Dawgpoundsouth

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.

Living in Nashville, TN this one is much sweeter. All week, Browns fans here in the Music City heard the noise from the local sports experts pick the Titans to win because of the way the Browns played against the Steelers. Their reasoning was, the Titans finally won a game and stopped an eight-game losing streak. They felt their team turned the corner and because “Cleveland is Cleveland” and the Browns were in disarray after Monday night. They didn’t know, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is a great game planner on a short week. They also forgot the Browns were 17-9 at home under Stefanski. They didn’t consider just how great the Browns defense is. Surprise.

After three games the Browns defense has allowed 163.7 total yards a game (1st), 52 rushing yards (1st), 111.7 passing yards (1st), seven first downs (1st), third down conversion rate of 19.51% (1st) and 10.7 points allowed (1st). They’re allowing 3.2 yards per play and opponents are going three and out 61.5% of the time. Every position group on this defense has elite players. With this defense, all quarterback Deshaun Watson had to do was be average. He was better than average, he was really good. Watson, after watching the Steeler game three times, once with the team, once with Stefanski and once by himself, told the head coach, he needed to be in the shotgun with an empty set. Kudos to Kevin Stefanski for listening to his quarterback and not being stubborn. Watson threw some incredible passes. They didn’t all connect, but 81% of them did. I’ll take that any day of the week. Don’t get me wrong, the Titan run defense is legit, but their pass defense is atrocious. I was glad to see the offense attack the perimeters. That’s how the running game will work in future games. Finally, the Browns have a kicker.

Pro Football Focus grades: Offense, TE Harrison Bryant 75.1, QB Watson, 74.6, WR Amari Cooper 72.3, RT Dawand Jones 65.3 and C Ethan Pocic 64.3. Defense, DE Myles Garrett 93.3, DE Alex Wright 90.5, DT Maurise Hurst 89.6, LB JOK, 87.1, LB Anthony Walker 84.7 and DE Za’Darius Smith 70.7.

Next week the Browns host the Ravens and QB Lamar Jackson will be a challenge, but the Browns have played him well at home. Enjoy your victory Monday, stay safe and Go Browns.

The season isn’t over after two games. Yes, the loss of running back Nick Chubb is devastating and it changed the complexation of the game. Now the team has a short week to forget about the Steelers game and get ready for the Titans. A short week is a good thing. In Cleveland right know, fans are again overacting to a game. But it was the strangest game I ever saw. I’ve never seen part of a first quarter played twice, WTF. Two things I know, the offense is still not there, and the defense has the potential to be very good. I’ll wait till after week six to call this the Browns best defense. You can’t argue, if the defense can play like that every week, they’ll keep this team in games until the offense comes around.

The problem with the offense, QB Deshaun Watson is still not right. It seems the game is still too fast for him. When he got a rhythm going, he was very good, but stupid penalties broke that rhythm. I’ve never seen a quarterback get two facemask penalties in a game. Total loss of composure. Fans can blame LT Jedrick Wills, but you also have to blame RG Wyatt Teller and C Ethan Pocic. Drive killing penalties on both. It’s time to replace WR DPJ as the punt returner. He cost the team around 30 yards by no fielding the punt. Unacceptable. Like I said it was a weird game. The Steelers never got into the redzone. They had nine first downs, were four of fourteen on third down and generated minus seven offensive yards in the fourth quarter. No team can win a game with four turnovers, no team.

PFF grades on defense: DE Myles Garrett, 91.3, S Grant Delpit, 90.0, DT Maurice Hurst, 82.2, DE Ogdo Okoronkwo, 80.8 and DT Shelby Harris, 79.5. PFF grades on Offense: WR Amari Cooper, 81.4, RB Jerome Ford, 78.1, RG Wyatt Teller, 76.3, C Ethan Pocic, 74.1, QB Deshaun Watson, 59.1. RT Dawand Jones had a passing rating of 74.6, the best passing rating on the offensive line.

With the season ending injury to Nick Chubb, the Browns should be in the market for a number two running back. I have confidence that Jerome Ford can handle the load, but a veteran backup is needed. The best available free agent is Leonard Fournette. Running backs available in realistic trades are Cam Akers, Cardarrelle Patterson, Michael Carter and Rashaad Penny. No, the Browns are not going to trade for Jonathan Taylor or resign Kareem Hunt.

