Cleveland Browns Game 1: Winners and Losers
September 10, 2012Buckeye Six Pack: The UCF Game
September 10, 2012Only in Cleveland can an absolutely beautiful Sunday be completely ruined by our sports teams. Yes, I was in attendance for the Pat Shurmur show yesterday. It was great to be in a full stadium that rocked again. You forget just how fun it is when our teams are good, especially the Browns. It has been so long. Â But in classic Cleveland fashion, our afternoon was mucked up in the end. Its easy to look back and say what if, but there were three things in particular that completely changed the course of the game:
1. Â Browns 3 Eagles 3 – 2nd quarter – 1:00 remaining – third and two Cleveland – The Eagles had used two of their timeouts after two straight Browns running plays. Shurmur clearly wanted to get a first down, run the clock out, and head into the locker room tied at 3-3. The call was a play action fake and a throw in the flat to fullback Owen Marecic. QB Brandon Weeden sold the fake well and put the ball right on Marecic’s hands. That was the problem.
Marecic dropped the pass, the clock stopped, and the Browns were forced to punt, giving the Eagles a shot with the ball one more time before the half. Naturally, Michael Vick took his team right down the field and scored a TD to take a 10-3 lead with 23 seconds left in the first half.
If Marecic catches that ball, the Browns are able to run the clock out and head into the locker room with the momentum and feeling great about how they played defensively. Instead, they got a gut punch because their fullback couldn’t catch an easy swing pass in the flat. It was truly a turning point in the game.
2. Eagles 10 Browns 9 – 4th quarter – 13:58 remaining – first and 10 Philadelphia – After the Browns kicked their second field goal to make it 10-6. Vick faded back to pass and was intercepted by all-world Linebacker D’Qwell Jackson, who ran it in for a touchdown. The Stadium was up for grabs as the Browns took a fourth quarter lead which seemed infathomable a few hours earlier. The D’Qwell pick six put the Browns ahead 15-10.
Now everyone who knows football will tell you, there is no difference in being up five or six in the fourth quarter. It was a completely obvious time to go for two. Spare me your “two field goals can tie you” bit, because the Browns defense had been rock solid all game long. If you get the two-point conversion, you are up seven and a touchdown cannot beat you. But out ran kicker Phil Dawson. I turned to my uncle and mother and said “you know we are going to lose 17-16, right?” Then I tweeted the following:
Only Shurmur doesn’t go for two there. Watch us lose 17-16
— TD (@WFNYTD) September 9, 2012
Well, I don’t need to tell you the rest of what happened. You already know. Â The first question posed to Shurmur at his postgame press conference was why he didn’t go for two. His response:
“We talked about going for two, but there was a full quarter,” Shurmur said. “We wanted to get the points, absolutely. There’s a decision to be made. I think that decision is made near the end of the game where it’s a one- or two-possession game.”
Still a completely head scratching decision to me. In a similar situation last night in Denver, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin went for two with a five point lead with 14:13 left in the fourth quarter. Tomlin is a Super Bowl winning coach. Shurmur? Not so much.
3.  Browns 15 Eagles 10 – 4th quarter – 1:25 remaining  – 2nd and goal Philadelphia The Eagles are obviously driving down for the winning score and reach the Browns four yard line. Vick takes the snap from center and rolls out of the pocket. He looks for Jeremy Maclin in the corner and fires a pass which ends up going right through the hands of Linebacker LJ Fort, who had already intercepted a pass and played well all game long.
“He threw it right to me and it went through my hands,” Fort said. “I should have made that play, definitely.”
It goes without saying, but I will say it anyways. If Fort catches the errant Vick pass, the game is over and we are all celebrating a monster upset today. Instead, people like me are writing pieces like this, wondering just how this one slipped through our fingers. Fort is clearly not to blame, he is, after all, a Linebacker, and not an offensive skill position player like Marecic or Greg Little (who’s butterfingers allowed a first quarter red zone interception) are.
