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Lori

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Lori

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CLEVELAND BROWNS at BUFFALO BILLS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 2006 – 6:00 PM EDT

RALPH WILSON STADIUM – ORCHARD PARK, NY

 

BUFFALO BILLS TELEVISION NETWORK:

WKBW (Channel 7 – Buffalo) / WHAM (Channel 13 – Rochester) / WTVH (Channel 5 – Syracuse)

PLAY-BY-PLAY: Gus Johnson

COLOR ANALYST: Steve Tasker

SIDELINE REPORTER: Mike Catalana

 

CLEVELAND AREA: WKYC-TV 3

PLAY-BY-PLAY: Sam Rosen

ANALYSTS: Brian Brennan, Bernie Kosar

FIELD REPORTER: Andy Baskin

 

RADIO: Buffalo Bills Radio Network

PLAY-BY-PLAY: John Murphy

COLOR ANALYST: Mark Kelso

SIDELINE REPORTER: Paul Peck

 

SIRIUS SUNDAY DRIVE (Buffalo feed): Channel 124

 

REGULAR-SEASON SERIES RECORD: Cleveland leads, 7-5. The Bills are 2-3 against Cleveland at Rich/Ralph Wilson Stadium.

 

PLAYOFF RECORD: Cleveland leads, 1-0.

 

LAST MEETING: December 12, 2004 – Bills 37, Browns 7

The Bills were not exactly welcoming hosts for Cleveland’s first regular-season visit to Western New York since 1986. This time, the stats do tell the story:

Six first downs. Twenty-nine yards rushing. Five turnovers. Nine completions in twenty-one attempts, seven sacks, negative three net yards passing, for a grand total of twenty-six offensive yards gained. After Buffalo battered Cleveland starter Luke McCown into submission, Jeff Garcia came in at the end of the third quarter for one series – just long enough to complete one pass, lose a fumble at his own six-yard line, and break his leg. Not a good day for anyone wearing a Cleveland uniform.

 

With their seventh straight loss the Browns, finishing up a forgettable season under interim head coach Terry Robiskie, fell to 3-10. The Bills, behind Willis McGahee’s 105 yards and two TDs, improved to 7-6 to keep their playoff hopes alive for another week.

 

BROWNS OVERVIEW (2005 RANKINGS)

OFFENSE (#26 total yardage, #25 rushing, #23 passing, #32 scoring):

Cleveland must be cursed. How else can you explain the fact that three seasons after using their #1 pick on a center (Jeff Faine) who couldn’t stay on the field, then giving LeCharles Bentley a $36 million contract (including a $12.5 million signing bonus) to replace him, Bentley rips up a knee on the first full day of training camp? And then his replacement (Bob Hallen) decides to retire, and then his replacement (Alonzo Ephraim) gets hit with a four-game suspension? Old friend Ross Tucker, last sighted in Western New York battling Sam Adams on the practice fields at St. John Fisher, now tops the Browns’ depth chart at the position.

(For more on the Cleveland curse, also see: Braylon Edwards injury, Kellen Winslow injuries, Courtney Brown injuries, Jamir Miller injury, John Elway.)

 

The Browns quarterbacks didn’t have much to work with in 2005, but the team apparently saw enough in Charlie Frye’s five starts to ship Trent Dilfer to San Francisco in the offseason. Frye is now the unquestioned starter, if only because there’s not much behind him. (Ken Dorsey?)

Either Derek Anderson or NFL Europe alumnus Lang Campbell will be the #3 QB… although there are rumors that GM Phil Savage is keeping Vinny Testaverde’s phone number handy.

 

Adding steady Joe Jurevicius via free agency, plus getting former first-round picks Winslow and Edwards back on the field, can only help a passing attack that was woefully undermanned last season. Dennis Northcutt, whose 42 catches lead the returning WRs, is probably better-suited lining up in the slot. Third-round pick Travis Wilson (Oklahoma) and ’05 holdovers Frisman Jackson, Brandon Rideau, and Josh Cribbs are also in the mix. Steve Heiden did an adequate job replacing Winslow, finishing the year with a career-high 43 receptions, but he’ll be a better #2 TE.

 

Following one good year in Denver, RB Reuben Droughns came to Cleveland in a trade for DL Ebenezer Ekuban and Michael Myers. He did everything the Browns could have asked for in 2005: one of only six NFL RBs to start every game, he racked up the team’s first 1000-yard rushing season in twenty years and accounted for over 35% of their total offense. They need to find a competent backup, though – William Green and the oft-injured Lee Suggs combined for only 28 carries/93 yards last year. Fifth-round pick Jerome Harrison (Washington State) could be an option, especially on third downs. (Remember, offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon was once a teammate of Dave Meggett’s…) 255-pound FB Terrelle Smith has yet to score his first rushing touchdown in the NFL, but he’s blocked for a 1000-yard rusher in five of the last six seasons.

 

Bentley is out for the year, but the Cleveland offense should benefit from the addition of LT Kevin Shaffer, who helped the Falcons lead the league in rushing last season. Starting guards Cosey Coleman and Joe Andruzzi return for their second season in brown-and-orange. Holdover Ryan Tucker is the RT; he’s most likely out for the rest of the preseason, though, so Kirk Chambers, Jon Dunn, and Nat Dorsey could all see time there this weekend.

