Cade York, kicking for idled starter Dustin Hopkins, got his comeback attempt off on a good foot with a 55-yard field goal in the first half v. the Packers. (Cleveland Browns)
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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.
Instant takeaways from Browns' 23-10 loss to Green Bay Packers …
1. Defensive dud: Nobody’s paying attention to the Browns’ defense so far this summer. Everybody’s expecting it to pick up from last season and be even better. That might be true of the No. 1 defense. But the backups laid an egg in the preseason opener. After Green Bay pulled its offensive starters following one TD in three plays, the Packers tacked on a touchdown and three field goals behind Jordan Love backups Sean Clifford and rookie Michael Pratt. The Packers’ 23-3 win was the worst beating in preseason in Kevin Stefanski’s five years as coach. Their four previous losses in exhibition games were by 2 points (once) and 1 point (three times). One consolation for Jim Schwartz’s defense: It allowed only one TD in three Green Bay trips in the red zone. The other two resulted in field goals. The Packers took a knee at the Browns’ 3 to end the proceedings.
2. Close to vest: The much-heralded new Browns offense was not on display. The coaches poured out nothing but vanilla. No quick screens, no pre-snap motion, very few RPOs. Dorian Thompson-Robinson had a good connection with Ahmarean Brown on a RPO throw, but a cheap ineligible receiver downfield penalty wiped it out. They reconnected two plays later for 13 yards and RB5 Aidan Robbins plowed over from the 1-yard line for the Browns’ only touchdown deep into the fourth quarter. Previously, DTR made three connections with rookie receiver Jamari Thrash for 5, 22 and 16 yards. But that drive to the Packers’ 11 ended when DTR’s fourth-down pass was batted at the line of scrimmage.
3. Famous Jameis: Jameis Winston moved the ball only 27 yards in eight plays. He played behind the No. 1 offensive line except for left guard Joel Bitonio. With top interior backup Michael Dunn unavailable, rookie free agent Javion Cohen played for Bitonio. Winston completed 4 of 5 for 30 yards, including a nice 18-yard rope to Michael Woods. An 8-yard sack was a drive-killer. Looked like left tackle James Hudson got beat on a bull rush by Packers end Lukas Van Ness. York salvaged the drive with a 55-yard field goal into the Dawg Pound end.
4. Short straws: The only Browns regulars to start on defense were tackle Quinton Jefferson, cornerback M.J. Emerson and safety Grant Delpit. It took Packers starting quarterback Jordan Love three plays to score. The NFL’s highest-paid quarterback (tied with Joe Burrow) launched a 65-yard strike to Dontayvion Wicks, who beat safety Ronnie Hickman, playing as the slot cornerback. Hickman pulled up after getting beat. He left and did not return with a back injury. Man, the Packers have some good young receivers.
5. Hybrid kickoff update: Cade York booted his first two kickoffs deep into the end zone for touchbacks, which brought the ball to the 30-yard line.York finally got the knack of keeping the ball short of the end zone on his third kickoff. Emanuel Wilson returned it 28 yards to the 31. The Packers kicked it short of the end zone on their first two tries. Pierre Strong returned the first one 27 yards to the Packers’ 36. Jaelon Darden returned the second one 25 yards to the 29.In the second half, the Browns had returns of 21 yards to the Packers’ 25 and and 28 yards to the Packers’ 33 by Ahmarean Brown. Brown’s third return from 1-yard deep went 21 yards to the 20. Let’s give the edge on this day to the Packers.
6. Not good: Schwartz couldn’t have been happy with the play of his backups at the end of the first half. Backup QB Sean Clifford moved the Packers 36 yards in the final 58 seconds to set up a 46-yard field goal by Anders Carlson and a 17-3 Green Bay lead. Clifford made a big third-down conversion to extend the drive on a 23-yard connection with Grant DuBose for 23 yards.
7. Wypler hurt: Backup center Luke Wypler suffered an injury to his right ankle early in the second quarter. He had to be carted to the locker room. Wypler was promoted to No. 2 center after veteran Brian Allen suffered a calf injury at The Greenbrier and was subsequently released. The Browns will be looking for another center this week.
8. Tall order: As expected, venerable long snapper Charley Hughlett did not play because of an undisclosed injury. Rex Sunahara, his emergency replacement, may be the world’s tallest long snapper at 6-6 1/4. Sunahara, 27, is from Bay Village.
9. Faces in the crowd: Right tackle Jack Conklin, who has continued his rehab from knee surgery exclusively inside, was on the field in pre-game. Conklin wore a wrap covering his entire left leg.
10. Pre-game notes: The Browns’ “not expected to play” list included 26 players. Most of the DNPs were obvious big-name starters and players with injuries. One minor surprise sitting out was cornerback Cameron Mitchell, who is now the starting nickel back with Greg Newsome recovering from hamstring surgery.