Ah….We almost had this one. But then again, we’ve seen this for the last 13 miserable years. The Browns have found new ways to lose, especially in their home openers, since their return in 1999. This one had nothing on the Dwayne Rudd helmet toss almost 10 years ago to the date, but it may have been more painful. But like that loss to the Chiefs, it very easily could have been avoided.
 (John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer)
99 Comments
2pt decision –
14min were left. 1pt puts us up by 6pts. all we need to do is score a FG to go up 9pts and 2 scores. being up 5pts meant that TD+2pt could tie us if we scored a FG.
for once, I agree with that game strategy as called (with that much time remaining). it made sense and still does. the fact that we couldn’t muster enough offense to go and get a FG meant that we didn’t deserve to win that game anyway.
i can see it the other way too, but I think it’s playing scared to think you “have” to go up 7pts with 14min left.
Count me in the apparent minority that doesn’t think a Fort interception would have ended the game. If I’m not mistaken, Philly still had all 3 timeouts left. There’s no reason to believe they wouldn’t have gotten the ball back and still found a way to ruin an otherwise beautiful Sunday.
when I saw the title I immediately thought these were the plays:
1. Marecic drop
2. Little drop-popup-to-INT at goalline
3. Fort INT drop
Why go for two with an offense that couldn’t get anything going all day? Trust in the defense that got you the lead. If they went for it we’d be talking about a 17-15 loss, and you would of been wrong on your final prediction, much in the same manner you’re wrong that they should of went for two.
or that with how McCoy was running, they could have gone for 2pts as well and won 18-17.
not sure why this is such the talking point today. it wasn’t a slam dunk decision. and, if it was, it was to go for 1pt (as all we friggin’ needed was a FG to make it a 2 score game. always play to put it as many scores as possible away – just like at the end of a basketball game).
Do you really have any confidence in the Browns moving the ball into the EZ for a 2pc? I know I don’t.
1. I agree with Shurmur in not going for 2 after D’Qwell’s TD. You go for 2 ONLY when you have to. It was still way too early to take that risk.
The other scenario that could have played out: We go for 2 and don’t make it. Then the Philly kicker doesn’t miss that fairly easy FG, so now we’re up 15-13. Philly comes down at the end, bleeds the clock, and kicks a chippie FG to win it 16-15.
I repeat: going for 2 is a desperation move, and you do it ONLY when you have to. We didn’t have to.
2. There’s no guarantee that a Fort interception in the end zone would have iced the game. Philly still had time-outs left, and the way our offense was playing, is there anyone alive who thinks we could have gotten a first down? That wasn’t going to happen. Philly would probably still have won.
Remind me why we took Weeden in the first round? I get that we lost out on RGIII….but why not build the team and THEN insert a QB. McCoy is better than what we saw yesterday and even after he improves he won’t be that much better than him (if at all0. What draft pick was Russell Wilson?
I have a feeling this game is going to set the tone for the rest of the season. Be prepared to have the Browns D keep them hanging in games till late only to have the offense consistently come up short and have the game slip away in the last minutes leaving a lot of frustration and “if only this 1 play went different” type articles.
that Little drop is being undersold everywhere. that was at the 5 yrd line, we were in FG range already. if he just drops it instead of it popping up in the air we settle for a field goal and probably win on the foot of our MVP. instead with our luck it pops ten feet in the air making it an easy catch for anyone….
B/c Lehner demanded it. Wilson was taken in the 3rd round (I believe) and most “analysts” thought he was taken too early. I can’t fault the Browns on not taking him.
Anyone except Greg Little
I am pissed about the lack of 2pt conv attempt. Also giving up the score at the end of first half was crappy. I chalk both of those up to bad coaching…Need to avoid these types of things if we are going to have a chance.
Speaking of weird plays, how about Weeden scrambling for 25 yards and then sliding on the last play of the first half? What on earth was the point of that? He’s GOT to keep his head and chuck the rock into the end zone.
Granted, the odds of a Hail Mary pass working are pretty low, but the odds of a QB like Weeden scrambling for a 50-TD are nil.
