didn't get a chance for the skins write-up, but i think it was a pretty easy hit considering the colts' injuries, who was being inducted into the hall, and the depth at qb for the skins...
i'm going to just give a few reasons on why i'm betting against my hometown browns this thursday...
jets +4 @ browns
depth: it may seem like the browns would be valuable in preseason due to 2 good qbs (who by the way have both had sub-par camps) and a decent backup as the 3rd, but i think that is what the browns lack the most...which is suicide for preseason...i would also argue that the jets qbs have just as much motivation with the clemens/pennington competition, and although questionable and less comfortable, a 3rd qb with more talent. overall, slight edge jets.
rb they have zero depth. wright is very very average and would not make it as the 2nd rb in about 75% of the league. there's nothing terrible about him, but nothing great either...not really a speed or power back, not great at reading holes or breaking tackles. harrison would not make many rosters in this league. he's very limited and although he's good at catching the ball out of the backfield and using his speed and toughness, he's extremely ineffective after a handoff. i'd take jones/washington and chatman over wright/harrison (lewis should barely play at all), and would even take some of the young backs the jets have further down on the depth chart over wright/harrison. browns extremely thin at rb. even when looking at the fullbacks there is a significant difference. big edge to the jets here.
wide receiver is very thin for the browns as well. their starters are significantly better, but i believe it's about the same here. jets young receivers have some versatility and some things to build on, but nothing really impresses me down the depth chart. steptoe and wilson better show something...they've both had awful camps.
o-line is a lot closer when comparing the starters, but i believe that the browns have the distinct advantage overall here.
defensively, the jets have a lot more depth at corner, which will be the key when playing the browns' 2nd and 3rd teams. browns probably have the depth advantage at safety and d-line, and the lbs i would call a toss up. overall, slight advantage jets.
special teams: washington/miller are better returners than harrison/mcdonald, but obviously cribbs significantly better than all of them. punting goes to the browns, kicking to the jets, and the units themselves goes to the browns. slight advantage browns
motivation: jets have a lot of spots in the roster and even in the starting lineup that aren't decided yet as well as a lot more young talent. they had a disappointing year last year. the exact opposite is true for the browns...big motivational/situational edge here for the jets.
coaching/strategy: the last two years crennel hasn't won a preseason game by more than 4 points except for one time...and that was in a week 4 matchup which is obviously a lot different. those two years they had more to prove, more to see, virtually the same talent, and thus more motivation to play harder. one thing that could really hurt the browns this year is injuries because of their lack of depth...they won't be willing to play even their key back-ups for too long. they also have two very big games early, so i would think you would see the most basic watered down playbook in the preseason. think the jets win a close, low-scoring battle...would also lean the under
gl
