions did the Browns have on this sport? Three? 4? It was ridiculous. It was that the defensive backs would run routes with the receivers in drills in order that they may hone their pass-catching abilities. Quite a lot of these athletes have performed receiver anyway in highschool. Actually, that must be an NFL stat for defenders. Receivers have “drops.” Why can’t defensive gamers? Each High-10 protection is a turnover machine. Schwartz has his work minimize out concerning this facet.