Cleveland Browns: 2015 Mid-Preseason Review Part 1 QB’s and RB’s

Aug 13, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Washington Redskins in a preseason NFL football game at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Josh McCown

In the first preseason game, the Cleveland Browns played the Washington Redskins. McCown got the start, but in typical fashion was not going to get a lot of playing time. However, in his only series leading the team McCown was impressive. He was 5-5 with 33 yards passing and a beautiful TD pass to WR Travis Benjamin in the corner of the end zone after scrambling away from a sack.

He moved the team down the field flawlessly, only missing one pass that resulted in a pass interference play. Cleveland Browns fans had reasons to be optimistic with his play in-game one. That optimism wouldn’t last long though, as McCown reverted to bad habits in the second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills.

McCown played the entire first half, and was 7/10 passing, but only threw for 57 yards. He also threw two interceptions, one off the hands of TE Gary Barnidge, while the other was an ugly pass that sailed over the head of Benjamin.

McCown failed to move the offense effectively until the end of the 2nd quarter, and struggled to get the team within field goal range to tie the game 3-3 before halftime.

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So how should Browns fans feel after two preseason games? I’m still holding out on optimism. Buffalo has a stingy defense led by a defensive mastermind in Rex Ryan. While most teams are still playing it safe and not showing much on defense, the Bills flashed their ability to rush the QB, dominate the line of scrimmage, and kept McCown on his toes.

The result led to McCown throwing high passes to Barnidge and Benjamin which got intercepted. Last season the Bills kept Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers offense in check, and that was before Rex Ryan. McCown is far from Rodgers, so if they can keep the MVP of the NFL in check, I’m going to reserve any doubt I had in McCown from this game.

That said, do I believe he’s going to be more like the QB we saw in Washington week 1 of the preseason? No, probably not. However, McCown does have a lot to prove in week 3 of the preseason. He’s going to get the majority of the playing time against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

If McCown is going to solidify his position to be the starter, he has to have a good showing against the Bucs. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Coach Pettine restated his faith in McCown after the Bills game, asserting he’s still the number one QB right now. Lets hope McCown proves it in preseason week number three.

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