The Browns have lost their last two preseason games, but feel much better about the team than they did a year ago. Also, Jake Delhomme and Ndamukong Suh, Shaun Lauvao, and more.
First-year Browns such as running back Peyton Hillis have brought a new confidence to the team.Cleveland, Ohio -- Winning an NFL exhibition...sorry, preseason...game means little.
Losing a couple doesn't matter much, either.
Maintaining health, roster decisions and trying to establish some consistency and efficiency on the offense, defense and special teams are much more important than practice-game final socres.
The Cleveland Browns, after winning their first preseason contest, have lost their last two, including Saturday's 35-27 decision at Detroit against the Lions. They finish the preseason schedule on Thursday night against the Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns Stadium, then prepare for the Sept. 12 season opener on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Steve Doerschuk writes for the Canton Repository that despite an oh-fer in the win column for the Browns the last two weeks, there is now a confidence within the team that was lacking in 2009 -- when the Browns began the regular season 1-11.
Doerschuk writes (referring to quarterback Jake Delhomme and tight end Ben Watson):
Guys like Delhomme, Watson and Peyton Hillis aren’t strapped to any same-old-Browns baggage. They’re looking for adventure as first-timers in Cleveland.
“You can definitely feel a new breath of fresh air, like some good things are going to happen,” said Hillis, a bruising back. “I think we can produce a lot. We have great talent across the board.”
Browns covered
The Plain Dealer and the Browns' cleveland.com/browns section on the PD website continues to cover the Browns.
Coverage includes PD Browns beat writer Tony Grossi's report that Jim Brown won't attend the Browns Ring of Honor ceremony; PD Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot's report on the controversial tackle of Browns quarterback Jake Delhomme by Detroit's Ndamukong Suh; Grossi's podcast; Cabot's report on the concussion suffered by Browns safety Nick Sorenson; Cabot's story about Delhomme's preseason performance; columnist Bud Shaw's opinions on the Browns in his Starting Blocks TV visit.
Take care
The Browns have committed a slew of turnovers in the last two games. Running back Jerome Harrison protected the football well last season, but he's been hit with a sudden case of fumble-itis.
Don Delco writes about the turnovers for the Orange and Brown Report on Scout.com, quoting Harrison:
“All coach (Mangini) said to me was to just take care of the ball,” Harrison said. “(Fumbles are) not me and not a part of my game. He just tapped me on the back and said, ‘Take care of it.’”
In three games, Harrison has 23 carries for 74 yards and one touchdown. Last season, Harrison finished with a career-high 862 yards on 194 carries, five touchdowns and two fumbles.
Shawn Lauvao contains Suh
On the blog WaitingForNextYear, Rick writes that Browns rookie guard and third-round draft pick Shawn Lauvao held his own against the Lions' Ndamukong Suh, the second overall pick last April:
Suh used a variety of moves against Lauvao and Shawn was ready. I thought his footwork was excellent most of the time, and he used his hips well against the bull rush. In the running game he even got movement on the bigger Suh. Watch Hillis’ touchdown run (if you can find it, I couldn’t online) and see the push Lauvao gets against Suh. It was fantastic.
Rick also writes that Lauvao gave a great effort on the play that Suh made his dirty hit on Delhomme.
Two-minute warning
The Canton Repository's Steve Doerschuk writes about tight end Evan Moore.
Don Delco's Browns notes, including one about the right side of the offensive line, for the Orange and Brown Report on Scout.com.
The Chicago Bears -- the Browns' opponent on Thursday night -- have some problems, writes Kevin Seifert for ESPN.com.
Ndamukong Suh needs to check the NFL rules, Doug Farrar writes for Yahoo! Sports.
A Sports Xchange report on Josh Cribbs for the Orange and Brown Report section on Scout.com.
Matt Florjancic writes for ClevelandBrowns.com about Jake Delhomme and about the Browns' ground crew.
The daily Browns blog on Scout.com's Orange and Brown Report.