Cleveland Browns Preseason Week 1 reactions: Different type of QB controversy emerges
By John Suchan
There were several things to take in during the Cleveland Browns win in Week 1 of the preseason, including a potential battle for the QB2 spot
The Cleveland Browns had waited since last January to hit the field under the lights again and play another football game. Saturday, they got to play their first preseason game of the season since that loss against the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs.
In their first game action since that tough loss, the Browns looked good overall, especially their revamped defense as they defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 23-13.
Here are three areas that popped off the screen and field that should have Browns fans very excited about the upcoming season.
3. The revamped and aggressive defense
The Browns have made major changes on the defensive end of the field this new season and that more aggressive defense certainly made an impression in this first preseason matchup. Trevor Lawrence, the number one draft pick in the NFL draft got a rude welcoming by the Browns defense as Browns lineman Sheldon Day sacked him on his first pass attempt in the NFL.
Later in the half, the Jags had another offensive possession where they faced a 4th-and-1 the Browns blew up the try by getting a great interior push by Browns lineman Malik Jackson and Jordan Elliott and finished off by Browns linebacker Malcolm Smith on the tackle.
The Browns shut out the Jags through the first half and were very aggressive on the interior by pressuring the Jags leaving their new secondary players to protect the outside. The Browns had three sacks on the Jags in the first half including one by Porter Gustin, one by Day, and the other by rookie Jeremiah Owusu- Koramoah.
That aggressiveness paid off for the secondary as Richard LeCounte III, the newly drafted rookie safety out of Georgia almost snagged one interception, before securing one on the last play of the first half. The Browns defense ended the night with two interceptions, so a nice start to what should be a fun defense to watch this season.