The Browns come into this game nursing injuries. Already the team was to be without top pick Beau Bell due to knee surgery. Earlier in the week, fellow rookie tight Martin Rucker suffered a knee injury which required surgery, and his return is unknown. To add insult to injury, receiver Braylon Edwards is out after suffering a foot laceration at the hands of Donte Stallworth, and Edwards will be out for Monday's game.
The person with the most to gain from Edwards injury is Travis Wilson, who will get the start. Wilson is on the bubble, and hasn't lived up to his draft stock of a third round pick in 2005. The question is if Wilson is auditioning for the Browns, or for potential trade partners?
The Giants will be a great test for the Browns offensive line, which gave up only 19 sacks a season ago. New York's pass rush is unlike anything the Browns saw last season, with everyone in the front seven a threat to reach the quarterback. Watch the early matchup of right tackle Kevin Shaffer and Giants new starting left defensive end Justin Tuck, who lead the team in sacks a season ago.
What to watch for:
- The Browns revamped defensive line versus the Giants running game. The Browns gave up 4.5 yards per carry last season, and will be up against one the better running games in the NFL. A key matchup will be nose tackle Shaun Rogers against center Shaun O'Hara and right guard Chris Snee. Snee is a premier run blocker and does well against bigger tackles, so this should be the matchup of the night.
- If the Giants' Eli Manning can get the deep ball going early, it could be a long night for the Browns secondary. We all know about the lack of depth at defensive back, but as a unit they struggled to defend vertical passing attacks like the Giants in 2007.
- Former Akron Zip Domenik Hixon is making noise in camp for the Giants. He has played extensively because of injuries at wide receiver, and should see a good amount of action. His performance has drawn positive reviews in camp. Not shocking considering Hixon is a Dan Kadar favorite.
- This game should set the table for a key Week 6 Monday Night Football game at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Both teams will probably hold back a bit on showing anything new in preparation for their game during the season.
Key Browns injuries: WR Braylon Edwards (foot), WR Joe Jurevicius (knee), TE Martin Rucker (knee), ILB Beau Bell (knee), OLB Antwan Peek (knee).
Also see:
Akron Beacon Journal: Browns thrilled to enter spotlight
Associated Press: Wimbley looking for more sacks
Akron Beacon Journal: Sanders is giving back
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The first four series of the game should be real good. After that, it might be a snoozer considering the Browns are playing three games in 13 days. I imagine we'll see more Ken Dorsey tonight.
I'm also interested in those new defensive backs that were brought in.
Just a quick note about Hixon. He's more of a favorite of blogging cohort Mike Rasor. Why? Because I mostly covered Charlie Frye (who played like three quarters the other day) and Rasor did Hixon. Also, Mike likes to wish Hixon happy birthday. It's super weird.