There 's a hint of optimism tonight that the Browns might have an offense after all, and it looks like the defense may be good enough to make up for some of the mistakes a first-year QB is going to make. Charlie Frye accounted for seven of the Browns points with a TD pass, but handed the Lions their only touchdown by fumbling on his own 15. But the Browns stopped the run tonight, with Ted Washington clogging up the middle, and they ran the ball effectively themselves, which is the formula for victory in the NFL.
Phil Savage's second draft is looking more like the kind we saw him pull off regularly in Baltimore. Rookie running back Jerome Harrison, a fifth rounder, was the star of the game, and all three of the young linebackers looked good with a sack and an interception between them.
Late-rounders like fullback Lawrence Vickers and nose guard Babatunde Oshinowo showed some game. Vickers made a spectacular catch on a short outlet pass and looked good blocking and running in short yardage. Oshinowo had another sack this week, and he looks like he's just hard to handle inside. Top pick Kamerion Wimbley beat the Lions tackle on one play, and as soon as he had the corner, he simply launched himself at the quarterback, and it was all over. I don't recall a pass rusher with that kind of ability in a Browns uniform. Ever.
This then, is the view from our seats, if I may inflict some bad digital photography on you. Second row just inside the goal line in the east endzone, not in the Dawg Pound, but close enough to throw a brick into it. Very little action in our end tonight, but I caught some shots late, after the stands had thinned out. My view was obstructed at times, but I wasn't going to ask these guys to move. Sometimes it's as if we're right down there with them.
Lots of improvement from last week, and definitely from last year. I still think it translates into only about seven or eight wins in the regular season. Frye will take his lumps as a rookie starter. It's a brutal division.
UPDATE 8/19: Len Pasquarelli from ESPN.com has a nice feature on Charlie Frye.
Posted by dan at August 19, 2006 12:45 AM