Cade York makes his first three field goals, but misses twice with game on the line
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
PHILADELPHIA
Instant takeaways from Browns 18-18 tie with the Philadelphia Eagles …1. A meaningful night: Whosoever said preseason games are meaningless exhibitions of nothingness might receive a billed cap emoji from a few Browns players. Two on the roster bubble made the most of their playing time in the Browns’ 18-18 tie with the Eagles in Lincoln Financial Field. Cade York was silencing his doubters by making 3 of 3 field goals, but he missed from 41 yards with a chance to win the game after the 2-minute warning. York had missed from 47 yards but was given a reprieve on a Philadelphia penalty. With everyone expecting another light show by electric rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the night belonged to linebacker hopeful Mohamoud Diabate and wide receiver Austin Watkins. Diabate, who started at linebacker, burst from under radar in his rookie training camp with an impressive night. He made a tackle of Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell for a safety on the Browns’ first defensive series and later stripped a fumble after a catch by Eagles running back Trey Sermon, which led to another three points. Counting a tackle inside the 25 on a Cleveland kickoff, Diabate finished with six tackles in the first half. He also pressured Eagles quarterback Marcus Mariota into a sack credited to safety Tanner McCalister. As for Watkins, he was the best offensive player in Cleveland uniform on a night the starters watched from the sideline. Continuing a flawless training camp, the USFL import caught seven of eight catchable balls in 14 targets for a game-high 139 yards. He pulled in one with his right hand for a 23-yard gain and topped that with TD catch of 32 yards from Kellen Mond.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate's big night included a safety and stripped fumble. (Cleveland Browns)
2. Take that: York was denied a confidence-building, chip-shot field goal attempt on the first offensive series when Kevin Stefanski again went for it on fourth down. But he got two chances in the second quarter and nailed them from 43 and 37 yards, and then made another from 43 to the other side of the field in the third quarter. His two misses with a chance to win – the first drifted wide right, the other was pulled left after his plant foot slipped – will only increase the noise with one preseason game to go.
3. DTR was OK: Thompson-Robinson started the game and had his best series on the opening drive after Stefanski made the rare choice to take the ball first. He converted two third downs with completions of 15 yards to Cedric Tillman and 11 to Anthony Schwartz, moved deep into Eagles territory with a 36-yard connection with Tillman and converted a fourth-and-1 from the 7 with a keeper. DTR was knocked in the helmet going down after the run by linebacker Nakobe Dean, but he jumped to his feet and gave an emphatic first-down signal. The drive blew up when John Kelly lost a fumble at the 1-yard line. DTR was less-than-electrifying after that. He finished his half of work with 13 of 25 passing for 164 yards and one sack. He left with an 8-3 lead.
4. Two for two: For the second game in a row, the Browns’ defense scored first on a safety. This time it was a tackle in the end zone of running back Kenneth Gainwell by Diabate. Last week against Washington, the Browns scored a safety when linemen Za’Darius Smith and Dalvin Tomlinson forced a holding penalty in the end zone.
5. DTR unfazed: In the HOF Game in Canton, Thompson-Robinson threw a block on a Demetric Felton touchdown run. Last night, he was a little overzealous on a 12-yard Felton run late in the first quarter. He decked Eagles safety Terrell Edmunds from behind and was flagged for an illegal blindside block. Edmunds, by the way, was one of the few Eagles starters who played.
6. A rising ballhawk: When Eagles starting QB Marcus Mariota overthrew tight end Grant Calcaterra late in the first quarter, the ball found the welcome arms of Ronnie Hickman. It was the third interception in four quarters of preseason football for the undrafted safety from Ohio State. Hickman is making a concerted run at a roster spot via the fourth safety role and backup to strong safety Grant Delpit in a battle with incumbent D’Anthony Bell. Alas, Hickman had to leave the game in the second quarter. He was evaluated for a concussion and did not return.
7. Schwartz update: After a fairly good two days of practice, Anthony Schwartz seemed to gain some confidence. Schwartz made a catch of 11 yards on his first target. After two incompletions on uncatchable balls, Schwartz had a DTR spiral bang off his hands. Later, he lost 5 yards on a reverse run on a toss from DTR. Another uncatchable target completed his first half. Schwartz made a catch for 4 yards in the third quarter to convert a fourth-and-2.8. Get well soon: Eagles receiver Tyrie Cleveland was carted into the locker room after a scary fall on his neck after an attempted catch. The game was delayed several minutes in the third quarter and players from both teams knelt and prayed while Cleveland was being meticulously immobilized. Soon after, the Eagles announced the injury indeed was to Cleveland’s neck and he had movement in all extremities. Cleveland was a feel-good story in Eagles camp, a former practice squad signee making a real run at a roster spot. Incredibly, another Eagles player was immobilized and carted off in the fourth quarter. Defensive tackle Moro Ojomo was injured chasing Mond during a scramble. During a fall, he appeared to hit his head on a teammate. The Eagles announced Ojomo suffered a neck injury and he, too, had movement in all extremities. 9. Pre-game info: The Browns listed 36 players who would not play. Beyond the obvious starters, they included linebackers Anthony Walker & Sione Takitaki and returner-receiver Jakeem Gant. Players not on the DNP list included quarterback Joshua Dobbs (possible emergency only), defensive tackle Jordan Elliott and offensive tackles James Hudson and Dawand Jones.
