The Cleveland Browns committed five turnovers during Saturday's game against the St. Louis Rams last week. Center Alex Mack says the team came back after those bad plays. But coach Eric Mangini didn't dismiss the fumbles as much as Mack, writes Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald. Mangini is good at digging up statistics to prove his point and came up with...
Alex Mack Center Alex Mack says the team came back after those bad plays. But coach Eric Mangini didn't dismiss the fumbles as much as Mack, writes Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald.
Mangini is good at digging up statistics to prove his point and came up with a beauty to illustrate the hole the Browns dug themselves.
Mangini said in the last five years, only once in 40 games did a team with a negative-5 takeaway-giveaway ratio win the game. Despite the bad weather, the Rams had no turnovers Saturday.
"You might as well play the Powerball," Mangini said. "You have no chance of winning."
Schudel also writes that Mangini was equally frustrated by the defense committing penalties on third down three times.
"The conditions were not great, but they weren't great for the Rams, either," Mangini said. "That's one of the reasons I believe so firmly in practicing in the elements. For the time being, we can rent out the indoor facility for a car show, because we're not going in there any time soon.
"It's going to be hot in Tampa. It's going to be cold here. We're going to have snow and wind. It affects the footing, the ball handling and passing the ball. Those are things we need to be able to play through and be successful."
Good and bad
ESPN's James Walker writes what was good and bad about the Cleveland Browns' 19-17 loss against the St. Louis Rams Saturday.
Walker likes what he saw in starting quarterback Jake Delhomme and how he has looked good in both of his preseason games. Walker especially liked the play from fullback Lawrence Vickers.
He punished Rams linebackers and defensive backs. The Browns like their big package with Vickers blocking for running back Peyton Hillis, who had a team-high 12 carries for 51 yards.
The bad was obvious. The Browns had five turnovers and didn't force any on defense.
Surprisingly, the Browns' pass rush didn't show up. Cleveland had zero sacks against the shaky offensive line of the Rams, who are projected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL this season. St. Louis passed 34 times without allowing a sack.
Peyton's place
Peyton Hillis is making himself known, especially with the fans during his play against the St. Louis Rams.
Stephanie Storm writes on Ohio.com about Hillis' impressive second quarter during the Browns' first scoring drive.
The bull-dozing Hillis bounced off defenders and broke multiple tackles on a 9-yard gain that left him so pumped up, he flexed for the crowd, stomping his feet for emphasis when he got up after finally being dragged down.
''He is tough with the ball in his hands,'' Browns coach Eric Mangini said after the game. ''He is more elusive than you think for a guy his size.''
Perfect match
Quarterback Jake Delhomme is the right man at the right time for the Cleveland Browns. He had another impressive preseason outing last Saturday, but it was more than just the numbers.
Ohio.com columnist Marla Ridenour writes how the Browns have not had as good of a field general since Bernie Kosar. She gives an example during last Saturday's preseason game.
After struggling through the first three series, which included three fumbles, two by running back Jerome Harrison, Delhomme recovered nicely. He rallied his charges with two second-quarter scoring drives, and it could have been three if Peyton Hillis had not been stopped a yard short on fourth-and-3 from the Rams' 17. Delhomme also lamented a little too much air on a throw to Brian Robiskie in the end zone on that same series.