Off to a good start

This is all you need to know about the Browns' exhibition season opener Saturday night in Jacksonville. They . . . 

Committed only three penalties (two late in the game) . . . recorded four sacks . . . did not turn the football over . . . created one turnover (an interception) . . . punted only twice (once with mere minutes left in regulation) . . . allowed only one sack . . dropped only two passes . . . and owned the football for 33+ minutes.

It all added up to a ridiculously-easy and most impressive 23-13 victory by a team that, with a few exceptions, was comprised of second, third- and a few fourth-teamers trying to make the final 53-man roster. 

There was not one moment when the Browns were not in charge of this one as they rudely welcomed Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer to the National Football League, albeit in a meaningless game.  

And they just as rudely said hello to quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the Jags' choice with the league's No. 1 college draft pick, sacking him twice and limiting him to six completions on nine throws for just 71 yards in two series.

The backups on defense kept the Jaguars offense on their side of the field for the most part through the better part of three quarters before scoring all their points in the final quarter. By then, the Cleveland defense, with the game firmly under control, had softened their coverage in the secondary.

This outstanding performance is almost certain to make General Manager Andrew Berry's job of molding the final roster that much tougher. Just about everyone who suited up and were healthy enough to play (with the exception of the starters, who rested) contributed.

If there were any negatives, one would be the offense's failure to score touchdowns on three first-half trips into the red zone with Case Keenum, who played the first three series, directing the attack on the first two. Head coach Kevin Stefanski gambled on the third with Kyle Lauletta at the helm the second quarter and failed on fourth down.

The other would be the absence of a ground game, which picked up just 41 yards on 26 carries, the offensive line failing to create any holes for running backs D'Ernest Johnson, John Kelly and Corey Taylor II and fullback Johnny Stanton.

Suffice it to say, that will not be a problem in the regular season with one of the NFL's best offensive lines and a running game that frightens a majority of defensive coordinators around the league. 

Most of the Cleveland yardage was gleaned through the air with Keenum and Lauletta targeting 15 different receivers 44 times, completing 31 for 319 yards, including Lauletta scoring passes to Davion Davis in the second quarter and Ryan Switzer in the final quarter.

The seven-yard toss to Switzer climaxed a dreamlike -- and almost unbelievable -- 20-play drive that consumed 89 yards and took a remarkable 10:28 off the game clock. Along the way, Lauletta converted five third downs and a fourth down.

With the run game controlled by the Jaguars, whoever called the plays on offense -- presumably offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt --  was not shy about using his backs in the passing game. They were targeted 18 times with 14 completions for 152 of the 319 passing yards.

The defense, meanwhile, looked much quicker than last season's sad bunch with rookie Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (JOK) in the starring role. The Browns' second-round draft choice seemed to be everywhere the ball was. 

He was like a heat missile, collecting eight tackles (all but one solo), a sack, a quarterback hit and three tackles for loss. Once he got his hands on the opposition, the play ended. It was as though he was omnipresent.

Other stickouts on defense included linebacker Elijah Lee, who had six tackles (four solo) and was a general fecal disturber; rookie safety Richard LeCounte III, who had the lone interception and a sack; safety Javonte Moffatt with four tackles and cornerback Kiondre Thomas, who played enough to register five tackles despite being buried on the team's depth chart.

If Saturday night's performance by this defense is any indication, it is going to be fun this season to watch coordinator Joe Woods, once the regulars return, ultimately incorporate JOK's seemingly extraordinary powers of winding up in the vicinity of the football become a staple on that side of the ball.