Browns’ offensive snap counts & stats: Preseason Week 1

Below, we analyze the snap counts and stats on offense for the Cleveland Browns' Week 1 preseason game against the New Orleans Saints.

Notes:

• The only quarterback who didn’t play was Kevin Hogan.
• The original plan was for Cody Kessler and DeShone Kizer to have the most reps. Wanting to get the first-team offense something positive, Brock Osweiler worked into the second quarter, taking some time away from Kessler. Kizer got the entire second half and really delivered in the fourth quarter.
• Chemistry wasn’t in-sync for Osweiler. Kessler made a couple of nice throws during his limited action. Kizer might have held the ball too long on a few plays, but showed a good knack for taking easy yardage quickly (via the ground) and maneuvering the pocket to find his receivers downfield.

Notes:

• None of the running backs got quite as hot as one may have liked. The depth chart went Crowell-Dayes-Magee-Wilds.
• Matthew Dayes had a 1-yard touchdown plunge, so that productive short run figures into his average.
• Duke Johnson did have one carry on a typical passing down, but overall, he was lined up more at receiver with the first-stringers. He drew an illegal contact penalty when lining up outside on one play.

Notes:

• It was a terrible day for Kenny Britt. Corey Coleman had a nice catch from Kessler, and one of his early catches was behind the line of scrimmage, counting as a run.
• Josh Boyce and Rannell Hall each had two grabs, but Boyce couldn’t hall in a sideline route from Kizer and Hall couldn’t catch a close deflection off of a defensive back.
• Mullaney, who nobody has talked about this camp, was the benefactor of two longer passes from Kizer. He showed some nice route-running on the plays, and Jordan Payton was able to beat his man off the line of scrimmage for the game-winning touchdown.
• Ricardo Louis was only credited with one catch, but he also had a first-down reception on a play where defensive pass interference was called. I’d chalk it up as a good day for him; he looked confident.
• Kenny Britt was flagged for an illegal block above the waist. Ricardo Louis was flagged for a false start.

Notes:

• Seth DeValve played the most snaps on the Browns with 59. That probably had to do with David Njoku, Taylor McNamara, and David Iese all not playing. I know Njoku was hurt, but I don’t know what McNamara and Iese didn’t see action.
• Randall Telfer made a dumb play by trying to hurdle about five Saints defenders on a 3rd-and-25 type of play where he had only gained about 6 yards to begin with. It led to a fumble that Cleveland still recovered.

Notes:

• The Saints registered 4 sacks and 7 quarterback hits.
• Cameron Erving did not play too well starting for left tackle Joe Thomas.
• Austin Reiter was beat for a sack on a stunt.
• Erving was flagged for a false start and holding. Kitt O’Brien and Spencer Drango were also flagged for holds.