Browns-Eagles quick hits: Joshua Dobbs a dual threat, Jerome Ford's nice hands

CLEVELAND − The Browns treated Sunday's second preseason game against Philadelphia as an opportunity to get a good look at a lot of players resting just below the top of the depth chart.

Just about anyone who was anyone on either roster, really, wasn't even in uniform. That provided plenty of chances for players deeper on the roster to make an impression in a game to go with two days of joint practices with the Eagles.

The teams went with a heavy dose of their No. 2s and 3s for the entire first half. The Browns carried that into the first offensive possession of the second half.

Ultimately, the Browns fell 21-20 to the Eagles in a game that came down to Josh Rosen against Carson Strong by the end.

"Disappointed not to get a 'W,'" Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. "Obviously, any time we're keeping score, we want to get the win. So disappointed with that. Having said that, those guys competed like crazy. Very, very pleased with effort out there. Got some excellent reps, excellent exposure to a bunch of young guys that ultimately will help us make some decisions, hard decisions."

Joshua Dobbs a dual threat for Browns offense

Joshua Dobbs got the start at quarterback for the Browns, as expected. What wasn't known going in was how long he would play.

Turns out, it was the entirety of the first half, plus a third-quarter scoring drive for good measure.

Dobbs' four drives resulted in four scores, as the Browns led 20-14 when he handed the job off to Rosen. The sixth-year pro out of Tennessee had a big hand in the first and last ones, and not just because of his arm.

On the Browns' opening drive, Dobbs reversed field to his left and broke the grasp of a Philadelphia defender. He then tip-toed down the sideline for a 36-yard gain, with extra yardage tacked on due to an Eagles' holding penalty.

"I knew I was going to stay in bounds," Dobbs said of the run. "I wasn't worried about that. I was really just about, I saw the linebacker coming over and I was like ‘alright, it's a foot race. If I can get around him, I’ve got a shot’ and then like everyone stopped but I kept going obviously. It was a little confusing. I’ve just go to keep my feet, I’ve got to make one more guy miss for a touchdown, but no, it was a good play. A good, productive play."

The next play, Dobbs ran it in for a 3-yard touchdown. He had 43 yards on three carries and the touchdown on the drive.

On the final drive of the half, Dobbs rolled to the right and took off toward the pylon from the Eagles 5. He was stopped just shy of the goal line, setting up a 19-yard field goal by rookie Cade York as the half ended.

Dobbs' final drive was kept alive by a sharply thrown 8-yard strike to JaMarcus Bradley on a fourth-and-6 to the Philadelphia 37. That ended with John Kelly Jr.'s 6-yard touchdown run to make it 20-14 Cleveland.

"He moved around really well," Stefanski said. "That scramble down the left sideline was obviously outstanding. Got us in the right plays, like he does. Very intelligent young man. He gave some guys opportunities to make plays."

Dobbs finished with 47 yards on four carries. He also completed 14-of-20 passes for 141 yards.

Michael Dunn gets first snap at center for Browns

The question of who's the internal choice to step in should Ethan Pocic be another Browns center to go down was answered when Michael Dunn started there. Dunn had been working with Hjalte Froholdt as the No. 2 center behind Pocic since Nick Harris' injury in the preseason opener.

Dunn is also the backup to Joel Bitonio at left guard. With Bitonio not playing and Dunn at center, Drew Forbes started at left guard.

"I would just say with Michael Dunn, you're going to get a very diligent worker," Stefanski said. "A kid who's going to be assignment-sound all the time. He's going to play hard all the time and through the whistle. That's what you get with Michael Dunn."

Dunn played the Browns' first four possession at center. Froholdt came in at right guard to start the third quarter, before taking over at center on their second third-quarter possession.

Eagles' third-down conversions a first-half killer

Philadelphia marched right down the field on its opening two drives with Gardner Minshew at the controls to take a 14-13 halftime lead. A big factor in both drives was the Eagles' ability to win third down, as they were 6-of-8 on conversion attempts over three drives.

On the Eagles' opening 14-play, 76-yard scoring drive, they converted 3-of-4 third downs. The one time they didn't, they converted the fourth down that led to Boston Scott's 1-yard touchdown run.

On their second drive, a 17-play, 75-yard march, they converted both third downs they faced. They capped it with a 2-yard TD run by Kenneth Gainwell.

