2000 Preseason Games
It was a tumultous inaugural year for the Browns. The start of the 2000 season holds promise, especially as my scout seems to think we have one of the better defenses in the league. The offense is another story, but I have to believe that
Cris Kneiling can only improve on his rookie QB rating of 63.0. Hopefully our improved offensive line will keep the sack totals down and give him more time to throw the ball.
Preseason Week Two
CLEVELAND 27, Arizona 24
Not a bad way to get the ball rolling.
Bob Baker had two FGs from beyond 50 yards, and rookie RB
Dixon Schrempf had the game winning score on a 55 yard TD run. 90 yards on 10 carries too. Not a bad way of sayin' "Howdy, fellas."
The bad, horrible, awful news is, recent FA signing
Ruben Brown, the G we hired to give
Kneiling some protection, tore a calf muscle and will be out for 2-3 months. Not good. Fortunately we have some money to sign FAs with, but its tough to replace a guy who had a BPctof 41.2 and only allowed 2 sacks all of last season.
Preseason Week Three
If you gotta replace a guy like
Brown,
Dan Neil is as good as any. 33 KRbs in 70 chances, as opposed to 33/80 for
Brown. Higher pct, yes, but allowed 4 sacks to
Brown's 2. Still, he'll get a shot.
Buffalo 22, CLEVELAND 10
The first thing I notice is a 48 yard TD run by
Schrempf. The second is 3 INTs. The third is that
Van Pelt had two of them.
Kneiling was 9-12 for 75 yards with the other INT. However, it appears his INT was the one run back for a score.
Steve Christie had 3 early FGs, and
Bob Baker missed 2 of 3. Must have been the rain.
Preseason Week Four
Washington 29, CLEVELAND 24
Two field goals from
Rex Lake in the final 3:34 cost us this game. Rookie safety
John Stewart had a 50 yard INT for a score. I'm starting to like these Sixth Round Safeties. In fact, that's their new nickname.
Preseason Week Five
New Jersey 31, CLEVELAND 31
A wild game, this.
Stewart and
Mincy combined for 3 picks, with Mincy running one of his two back for a 50 yard score.
Schrempf continues to impress, with yet another TD run. This kid is lookin' REAL good.
Regular season, comin' right up.