Month: August 2022

Bears Vs. Browns, The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.

The preseason games are finally over and after three games we can determine absolutely nothing. The only major injuries last night were DE Chris Odom, who was carted off the field with a knee injury and Browns fans who had to watch WR Anthony Schwartz attempt to catch a pass. Odom was probably headed for the practice squad and Schwartz’s future is unknown. So, let’s get to it.

The Good. Yes, there was good last night. On offense, QB Josh Dobbs, RB Jerome Ford, WR Javon Wims and WR David Bell. Dobbs again showed good decision making and the ability to rally a team. He is not better then Jacoby Brissett, and he will not start in Carolina. While some Browns fans will argue Dobbs is better, Brissett didn’t have the entire starting offensive line, RB Nick Chubb, RB Kareem Hunt and WR Amari Cooper. I think they would’ve made a difference. Besides Dobbs was playing against guys who will be selling insurance next week. Ford continues to impress. If a running back is traded (Hunt or Johnson) he’ll step in and contribute right away. Bell is going to be a playmaker this year. Wims may have just forced Schwartz off the roster. On defense, defensive tackles Jordan Elliott and Taven Bryan showed up last night. They’re your starters. Defensive ends Isaac Rochell and Alex Wright are making the strongest cases for backing up Jadeveon Clowney and Myles Garrett. In the secondary, D’Anthony Bell and Shaun Jolly may have made the roster.

The Bad. I know it’s preseason and the Bears played 95% of their starters in the first half, but I thought the offense would be a tad more creative. Another head scratching performance in the first quarter. WR Anthony Schwartz needs to see a psychologist at this point, because he has the worst case of the yips I’ve ever seen. On defense, it seems CB Greedy Williams forgot how to cover receivers. He might be trade bait. DT Tommy Togiai also seems to have forgotten how to play football. The only way he makes the team is because he was drafted by GM Andrew Berry. Unfortunately for Togiai, Andrew Berry doesn’t think that way.

The Ugly. When I started watching the game, I had penalties in the bad section. They quickly moved to the ugly section. Mental errors will kill any good NFL team, and the penalties last night were brutal. Bad mistakes at the worst times. And speaking of penalties, Alex Taylor over the last two years showed great promise, after last night, yikes. David Njoku and Harrison Bryant are the Browns starting tight ends. As for tight end number 3, I thought it might be Miller Forristall, nope. If the Browns carry three tight ends, that player will come from another team after Tuesday’s cutdown day. Speaking of after the cutdown day, I hope Andrew Berry can find a punt returner.

Like I said earlier, the Bears played 95% of their starters in the first half, so the Browns defensive performance doesn’t alarm me. Remember Garrett, Clowney, Newsome and Ward didn’t play. I think those four would’ve made a difference. Now it’s on to Carolina and former Browns starting QB Baker Mayfield. Unfortunately, fans have to wait two weeks. Two weeks of the revenge of Mayfield and the reminder the Browns are 1-21-1 in season openers since 1999. Don’t forget to tune into ESPN for the annual showing of “The Drive.” Good times. Everybody stay safe and Go Browns.

Eagles Vs. Browns, The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.

Now that the Browns are no longer under the dark cloud of a Deshaun Watson suspension announcement, it’s time to concentrate on what happens on the field. Well, it was a preseason game where hardly any starters played, but it was a Browns game. As for the Watson 11 game suspension, he’ll return to play against his former team and fellow lawsuit waiting to happen, the Houston Texans. Who said the NFL doesn’t have a sick sense of humor? The league only cares about money, optics and ratings, and the ratings for that game will be through the roof. On to preseason game two.

The Good. QB Josh Dobbs, WR David Bell, WR Mike Hartley, Jr., K Cade York, RB Jerome Ford, OL Michael Dunn, OL Hjalte Froholdt on offense. On defense, LB Tony Fields, II, DT Glen Logan, LB Willie Harvey, LB Jordan Kunaszyk, DE Isaac Rochell and DE Alex Wright. Dobbs continues to impress me and living in Nashville Tennessee, I saw enough of him when he played for the University of Tennessee. I know the play calling is very vanilla this time of year, but his decision-making ability is very impressive for a third string QB, but then again, pro football isn’t rocket science, (you know I had to sneak in a rocket science joke). Bell and Hartley, especially Hartley, played very well. York, even though he missed a 55-yard field goal, it hit the top of the pylon. Ford will continue to push for a roster spot. The Browns may have to keep four running backs (Chubb, Hunt, Johnson and Ford). Felton will be listed as a wide receiver. Dunn and Froholdt showed their versatility, which will come in handy when deciding how many offensive linemen to keep, (nine or ten total). On defense, LB’s Tony Fields, Willie Harvey and Jordan Kunaszyk really stepped up. Harvey and Kunaszyk are locks to make the roster on special teams. Rochell and Wright improved from game one and Logan may sneak himself onto this roster because of the lack of talent at the defensive tackle position.

