The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Kessler improves; too late to save job
• Cody Kessler started at quarterback against the Bears in the final preseason game and fought for his life behind an offensive line that was comprised of 80 percent backups. He righted himself in the second quarter and threw a perfect backshoulder pass to Rannell Hall for the only touchdown of the first half.
Kessler is fighting Kevin Hogan for a backup job and went into the game seemingly behind Hogan. Kessler’s final first half numbers were 11 of 19 for 144 yards with the touchdown. He was also sacked three times.
Kessler’s biggest problem is a lack of arm strength, and it showed again against the Bears. Coach Hue Jackson is going to have to live with that for another season if he decides to keep the 2016 third-round pick
from Southern Cal.
• Some fans thought DeShone Kizer should have played in the final preseason game. Sure, another two quarters in an NFL game would have helped him prepare for the opener against the Steelers on Sept. 10, but Jackson gave starters left tackle Joe Thomas, center JC Tretter and right guard Kevin Zeitler the night off. Starting left guard Joel Bitonio missed his third preseason game with a knee injury and was replaced by John Greco.
Right tackle Shon Coleman was the only starter on the line to play. The late Bud Carson, Browns head coach in 1989 and the first half of
1990, succinctly explained why he chose not to play Bernie Kosar in a similar situation. “We didn’t want to get Bernie killed,” Carson said. That is the same reason Kizer did not play.
• Sashi Brown, Browns executive vice president of football operations, might decide to keep only one quarterback behind Kizer. It doesn’t have to be Brock Osweiler, but going with either Kessler or Hogan as Kizer’s only backup is asking for trouble.
Osweiler did not play against the Bears — his second straight preseason game as a spectator. The Browns could keep him as part of the 53-man roster when cuts are made on Sept. 2, claim a veteran quarterback on waivers — a Josh McCown type — and then cut Osweiler if they want a veteran to support
Kizer.
• If the preseason is an indication of what to expect from defensive coordinator Gregg Williams in the regular season, the Browns will not go into a prevent defense at the end of the first half or the end of the game. The Bears, with Connor Shaw at quarterback, took over with two minutes to play in the first half. The Browns blitzed on first and second down and forced a punt.
• The biggest question going into the game — finding receivers to play behind Corey Coleman — wasn’t answered. The best catch of the first half was a one-handed grab made by Jordan Leslie.
As it stands, Ricardo Louis and Rashard Higgins, each with two catches in the first half, seem locks to make the team, but they
have not wowed anybody. It’s just that the rest of the receiving corps has been unimpressive.
Leslie and Hall have both been better than 2016 fifthround draft choice Jordan Payton and Kenny Britt, and for that matter Higgins. Britt, who did not play against the Bears, signed a four-year, $32.5 million, $17 million guaranteed, in the offseason. That is the only reason Britt is going to make the team.
• Rookie Zane Gonzalez might have won the kicking battle with a 53-yard field goal in the third quarter. He missed a 55-yard field goal attempt in sloppy conditions last week.
Cody Parkey was 2-for-2 in the preseason. The edge might go to Gonzalez because every one of his kickoffs sales out of the end zone.