Yes. That was very strange. One second to go, and you scramble and slide. Rookie mistake…I hope.
Not going for 2 though is like saying that you are not going to score again. Thinking that there is no way that PHI is going to score a TD.
Either way, you can lose on a TD if you do not convery 2pt, or kick the EP.
or not going for 2 is saying you expect to at least score another FG and that you don’t care if Philly manages to score once.
you can also lose on a TD if you convert the 2pt and they go for 2 and make it as well. 14min left is alot of time. either we hold the Eagles or kick a friggin’ FG.
maybe he saw the Derek Anderson vs. Chiefs scramble in 2006 and wanted to make sure that he had his immobile QB scramble in the books too 🙂
I was at the game, so I didn’t hear what the commentators said, but isn’t holding in the end zone a safety anymore? Did the refs just miss that one?
My Sunday wasn’t ruined, just sayin’.
based on the replay, it looked like the holding was just outside of the end zone…
There was no “risk” to be considered when Shurmur decided not to go for two. It’s simple formula, nothing more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-point_conversion#Two-point_conversion_chart
There was no decision to be made. Just consult the chart.
Major coaching fail.
totally agree. Weeden was a mess by then, Richardson was cooked and we would have gone three and out, again, and our defense was exhausted. Our best chance would have been that post-INT Vick would have been a bigger mess than Weeden, but he could always tuck and run effectively. Game would have been far from over.
it was on 1 yard line
To me, the Little cough-up was the game changer. That was three points if he just drops it rather than going panicky spastic fingers, and at that point Philly gets panicky.
Re Marecic, the fullback in the wco must be able to catch the ball. Vickers wasn’t resigned to the big contract he demanded because his last 2 years here he demonstrated horrible hands. Smelley made some smooth catches and decent blocks in exhbition games. Unless Marecic’s pancaking guys out of camera range, I think they need to cut their losses.
Yeah I am just looking for something to be mad at.
Agree 110% Harv. I made this exact point in a different thread. Weeden was confident before that drop, and afterwards he was gun shy and lacked confidence. Getting a TD there changes everything yesterday.
Cribbs in shotgun, with T-Rich, and Jackson on either side of him – option read, and yes, we get in.
Not that they’d do that though.
I also agree. I hate all the Vickers talk, but that doesn’t preclude Marecic needing to be gone. Worse comes to worse, Alex Smith is the FB provided he never carries the rock…
I’ll add this too…..and I’m not faulting them. But Benjamin and Haden need to get in the endzone on their open field opportunities. Both were stopped by one-on-one tacklers, and with Haden it was Vick. They were great plays, but champions find a way to score on both of those plays.
all winning that game would have accomplished is to give some folks in Berea the false impression that this team is not a tire fire. Your opponent had 5 turnovers and we’re quibbling about a 2 point conversion? The opponent showed that it is clearly no where close to living up to its own preseason hype. This wasn’t a closely contested battle between 2 good teams forcing their opponents into mistakes.
It was an abomination, all the way around. While the defense was a bright spot, and at least answered the bell for the most part, there is no reason to hail this as some great defensive performance. This was light years from what the 49ers did to the Packers (or even what the Texans did to the Dolphins). About the only thing the defense did was not make things worse. They weren’t out there stopping a juggernaut. They played reasonably well against an offense that hasn’t been able to get out of its own way for 2 years, despite the overwhelming amount of talent they have on paper (largely because their offensive play caller does things like calling 56 passes even though he has one of the 3 best RB’s in football) (and he’s the “patriarch” of our offense. Oh shiiiii)
Don’t be fooled. Finding a silver lining in this mess just gives them excuses.
I cannot wait until the purge of the “Lerner era” begins in earnest. We will return to glory eventually.
EDIT- I just read some quotes from the Eagles giving Jauron credit for their game plan, and how they had Vick confused. Perhaps I over stated things a bit. My apologies, Dick Jauron. You are the lone bright spot on our coaching staff
weeden, little, the OL (especially run-blocking) are all good candidates then 🙂
In what fun fantasy world do you live in that a. The play would be called & b. We would actually get in with that?
