The third preseason game for the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots did not include a lot of players who will play a lot of snaps in Week 1, but it did include a lot of roster bubble guys. The amazing Browns fans were planning to tune in, with QBs Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green taking the snaps this week:
The biggest stories coming out of the game will be any injuries and how those bubble players perform with the chances that they are given. Some of the evaluation is tougher given the level
of talent on the other side of the field, with the Patriots also not playing their top guys. Take everything within that perspective.
A few takeaways from Thursday Night Football off the shores of Lake Erie:
Rocket Sanders looks good
Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson have locked up the top of the depth chart, but Raheim Sanders still has to secure his spot as the third guy. A few carries in the first few series looked like Sanders, nicknamed “Rocket,” is on his way to having that role.
Luke Floriea trying to make Browns roster decision tough
One of Shedeur Sanders’ favorite targets, Floriea just keeps making plays, including this touchdown from Gabriel:
And again!
Defensive questions
CB D’Angelo Ross is a special teams star and looked totally out of place getting beat for a touchdown throw where he wasn’t anywhere near the receiver while looking into the backfield. Overall, the defense made a couple of big plays, but seemed to benefit from the bad New England offense more than making stops themselves.
Dillon Gabriel shows talent, value
As noted above, level of competition is a key reference point, but Gabriel showed out in the first half. Not only with the stats, but the long-term college starter looked under control, was rarely rattled, and was smooth with his decisions and delivery of passes. As much as Monken values “operation,” Gabriel was pretty clean throughout.
As for the stats, this is Preseason Performance Hall of Fame level:
- 12 for 15
- 186 yards
- 3 touchdowns
- 4 rushes, 3 yards
- 157.9 rating
There were some very good throws, as well as his receivers making plays and Patriots defenders not making the plays they needed to. For example, the text of this tweet is… interesting… given the play being made by RB Ahmani Marshall after a simple Gabriel pass, but a touchdown is a touchdown:
QB run going to be a big piece of the offense
Both Gabriel and Green ran some zone read and other quarterback run-oriented plays. Green’s QB sweep was really well designed and put defenders in difficult positions.
It is one reason I believe Watson won the starting QB job and think the QB run will be a huge part of this
Al Michaels just saying whatever was funny
Michaels made a number of mistakes, railed on the refs, the virtual measurement, and more. Perhaps too much celebration of his 60th wedding anniversary (seriously, that is amazing). Given that the game didn’t matter, Michaels being a little less professional, and showing a little chest hair, was kind of appropriate.
Taylen Green’s legs a weapon, a few good passes too
As noted above, the QB run game was shown more in this game, but Green’s legs were useful as a scrambler as well. Defenders have to be ready for the run from Green, which can open up lanes for the running backs in option oriented palys and even receivers in some passing concepts.
Green finished with eight rushes for 66 yards.
Not everything was perfect, of course, but Green hit a few passes as well, including a key checkdown to Floreia to keep a drive going.
Social media and our game chat were full of ideas to have a package for Green or to use him on sneaks, the problem there is that Cleveland would have to keep three quarterbacks on their active game-day roster, instead of two and an emergency third QB. Seems unlikely unless injuries require it. Green is only likely to be active if/when he’s the backup QB (or starter).
4 running backs?
Davon Booth and Marshall both made plays in the third preseason game. Will the Browns keep four running backs and rely on a tight end to take the fullback role? Veteran FB Michael Burton hasn’t practiced during training camp, while Rocket Sanders, Booth, and Marshall have all made a case for making the roster as well. Perhaps Monken gets creative with his usage, including Sanders taking some snaps at fullback.
What were your takeaways from Browns vs Patriots?
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