Browns vs. Bucs: 4 storylines to watch tonight
By Thomas Moore
Aug 20, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback EJ Manuel (3) is sacked by Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Xavier Cooper (96) during the third quarter of a preseason game at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns will be in Raymond James Stadium tonight to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in what is generally considered the most important of the four preseason friendlies that team’s play.
This won’t be the typical “dress rehearsal” for the Browns, however, thanks to the ongoing issues with backup quarterback Johnny Manziel‘s elbow. While the team would normally play the starters – most notably quarterback Josh McCown – into the third quarter, but the risk of losing McCown to an injury may outweigh the reward of letting the starters go deep into the game and build a nice offensive rhythm.
“We are going to meet as a staff and decide if there are certain players we want to extend into the third quarter,” head coach Mike Pettine said earlier this week. “With some of the units, it will depend on the number of plays they get. If one side of the ball, if the play count is very lopsided offensively or defensively either way, we could make that decision in game to go ahead and extend them. We are going to tell them to be prepared, all of them, to be prepared to go into the second half, and if it happens, it happens.”
Related: Browns vs. Bucs: 4 Questions with The Pewter Plank
Here are four quick storylines we’ll be watching tonight:
Keep McCown in one piece: More so than ever, McCown needs to come out of this game in one piece. If he goes down with any kind of injury that would force him to miss games in the regular season, the Browns are going to truly be in a tough spot.
The offensive line struggled to keep defenders off McCown against Buffalo, and while the Buccaneers are not as dominant up front as the Bills, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is a three-time Pro Bowler and linebacker Lavonte David is a former All-Pro.
Key quote: “You get extended work in (the third game) and it can be viewed that way,” McCown said this week. “I think you just want to go out and get efficient work and continue to build. It is important from that standpoint because you know you are going to be on the field longer and you get an opportunity to get in rhythms and put drives together.”
Aug 13, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor (87) plays catch on the sideline in a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Redskins at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Return to health: After missing large chunks of practice time and the first two preseason friendlies, wide receivers Dwayne Bowe and Terrelle Pryor, along with running back Duke Johnson, are expected to finally see the field tonight.
Bowe is a lock to make the team, but it will still be nice to see him on the field. Even though he is a veteran, we have to think he needs some time working against opposing defenses to get himself ready for the season opener.
The Browns drafted Johnson with the plan of utilizing his speed to create mismatches out of the backfield. Now that Johnson’s hamstring issues are (hopefully) resolved, they can finally start to implement that plan.
As for Pryor, his chances of making the team, already a major long shot, have been almost extinguished by his not being able to practice or play. Even if he looks respectable tonight going up against the backups in Tampa’s less-than-stellar secondary, will that be enough for him to earn a roster spot over a player who has played the wide receiver position his entire life?
Key quote: “We know he’s a project. We understand that,” Pettine said of Pryor. “We’re not expecting him to go out there and light it up and catch 10 balls for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Just continue to get better. At the beginning to just make that decision and come into a training camp and say, ‘Hey, I’m going to switch my position,’ our expectations weren’t real high for him by the end of training camp to be a viable player at wide out.
“We understand it’s a process. It’s just been unfortunate with the injury, the setbacks that we haven’t been able to get as good of an evaluation as we wanted.”
Cutdown days are looming:
On Tuesday, the NFL teams have to make their first roster cuts of the preseason, trimming the current 90-man roster down to a maximum of 70 players.
While it would come as a surprise if the Browns cut any of the more-familiar players on Tuesday, hard decisions on coming, especially along the defensive line.
The Browns opened the season with seven defensive linemen last year and there are a lot of bodies currently vying for spots on the line. We can pencil in Randy Starks, Desmond Bryant, Phil Taylor, Danny Shelton, John Hughes and Xavier Cooper for roster spots.
That leaves several players, including incumbents Billy Winn and Ishmaa’ily Kitchen fighting to make an impression, be it with the Browns or with another team.
Key quote: “Anything can change and anything can happen,” Winn said. “I just have to go out there and put it on tape. Not only am I trying out for this team, I’m also trying out for 31 other teams. That’s just how the NFL works and that’s what you’ve got to do.”
Aug 20, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns kicker Travis Coons (6) kicks a field goal during the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
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The kicking game: Much of the discussion has been on the quarterback situation, and while we hope the Browns are committed to focusing on touchdowns not field goals this fall, they still need to select a kicker.
Rookies Carey Spear and Travis Coons have done their job so far when called upon, so with two games to go it is anyone’s pick as to which will make the club. It is one of the odder training camp battles in recent memory, but at least Spear and Coons are making it as hard as possible on the coaching staff, rather than leaving the team with the task of choosing between the lesser of two evils.
Key quote: “I think it’s still to be played out. I really do,” special teams coordinator Chris Tabor said. “I’m waiting for one of them to take it by the horns, so to speak, and if one of them is the kicker then yes, obviously, we made that decision and we’ll be confident in that player.”