Browns Preseason: 6 performances we really liked, 3 we didn’t

Didn’t Like

Nick Harris

Nick Harris has a tendency to get blown back at the point of contact quite a bit. The offensive line couldn’t get any real movement for their running backs all game, and a lot of it had to do with Harris getting blown back quite a bit. This was an issue the Browns had when he took over for Wyatt Teller in 2020. For his hype, he can’t create holes for running backs to run through. He did do an adequate job in the passing game, but since the Jaguars are a terrible team top to bottom, more reps against better squads are needed for a proper assessment.

John Kelly

Sure, John Kelly was tied for third on the team with 44 yards receiving, and that may get people excited, but he’s a running back who had eight carries and finished with -1 yard rushing. You could blame part of his struggles on the starting offensive linemen sitting for the game, that would be fair. The backup offensive linemen couldn’t generate much in the way of holes for any of the backs to run through. Yet, it should be noted that no other running back finished with negative yards. Kelly isn’t just behind D’Ernest Johnson, Demetric Felton, or Corey Taylor, but now also Johnny Stanton too.

Case Keenum

The difference that three passes can make. Case Keenum completed 12-17 passes for 115 yards. That, on paper, is inoffensive to many people. It should be pointed out, however, that three of those completions, two to Donovan Peoples-Jones, were so bad that it took the receivers making dynamic catches to bail Keenum out. While you’re going to have that from time to time, against a defense as bad as the Jaguars, just about everyone should’ve looked good behind center. Kyle Lauletta threw two touchdowns on the Jags, and he’s probably not making the team. Keenum needs to do better than a few sloppy completions.