As for the rest of the AFC North, Baltimore is 2-0 only because they have a healthy QB Lamar Jackson. Their offense is still not firing on all cylinders, but Jackson is making the difference. Pittsburg is 1-0 and their defense is great, and their offense is terrible. If they don’t change their quarterback and or the offensive coordinator during the season, Mike Tomlin will have his first losing season. In Cincinnati they’re 0-2 and their franchise quarterback has a calf injury to his plant leg, and he just can’t throw the ball accurately.

The Browns had the opportunity to put this game away late in the third quarter after the Steelers got within three with a field goal. All they had to do is run the ball. Even if they had to punt, the Browns defense continually stopped a terrible Steelers offense. The Browns possessed the ball for over ten minutes in the fourth quarter. The way the defense was playing, I honestly thought the final score would be Browns 22, Steelers 19. Like Woody Hayes always said, “three things happen when you throw the ball and two of them are bad.” Stay safe and Go Browns.

Cleveland is Cleveland. How about those Elves? This win feels different than last year’s opening game win. Last year’s team wouldn’t have survived two turnovers. Last year’s team wouldn’t have survived the weather. The tone was set from the very first play. Defensive end Za’Darius Smith hit Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow as he was trying to throw a pass. Cincinnati’s offensive line had no answer for the Browns defensive line. DC Jim Schwartz brought the pressure and Burrow felt it. A good defense can pressure opposing QB’s successfully when the secondary covers very well, and that’s what the Browns did. Bengal wide receiver Tee Higgins didn’t have a catch. Tyler Boyd only had two catches for ten yards and elf hater Ja’Marr Chase only had five catches for 39 yards. Burrow had the worst game of his professional career.

On offense, you could tell the weather was affecting the passing game, Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was overthrowing and underthrowing his passes. In the second half, head coach Kevin Stefanski put the ball in Nick Chubb’s hands and Watson made enough plays to make the difference. The first touchdown was an audible by Watson, and the Bengal defense fell for it. Wide receiver Marguise Goodwin was only in the game for ten plays, but his presence has felt. Both the long passes to him were incomplete, but he was able to get behind Cincinnati’s secondary easily. The Bengals had to respect him when he was on the field. WR Donovan Peoples-Jones had a couple of clutch catches and WR Elijah Moore showed his speed. Finally, I think the Browns have found their kicker and the special teams played very well.

The top five offensive players rated by Pro Football Focus were: RB Nick Chubb, 76.6, LG Joel Bitonio 74.9, WR Amari Cooper 70.3, Elijah Moore 67.2 and Deshaun Watson 66.8. The top five defensive players rated by Pro Football Focus were: S Grant Delpit 91.3, Za’Darius Smith, 90.5, Myles Garrett 89.9, Greg Newsome 79.8 and Shelby Harris 69.9. The Browns defense held the Cincinnati offense to 142 total yards, 67 passing and 75 yards rushing for 2.6 yards per play.

The Browns now head to Pittsburg for another important game. My main worry about this game is the play of the Browns offensive tackles. Due to the injury to RT Jack Conklin, rookie Dawand Jones will start and have to block the Steelers T.J. Watt. On the other side, LT Jedrick Wills was the weak spot on the offensive line. Let’s see what the coaching staff comes up with to deal with the Steelers pass rush. Enjoy this victory, stay safe and Go Browns.

Another year and another highly anticipated week one in the NFL. Browns fans are either convinced this is the year or convinced it’ll be a disaster. There’s never any middle ground. Right now, throughout the world, Browns Backer clubs are gearing up for game one. Presidents and their board members are anticipating their club’s biggest crowd, until late in the season if the team gets on a run to the playoffs. It’s an exciting time to be a Browns fan and a busy time to be a club president.

