What We Saw: Preseason Week 3

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Seahawks @ Browns

Final Score: Seahawks 37 – Browns 33

Writer: Jesse Maida

We finally got a sneak peek into the new-look Ryan Grubb offense and wow, that was fun to watch! Seattle attacked right from their first offensive snap, passing the ball nine straight times before registering an official rush, which resulted in a 56-yard TD. The Seahawks’ first and second units scored 24 points in the first half, averaging 9.1 yards per play. Yes, the Browns were also playing, but I can’t stop salivating over the potential of this Seattle offensive unit.

Three Up

Geno Smith – His first and only preseason drive was nearly perfect, throwing dimes and carving up Cleveland’s defense.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba – JSN is one of the trendiest ‘breakout’ picks for 2024 and after his impressive performance, this narrative will only grow stronger.
Kenny McIntosh – Finished the preseason averaging 8.35 YPC and should be the favorite to lock up the RB3 job.

One Down

Elijah Moore – Usage suggests he is the WR3 to start the season, but was outplayed by both Cedric Tillman and rookie Jamari Thrash.

Browns

Quarterback

Jameis Winston: 6/9, 63 Yards | 1 Carry, 6 Yards

Winston started the game, playing only two series, yet was still able to provide us with a classic Jekyll and Hyde performance. His first pass of the game was thrown behind Elijah Moore, followed by a tipped pass at the LOS but got bailed out by a roughing the passer call. His next pass was his worst of the day and should have been intercepted, then a few plays later he took a 10-yard sack to end the drive. Not a great start. However, Winston started the second series strong, firing a dot to Cedric Tillman for a 23-yard gain, and then again later in the drive for another 19 yards. With some momentum, the Browns decided to go for it on 4th & 2 from the Seahawks 12. Thrash ran a corner route and had a step on the defender, but Winston overthrew him.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson: 11/20, 115 yard, TD

DTR had the best throw of the night, connecting on a 46-yard bomb to Jamari Thrash for the Browns’ first TD of the game. He was the best Browns QB in this game and should not only have cemented the QB3 job but may even push for the backup role behind Watson.

With Deshaun Watson resting in 37-33 loss to the #Seahawks in the preseason finale, Dorian Thompson-Robinson makes case for maybe even the No. 2 job https://t.co/5z5MexFuKF

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) August 25, 2024

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Missed Opportunities

Inches away from a 30-yard TD pass to Jaelon Darden but was just out of the WR’s reach

Running Back

Jerome Ford: 3 Carries, 11 Yards

Jerome Ford started the game and played the first 10 offensive snaps. No other RB had a touch on the Brown’s first two series. This usage suggests Ford is the clear RB1 until Nick Chubb is healthy.

“Jerome Ford starts for the Browns: Ford played the Browns’ first 10 offensive snaps.

The Browns didn’t have Nick Chubb, Pierre Strong Jr. or Nyheim Hines, but they did have Ford who played every snap on the first drive as well as the first two snaps on the second drive. D’Onta… https://t.co/2LxOlSHqjP

— 32BeatWriters (@32BeatWriters) August 25, 2024

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Notes

D’Onta Foreman left the game with an injury in the 2nd quarter. Of the top 4 RBs on the Browns’ depth chart, Ford is the only healthy RB as Chubb and Pierre Strong are also injured at the moment.

D’Onta Foreman: 1 Carry, 3 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 1 Yard | 25 Return Yards

Foreman played 7 of 16 snaps on the first two drives but was clearly behind Jerome Ford in the pecking order as he did not register his first touch until the 3rd drive. Foreman was unfortunately injured on his first carry of the game.

Browns HB snap count after 2 drives

Jerome Ford 9
D’Onta Foreman 7

Out of 16 plays

— Nathan Jahnke (@PFF_NateJahnke) August 25, 2024

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Notes

Returned the opening kick-off for 25 yards. If healthy, could be sneaky useful in return yard leagues as a player who may be the RB2 early season, with some return yard potential.

Missed Opportunities

Left the game in the 2nd quarter with a rib injury.

