The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Kizer looked like a leader, and a starter, vs. Saints
Browns relishing a victory after going 0-4 in preseason last year
• DeShone Kizer took the lead in the quarterback derby with a superb second half in the Browns’ preseason opener on Aug. 10. His clutch fourthdown 45-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Payton with 1:52 remaining was the difference in the 20-14 victory.
Kizer took over at the start of the third quarter following Cody Kessler and made the best pass of any quarterback from either team on his third possession. After being sacked on an inside rush from the Saints — and looking disgusted — Kizer threw deep and hooked up with unknown receiver Richard Delaney for 52 yards to set up a one-yard touchdown run by Terrance Magee.
Kizer finished the night 11 of 18 for 184 yards. He had to overcome three sacks. His success came against the New Orleans backups, but he was playing with Browns backups.
After beating the Saints, Coach Hue Jackson said it is too soon to say Kizer earned the start against the Giants on Aug. 21 in the second preseason game. It will be a shock if Kizer doesn’t get the start.
• The Browns are relishing beating the Saints after going 0-4 in the preseason last year. Saints coach Sean Payton chose not to play his starting quarterback, Drew Brees. It doesn’t matter. The Browns feel better about themselves today than they did a year ago.
• Not to take anything away from Kizer, but sometimes preseason success is fool’s gold. The Browns don’t have playmakers who can succeed against a starting NFL defense. That’s why you’ll often see the quarterback overthrow the receiver. When coverage is so tight a tissue couldn’t fit between the cornerback and receiver, the quarterback has no choice but to throw the ball away. This is not a surprise. Terrelle Pryor was the only playmaker on the team last year. The Browns let him escape to the Redskins in free agency and did not adequately replace him.
• Brock Osweiler started at quarterback and played four series. He drove the Browns to the Saints 3 on his final possession. Jackson could have gone for a field goal on fourth down, but elected to go for the touchdown. A pass intended for Kenny Britt was broken up. Earlier in the same possession, Britt failed to get both feet down in bounds on a pass in the back right corner of the end zone. Britt is one of those receivers who don’t scare anybody.
Osweiler did nothing to separate himself from the other quarterbacks, but again, the problems were not all caused by him. He completed 6 of 14 passes for 42 yards.
• The Browns’ run defense needs a lot of work before the opener Sept. 10 if the preseason opener is an indication of what to expect. The Saints rested Adrian Peterson and Mark Ingram, their top two running backs, but it didn’t matter. The backups still ran through the Browns on the first two series. The Saints rushed for 47 yards on eight carries in the first quarter, mostly against the Browns’ starting defense. They had runs of 22 and 14 yards.
• Cameron Erving showed last season he has no business playing center in the NFL and he proved in the preseason opener he isn’t a left tackle.
Jackson gave 11-year veteran Joe Thomas the night off and replaced him with Erving. Erving was called for a false start and a holding on consecutive plays on the Browns’ first possession. In Erving’s defense (and he is difficult to defend) he has played more right tackle than left tackle in practice.
Shon Coleman, the starting right tackle, got a holding penalty on the Browns’ third series.
• The preseason is a learning experience for rookie Jabrill Peppers. Peppers signaled for a fair catch the second time the Saints punted and immediately regretted it because he had room to run. The next time he saw running room, and returned the punt 13 yards to the Browns 36. He returned a kickoff 27 yards.
• Saints starting left tackle Terron Armstead is out with an arm injury. Browns rookie defensive end Myles Garrett feasted on backup Kahlif Barnes, who played in Armstead’s spot. Garrett shot into the backfield on the Saints’ second possession and buried Daniel Lasco for a two-yard loss. He also stoned rookie running back Alvin Kamara for no gain.
Garrett is the exception to the criticism of the run defense.
• Keep an eye on Browns defensive end Nate Orchard. He is listed as third on the depth chart at left end behind Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib, but could soon move ahead of Nassib. He had a tackle and a half sack in the first quarter and appeared to have a half sack in the second quarter. He is clearly back from an ankle injury that sidelined him all of 2016.
• Defensive lineman Trevon Coley, one of the players Jackson labeled a pleasant surprise of training camp, fulfilled Jackson’s faith with a forced fumble.
Schudel can be reached at jschudel@news-herald. com; @jsproinsider on Twitter.