Month: October 2023

But it could have been. That didn’t turn out the way we wanted it to, but this team has heart and fight. After looking like they were going to get blown out by the Seahawks, the Browns fought back and had the lead. The ball just didn’t bounce the Browns way after two games where it did. Throwing an interception that bounces off an opponent’s helmet is so Browns. Still, down 14-0, this team didn’t quit like former Browns teams have.

If you’re going to complain about the play call on third and three, then you have to give credit to the play calling that brought the team back from a two-touchdown deficit. Most of the people who want Kevin Stefanski fired don’t like him to begin with. Seattle was set up defensively to stop the run on that play. In the fourth quarter, the Browns ran the ball eleven times and threw the ball four times. On the running plays it was first or second down. On the passing plays it was third down. If the quarterback executes the play, the Browns get the first down because there was a Browns player open over the middle. Despite all the problems this team has had to overcome, head coach Kevin Stefanski isn’t the problem. I think he’s grown as a coach. His play calling has improved as has his game management.

I’m getting a little worried about the defense. Third straight game they allowed an opening drive for a touchdown and the third straight game they allowed an opponent to drive down the field and score late. Another game with too many missed tackles. Of their seven games, in only two did they have less than ten missed tackles, the Bengal game and the Titans game. Coaches call the plays, and the players are supposed to execute. Finally, yesterday, there were too many chunk plays given up to the Seahawks. NFL coaches can figure out anything, and they might have figured out Jim Schwartz’s defense.

Pro Football Focus ratings. Offense, TE David Njoku (88.2), RB Kareem Hunt (79.6), WR Amari Cooper (78.8), C Ethan Pocic (71.4) and OT James Hudson, III (68.6). Defense, DT Maurice Hurst (92.4), DE Myles Garrett (78.7), CB Martin Emerson, Jr. (76.6), S Grant Delpit (73.3) and LB Jeremiah Owusu- Koramoah (69.5).

The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday October 31 at 4:00pm EST. I don’t really expect the Browns to make a trade. They don’t really need a running back after rushing for 155 yards against Seattle. I heard they might be interested in a wide receiver. It would have to be an upgrade over anything they have on the roster. A third day pick and WR Donovan Peoples-Jones seems to be the compensation. The offensive line again played very well, third straight game, so let’s not mess with it. If it were me, I would go after another pass rusher.

How this team is 4-3 is a miracle. Their quarterback play is terrible, they lost the best running back in the league for the season and they’ve given the ball away seventeen times, which is the most in the league. This team should be 6-1, but this is where I thought they would be after seven games. Beat Arizona and the Browns are 5-3 going into two tough games against Baltimore and Pittsburg. Finally, I ‘ve heard Deshaun Watson should be back for the Raven’s game. Let’s hope it’s the Titans game Watson. Stay safe and Go Browns.

Victory Monday part four, you can breathe again Browns fans. This team is now officially the Kardiac Kids 2.0. Was it a perfect game by the Browns, no. Well maybe the special teams (PFF grade of 90.3, highest in team history). Yes, there is a problem at the quarterback position. Also, the defense got used and abused by Gardner Minshew for the majority of the game. For five games the defense played out of its mind but lost the turnover battle. This game they can’t stop the Colts consistently and win the turnover battle. The NFL is such a weird league.

Let’s start with the quarterback position. Deshaun Watson had no reason to be playing in that game. I don’t care if it was only five passes, he was not ready. As the fans wait for a health report on Watson, alternatives have to be discussed. I’ve heard fans want to bring back Jacoby Brissett. No thanks, he’s a career backup who wins one and loses two. They already have that in P.J. Walker. I’m leaning towards Kirk Cousins. He’s on a team going nowhere, he has a no trade clause to prevent him from going to a team where he has to learn a new offense and he’s in the last year of his contract. The Browns and Vikings have already worked out a trade this season, (Za’Darius Smith), Cousin’s already knows Stefanski’s offense and if he’s successful, it increases his value in free agency. I’m not saying cut Watson, but if his injury is a season long thing, put him on IR and go get Cousins on a one-year rental. It’s just a thought, but the team can’t call up P.J. Walker again unless the sign him to the active roster.

Remember went the biggest worry for Browns fans was a kicker would cost the team the playoffs. Dustin Hopkins is now seven for seven on field goals of 50 yards or more. He’s the only kicker in NFL history to hit a 50 yarder in five straight games and he kicked a career long 58 yarder. What can you say about Myles Garrett? First time a player to have two sacks, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick in a game. He carried this team to a victory. DT Jordan Elliott and DT Dalvin Tomlinson have had two great games. On offense, the offensive line has found its rhythm and Jed Wills had another good game. All three running backs played well. Kareem Hunt looked like Kareem Hunt from two years ago.

As for opposing fans complaining about the Browns benefiting from poor officiating, shut up. Since 1999, NFL officials have found the most obscure rules to screw the Browns. For two straight games, the ball has bounced the Browns way. About damn time.

