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Browns watered down
ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick (7) scrambles away from Cleveland Browns defensive end Jayme Mitchell (92) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Philadelphia defense dominates Colt McCoy, Cleveland offense
By Tony Grossi
Cleveland Plain Dealer
PHILADELPHIA
It rained on Colt McCoy’s parade here Thursday night. Real hard.
But intermittent downpours in Lincoln Financial Field weren’t the problem for the Browns’ offense. The Philadelphia Eagles’ defense disrupted McCoy’s rhythm, forced one interception, hurried numerous throws, sacked him three times and influenced four called penalties on the Browns’ offensive line.
McCoy was shut out of the end zone on six possessions after leading five touchdowns in nine previous drives. The Eagles took a 17-0 lead and cruised to a 24-14 victory in the traditional dress rehearsal for the season opener.
The Browns, 1-2 in coach Pat Shurmur’s first preseason, conclude their practice game schedule Sept. 1 in Chicago against the Bears.
While McCoy struggled through a soggy 9-of-18 first half, the night was not a total loss for the Browns. Rookie No. 1 pick Phil Taylor had a sack of Michael Vick, causing a fumble recovered by Jayme Mitchell. Taylor’s pass pressure wreaked havoc throughout the half on Eagles rookie center Jason Kelce, of Cleveland Heights, and guard Danny Watkins, Taylor’s former teammate at Baylor and a first-round pick.
The Browns held Vick to 98 yards passing on 10 of 18 completions. An interception by safety Mike Adams was nullified when linebacker D’Qwell Jackson was unjustly penalized for making contact with Vick’s helmet on a direct hit to Vick’s chest on a blitz. Replays disputed the call.
Vick ended that series with an 8-yard run for a touchdown. He totaled 24 yards on four runs and avoided pressure several times with his feet.
The Eagles also hit the Browns’ first-team defense with a 13-yard run by Ronnie Brown after a botched Browns punt return and a 37-yard field goal by rookie kicker Alex Henery set up by McCoy’s interception.
Overall, though, the Browns’ No. 1 defense held the explosive Eagles to small plays as Vick had trouble finding open receivers. A 15-yard completion on a quick slant pass was Philadelphia’s longest offensive play.
Another positive note was running back Montario Hardesty. He survived without incident his first playing time in almost a year since tearing a knee ligament as a rookie. Hardesty carried five times for 15 yards. He was pulled after one series of work and watched the remainder of the game from the bench.
Also, receiver Brian Robiskie got into the mix of the offense with three catches, one for a first down. Robiskie also had a 43-yard reception against shutdown cornerback Nnambdi Asomugha erased when he was penalized for interference.