Another year,another Browns lost opener

I didn't expect the Cleveland Browns to improve after I typed out the Browns preview and I wasn't surprised when the team delivered a disappointing loss to the Miami Dolphins in Cleveland 23-10.
Brandon Weeden finished with 288 yards but was picked off three times,while the key cog in the offensive engine was tight end Jordan Cameron,who grabbed nine Weeden passes for over 100 yards and the only Cleveland touchdown.
The now 0-1 Browns will travel to Baltimore for a rested and hungry Ravens squad.

Brownie Bits

1) Brandon Weeden just played poorly.
Do not be deceived by his near 300 yard passing day.
Weeden earned much of that in garbage time,threw the ball poorly and generally gave the Dolphins every chance to rush his throws...

2) Weeden's interceptions were bad,but the offensive line was little help.
Mitchell Schwartz had his problems with Cameron Wake,but O'Neil Cousins was simply awful .
Cousins,who I didn't even mention in the preview, was overwhelmed in blocking,was called for three penalties and a false start.
Maybe the worst performance I've seen from a Browns lineman in a while and easily the worst from a guard.

3) Trent Richardson's numbers were mediocre ( 47 yards) ,but he ran with toughness and heart,often turning losses into gains.
Richardson still needs to be the focus of the offense and ....

4) And yet,he was not.
Richardson carried the ball just 13 times and rarely in the second half.
Richardson is the type of back that needs lots of carries to wear down a defense and 13 carries is simply not going to do that.

5) For all the hype about Norv Turner being such a great play caller,I didn't see it.
Brandon Weeden throwing 53 times in a game that the Browns were down just three points until midway through the fourth quarter?
Not smart strategy to me.

6) Some good news,the Browns put heat on Ryan Tannehill and it was their newcomers that did it.
Two sacks from Desmond Bryant and one each from Paul Kruger and Quentin Groves provided the hoped for rush.
I am hopeful that this can continue.

7) I don't blame the defense for the fourth quarter scores.
They were simply out of gas and exhausted by that point as Miami dominated the fourth quarter time of possession...

8) Cleveland did lock the door on a bad running team holding the Dolphins to just 20 yards on 23 carries.
Really liked what I saw from the front seven,but I'll see how things go against Baltimore.Stopping Lamar Miller is a different task than stopping Ray Rice...

9) Buster Skrine suffered again in coverage,but I still believe that the Browns could use Skrine better covering the slot receiver than on the outside.
Skrine just needs to be put in a position to succeed and right now he is not.

10) Looks like Jordan Cameron will be the best friend for Brandon Weeden.
Cameron's game was the best of his career and looks to be living up to his physical skills.

11) Finally,the Browns were 1 of 14 on third down conversions.
That not only is putrid,it will win few games...

Photo Credit;Joshua Gunter-Cleveland Plain Dealer