It was my honor to serve as president of the Middle Tennessee Browns Backers for fifteen years. The hardest part of the job was finding an establishment to show the games. First, I had to convince the owner or manager that yes there are Browns fans in Nashville, TN. and they would gladly show up every game day to watch, eat, drink and spend their hard-earned money in their establishment. Next, I had to negotiate the signs, posters and flags that the club would put on the walls. Could we keep them up all season? If not, could we store them in the establishment? Some places agreed to the first, some agreed to the second, one agreed to neither and we had to take them down and put them back up before and after every game. Whatever made the owner or manager happy. You had to have the mentality of an arbitrator.

The club really got lucky when we could use the same establishment for consecutive years. In the off-season my wife and I would always frequent the place to show our support. Prior to the first game, the club would have a pregame tailgate party either outside or inside the establishment. The only stipulation was you had to be a dues paying member or an out-of-town guest to eat and drink. It was always a good time. I’m glad to see the Middle Tennessee Browns Backers continues this tradition.

This Sunday, my wife and I will head to The Nashville Palace and join our fellow Browns Backers for the pregame tailgate party and see friends we haven’t seen since last year. The current president Ernie Nagy, his wife Janet and their entire family do a great job in running the club. I thank every year and Ernie will ask me if want to be president again. Sorry, I did my time. If you haven’t visited your local Backers club, I encourage you to do so. There’s nothing like watching a Browns game with like-minded individuals. Stay safe and Go Browns.

Who will make up the final roster? Here’s my predictions barring injuries.

Quarterback (2). Deshaun Watson, Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Running Back (2). Nick Chubb, Jerome Ford, Free Agent.

Wide Receiver (7). Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore, Donovan Peoples-Jones, David Bell, Cedric Tillman, Jakeem Grant, Jr., Austin Watkins.

Tight End (3). David Njoku, Harrison Bryant, Jordan Akins.

Offensive Line (10). Jedrick Wills, Wyatt Teller, Ethan Pocic, Joel Bitonio, Jack Conklin, James Hudson, III, Luke Wypler, Nick Harris, Michael Dunn, Dawand Jones.

Defensive Line (9). Myles Garrett, Za’Darius Smith, Dalvin Tomlinson, Ogbo Okoronkwo, Shelby Harris, Jordan Elliott, Sika Ika, Isaiah McGuire, Maurice Hurst.

Linebacker (6). Anthony Walker, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Jordan Kunaszyk, Matthew Adams, Tony Fields, II, Mohamoud Diabate.

Cornerback (6) Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome, Martin Emerson, Jr., Cameron Mitchell, A.J. Green, Mike Ford.

Safety (4). Juan Thornhill, Grant Delpit, Rodney McLeod, D’Anthony Bell.

Special Teams (3). Cade York, Corey Bojorquez, Charlie Hughlett.

In a shocking move, the Browns traded QB Josh Dobbs, making Dorian Thompson-Robinson the number two QB. At running back, a veteran free agent will be signed. WR Marquise Goodwin will be place on the non-Football injury list to start the season, allowing Austin Watkins to be the seventh wide receiver. WR Jakeem Grant, Jr. will be the kick returner. Luke Wypler slides into a backup guard position. On defense, DE Alex Wright will be placed on injured reserve after the cutdown, so as to return in six weeks and Maurice Hurst take his place. At linebacker, Sione Takitaki will be placed on the PUP list and Mohamoud Diabate will take his place. The cornerbacks and safeties are set and have been for a while. Stay safe and Go Browns.

I know that sounds like a crazy statement, but after playing the reining NFC champions to a draw for two scrimmages and a preseason game, it feels like a win to me. Monday’s scrimmage was won by the Browns by virtue of their defense. Tuesday’s scrimmage was won by the Eagles, again by virtue of their defense. In the game, the Browns number two offense beat an Eagles defense with some starters and the Browns number two defense manhandled the Eagles number two offense. Another safety, I can’t even remember the last time the Browns had a safety in the regular season. In the second half, it was pretty much even. The only difference was the kicker. The fate or non-fate of Cade York is now front and center on the minds of Browns nation.

