May 16, 2012

Some Browns Thoughts and NFL Open Thread

October 9, 2011 By 9 Comments

I have to say, for the most part, I’m pretty pleased with the Browns season. Well, maybe ‘pleased’ isn’t the word. Satisfied? I dunno, maybe. But for what it’s worth, they’re meeting my expectations. They are who I thought they were.

We’ve seen some really good moments (McCoy’s comeback drive at home versus the Dolphins, the defensive play of D’Qwell Jackson, Joe Haden and Phil Taylor (amongst others)) mixed in some notsogood moments (the brainfart against the Bengals, every time they throw for 4 yards on 3rd and 6, and this weirdly handled Peyton Hillis saga).

But that’s what you expect from a young team with a rookie head coach and no training camp, no? You hope to see some good signs, you expect a mental mistake or two and you hope everyone learns to focus and play/coach at a high level consistently.

That’s the rub, doing it every play, every week. Are there concerns? Yes. Are there bright spots? Also yes. Being at 2-2 after 4 weeks is a step in the right direction for this franchise. Sure, they’re beating bad teams but, well, they’re beating teams they should beat. The offense hasn’t looked great and the team is a brainfart away from being 3-1.

Not bad.

With the Browns off, the local stations have Philly-Buffalo and Tennesee-Pittsburgh in the afternoon and then Jets-Patriots tonight. I think that Eagles-Bills game could be a lot of fun. For what it’s worth, my suicide pool pick this week is the Giants (vs Seahawks).

Photo courteousy of AP Photo/Amy Sancetta.

Filed Under: General
  • Foghorn Leghorn

    Sorry man, but I find this grammatically hard to read. To your point though, I expected to be 3-1 knowing that Manning wasnt going to play. If Tennessee wasnt playing as well as they have, you could argue for 4-0. Also, you say we’re beating the teams we’re supposed to beat. Maybe you’re passing the buck on that one defensive lapse, but dont you think the Bengals are a team we should beat?? I certainly do, especially in week 1 with a rookie QB.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Ben

    Ya, I’m probably too forgiving of the Bengals game. But they were in control until the botched play. I didn’t have much hope for that Titans game, so I’m not too upset about the L. Bottom line, they haven’t played great and they’re 2-2. I’ll take that.

  • JM

    2-2 is about where I figured the Browns would be. As long as they don’t make stupid mistakes, they could be OK this year.

  • JM

    BTW how fun was that Philly-Buffalo game? Unbelievable finish.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Ben

    I hate the Giants.

  • cleveland12

    For once realistic expectations… thank God!

  • Stinkfist

    @5 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEODjdsqWbo&t=1m15s

    the rest of the video is pretty fun too

  • gabriel

    i think the seahawks upended a lot of suicide pools..

  • Ike

    I said before the season that the Browns should at least be 2-2 going into the bye, so I too am fine with what they’ve done. I flew home to attend the Tennessee game in person, hoping they could get to 3-1, but ultimately knowing it was a lot to ask.

    I honestly think people were bedazzled by the preseason (again) and forgot that this is still a really young and inexperienced team behind the 8-ball due to the lockout. Our wins are against the only two winless teams in the NFL.

    This team has a long way to go, but is undoubtedly getting better. I know we’ve been waiting a long time for a contender, but we can’t be too greedy.