I love game week, but I really love game week number one. It’s especially interesting this year because as you know I live in Nashville, TN and the first opponent are the titans. When I’m in my office, I stream a Cleveland sports talk radio station to catch any breaking news and also get commentary on the Browns and other Cleveland teams. Of course as I drive to my office, I listen to Nashville sports talk radio and get a feel for the titans and how others view the Browns.
Lets start with the preseason. Despite guest interviews from national reporters, the radio guys here in Nashville still don’t understand how great the Browns defense can be and how well the defense played in the preseason. Fourteen sacks in the last two games is impressive even in practice games. Mostly they focus on Baker Mayfield, OBJ and Freddie being a rookie coach who won’t be able to handle all the egos on the team. Blah, blah blah. As for the titans, their offensive line hasn’t been great, but will be okay for the season opener. Marcus Mariota is an average quarterback but will be fine against the Browns. Derrick Henry will start and big things will happen.
What’s going to make this week even more interesting is the trade for WR Taywan Taylor. Fans and sports talk personalities here in Nashville have been bitching about Taylor since he first stepped into the field. Okay he does drop some easy passes, but so did Beshard Perriman. After being released by the ratbirds and signed by the Browns he did pretty well as a receiver. Maybe the offensive play calling and the quarterback throwing the ball had something to do with it. Last night on one local television station, the sports guy said Taylor was traded to the Browns to “go die.” My wife heard that and immediately started laughing. Die all the way to the playoffs. Today, a radio guy called Taylor a bum and doesn’t care if he faces the titans in week one. Well, there are already reports that Taylor is giving inside information on his former team to the Browns defensive coaches.
Now, there are reports that LT Dennis Kelly missed the open session of practice today for no reason. The titans OL has been rated pretty high based on their tackles, Jake Conklin and the suspended Taylor Lewan. The interior of the line has been a disaster, especially RG. Newly signed LG Roger Saffold has been pushed back to the quarterback a couple of times in games. In game three of the preseason, head coach Mike Vrabel pulled Mariota because the OL was playing terrible. The one player on the titans that bothers me is TE Delanie Walker. He’s Mariota’s security blanket and historically the Browns have trouble stopping opposing TE’s.
Now on to the Browns. GM John Dorsey was busy over the weekend adding talent. Besides the trade for Taylor, he also traded for OL Wyatt Teller and OL Justin McCray. Taylor is not super fast, but he’s quick and can get separation from the defense. As I said last week, Teller is good and probably is the second best guard on the team. As for McCray, he can play all five line positions, but is a better guard than tackle. The Browns now have an abundance of guards. That’s one way to solve a problem. Dorsey also picked up three players off waivers. LB Malik Jefferson from the bungals, TE Ricky Seals-Jones from the Cards and WR Khadarel Hodge from the Rams. Jefferson is an up and coming young linebacker, Hodge is a good special teamer who the Rams tried to sneak onto their practice squad and Jones was also claimed by the squeelers, but chose to sign with the Browns. Love this guy already.
This weeks “Building The Browns” on YouTube was great as always. Loved the scenes with the scouting department as they prepare to trim the roster. My only question is where does Freddie get all this cool Browns apparel? To the t shirt with the older “brownie” on it to in this weeks episode, the great hat with the block C on it. I’m the first to admit, I’m a hat fanatic and have a large collection, but that hat was cool. I didn’t hear a word he said, because I was staring at that hat. I guess it’s time to go online and see what the team shop has or maybe fanatics.com.
In college football, The Ohio State won and Justin Fields looked great as did the defense. Just wish coach Day would keep the hammer down on offense. This weeks game against Cincinnati is going to be a good test for the Buckeye’s. My Alma Mater, Vanderbilt got beat by number three Georgia, but had enough fight to tell me they can compete with teams. The shocker of Saturday, much to my delight, was Tennessee losing to Georgia State at home. So you pay a school $950,000.00 to come play you, a team that won two games last year and was picked to finish last in the Sun Belt and that’s the effort you put out. $950,000.00, there’s some sound financial planing. BYU comes to Knoxville this week, I wonder how much their getting paid.
That’s it for this blog. I’ll be posting another prior to game one next Sunday. By the way, did you know it’s Browns Game Week Number One? Can’t wait till Sunday and enjoying this one with my fellow Middle Tennessee Browns Backers at the Dawghouse Saloon (or as we call it, Dog Pound South). Go Browns.