On offense, the Browns have a future starter in Dorian Thompson-Robinson. I’ll repeat this again, the Browns will have carry three quarterbacks on their final 53-man roster. Josh Dobbs is still the number two quarterback because he has NFL experience. There is a problem at the wide receiver position. A good problem. If Marguise Goodwin can’t make the season opener, then the Browns will place him on the non-football injury list. That creates an opening at wide receiver and Austin Watkins is definitely making a case to take that spot. I still worry the team won’t have a true kick returner, but the longer Jakeem Grant and Jaelon Darden don’t play, the more Watkins inches closer to a roster spot. Running back Jerome Ford and DPJ handled return duties in 2022. As for the backup running back spot, Demetric Felton has played well, I just wish he could pass block better. He gives up too soon. The offensive line was solid. RT Dawand Jones looks like a steal. Nick Harris is making a case to be on a roster, whether it’s with the Browns or another team. Luke Wypler again played at guard and center. Michael Dunn is so underrated. Tyrone Wheatley continues to shine. Of the two veteran guards, Colby Gossett and Wes Martin, Martin is playing better with the more game time he gets. At tight end, no one impressed, thank goodness Harrison Bryant is returning to practice this week.

On defense, DT Maurice Hurst is passing DT Jordan Elliott and it’s not even close. But can the Browns rely on him staying healthy? DT Shelby Harris is all that and more. He’s big, strong and see’s thing so quickly. Great signing. At DE, Isaiah Mcguire played better, but it’s still a position of need until Alex Wright returns. The August 29 roster cutdown date will be interesting. LB Mohamoud Diabate is a name to watch. He’s not the best is space, but he’s already playing at NFL speed. If Jordan Kunaszyk doesn’t improve his game. Diabate will take his roster spot. Hopefully safety Ronnie Hickman’s concussion isn’t too serious. He’s earned a roster spot over D’Anthony Bell. CB Cameron Mitchell is playing very well in the slot. Greg Newsome might not get an extension if Mitchell keeps this up. CB Caleb Biggers and S Tanner McCalister have played themselves onto the practice squad.

The coverage units on kick returns played very well. After an eleven-yard return by the Eagles on the first punt, they really stepped up and shut down the Eagles. Kickoff coverage was also better. As for kicker Cade York, time to bring in some competition, even if it’s a street free agent. If the competition kicks well, place them on the practice squad as an emergency and to push York. I doubt the Browns are going to cut York unless he really regresses or asks to be cut. He has the talent, but the mental block showed on his face before the next to last field goal attempt. Wide eyes and a heavy sigh. Yikes.

Now it’s onto a Saturday afternoon game in Kansas City. Word is the starters will play, probably not the entire first half, but more than a series. I don’t expect to see RB Nick Chubb or DE Myles Garrett until the opener against the Bengals. Stay safe and Go Browns.

Last night turned out to be a typical Browns preseason game. It started with a weather delay, then fans complaining the team needs a dome and ended with fans complaining the team needs a kicker. Good times. I wasn’t surprised QB Deshaun Watson played well. During the last few months, I’ve gone back and watched his games from 2018 and 2019. What you saw last night was the same Deshaun Watson, except with better talent around him and Nick Chubb, Joel Bitonio and Amari Cooper didn’t play last night. His decision making was quick and decisive. My only complaint is, he needs to slide more after he runs, because watching QB Joshua Dobbs play didn’t make me feel any better if Watson gets hurt. Hopefully Dobbs will get better with some reps, which he should get against the Eagles in preseason game three. He’ll more than likely start.

Besides the number one offense playing well, so did the number one defense. Dalvin Tomlinson and Za’Darius Smith are as good as advertised. Imagine adding Myles Garrett, Shelby Harris, Anthony Walker, Sione Takitaki, Denzel Ward, Grant Delpit and Greg Newsome to what we saw last night. Scary. As for the number two defense, yikes. Fromer Browns QB Jacoby Brissett carved them up. The number threes and the number fours looked much better, but they’re hungrier. After Dobbs, both Dorian Thompson-Roberson and Kellen Mond played well. DTR brings a spark to the team. I still think Dobbs will be the number two QB, but DTR is making a solid case. As I’ve said before, the Browns are going to have to have three quarterbacks on their final 53-man roster.