Pro Football Focus rankings. Offense, TE David Njoku (75.4), RB Jerome Ford (71.6), RT Dawand Jones (70.5), RG Wyatt Teller (66.0) and C Ethan Pocic (65.2). Defense, DE Myles Garrett (94.2), DT Dalvin Tominson (78.7) S Juan Thornhill (71.9), CB Denzel Ward (66.1) and DT Shelby Harris (60.8). The signings of Shelby Harris, Juan Thornhill and Maurice Hurst, the trades for Za’Darius Smith and Dustin Hopkins and the drafting of Dawand Jones have been moves by GM Andrew Berry that are paying big dividends. Jones had 40 pass blocking repetitions and allowed one pressure and zero sacks.

Now the team heads to Seattle where the Browns have only won three times. This is not going to be an easy game. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz needs to fix what the Colts offense did to the Browns defense. I guarantee the Seahawk’s coaching staff is watching the tape frame by frame. Let’s all hope the quarterback decision comes quickly this week. Stay safe and Go Browns.

This victory is the sweetest one so far. No one gave the Browns a chance against the so-called best team in the league. Hell, even some Browns fans were chalking this one up as a loss. It did appear to be pretty daunting. Injuries to key players, starting a third string quarterback, looked lost the previous game played versus Baltimore. San Fransico thought they were going to roll into Cleveland and walk all over the Browns. They even started a pregame fight. Well, the Cleveland defense brought San Fransico back to earth. How good is this Browns defense? Let me tell you.

They’re number one is first downs allowed (52), number one in third down conversion rate percentage allowed (23.1%) and total yards allowed (1002). The Browns played man to man 71% of 49ers QB’s drop backs. Brock Prudy was six of nineteen for 51 yards in those drop backs. Cleveland’s defense plays man to man the sixth highest rate in the league. When they do they allow a QBR rating of 7.5, yards per play of 4.7 yards and a completion rate of 44%. All three categories are number one in the NFL. This defense is elite. They’re number one in defensive efficiency.

On offense, the Browns have some work to do. They’re 30th in offensive efficiency. The running game started to come around, 160 yards rushing is very good considering there’s no Nick Chubb. The offensive line played better considering Joel Bitonio didn’t play and the 49er defense was second in the NFL against the run. Creative play calling helped to set up the run. Even Jedrick Wills had a good game. He still made two or three mistakes, but it was his best game this year, however that’s not a very high bar. Third string quarterback P.J. Walker was good, but still made mistakes. His second interception was a designed QB run, but he thought he saw something and threw the pass. The Browns have played thirteen third string quarterbacks since 1999 and Waker was the first on to win a game. So I’ll take it. This might have been head coach Kevin Stefanski’s best game play calling.

Pro Football Focus ratings: Offense, TE David Njoku (77.7), RT Dawand Jones (73.5), C Ethan Pocic (71.9), WR Amari Cooper (71.3) and Kareem Hunt (69.8). Defense, LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (89.8), DT Dalvin Tomlinson (72.9), DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (71.7), S Juan Thornhill (70.9) and DE Myles Garrett (66.3).

Moving on, the prevailing thought is QB Deshaun Watson and LG Joel Bitonio will be healthy enough to play next week against the Colts. Watson needs to get back in the grove he had for the last three quarters of the Titan game. Hopefully the offensive play calling will continue to evolve. Enjoy your week Browns fans and stay safe. Go Browns.

Name a Browns season that hasn’t been a roller coaster ride, but this is getting ridiculous. A complete embarrassment of a game. Talk of a changing culture in Cleveland? Not when it comes to the Steelers and the Ravens. Same old, same old. The Browns chance to win the AFC North just got slimer. Don’t get me wrong, there is still a possibility, both Cincinnati and Pittsburg are train wreaks right now, but if Lamar Jackson keeps playing like he did yesterday, Baltimore is the class of the AFC North.

I’ll start the blame game with head coach Kevin Stefanski. Seven of his first ten plays were pass play. Pass plays. Pass plays with a rookie quarterback. The first play was a running play and went for 25 yards and of course the offense gets called for a penalty. But the play worked. Even down 14-3, you continue to try and run the ball. Nope, Stefanski was determined to make Dorian Thompson-Robinson into Deshaun Watson. Not having running back Nick Chubb is really hurting this team. Do the Browns have a great offensive line? Not right now. Chubb helped cover up poor line play. The Browns don’t have another player who can do that. What in god’s name is wrong with Elijah Moore? Bonehead play after bonehead play. All in all, I think it’s time for Alex Van Pelt to start calling plays.

On defense, the team started out great. A three-and-out on the Ravens first two possessions. Then after an interception, one play, one Jackson rushing touchdown. I believe the Browns defense spent the entire second quarter on the field. Then add the fact they couldn’t tackle and it’s a recipe for disaster. I still believe the defense is legit, these kinds of games are going to happen, but man that was brutal. At least the team has a kicker.

The whole question of Watson starting led to this loss. We may never know what really happened, but the situation was a major failure. So what happens next. I hope the Browns will consider signing a veteran tackle who will actually play. Getting Kareem Hunt more involved in the offense would also help. Get backup quarterback P.J. Walker up to speed. By the way, Josh Dobbs was not going to win that game. And finally, more impute from Alex Van Pelt. It’s only game four and there are thirteen games left. When I first saw the schedule, I hated the week five bye, but now I’m grateful for the timing. This team needs this bye right now. Stay safe and Go Browns.