 

DEFENSE (#t16 total yardage, #30 rushing, #4 passing, #11 scoring):

The transition to a 3-4 set continues, with two of Crennel’s former Patriots joining the team early in the free-agent signing period. NT Ted Washington is now 38, but “Mount Washington” can still take up space in the middle of an opponent’s offensive line. Ethan Kelley and sixth-round pick Babatunde Oshinowo (Stanford) will compete for playing time behind him. Orpheus Roye and Alvin McKinley are the starters at end.

 

The Browns’ 23 sacks ranked dead last in 2005. To remedy that, they signed Willie McGinest and used their first-round pick on Kamerion Wimbley (Florida State) to provide a passrushing presence off the edge. Matt Stewart will probably retain the starting OLB job opposite McGinest for now, with Wimbley coming in on obvious passing downs.

Chaun Thompson moves inside to join Andra Davis, but might not be able to hold off second-round pick D’Qwell Jackson (Maryland) for the starting spot. Leon Williams (Miami) is also pushing for playing time.

 

Both projected starting CBs, Daylon McCutcheon and Gary Baxter, are out for at least the rest of the preseason. That leaves Leigh Bodden -- who may have knocked McCutcheon out of the starting lineup anyway -- and recent pickup Ralph Brown atop the current depth chart, and the team is doing everything it can to find more DBs. (Former Bills practice-squadder Therrian Fontenot was just added via trade from Green Bay.)

The Browns are in considerably better shape at safety, with Brodney Pool and Sean Jones competing for the starting job next to Brian Russell.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS:

Steady veteran Phil Dawson connected on 93.1% of his FG attempts last season, a career high. Dave Zastudil (Ravens) replaces Kyle Richardson as the punter. Dennis Northcutt (punts) and Josh Cribbs (kickoffs) each scored a kick-return touchdown last season, and will probably continue to handle those jobs.

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OUTLOOK:

The Bills start the regular season against three straight opponents who run a 3-4 base defense, so a practice test against the Browns’ version comes at a good time. J.P. Losman seemed to have some problems reading LBs dropping into zone coverage last season; it’ll be interesting to watch whether or not he’s improved on that.

 

The Cleveland offense – dead last in scoring last season, and breaking in a young QB – should depend heavily on Reuben Droughns again this year. The Bills run defense has looked good so far; hopefully that continues Saturday night.

 

Links:

Ourlads.com: Browns depth chart

Official team website: ClevelandBrowns.com

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Stl Bills Veteran

Stl Bills

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As of right now its scheduled to reair on NFL Network on....

 

Tuesday 8/29 at 4pm ET

 

But after last week we all know how reliable that is :lol: . Who knows maybe they'll screw someone else over this week and show us inplace at an earlier date, I am not going to hold my breath though.

 

NFL Network Schedule

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The Dean Hall of Famer

The Dean

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(For more on the Cleveland curse, also see: Braylon Edwards injury, Kellen Winslow injuries, Courtney Brown injuries, Jamir Miller injury, John Elway.)

750307[/snapback]

 

 

:doh::lol:

 

Outstanding, as always, Lori. Keep em coming.

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Kelly the Dog Hall of Famer

Kelly the Dog

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As of right now its scheduled to reair on NFL Network on....

 

Tuesday 8/29 at 4pm ET

 

But after last week we all know how reliable that is  :doh: .  Who knows maybe they'll screw someone else over this week and show us inplace at an earlier date, I am not going to hold my breath though.

 

NFL Network Schedule

750574[/snapback]

Well perhaps it will change this week, too. Now that Time Warner bought the remaining tix, the game will be shown live by Channel 7. So there no longer will be any delay about local rights like last week. Who knows how that translates but it could mean an earlier broadcast. There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to when and why they show certain games.

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Lothar RFA

Lothar

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Great job Lori.

 

To add a few notes:

 

- Big Ted has been a monster in the first 2 preseason games - maybe since his game never relied on speed or quickness - he's still thriving at the age of 38. Eagles averaged about 2 ypc and the Jets didn't do much better. Since there will actually be gameplanning for this, the third preseason game, expect to see the Bills use pulls and sweeps instead of ploughing up the middle to take advantage of our new OL's athleticism.

 

- I like the way Romeo Crennel is building the Browns - they look to have a solid defense and some young studs on offense. I think Ross Tucker will be a boon to them this year and trading for him may save their season from collapse - I would love to have him as the swing center /guard on our team (gotta figure the BB/RC coaching connection played a part in that deal.)

 

- Bills backups played well against Carolina but rather poorly for much of the 2nd half against Cincy. As far as what I'm hoping to see (besides the usual good game management from JP):

-- no injuries

-- a plus in turnovers (preferably no ints or fumbles from JP)

-- more good run defense (I feel good that the pass D will come around, not completely sold on our run D just yet.)

-- Powell or Neal stake a claim to the open backup DE position

-- linebacker situation become clearer - will Hunter / Ellison / Ezekial / Odom supplant Stamer or Hagan? I believe Mario may not survive this cut with Hunter and Ezekial/Odom making the team and Ellison headed to the PS

-- Peerless make a couple catches (just to relieve the tension about our #2)

-- our #5 and #6 receivers come to the forefront - I'm guessing Evans/Price/Parrish/Aiken/Reed/Davis - Nance and Wilson stashed on the PS... if we didn't have all that bonus money tied up in Peerless and Josh, 1 of them would not make this cut.

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Frez Veteran

Frez

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Today's Syracuse newspaper shows the Bills game being shown 6-9pm, then picking up the CBS National pre-season game right after till 11pm.

752199[/snapback]

 

 

Maybe I'll go visit my brother in law tonight in Syracuse? :w00t:

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