I absolutely love WR Austin Watkins on offense and LB Charlie Thomas and S Ronnie Hickman on defense. Excellent UDRFA’s. As for the draft picks, Cedric Tillman looked a little flat, Dawand Jones, Sika Ika, Luke Wypler and Cameron Mitchell all played well. When Nick Harris came in to play center, I noticed Wypler playing guard next to him. Something to keep an eye on. The Browns love to have their backup linemen play several positions. On the downside, I just can’t see how Anthony Schwartz makes the roster. Last night also made it clear the Browns need to bring in a veteran running back to help backup Nick Chubb. They might also want to look at backup left tackles. James Hudson did nothing to help his case. I still think Jedrick Wills will get better; however, he was schooled by Washington’s DE Chase Young a couple of times.

On the injury front, WR Elijah Moore (ribs), CB A.J. Green (shoulder), S Bubba Bolden (shoulder) and LB Jacob Phillips (shoulder) left the game last night. Moore’s x-rays came back negative so he should be fine. Coach Stefanski says he’s day-to-day, but then again aren’t we all. Phillips suffered a torn pectoral muscle and is out for the year. I personally didn’t think he was going to make the roster. He’ll probably be waived with an injury designation. I had high hopes he would become a good player. The special team’s coverage units played better until the end of the game when they gave up a big return, but those players won’t be on the team. Finally, kicker Cade York. I’m sure you’ve seen a ton of articles about who is available. Not a very good list. I know fans want to bring in competition, but any kicker who agrees to that will want guaranteed money. Competition will take away repetitions from York and further damage his mental outlook. Let special teams coach Bubba Ventrone work with him. For decades the Browns had crappy quarterbacks and good kickers, now it’s the other way around.

Next week the Browns will scrimmage in Philadelphia against the Eagles Monday and Tuesday then play preseason game number three Thursday. I expect the Eagles to be a great barometer in the scrimmages. I don’t expect any starters to play in the game. Ever since the scrimmages against the Colts a few years ago and too many fights broke out, head coach Kevin Stefanski doesn’t like to play his starters in the game. Wise move. Stay safe and Go Browns.

Happy victory Friday. I know it’s only a pre-season game, but still seeing those uniforms and helmets on the field for the first time always gives me chills. For the most part the Browns 2023 draft class played well. Right tackle Dawand Jones played the whole game and played well, so the out-of-shape narrative can be put to rest. Some Pro Football Focus ratings for the offense are, G Colby Gossett 90.1, G Wes Martin 87.1, G Michael Dunn 84.2, T James Hudson 83.3, QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson 81.7 and WR Austin Watkins 80.8. On defense, S Budda Bolden 93.2, CB Caleb Biggers 80.0, CB A.J. Green 79.7, CB Cameron Mitchell 79.4 and DE Alex Wright 77.4.

As I’ve said before, the Browns are going to have to carry three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster and Dorian Thompson Robinson is the reason. There’s no way the team can sneak him on the practice squad. Kellen Mond on the other hand showed why he’ll be headed to the practice squad. RB John Kelly is the king of pre-season games. You have to figure some team will pluck of the Browns roster one of these days. As for the defense, the Jets were two of twelve on third down conversions. At one point they were zero for ten. They only had nine first downs. If I had to compare the Jets backups and the Browns backups, the Browns have a distinct edge.

The negatives were the two turnovers and the special teams. WR Anthony Schwartz is not long for this team. K Cade York missed his first field goal attempt and you had to be thinking about it when the Jets had the ball at the end of the game. If he misses another one during the next game, then it’s time to bring some competition into camp. Coach Bubba Ventrone can’t be happy with the kick coverage team. Thank goodness they have three more pre-season games to fix it.

It was curious that DT Jordan Elliott started this game. Coach Jim Schwartz must not be happy with the state of the defensive tackle position behind Dalvin Tomlinson. DT Sika Ika showed some flashes, but he’s a rookie, so a veteran is definitely needed. The Browns did sign an offensive lineman today, Derrick Kelly. He can play both tackle positions.

The next game is at home against the Commanders. I expect more starters to play, especially QB Deshaun Watson. Hopefully he gets more than a couple series, a full quarter would be nice. Stay safe and Go Browns.