Game of the Day: Browns at Redskins
By Covers.com
Cleveland Browns at Washington Redskins (-2.5, 41.5)
Robert Griffin III will get his first chance to unleash his new offensive approach Monday night as the Washington Redskins entertain the Cleveland Browns in the final game of the second week of the NFL's exhibition schedule. Griffin and the rest of the first-team offense operated a run-heavy strategy in the opener against New England, attempting just four passes. It didn't matter, as the Redskins led from start to finish en route to a 23-6 triumph.
Quarterbacking is also the main focus in the Browns' camp, where the battle for the Week 1 starting role rages on between current favorite Brian Hoyer and popular rookie Johnny Manziel. Hoyer will start Monday's showdown against the Redskins and will likely play most or all of the first half, while Manziel will take the helm for the majority of the second half. Manziel outperformed Hoyer in Cleveland's 13-12 loss to Detroit last weekend.
LINE HISTORY: The line opened at Washington -3 but has since fallen a half-point. The O/U has risen by one point to 41 1/2.
INJURY REPORT: Cleveland: CB Buster Skrine (thumb) is out; DE Desmond Bryant (wrist) is questionable. Washington: DE Jason Hatcher (knee), ILB Darryl Sharpton (ankle) and RB Chris Thompson (ankle) are out; SS Brandon Meriweather (toe) is questionable.
ABOUT THE BROWNS (0-1): Hoyer has been generating plenty of attention so far in the preseason - much of it negative - but the veteran signal-caller isn't bothered by suggestions he may wind up either as the No. 2 quarterback or as a member of another team. "It doesn't matter," he told reporters last week. "What matters is what coach Mike Pettine thinks and what (offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan) thinks." Hoyer will need a strong showing against the Redskins, with Pettine expected to name his Week 1 starter Tuesday.
ABOUT THE REDSKINS (1-0): It's a brand new day for Griffin and the Redskins' offense, which will look decidedly different under new head coach Jay Gruden. For starters, Griffin will be encouraged to call audibles depending on how opposing defenses are set up - something former offensive coordinator Shanahan avoided. "It's a quarterback's dream," Griffin said. "You want to have some control at the line of scrimmage to get out of some things and protect yourself with different protections."
TRENDS:
* Washington racked up 430 total yards in its exhibition opener; Cleveland had just 291.
* The Redskins are 11-2 in their last 13 preseason games.
* The Browns have allowed more than 20 points just once in their last five exhibition contests.
COVERS CONSENSUS: 61.84 percent of wagers on Covers Consensus are backing the host Redskins.
Monday Night Football Preview
Atssportsline.com
This was supposed to be the starting debut for Johnny Manziel for the Cleveland Browns (2013: 4-12 SU, 6-10 ATS), but he'll have to wait another week, Washington (2013: 3-13 SU, 5-11 ATS) looked impressive against New England in Jay Gruden's debut, although Tom Brady didn't play (23-6 win). On Monday night, Washington hosts Cleveland from FedEx Field at 8pmET from Landover, Md.,
Opening and Current Odds
Washington opened up as a 4-point betting odds favorite and moved to 2.5 in most books. The total opened at 37.5 and moved to 41.5.
Weather: Partly cloudy. 30 percent chance shower/storms early. West wind 3-8. Game temperature: 81, Heat Index 83.
Rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel is not the entire Browns team but he's been a nationwide phenomena. Cleveland's first preseason game against Detroit was the most watched exhibition game ever on the NFL Network. Manziel completed 7-of-11 passes for 63 yarsd and ran for 27 coming off the bench.
Brian Hoyer threw for a pedestrian 92 yards on 6-of-14 in their 13-22 loss. Manziel is expected to play more with the first team this week against Washington.
Hoyer had his moments before a knee injury last season. The offense averaged 339.4 yards per game and 252.9 yards per game passing as wide receiver Josh Gordon and tight end Jordan Cameron turned out be big-time playmakers. Cameron will be a big factor this season, while Gordon is expected to be suspended for a lengthy period of time this season. He missed practice earlier in the week but came back on Saturday.
At running back, Cleveland brought in veteran Ben Tate from Houston and he'll compete with rookie Terrance West from Towson for the starting job. Last year, the Browns averaged a paltry 86.4 yards per game. West had just 22 yards on 10 carries in the first game, while Tate had 25 yards on six attempts, but had one fumble.
Defensively, the Browns allowed 332.4 yards per game (9th) and just 221.1 yards per game in the air. The Browns even added to their pass defense by drafting cornerback Justin Gilbert from Oklahoma State to play next to Pro Bowler Joe Haden. They will miss linebacker D'Qwell Jackson in the middle as Karlos Dansby and rookie Christian Kirksey from Iowa were added to assists.
