Browns vs. Titans: Preseason Week 3

By Don Delco
NoLogoNeeded.com staff writer

The third, and generally the most entertaining of the four preseason games, has arrived as the Cleveland Browns welcome the Tennessee Titans at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.

At first, Browns coach Eric Mangini was non-committal in how long the starters will play. Typically in the third preseason game starters play into the third quarter. He said on Thursday that would be the case.

Entering last week’s game against Detroit, there seemed to be an inordinate amount of pressure on the Browns to perform after the stinker that was laid in Green Bay. If fan apathy was to be avoided, the Browns needed to turn it around against the Lions and they did.

While the pressure was relieved, it is not totally gone. The game was against the Lions, the same Lions who finished 0-16 last season. To add to matters, the Browns' quarterback battle wasn't solved, but instead intensified.

With that said, let’s get to the Titans preview and what to watch for on Saturday.

Quarterbacks continue to battle
After two games, the quarterback controversy is far from over as evident by the stats:

vs. Packers
Quinn: 7-for-11 for 68 yards, 0 touchdowns and 1 interception
Anderson: 0-for-2 for 0 yards, 0 touchdowns and 1 interception

vs. Lions
Anderson: 8-for-13 for 130 yards, 0 touchdowns and 1 interception
Quinn: 3-for-5 for 29 yards, 0 touchdowns and 0 interceptions

“We’ll see where we are after this game. I don’t project ahead,” said Mangini at Thursday’s press conference. “I like to deal with what we’re facing right now.  It’s something that I ask for from the players and it’s something that I ask for from the coaches, is to focus on the moment, focus on what we’re trying to get done right now, as opposed to projecting.”

Apparently he’s still looking for someone who has “the ability to run the offense most effectively.”

Is that Quinn or Anderson? Perhaps we’ll get an answer Saturday.

Some, any resemblance of a running game?
Much was made of Jamal Lewis’ 30th birthday this week and rightfully so. That’s generally when NFL feature backs begin their decline.

Aside from an exciting 81-yard touchdown run from rookie James Davis, the Browns backs have been woefully under performing. If the Browns are to win, and win in the AFC North, a consisting running game must be established.

Can the Browns do that against the Titans? It’s a good test. Tennessee had the sixth best run defense last season as the Titans only allowed 3.7 yards per carry. Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is moved on, but he was not the only reason Tennessee had a solid defense.

Penalty laps for everyone
For as intense, strict and demanding training camp has been, it has not translated into discipline play. Dumb penalties have plagued the Browns this preseason causing drives to stall, field position advantages to be lost in special teams and touchdowns to be taken off the board.

Against Green Bay, the Browns were flagged seven times for 50 yards. Against Detroit, the Browns had 11 penalties for 85 yards.

Those things were rampant throughout Browns games last season and that was in the midst of Crennel Country Club. One would think with a more strict leader in Mangini those mistakes would drop off. We haven’t seen that … yet.

Browns run defense returns to from week-long hiatus
Last week, the Browns run defense had little worries against the Detroit Lions. With Cleveland’s home opener against the NFL’s best running back, Adrian Peterson, looming, the Titans should provide an excellent test.

Last season, the Titans beat the Browns 28-6 in Week 14 as Chris Johnson ran for 136 yards on 19 carries and one touchdown and LenDale White added 99 yards on 24 carries and one touchdown.

A year later, “Smash and Dash” is looking better than ever, but to make matters more difficult for Titans’ opponents, they’ve added a third element — Javon Ringer.

The rookie back out of Michigan State has 98 yards rushing on 16 attempts and one touchdown through three preseason games. In addition, Ringer had a 51-yard kickoff return for a touchdown last Saturday against the Cowboys.

The Browns limited the Lions to 102 yards rushing on 29 carries, but in the preseason opener against the Packers they allowed 230 yards rushing on 47 carries.

High five
This is Tennessee’s fourth, but not final, preseason game of the season. The Titans have five preseason games scheduled as they played the Buffalo Bills in the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 9.

It’s easy to wonder what kind of effort the Titans will put fourth with still one more preseason game remaining. It’s been a long summer for them dating back to the death of former quarterback Steve McNair in July.

Now, they’re on the road with one game still remaining. Will the Browns get a solid effort from the Titans, an effort good enough they can actually judge objectively on what they’re doing or will it be another “Lions-esque” opponent that leaves Browns fans with the “yeah, but” argument?