Sep
8
Written by:
LarryMac
9/8/2009 10:14 AM
The final game of the preseason is typically a throwaway game in which, at most, a few bench roles are decided. Starters play very little, if at all, and offense and defense alike tend to put in very vanilla game plans so as to not tip their hands for the upcoming opponents in the regular season. With a team like the Browns, a team in flux, it remained to be seen how much information we might be able to glean from the final practice game regarding the many unanswered questions about this team.
The QB Battle: In a surprise move, coach Eric Mangini opted to keep both of his QBs out of the final game, giving the start to Brett Ratliff - apparently opting to let Ratliff and Rich Bartel play for the third spot on the depth chart. Ratliff's first pass was intercepted, but he rebounded to engineer a touchdown drive later in the first quarter, capped with a 7-yard strike to Mohamed Massaquoi. Bartel looked good, passing for over 130 yards on 12/14 passing and running for a touchdown.
Penalties: Eight penalties for 76 yards doesn't tell the tale of a disciplined squad - particularly with illegal formation and taunting calls. While one could chalk it up to the fact that these were primarily reserve players, this has been a trend since last season and was one of the things that it really looked like Mangini was addressing in camp. Any improvements haven't been seen on the field this preseason.
Rushing game: Jamal Lewis didn't play this game. Chris Jennings led the team with 59 yards but it was James Davis who appeared to cement his role with the team for the upcoming season, with his 37 yards coming on only five carries - including a 21 yarder that set up a Browns score.
The only things to be taken from this game were the continuing penalty issues and the emergence of James Davis. All reports were that he was having a great camp and impressing coaches and players alike and he showed it on the field all preseason long.
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