Key injuries:
Cleveland: WR Josh Gordon (abdominal) is doubtful. WR Nate Burleson (hamstring), CB Justin Gilbert (groin), TE Jordan Cameron (shoulder) and OL Paul McQuistan (ankle) are questionable. DE Desmond Bryant (wrist), CB Buster Skrine (thumb) and Isaiah Trufant (knee) are out.
Washington: WR Pierre Garcon (hamstring), WR Desean Jackson (ankle), RB Roy Helu (knee) are questionable.
Can Washington explode offensively?
Jay Gruden wil go as far as Robert Griffin III can take him. The third-year quarterback struggled in his second season, getting benched late in the season by former coach Mike Shanahan. Washington's offense wasn't bad as they averaged 369.7 yards per game (9th), but they were tied for 30th in giveaways with 34.
Washington outgained New England, 387-270 in the first game, including 177-63 on the ground. Of course, New England rested Brady and several other key starters so it's tough to judge against a shaky Washington offense.
The Redskins do have plenty of depth at running back led by Alfred Morris and rookie sixth-round pick Lache Seastrunk, who had 63 yards on 12 carries.
Griffin should also have his two top wide receivers back in DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon in what should be one of the better receiving units in football. Garcon set a franchise record with 113 receptions in 2013, while Jackson is one of the best deep threats in the game.
RG III threw just four passes in game one for nine yards and should have more action in this game. His backups, Colt McCoy (8-of-9 for 102 yards, 1 TD) and Kirk Cousins (9 of 13 for 103 yard, 1 TD), were both very effective in the opener.
New coordinator Sean McVay will work with Griffin on his mechanics and footwork. The offensive line is always a concern after allowing 43 sacks last year. The addition of Cleveland guard Shauwn Lauvao should help but it's still not a top-notch line.
On defense, the Redskins added defensive tackle Jason Hatcher, a very good player from Dallas, coming off a career-high 11 sacks. He missed the first game but was taking off the PUP list with a knee injury.
QB Rotations
Cleveland:
Brian Hoyer
Johnny Manziel
Rex Grossman
Washington
Robert Griffin III
Kirk Cousins
Colt McCoy
Browns vs. Redskins Betting Preview and Pick
By: Craig Williams
Sportingnews.com
There is just one stretch this year where there is NFL action on five consecutive days. Monday marks the fifth and final day of this span when the Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins face off at FedExField in Landover, MD (8 p.m., ESPN).
Line: Redskins -2.5, Total: 41
Line movement and notes: The spread has been bouncing between Washington -2 and -2.5 all week, with a -3 popping up occasionally. The total has hovered between 40.5 and 41.5. For updated spreads and totals from around Las Vegas, visit our live odds page.
The game could go a long way to determining who gets the nod as the Browns’ starting quarterback in Week 1 against the Steelers. Johnny Manziel and Brian Hoyer will split time with Cleveland’s first-team offense, and coach Mike Pettine plans to choose his guy on Tuesday.
Manziel figures to start at least at some point during the season, and since the Browns signed Red Grossman last week, speculation has Hoyer on the trading block.
"I guess people were trying to connect the dots and that's your job to do that," Hoyer said. "For me, I'm not concerned about anything like that. I'm looking forward to being the starting quarterback here."
Manziel, for his part, is sounding humble.
"I don't think I'm ready for Pittsburgh right now," he said.
Hoyer started against the Lions last week, finishing 6-for-14 for 92 yards. Manziel went 7-for-11 for 63 yards and added 27 yards on six carries in relief. Overall, the Browns' offense wasn't particularly impressive in a 13-12 loss.
The Redskins, meanwhile, insist Robert Griffin III is locked in as their starting quarterback, but the strong play of Kirk Cousins has created some buzz and has some wondering if the former Michigan State Spartan is actually the best QB on the roster. A healthy RGIII has never been in danger of losing his job, but quarterback debates are a staple of preseason.
It didn't help quiet the instigators when Cousins went 9-for-13 for 103 yards and touchdown in a 23-6 win a Week 1 win against the Patriots. RGIII played sparingly, making way for Cousins after completing two of his four pass attempts for nine yards. Griffin is expected to receive more reps, but he's unlikely to play beyond the first quarter.
The Linemakers' lean: The comparison between Johnny Manziel and Brian Hoyer is a bit disturbing for us. If Manziel, a first-round pick, can't beat out Hoyer, then how good can he be? The Browns, in fact, have the worst quarterback rotation in the game, according to The Linemakers' Kenny White.
Meanwhile, the Redskins will get 2-2.5 quarters from Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins with Colt McCoy handling some late-game work.
We like the total to fall UNDER 41 (thanks largely to the Browns offense) and the Redskins to cover. Kenny even offers that he plans on parlaying the UNDER with a Redskins cover -- "probably my best two plays of the weekend," he says. Just don't bet too much. It is still the preseason after all.