It’s been 48 hours, so lets get this over with. That was a debacle. Lets start on offense. Because of the tackle position, or lack thereof, this offense can not do deep drops when passing the ball. Mayfield can’t hang in the pocket that long. The Browns started off pretty good with a trick play by Beckham. He hit Landry underneath but missed a wide open receiver which would of been a touchdown. Then Mayfield over threw or had dropped passes. Where the hell was the offense that worked so well against the Ravens? No motion and no creativity. That falls on Freddie. I think he’s doing too much.
Then, because of a poor defensive coaching decision, the Browns were down by a touchdown just like that. It looked like that one play threw off their timing and their game plan. One early touchdown takes you out of your game plan? Again, coaching is to blame. Just stick to the plan and work your offense. That probably would have worked if Mayfield hadn’t thrown another interception. Before you know it, boom down by two touchdowns. The Browns did come back with a field goal, but why are they using an empty backfield when they’re in the red zone? Again coaching. Lets put Mayfield in the position to be Baker Mayfield.
Not was all lost. The Browns drive down the field and on third and goal, Callaway doesn’t make the catch and it results in a turnover. Yesterday, Callaway said he was learning a new position. A guy comes off a four game suspension and you have him learn a new position? Either he needs to tell the coaching staff he’s having trouble with the position or you don’t put him in that position to begin with or you notice he’s struggling with the new position. One last thought on the coaching. you put Hilliard in to pass block and leave Chubb on the sideline? Chubb is the third best pass blocking running back in the league, while Hilliard is one of the worst.
It may sound like I’m blaming everything on the coaching, I’m not. Mayfield made some poor decisions and looked like he was rushing things. He really doesn’t trust his blocking and I don’t blame him, but he needs to just calm down. To win a game like this, everyone has to do their job. From the head coach all the way down the the backups on special teams. By the way, what ever happened to the no huddle, hurry up offense we saw in the preseason? Might not hurt to drag it out of mothballs.
Lets go to the defense. You start the game in a 4-2-5. You have Schobert and a rookie linebacker starting the game. So on the first play the rookie is out of position and the safety takes a bad angle on a 83 yard touchdown run. This defense really missed Kirksey Monday night. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the pick of Mack Wilson, but lets give the rookie some help on the first defensive play of the game. Considering the turnovers, the defense held their own at certain times. If it weren’t for the 49ers having their third long snapper this year and a rookie holder, this game would have been much worse. And like I said, give the defense credit for forcing the field goals.
Special teams. The “Scottish Hammer” can punt the ball and get the roll. The spin he puts on the ball is outstanding. However even the special teams got into the act by allowing a long punt return in the second half. Only the third punt return allowed this year. Austin Seibert was good as usual, just wish he had more opportunities for extra points. One last mystery, why was your star wide receiver returning a punt when you’re down by 28? In the words of some of my ancestors, Oy vey.
So now the Browns turn to the Seahawks who are coming off a bye week. The only things the Browns have going for them are a west coast team going east and playing the early game and the game is at home. Russell Wilson, right now is the best quarterback in the league and can make a serious case for MVP. Pete Carroll is one hell of a coach and the defense can be very good. For some reason WR D.K. Metcalf scares the crap out of me. Hopefully the Browns will be back to full strength in the secondary. This is a must win game. Seattle is up next and Go Browns.