The Bad. I should list WR Anthony Schwartz as average, but there is no good, average, bad and ugly. He improved, that’s all I can say, but not to the point of a WR3. Yes, the penalty situation got better, but some of those penalties happened at the worst times. DT Perrion Winfrey is struggling. He was blown off the ball in running plays all night long. And speaking of the defensive tackle position?

The Ugly. Browns fans had better hope some average to good defensive tackles shake lose during cutdowns. After Jordan Elliot & Glen Logan, It’s truly ugly. I had such high hopes for Tommy Togiai. Josh Rosen was nothing more than a camp arm during pre-season, so I’m not surprised by his play on the field. The Browns could probably sneak him onto the practice squad, but I don’t’ think that’s a quality idea. GM Andrew Berry will wait for the final NFL cutdown to bring in a QB3.

Another glorified practice bites the dust. Tomorrow the Browns have to cut five more players to get the roster from 85 to 80. The next totally unnecessary game will be Saturday August 27 against the Bears. Check your local listings for this barn burner. Everybody stay safe and Go Browns.

Browns Vs. Jaguars, The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.

The evening started with Browns fans wondering if the NFL would suspend quarterback Deshaun Watson prior to the game. If they had, then that would have meant a one-year suspension. Instead, we got rumors there might be a settlement. Wait, what? Maybe that’s why Watson finally apologized to the women involved. The speculation was if Watson started last night, then the suspension would be less than a year (10 to 12 games). If he was pulled, then a one-year indefinite suspension. Glad we got that settled, I think. Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly from last night.

The Good. Quarterbacks Josh Dobbs and Josh Rosen. Dobbs was 10 for 13, 108 yards, one touchdown with a QBR of 126.4. Rosen was 6 for 7, 56 yards and a QBR of 100.0. I know these stats came against backups, but what was impressive about Dobbs, he led the Browns third teamers on a touchdown drive versus the Jaguars second teamers. Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott was a force on the inside. The defense as a whole was very impressive with five sacks. The best part about last night were the rookies who shined. RB Jerome Ford (ten rushes for 57 yards, one TD, four catches for 46 yards, one TD), WR Daylen Baldwin (three catches for 25 yards, two contested), S D’Anthony Bell (three tackles, one forced fumble, one tackle for a loss) DE Isaiah Thomas (two sacks, one tackle for a loss) and K Cade York was perfect (three extra points, one field goal).

Bad. Offensive line. LT Jedrick Wills, OT Ben Petrula, C Ethan Pocic and Michael Dunn all struggled. Too many penalties on both sides of the ball. Special team tackling was again not so special. Lack of timing, focus and urgency on offense in the first quarter.

Ugly. QB Deshaun Watson was atrocious in the first quarter. It looked like rust and the uncertainty of a suspension. WR Anthony Schwartz needs to start playing like an NFL wide receiver, three targets, three drops. The injury to center Nick Harris. GM Andrew Berry better be calling J.C. Tretter this morning.

I never overreact to the first pre-season game, so I’m not going to start now. Watson may have looked better if he had RB Nick Chubb, RB Kareem Hunt, WR Amari Cooper, WR David Bell and OG Joel Bitonio on the field with him in the first quarter. Jacoby Brissett should start along with most of the starters in the second pre-season game on August 21 against the Eagles. Hopefully the Browns will have better consistency on offense. On defense, this team is deep, very deep and it showed last night. Next up the Eagles. Go Browns.

The Verdict Is In.

This morning the independent arbitrator Susan Robinson ruled Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will be suspended for six games. She said Watson did violate the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy, however based on the evidence presented, it did not constitute an indefinite suspension nor a one-year suspension. The league now has three days to determine if they will appeal Robinsons decision. If they do, then Commissioner Roger Goodell will hear the appeal. The players union issued a statement saying they won’t appeal the Judge’s decision, but if the league adds games on the appeal, then the NFLPA will sue the NFL.

Watson can take part in training camp and play in pre-season games. After the regular season starts, he has to stay away from the facility until after week three. Watson still can’t practice with the team but can take part in meetings inside the building in Berea. The six games he will miss are at the Panthers, home against the Jets, home against the Steelers, at the Falcons, home against the Chargers and home against the Patriots. His first game back will be at the Ravens on October 23 and his first home game will be the following week against the Bengals on Halloween.

Bottom line, Judge Robinson ruled Watson did violate the PCP. Suspended him for six games based on previous cases and left the door open for further games if he violates the policy again. The league will review the decision to figure out if they’re going to appeal. Prior to today’s ruling it was announced Watson has settled three of the final four cases against him.

In other team news, RT Jack Conklin returned off the Pup list, WR Isaiah Weston was waived with an injury after hurting his knee Saturday and the Browns signed WR Derrick Dillion.

Now the Browns go into the season knowing where they stand at the quarterback position and all the Holiday Inn Express lawyers on twitter to go back to being pretend GM’s. Everyone stay safe and Go Browns.