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FOUR THINGS ITHINK Signs point to tough debut for QB ABOUT THE 2012 BROWNS 1. Will the kids be all right? Rookie Weeden The success of this season will largely depend on how all of the rookies fare. Five will start or faces ferocious rush play key roles on offense, five or six others on defense. Overall, there are 15 rookies and 27 from Philadelphia players with one year of NFL experience or less. All of that youth brings mistakes but also Mary Kay Cabot exuberance. Plain Dealer Reporter Mary Kay Cabot Browns rookie quarterback 2. Take it away Brandon Weeden has dreamt of No matter how young the Browns are, they can this day since he was alittle win games if they win the turnover battle. Since boy, of making his big-league 1999, teams that win the turnover battle win the game almost 80 debut in front of tens of thou- percent of the time. In preseason, the Browns turned the ball over sands of cheering fans, with the too much. Last year, the Browns protected the football, tying for ball in his hand and all eyes on fourth with only 19 giveaways. But they were horrible in him. takeaways with only 20. That won’t cut it this year. Of course, the original dream had him toeing apitching rub- 3. Rookie DTs ber. But adetour deposited him The Browns got heat for overdrafting Cincinnati’s John Hughes in here at Cleveland Browns Sta- the third round but looked prescient when starter Phil Taylor tore dium, in the regular-season apectoral. Hughes looked stout in preseason but might give way in opener against the Philadelphia the starting lineup to fellow rookie Billy Winn, asixth-round pick Eagles, where the champion- from Boise State. Expect them to remain in the rotation when ship dreams of acity are resting Taylor returns. on his rocket arm. “This is ahuge achievement 4. Don’t forget Cribbs and honor,” said Weeden. “It’s Say what you will about Josh Cribbs as areceiver, but he always obviously away bigger stage makes plays with the ball in his hands. He might not run precise than [baseball] rookie ball in routes, but he’s crafty and physical enough to get open and make Tampa, Fla. Idon’t think there yards after the catch. Last season, he finished second on the team was aperson in the stands when in receptions (41) and receiving yards (518). An average of one out Ipitched my first game. of every 10 catches was aTD. Cribbs on offense still makes sense to “Now, this is the big leagues. me. This is the show. Irealize how important it is to this town and to the guys in the locker room.” JOHN KUNTZ THE PLAIN DEALER Weeden, 28, will go down in 1. 33 greater than 3 history as the first rookie quar- Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden has his work cut out for him today in his first NFL For all the talk about quarterback Brandon terback to start an NFL opener start, as the Eagles have one of the strongest pass rushes in the league. Weeden, the performance of running back for the Browns, something that Trent Richardson is more critical to the Browns’ none of his predecessors —Ber- sacked three times and stripped But the defensive line isn’t around him. He’s surrounded success. How quickly Richardson can get up to nie Kosar, Tim Couch, Charlie of the ball twice in less than two Weeden’s only concern. The Ea- by rookies in Richardson —who speed following the arthroscopic procedure to Frye, Brady Quinn or Colt quarters. gles’ linebacking corps was bol- missed the entire preseason his left knee could make the difference between McCoy —could boast. Overall, he’s fumbled three stered by two-time Pro Bowl after aleft knee surgery — a6-10 season and a2-14 season. Ahealthy He’s also the 11th different times on his four sacks. middle backer DeMeco Ryans, Schwartz and receivers Gordon Richardson could take pressure off Weeden and Opening Day starter for the Nothing like facing one of the and they also boast two of the and Travis Benjamin. Also, sec- accelerate the quarterback’s development. Browns since 1999, and the NFL’s most ferocious pass best cornerbacks in the game in ond-year tight end Jordan Cam- sixth straight new one —which rushes your first time out. The Nnamdi Asomugha and Domin- eron will be getting his first sig- 2. All eyes on Gordon speaks to the team’s appalling Eagles tied for the league lead ique Rodgers-Cromartie. Both nificant playing time. with 50 sacks last season, in- are 6-2 and measure up to In 18 preseason possessions, After aslow start to training camp, rookie receiver Josh Gordon is 1-12 record in openers since the looking more comfortable by the week. The Browns used asecond- cluding 46 from their defensive Browns receivers Josh Gordon Weeden failed to throw aTD return. Overall, he’s the 17th round supplemental pick to acquire him, so there will be line. (6-3) and Greg Little (6-2). pass and often found himself quarterback to start for the immediate expectations. Gordon has the size and potential to be a In last month’s 27-10 presea- Over their final four games working overtime with the Browns in the revolving door of dynamic playmaker. the new era. For comparison’s son win over the Browns, their last season, the Eagles’ defense young receivers to get in synch. sake, the Steelers have rolled wide-spread ends sped past allowed just 11.5 points per But his nerves of steel, honed on out seven during that span and tackles Joe Thomas and Mitch- game, second only to Pitts- minor-league pitching mounds 3. Helped wanted the Patriots three. ell Schwartz, and also broke burgh’s 7.8. across America, should serve The Browns were thin at linebacker before Chris Gocong was lost “We’ll see [how it goes],” said through when bunched in tight. “The two [cornerbacks] are him well. for the season to atorn Achilles. The Browns have to hope James- linebacker D’Qwell Jackon of The Eagles barely blitzed that really good players —long, tall “I don’t think he ever lets you Michael Johnson develops quickly. D’Qwell Jackson will be solid if Weeden’s debut. “Everybody’s game and were without their guys,” said Weeden. “The safe- see him sweat,” said offensive healthy, but this unit is facing lots of challenges. excited to see it. We’ve got [run- leading sacker, Jason Babin ties are always in the right spot, coordinator Brad Childress. “He ning back] Trent [Richardson] (calf injury), who finished third very smart. Their linebackers doesn’t ride the roller coaster, 4. Change is coming back, so it takes aload off Bran- in the league in 2011 with 18 are really good players as well. and that’s huge for aquarter- New owner Jimmy Haslam strikes me as apassionate man who don. The receivers have been sacks. Babin will most often at- They added [Mychal] Ken- back. He’s wired the right way won’t be patient in his rebuild. He knows it’s all about winning, catching balls. tack Schwartz today. dricks, the rookie from Cal. I for aquarterback. He’s atough- and unless there is an unexpected harvest of it, the Browns could “But, like always, guys have to “Obviously, they’re extremely know him personally. He’s a lipped kid, he stands there in be looking at anew president, general manager and coach next step up and make big play when fast off the football and their headhunter, agreat football the face of the rush and will season. we need them.” main objective is to hit me in player. step into throws. From [pitch- Weeden today must be ready the chin,” said Weeden, a “But our athletic tight ends ing], he’s kind of steeled himself for the blinding pressure he’ll pocket passer. “They’re great are going to be huge, not only to be able to withstand some of get from the Eagles and their players. They pay those guys a blocking, but also through the those tough times that you’re Your source for breaking Browns news speed-rushing wide-nine defen- lot of money to get to the quar- middle, making plays, one-on- inevitably going to have.” Get the latest Browns news all season long from Berea, Cleveland sive line —it’s the key to today’s terback. That’s their agenda. It’s one matchups with those line- Browns Stadium and across the country. game. In the preseason game definitely on the front of our backers.” To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: cleveland.com/browns here Aug. 24 —Weeden’s most mind. We have to be ready and It’s not like Weeden can [email protected], 216-999-4670 recent live action —hewas get the ball out fast.” count on all the experience On Twitter: @marykaycabot

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