The first Browns preseason game shows why both Eric Mangini and Mike Holmgren had some very good ideas.
Fans had to take on faith for seven months that the pairing of Eric Mangini and Mike Holmgren would bear fruit for the Cleveland Browns. On one Saturday night in Green Bay, Terry Pluto says real proof was provided that validated the two men and the rest of the revamped Browns braintrust.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Why did the Browns look so good in Saturday's 27-24 preseason victory at Green Bay?
Begin with new team President Mike Holmgren, and his decision to keep Eric Mangini as coach.
Holmgren certainly is not afraid of change; just check all the new names, beginning with General Manager Tom Heckert to the scouts, advisors and others in the front office.
But he thought Mangini deserved more than a single season as head coach. He knew that a year ago, Mangini arrived with soft voice, but fire in his eyes to establish some discipline and dump those players who were unwilling to get with his program.
What program is that?
We saw it in the final four games of last season, when the Browns played savvy, gritty football with very limited talent. They were 4-0 in lousy weather when most bad teams quit on their coach.
We really saw it Saturday in Green Bay, where they again played smart, tough football -- and showed at least a little more talent than last season's 5-11 team.
A year ago, the Browns couldn't even stay on the field with Green Bay. There was a 31-3 spanking in Cleveland on October 25, and a deceiving 17-0 loss in the preseason opener where the Browns were totally overwhelmed.
If Saturday's game counted and if Aaron Rodgers (12-of-13 passing, 159 yards) had remained in the game, would the Browns have won in Green Bay? Probably not.
But at the very least, the Browns made it interesting.
That's because the Browns -- ranked last offensively a year ago -- looked very professional when they had the ball. Starter Jake Delhomme (6-of-7, 66 yards) was poised. You could tell that backup Seneca Wallace (4-of-8, 72 yards, 2 TDs) has started 10 games in the last two seasons. His ability to scramble and throw on the run makes him a very valuable weapon.
Passes were thrown to three different tight ends -- love that Evan Moore! New running back Peyton Hillis showed he could be a third-down back who can catch a pass. Running behind the bulldozer of fullback Lawrence Vickers, Jerome Harrison scored from five yards out.
Lots of variety and competence from the first team offense. When was the last time we could say that?
The Browns were flagged for five penalties, none from the starters. People lined up in the right spots. They clearly have been practicing with a purpose. They may have found gold with two second-rounders. Rookie safety T.J. Ward lived up to his hard-hitting, teeth-rattling hype. A year ago, Brian Robiskie was the forgotten rookie. Saturday, he was the main receiver.
This is not about being giddy, talking about a 10-6 record and the playoffs.
But it is about how Mangini does have the attention of his players. It about how Holmgren took the right approach in importing Delhomme and Wallace.
Did you see what Brady Quinn did in his opener for Denver? He was 6-of-16 passing for 68 yards, an interception and several poorly thrown balls that have led to speculation he's headed to being the No. 3 quarterback behind Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow. Quinn's passing has been erratic in practice.
Derek Anderson was 12-of-22 for 88 yards for Arizona. He did throw for a touchdown, but had two passes picked off and a few others nearly intercepted. Can you imagine another year of Brady/DA?
Maybe Delhomme will fade into the guy who kept throwing the ball to the other team last season. Maybe the defense has more problems than trying to stop an elite quarterback in Rodgers. Maybe the lack of talented impact players will prevent even a .500 season playing the NFL's 10th toughest schedule.
But it's the middle of August, and the Browns look good.
For that, fans can feel relieved.