Aidan Robbins: 8 Carries, 38 Yards | 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 25 Yards

The UDFA out of BYU was heavily involved after Foreman left the game. At 6’2, 237 lbs, he showed his obvious power but also had some nice speed for his size.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Elijah Moore: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 7 Yards | 1 Carry, 1 Yard

With both Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy sitting out, Elijah Moore was the presumed WR1 for the Browns, playing only the first two series. The coaching staff tried to get him involved early, targeting Moore on the 2nd play of the game and again two plays later. Both targets were incomplete and the second play didn’t even count due to a chop block penalty. On the second series, Moore had a manufactured touch on an end around, followed by a seven-yard gain two plays later. Despite the attempt to get him involved, Moore was outproduced by Tillman while on the field together.

Notes

Did not play after the second drive, while both Tillman and Thrash continued to see snaps, suggesting that Moore is the WR3 to start the season.

Cedric Tillman: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 52 Yards

Tillman was the highlight of the second drive, securing all three targets for 48 yards, including gains of 23 and 19. As mentioned above, he did with Moore on the field, stating his case for the Browns’ WR3 position.

Jamari Thrash: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 73 Yards, TD

The rookie out of Louisville only had one target while sharing the field with Moore and Tillman, but it was an endzone target. Once Winston and Elijah Moore were rested after the 2nd drive, Thrash and DTR were the stars of this Brown’s offense. Jamari ‘thrashed’ the Seahawks on a 46-yard deep crosser for a TD, in what was the highlight of the game.

DTR up top to Jamari Thrash for the @Browns TD!

📺: #CLEvsSEA on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/b0jBtoTPoR

— NFL (@NFL) August 25, 2024

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Missed Opportunities

Overthrown by Winston in the end zone.
Dropped a ball from DTR which should have been an easy 15+Yard gain.

Seahawks

Quarterback

Geno Smith: 4/5, 62 Yards, TD

Geno’s first preseason action started a little shaky with a poorly thrown ball to DK Metcalf but it was perfection afterwards. The very next play was a 25-yard dime to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, then a quick, short 9-yard pass to Kenny McIntosh, back to JSN for 7, capped off with a 21-yard TD to DK Metcalf. His day was over after that.

Notes

Coach Mike Macdonald said post-game that the plan was to play Geno a couple of drives, but there was no need after their fantastic opening series.

Sam Howell: 6/9, 45 Yards | 3 Carries, 19 Yards

Howell is not competing for the starting gig, that job belongs to Geno Smith. However, Howell led the team to three scoring drives and finished the preseason completing 66% of his passes for 328 yards and two TDs, with no INTs.

Notes

Howell’s decision-making looked better than what we saw with the Commanders in 2023 but still took two sacks.

Running Back

Kenny McIntosh: 1 Rush, 56 Yards, TD | 1 Target, 9 Yards

The Seahawks did not register their first rush of the game until just below the 12-minute mark of the 2nd quarter and McIntosh made it count. Showcasing his electrifying speed and a stiff arm that would make Derrick Henry proud, McIntosh used a fantastic block from Laviska Shenault and took it 56 yards to the house.

Kenny McIntosh is one of those late-round NFL backs who’s talented enough to be productive if given the opportunity. Hope he gets that opportunity. pic.twitter.com/hOVkbe2XYO

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) August 25, 2024

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George Holani: 7 Carries, 38 Yards, TD | 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 9 Yards

The buzz around Seahawks camp is that Holani may have the edge on McIntosh for the RB3 job due to his blocking skills. I’m not sure that’s still the case after the explosive TD from McIntosh but Holani was solid. He was efficient, decisive, and punched in a TD from the 1-yard line. I could see both he and McIntosh making the team.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

DK Metcalf: <2 Targets, 21 Yards, TD

DK had a 40% target share on Geno’s five pass attempts. He was targeted on the first play of the drive and the last play, mossing a Browns’ corner for a 21-yard TD.

What you see is Geno Smith and DK Metcalf playing BIG BOY BALL. What I see is Geno Smith and new Seahawks OC Ryan Grub cooking up 7 course meals all year with all the offensive weapons they have. Buckle up 12s it should be a fun ride this year #GoHawks pic.twitter.com/4qDbj9WlfY

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) August 25, 2024

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Jaxon Smith-Njigba: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 32 Yards

Like Metcalf, JSN also had a 40% target share on Geno’s five pass attempts. He showed off his soft hands, making a beautiful catch for a 25-yard gain on the second play of the first drive, reminding everyone why he was a 1st round pick in 2023.