Well it’s been 48 hours so lets get to it. Disorganized chaos. That’s the only way to describe the 2019 Cleveland Browns. Lets talk about the game first. The Browns won the coin toss and elected to take the ball in the second half. Against a 3-9-1 team with a rookie QB, you take the ball first and force the opposing team to go into panic mode if you score on your first possession. Nick Chubb only had three rushes in the first 18 minutes of the game. Three rushes. He ended up with 17 rushes, 127 yards and a touchdown. I know the Cardinals have the worst passing defense in the league, but by those stats Chubb should have had at least 20 to 25 touches. I thought Mayfield was decent, but he’s still sailing passes as evidenced by his first interception. The only players on offense who looked liked they cared were, Mayfield, Chubb, Hunt and Landry. Please, for the love of god, STOP USING THE SHUTTLE PASS. Third and two, you shuttle pass to a wide receiver and end up losing six yards. And Nick Chubb is standing on the side lines.
On defense, or lack thereof, the only player who played well was Mack Wilson. DC Steve Wilks allowed another rookie quarterback to beat the Browns. RB Kenyan Drake(Who?) rushed for 137 yards and FOUR touchdowns. The defense gave up 445 yards after giving up 451 to the Bengals. Total team lack of effort. No special blitzes, no pressure on the QB and no sacks. Kareem Hunt said Monday, he felt not everyone was giving 110% I am pretty sure he was talking about the defense. As for special teams, another missed field goal and another short punt.
The drama. There were reports that after the game, Browns players, including Jarvis Landry, were yelling at the Arizona sideline to “come get me.” I almost believed it, until I found out that the report was attributed to Mike Silver. I just can’t believe a Hugh Jackson spokesman. He’s so far up Jackson’s ass, that the only way he could see is if Hugh opened his eyes. However, Landry and Freddie getting into a heated discussion on the sideline, gets my attention. When the coach losses Landry, then Freddie has lost the fans. If the players truly wanted out of Cleveland, they would tell their agents. After the game, Mayfield showed up for the post game press conference in a T-shirt. If that doesn’t say I don’t care, nothing does. Also when asked Monday if the players still supported Freddie, Damarious Randall couldn’t answer. YIKES.
The coach. In previous blogs, I’ve stressed not firing a coach after one season because I wanted the cycle of dysfunction to stop. Not any more, Freddie has to go. From play calling, to unexplained player inactives to a stupid T-shirt, I want a head coach who acts like a head coach. It sounds like Freddie has lost the locker room and the team leaders. I just don’t want him to destroy Baker Mayfield and if Freddie is back next year, he will. We don’t need another Tim Couch experience. Word is Jimmy Haslam is ready for a change and Dorsey isn’t. I don’t know yet who I want as the next HC, I haven’t looked at all the candidates yet, but I know I don’t want a college coach. Sorry, no Lincoln Riley, Matt Ruhle or Urban Meyer. An experienced coordinator could work, just depends who is available, Josh McDaniels maybe? The two veteran coaches currently available, Mike McCarthy and Ron Rivera both have concerns. McCarthy runs an old offense and couldn’t get along with QB Aaron Rogers. Rivera would want too much power. Remember before Freddie was hired, front office executive Paul DePodesta wanted to hire Vikings OC Kevin Stefanski. I wish, boy do I wish.
The playoffs. Do really want to see this team in the playoffs? It would probably mean Freddie would keep his job. Right now the Browns have a .08% of making the last wildcard seed. Here’s what needs to happen. First the Colts need to win their last two games. They play host to the Panthers and go to Jacksonville. Both are winnable. The Panthers are starting their third string QB and Jacksonville is a bad team. Next, the steelers need to lose their last two games. They are at the Jets and at the Ravens. The steelers don’t know who will start at QB for the Jets game. I can’t wait to see what kind of defense Greg Williams throws at the steelers. As for the Ravens, they might be resting players, but I still think they can beat the steelers. Next the Titans need to lose their last two games. They host the Saints and are at Houston. As under maned as they are with injuries and with the Titans kicking woes, they could lose both. Finally the Browns would have to win their last two games. They host the Ravens and go to Cincinnati. The way the defense played the last two weeks, beating the Ravens looks impossible. But like I said, do you really want the Browns to make the playoffs?
Hard to believe this season has come to this. Like I’ve said before in the off season you acquire talent and in the preseason you build a team. Freddie just doesn’t have the ability to build a team. Hard to believe this team went from Greg Williams (5-3 as HC) coach “come get some” to Freddie Kitchens (6-8 as HC) coach “come get me.” Last home game against the Ravens. Win out and the Browns would be 8-8 and 5-1 in the AFC North. Such a wasted season. GO BROWNS. By the way, 100 days until opening day at Progressive Field.