Browns Vs. Jaguars preseason game: 3 hopes for Cleveland

When the Cleveland Browns face off with the Jacksonville Jaguars, nothing will be on the line. The first preseason game, of three this year, will not count for anything for either team.

That doesn’t mean the game itself won’t have meaning for both teams. For the Jaguars, implementation of what Urban Meyer wants to see for his team will be the highest priority.

For the Browns, Saturday night is the first in what the team hopes is at least 23 times (3 preseason, 17 regular season, at least 3 postseason plus a bye) they will kick off a game in the 2021 season. For Cleveland, this is just the start of something much, much bigger.

While the game itself is meaningless, there are a few things that the Browns will hope for coming out of the game.

No Injuries

(John Kuntz/The Plain Dealer via AP)

Perhaps the most obvious, as Cleveland prepares for a long season they need to be as healthy as possible. It is one of the reasons that many of the starters are not expected to play in Jacksonville. So far, only Anthony Walker's injury has been considered anything more than a day-to-day thing for the Browns. That doesn't mean the team has been healthy. A number of soft tissue (mostly hamstring) issues have popped up along with other minor problems. Lingering issues, like Mack Wilson's knee last year, can impact both the team and a player greatly. While Cleveland has a lot of depth across their roster, health is always a vital part of a successful season. Last year's Super Bowl could have led to a different champion if Kansas City's offensive line had been able to play. The number one goal is that the Browns come out of the game healthy.

Speed Evident on Defense

(AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Cleveland spent a lot of resources on their defense this offseason with two themes. The first was noted by both head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry: Versatility. The ability to do multiple things will help the Browns be able to match up with a variety of types of offenses. The second will always be important: Team speed. While size and strength will always have their place, Cleveland needs to show that they have the kind of speed, across the board, to defend against the vaunted offenses of the NFL. Can the defensive line, linebackers and safeties keep up with the Baltimore run offense? Can the secondary contain the explosive Kansas City passing attack? What about against Buffalo, who can do a little bit of both? Watching the game tonight, and film over the weekend, the Browns hope to see a clear sign of a fast team flowing on defense.

Limited Mistakes on Offense

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

For a Cleveland team that finally has some continuity with their coaching staff, mistakes should be at a minimum. Even with most of the team's primary starters sitting out, the Browns expect to see a smooth operating machine. That doesn't mean everything will go the team's way but things like presnap penalties are not to be expected. Instead, players should be where they are expected to be, on time and in rhythm, mostly, throughout the evening. Despite the second and third teams taking the snaps, Cleveland will have some concerns if the offense doesn't look crisp. It may not put up a lot of yards or a lot of points but mistakes should not be the problem (talent may be).

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