Fantasy World Name: Believeland.
It was his first game and it was against a pretty solid defense. Let’s not send Weeden to the glue factory yet
he’s just miscast in our offense. he’s obviously the perfect setter for the 2016 US men’s volleyball team
Count me in the group (at least I think it’s a group) of wanting to let Weeden continue to play…..but
I found myself laughing inside yesterday thinking about the story on WFNY when Jimmy Haslem asked Holmgren about Weeden…..it went something like…
Haslem: Can the QB play?
Homlgren: He can throw the football, yes.
amen
Positives…..cause we need them.
Our D-line was outstanding. I read on here from another poster about how Parker had a great game, and they are correct. Rubin got great penetration, Sheard was active, Parker was very good. Billy Winn got in the backfield a few times….and I think I even saw big #93 – Johnny Hughes making a contribution too. Just imagine when you add Phil Taylor to the group? D-line has a chance to be spectacular for a long time.
Plus, the LBs – especially the undrafted ones. It’s fun when undrafted players pan out – know it was only one game, but Fort looks terrific, and Jackson was everywhere. Add JMJ to this group, a healthy Gocong, and a 1st or 2nd round play maker in the draft and our LB corps behind that great D-line could also be terrific.
Was also impressed with Skrine and Patterson, and T.J. looked like his old self again.
The offense will improve, I have no doubts (add sarcastic response below) and I still affirm that we are headed in absolutely the right direction. I have zero doubt.
agree with much of this, including that Philly’s offensive game plan was ridiculous unless they were intentionally using us as an exhibition game for Vick to shake the rust off. But that’s not what legit SB-contenders do, they look to step on the opponent’s throat.
But I can’t say every skill position player on our offense is a bust. I saw Bernie’s first season and how Marty insulated and acclimated him with power football, and we all remember how Pitts broke in Big Ben by riding the Bus incessantly. I’m not a die-hard supporter of any player on offense other than the left tackle, and there is nothing this offense does competently yet. Part of it certainly may be the coaching. And it may also be new players, some of whom came in with athleticism but very raw skills, and are learning the skills for this offense. And Heckert thought that was ok because he had lots of time. I worry that there might already be good offensive players on board – Richardson, Gordon, Jordan, Benjamin, and yes, Weeden and Little – and that the abrasive Banner is going to strut in here, empowered with a partial ownership interest, and carve out his position by slash and burning everyone to make sure it’s his team. And then we start from the smoking heap yet again. For the umpteenth time in 13 years. Not sure I can take that again.
Lets hope Cincy gets banged up tonight, and we get them stumbling on a short week.
for the Weeden defenders – he was terrrible. he flat out miss MM two times when he was WIDE open. that last INT. our WR went out cut and was streaking to the left. Weeden through the ball as if no cut to the left happened. Coleman had to pull a Jordan to pick that pass off. it was so off target you HAVE to wonder about this old man’s skill set. he was terrible and pathetic.
i think Weeden getting beat by the giant US flag was a good indication of they type of brain this old man has.
I think the Little drop/int was far more of a pivotal play than the 2 point conversion, which I think Shurmur made the right decision on. There was a very good chance we don’t make the 2 pointer, and when that happened we could have much more easily lost to two FGs.
Yea it was but even you have to admit it was worse then expected. The great offensive minds had him throwing 35x though as well so Weeden had plenty of help.
Oh Henry! C’mon now you can’t actually mean that about not going for 2 if Shurmur thought anything remotely like this (and admitted it out loud) he needs to be terminated immediately.
So, when you’re up 10-6 early in the 2nd Q, you have to go for two? Thats what the formula says. Its a tough call to decide when you have to start chasing the points. You have to have a feel for how many possessions/scores are left in the game. I have no problem blaming Shurmur for not knowing that (look at the coaching tree he came from) and for wondering why he was so confident that his team would score again. But it’s not simply a paint-by-numbers.
I know it’s early in his career, but he has shown NOTHING to make me think that he will have a solid career. That is scary.