Seems so simple to the rest of us

Memo to Pat Shurmur: In two drives, six total plays of our two final (potential) scoring drives, we sent wideouts into the end zone once. And we threw the ball into the end zone zero times. The end zone is worth seven points. It is the place where your offense needs to find itself in order to win football games. If you win football games, you can stay head coach of an NFL football team.

Do you feel that one foot of yours hitting the pavement outside the front doors in Berea? That's the feeling described by many when they have 'one foot out the door.'

The man was 20-27 for crying out loud and the only body somewhat warm in a chilly stadium Sunday. Let him throw the ball. He will either complete the task or fail. But, he will not win if he is not allowed to try. You can not back your way into a winning record.

Also, if you want to play a power running game, which incidentally is a game plan more than half of this town favors, get Hillis and Hardesty healthy, and embrace them. What should you do when you have an inexperienced shifty halfback on your final, game-winning drive? Keep both feet inside the building. Make a pass at it.

The Mc has control of the WC

In the three series he played last night Cleveland Browns Stadium, Colt McCoy steered his offense to two scores in a 27-17 win over defending Super Bowl Champions Green Bay Packers.

After one very poor decision, a backwards pass to rookie fullback Owen Marecic who never caught the ball, McCoy and the first team rattled off passing gains of 10, 12, 8, 15, and 27 yards. Touchdown Josh Cribbs.

McCoy was 9-10 for 135 yards and a touchdown for the game.

Thank you very much.

McCoy said it was the first time he and rookie head coach Pat Shurmur had communicated with each from field to sideline. "There were a lot of firsts tonight," McCoy told the Associated Press.

Shurmur told the AP, "It was good to see Colt go in there and move the ball. It looked like the game was moving slow for him, which is good. Colt's a little bit of a gamer, and that's right up his alley."

Meanwhile, Green Bay had some rust to shake off after not spending any time together during the lockout. 

"It felt good to finally be back out there," Rodgers told AP. "I missed being on the field. It was a long offseason. It was nice to get back out there and play another team."

It showed on their second series. After a 21-yard back shoulder touchdown strike to Greg Jennings at the front pylon Rodgers said, "I was talking to Greg on the sideline before that last drive and said, 'Hey, let's put this one in the end zone and take a break.'"

Sheldon Brown was covering on the play and was right there, but Rodgers and Jennings made a heck-of-a play and showed why Green bay's offense was so effective last year.

On their final series, Mccoy and tight end Ben Watson hooked up for the second time with a 27 yard strike down the seem. Peyton Hillis ran it in the endzone for a 14-7 lead.

After a field goal score and a 3-yard touchdown pass from Green Bay backup quarterback Matt Flynn to Spencer Havner, the Packers led 17-14 at the half.

McCoy told WKYC weekend sports anchor Dave Chudowski, "at halftime it was like, hey, we gotta do whatever it takes to win. (Pre-season or not) you know we want to win."

Dick Jauron's defense shut out the Packers in the second half, a strong comeback after early game jitters. 

Really early jitters.

A first play-of-the-game timeout for having 12 men on the field is an ominous sign, but it proved to be the exception rather the rule. Jauron was seen on the sideline saying, "it's on me, it's on me."

After that, the Browns defense had five sacks, one of them by linebacker Brian Smith on Flynn, who fumbled the ball at the Cleveland 49. Linebacker Titus Brown scooped up the ball and ran for a touchdown.

Backup kicker Jeff Wolfert hit two 40-plus yard field goals in his first game action, in the second half.