One more pre-season game and then its primetime

with one game to go in the preseason, it's clear that there is much to be pleased about with our Browns. Fundamentally, our first team offense has had no trouble all pre-season moving the ball. That is a strong contrast to last year's regular season in which the Browns offense was non-existent. Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace are a major upgrade over Quinn and Anderson. So scoring doesn't look to be an issue.

Where we do have a major problem, as this article from the Lorain Journal aptly points out, is on the defensive line. A couple of stats that will scare anyone. So far this pre-season there have been 96 passes thrown against the Browns and we've managed to sack the QB one time. Worse, the starting QBs of Green Bay, St Louis and Detroit completed a whopping 83% of their passes thrown.

Houston we have a problem.

If Shaun Rogers ever returns that will help but for the moment, nobody has a clue as to when that will be. On the plus side on D, our defensive backs have been great. Ward and Haden are a major talent upgrade and will contribute this year in a big way.

Other observations from the Lions game. Colt McCoy certainly firmed up his status as the number 3 QB with a decent showing, though he still struggled to move the team when a score was needed and the pressure was on. In any case, he also showed some flashes of his potential. He made the team Saturday and like most young QB's he simply needs time to develop.

Browns vs Cardinals

Even though the Browns lost to the Cardinals 19-17, the second exhibition game of the season brought more good news than bad.

On the positive side, Jake Delhomme continued to show he can lead the Browns offense and that is of major import to the success of this years team. On offense, the only negatives were rookies. Carlton Mitchell once again struggled. Against Green Bay he couldn't get open and against the Rams he dropped the two passes thrown his way. Wide receiver is probably too critical a position to invest in Mitchell while he learns on the job, I'm afraid he is headed towards the waiver wire even if I still believe his upside will eventually result in a permanent NFL job. Colt also looked bad, though it's clear the Browns will give him the time he needs to help him adjust to the speed at which the NFL game is played. For now Colt is clearly out of his league.

On D, the line must improve. Right now our defense is weak and it is the defensive line play that is the source of the problem. Shaun Rogers return will help but not enough.

NFL: Goodell yet to make the decision on Rogers

The Brown Log certainly joined many others in poking a bit of fun at Shaun Rogers when he was caught with a loaded gun at an airport a few months back. But now that NFL commish Goodell is nearing a decision we would like to be serious for a moment. The recent tragic killing of ex Cavaliers center Lorenzen Wright in Memphis really underlines just how much of a target these wealthy young athletes are. By all accounts, Shaun Rogers is a nice young man, this further underlined by his recent heroic intervention in assisting police to nab a drunk driver. Roger Goodell has correctly used common sense to punish bad behavior in cases like the one against Ben Roethlisberger. The Brown Log believes in this case common sense dictates that Shaun Rogers be fined a reasonable amount but not suspended.

I forgot....

In another bit of excellent news, our political prisoner, Shaun Rogers was finally released from the big house today. We are still waiting on the NRA to release a statement in support of this great warrior but in the meantime his lawyer is busily setting the path to defend Rogers by use of an incredibly innovative and sophisticated legal manoevre. Get this, Roger's lawyer has declared his client is not guilty because....."he forgot he packed his loaded gun". Whilst I still favor that Roger's defender uses a more direct constitutional confrontation, fighting for his right to bear arms, I must confess that the "I forgot" strategy is nothing short of pure genius.

Shaun Rogers: Political Prisoner

In a nation in which school shootings don't make the front page news anymore, but it IS front page news in Newark, NJ that for the first month in 44 months there wasn't a murder, who can blame Browns nose tackle Shaun Rogers (pictured below) for packing a little heat?

I only hope the National Rifle Association will stand up and defend this great American hero and patriot, so that he will be free during the entire 2010 NFL season to shoot first and ask questions later for our Cleveland Browns.