Realistic Expectations For Tonight's Browns Game Versus Philly

So tonight is the Browns third preseason game, which typically serves as the "dress rehearsal" where starters get their most extensive playing time before the regular season starts.  For the Browns, however, tonight may not reveal much, except that the team has a lot of injuries. 


Offensive players out for tonight include: WR Mohamed Massaquoi, WR Carlton Mitchell, OG Eric Steinbach, and RB Brandon Jackson.  WR Josh Cribbs, RB Peyton Hillis, and TE Evan Moore will either be held out or limited in their playing time.  The running back position is seriously depleted with Hillis and Jackson out.  Hardesty likely won't carry a heavy load tonight given that it is his first live game action since major knee surgery.  Cribbs is the only semblance of a veteran receiver on this roster so his absence will hurt the first unit.

Defensive players out for tonight include: Safety T.J. Ward, Safety Usama Young, and LB Chris Gocong.  With both starting safeties out, the expected starters tonight will be Mike Adams and Ray Ventrone.  That's right, Ray Ventrone is starting tonight. 

Given these injuries and the coaching staff probably not wanting to push any starters to play with injuries in the preseason, tonight's game could get ugly.  It will be difficult to assess either unit very accurately with multiple starters out, not to mention playing against a team loaded with talent. 

Usama Young has been a disappointment this preseason.  He was brought in to earn the starting safety position but has been out almost the entire training camp with a hamstring injury.  Hamstrings generally fall into two categories: 1) an outright pull that takes many weeks to heal, or 2) a tweak caused by fatigued legs.  Judging by the amount of time he has missed, Young likely falls into the first category of injury.  Once a hamstring is injured or even tweaked, it can act up again and again.  Hopefully taking a full month off will allow Young to heal up, but it could be a lingering injury all season.  The Safety position is thin on this team, and the defense cannot afford to lose starters here.

So here is what to expect tonight:

• Not much in the way of running the ball with two backs out;
• The Eagles secondary is now the most talented in the league, so look for tight coverage which may lead to Colt McCoy holding the ball longer than usual - and possibly more sacks or throw aways (but hopefully not interceptions.)
• Defensively, Vick will likely have a field day with the Browns' safeties.  Mike Adams is scrappy but he can't cover speed in the slot.  And Ray Ventrone?  I guess we'll see. 
• Expect the Browns line to stuff the run, but probably not get much pass rush.  Emphasis will be on containing Vick.

What to watch for with the first units tonight:

• Jason Pinkston as the starting left guard - let's see if he can hold his own.  Greco started there last week;
• The Eagles rely on a speed pass rush off the edge - let's see how the tackles handle it - especially Tony Pashos;
• Montario Hardesty's return - pray he stays healthy!
• Look for Jordan Norwood to get more time with the first unit - can his big plays in practice translate to the game?
• Defensively - the return of Scott Fujita and the continued development of Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard.  Buster Skrine getting work with the first unit as the nickle back.

The number one preseason goal for each coaching staff is to keep their starters healthy for the regular season.  So even if tonight doesn't go so well, there is always hope that the starters will all be ready for week one against the Bengals.  What makes this preseason a bit disconcerting is that we have yet to see either side of the ball have all the starters on the field at the same time.  With many new and younger players in new systems, it will take time and repetition for the units to develop communication, chemistry, and consistency.  Even if tonight's dress rehearsal gets ugly, count it as a win if everyone comes out of it healthy.  Any successes at all against a playoff caliber opponent would exceed expectations at this point.