"I think we did miss tackles," Stefanski said of his defense, which gave up 227 of the 344 total yards it allowed in the first half. "We didn't get off the field enough. Really, we didn't take the ball away. We took the ball away three times last game, didn't take it away once in this game, and that's not who were are in our DNA, so that's disappointing."

They converted 2-of-3 third downs on their third first-half drive, a 12-play, 72-yard march to the Browns 3. Willie Harvey Jr. and Glen Logan combined for a tackle for loss on a third-and-goal play from the Cleveland 2 to force fourth down.

The Browns then forced a turnover on downs when Herb Miller broke up a pass attempt. Miller dropped what would've been a potential interception return for a score, but it still prevented an Eagles score.

Jerome Ford a pass catcher as well as a runner

Jerome Ford continues to show why the running back was so valued by the Browns coming out of Cincinnati. However, it's not just the way he runs the ball that has impressed.

Ford yet again displayed a great ability to catch the football out of the backfield. The fifth-round pick had four grabs for 46 yards against the Eagles.

That performance comes off a debut showing against the Jaguars in which he also had four catches, that time for 45 yards. He also had a touchdown against Jacksonville.

"They didn't throw him a ton of balls in Cincinnati," Stefanski said. "As part of the evaluation, you're going off of pro day and those types of things. Since we've gotten him on campus, he's done a very nice job in the pass game. He catches it, runs good routes. That is an element of his game."

Ford ran for 31 yards on nine carries against Philadelphia.

Anthony Schwartz, David Bell with lots of reps

Two players who may end up being starters who did play significant minutes for the Browns were receiver Anthony Schwartz and David Bell. For both, it was a chance to continue to knock off some of the rust after delayed or halted starts to their training camps.

Schwartz, who followed up missed camp time due to a knee strain with a rough opener in Jacksonville, had two catches on three targets for 20 yards. All three were on out routes just at the first-down marker, with both catches impressive efforts by the second-year pro.

"I think it was good," Bell said. "He had a few last week and that's a receiver, we have those slip-ups and drops and stuff like that, but he's a hard worker, he likes to make up for his mistakes. Just to see him do what he did today is definitely a big confidence for him and I'm happy to see that he's back in that good state again."

Bell, who didn't play against the Jaguars after missing the more than a week of training camp with a foot injury, had three catches on four targets for 46 yards. The one he didn't catch was a drop on a third-down play on the sidelines that led to a field goal.

For Bell, though, the three chances to go against the Eagles between the joint practices and the game was an eye-opening experience in some ways.

"I'd say that the speed is a lot different from what I was accustomed to coming out of college," Bell said, "that you have to be decisive with everything that you do. If you aren't decisive, that's a time that plays are messed up, injuries are happening, even if you mess up, mess up 100 miles per hour."

Welcome to Cleveland, Cade York

The much-anticipated FirstEnergy Stadium debut for York arrived on Sunday. It was the full York experience, right down to the kicker's cool, calm demeanor throughout.

“It felt like college, honestly," York said. "Not too different. Just a nice little scrimmage with people there.

The fourth-round pick out of LSU blasted his first field goal through the uprights from 50 yards out off the left hashmark. He then added a 19-yard chip shot to end the half.

York tried a 55-yarder from the right hash going toward the west end zone late in the third quarter. The kick had the distance, but bounced off the right upright.

There were some wondering if Stefanski would send the big-legged kicker out to try a 64-yarder with just over three minutes remaining to try and win the game. Instead, he elected to go for it in order to work on things with the offense, and Rosen's pass fell incomplete.

“I mean, anything they put me out there for, I’m excited for, especially now, just getting to build up my resume before the season starts," York said of trying a 64-yarder. "It would’ve been cool, but we’ve got to work on other stuff, too. So it’s not just about me."

A.J. Green leaves with potential concussion, other injury updates

The biggest injury concern to emerge for the Browns came when cornerback A.J. Green left the game late in the first half. Green was evaluated for a concussion, although Stefanski did not have an immediate update.

The Browns' other cornerback, Martin Emerson Jr., also departed in the first half with a finger injury. Stefanski dismissed any long-term concern for the third-round pick.

Rookie defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey walked to the locker room at the two-minute warning of the fourth quarter accompanied by trainers. Stefanski did not have any update, although he did not show any signs of injury in the post-game locker room.

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns' Joshua Dobbs a dual threat, Jerome Ford's nice hands