For Browns to win, Joe Haden needs to stop Antonio Brown
September 5, 2014Gordon’s suspension may be reduced?
September 5, 2014Well, another Cleveland Browns season is upon us and once again the team has gone through a lot of changes in the offseason. We have seen the front office of Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi be replaced by Ray Farmer. The coaching staff has flipped from Rob Chudzinski to Mike Pettine. We haven’t even mentioned the major additions and subtractions of the players. The team added toughness and experience on defense with the additions of Karlos Dansby and Donte Whitner, replacing long time starters D’Qwell Jackson and T.J. Ward. The team made the biggest news of the offseason in the draft with the pick of Johnny Manziel. With every word, picture or tweet that comes from him, Johnny Football has really made the Browns the talk of the NFL.
So as you can see, there is a lot to talk about before the team hits the field on Sunday. Come on in and take a seat while we at WFNY answer some pertinent questions going into the 2014 Browns season.
With all the upheaval and change over the offseason, what are your impressions and opinions on the new regime of Mike Pettine and Ray Farmer?
Scott: My opinions on the Joe Banner-led regime are well known—enjoyable Twitter personality or not, I thought it was a mistake from the beginning. I’ve seen nothing from Ray Farmer that does not make me think he’s fit for the job. I appreciated that he stuck to his draft board despite the concerns at wide receiver—this decision led to two quality starters in Joe Bitonio and Chris Kirksey, and a draft pick that is shaping up to be in the top five in 2015. When it comes to Mike Pettine, however, I’m less convinced. I thought Chud got a raw deal. I like Pettine’s demeanor and the way he addresses questions, but media time is over. It’s time to churn out results on the field. Preseason left me concerned from an execution standpoint and I wonder just how much input he’s going to have on Game Day. Watching his body language on Sunday will be very interesting.
Craig: My impressions of Ray Farmer are good. I don’t think he’s addressed everything the Browns need, but I think you get the sense of a cohesive plan between he and coach Mike Pettine. Defense and running the ball were their goals and I think they did a good job of addressing those.
I like Mike Pettine and hope the best for him, but I have concerns that the Browns actually improved their coaching staff this year from what it was a year ago. You can’t avoid concern after all the upheaval after just one season with the previous staff. That upheaval doesn’t come without cost and if the Browns have a great coaching staff in place, it will almost be in spite of themselves and the way they went about firing Chud, Turner and Horton after just one year.
Colin: Year after year in Cleveland, new regimes bring in their people who are branded as the saviors, fail to win games, and get the pink slip. As sad as it may sound, based on history, I would be stupid to back Mike Pettine and Ray Farmer as the future of the Browns. Too many head coaches and front office personnel who have come and gone came to Cleveland branded as the guy who will turn it around.
With that being said, I remain cautiously optimistic with Ray Farmer. In free agency, he searched for value and found it in Ben Tate and Andrew Hawkins. When the draft rolled around, the Browns selected Justin Gilbert and Johnny Manziel in the first round while picking up a 2015 first round pick in the process. I loved the draft which also included Joel Bitonio, Chris Kirksey, and Pierre Desir.
The only move I truly do not agree with is his refusal to draft a receiver. Even if Josh Gordon did not get suspended, the Browns desperately needed some talent at the position.
As for Pettine, I am less bullish, but ultimately remain neutral until I see him in the regular season. Specifically, I am interested to see whether the defense can earn a spot as one of the top 5-8 squads. If the defense stagnates and the offense plays as his has during the preseason, I could see this turning into a disaster year.
TD: So hard to tell this early. The jury is way out. I love how they both handle the media. Pettine and Farmer both “get it.” The problem is more about patience than anything. We are all so tired of waiting. When and if they start 0-3, misery will set back in, for the seventh year in a row. Pettine’s handling of the QB situation was far from ideal and Farmer’s view of the WR position (i.e. Not drafting one) has me concerned. But again, can’t tell this early.
Joe G: I really like the duo of Mike Pettine and Ray Farmer. For years, we have seen the coaching staff and front office have a real disconnect and not have a singular vision. Even though Farmer did not choose Pettine, it seems so far that Farmer is working well with Pettine on getting the players who fit his system.
Ray Farmer’s first draft is showing signs of being a very good one. This year’s draft class will see three players (Gilbert, Bitonio, and Kirksey) start in the first game of the season and another (Manziel) who may get a start sometime this season. I really like Mike Pettine’s emphasis on toughness and defense. Pettine comes from a line of great defenses and I think he has the makings of one here. His style fits the players on the team very well. But as with anything, we need to see it when the Browns actually take the field.
Ryan: Mike Pettine appears to be a competent head coach, but I’m still wary he’s not much different than the Chudzinkskis and Shurmurs of years past. I do love everything I’ve read about the multiple front defense he employed in Buffalo and how he was able to plug players into roles and not necessarily standard positions in the way Seattle does with their defense. Still, part of me can’t help but wonder what could have been if Chip Kelly would have came to Cleveland two years ago.
I loved what Farmer did in the first two rounds of the draft, grabbing their number one corner, a potential franchise QB, much needed help at guard, and a Buffalo’s first rounder in 2015. That Buffalo pick could very well be the first pick in the draft. Still, I’m a bit baffled at the lack of attention paid to the wide receiver position. Even if the Browns thought they’d have Gordon for some of the year, the position needed much more than the minor tweaking of adding Andrew Hawkins.
Rick: I want to believe that Mike Pettiine is going to be the one to break the cycle of short-term coaches. I want to. A few things have given me a bit of a pause though. Chief among them was how laid back practices have been. There were an awful lot of days off for veterans, especially given that the team was learning all new systems. Practices also didn’t last the full amount of time that they are allowed. Again, given the limitations on practice time by the CBA, I would be using every minute and second possible.
Lastly, there wasn’t the same intensity at practice that we’ve seen at times before. Players walked to their next station or practice period. They may have been in pads, but there wasn’t much in the way of hitting.
You can say I’m nit-picking. Ok. Maybe, but that’s all we have to go on so far. That and the preseason games that quite frankly didn’t go very well for the Browns and the staff.
I am having doubts about Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Obviously, not having Josh Gordon is a big blow to this team. Not that the team didn’t have warning this was coming. Can a team win in the NFL right now by running the ball? That certainly isn’t the way things are trending.
Andrew: I think it’s too early to say either way. I was really happy that the Browns promoted Farmer, and I want to like Pettine as a coach, but I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter how I feel about them now. Until they lead this franchise to some wins, they will be just like every other regime in the post-99 Browns history.
Kirk: Generally positive. Especially when it comes to Farmer. The player I’m least excited about in his draft is the much hyped Manziel. Bitonio, West, Gilbert, Desir, and Kirksey all look like immediate contributors. I think Whitner and Dansby add toughness at the back of the D. As for Pettine, we’ll see. I wanted an offensive mind, but the Browns went opposite. I like his mentality though, and it could play well in the AFC North
***
Brian Hoyer won the starting quarterback job, but we all know that this is still a very fluid situation. How do you see Hoyer playing this season?
Rick: Hoyer is such an enigma right now. This is a guy that should have shined in preseason, playing against mostly base defenses. He was mediocre at best. I feel for him. He finally gets his shot and the back-up is a rock star that the crowds and cameras will be looking for. I don’t have much confidence that Hoyer will have success this season. I envision Manziel taking over at some point. That isn’t to say Johnny will be better, but he will get his shot I believe.
Colin: Although I am glad that Hoyer won the job, I don’t think he will be the long-term answer nor, quite possibly, even the short-term answer. He does not have enough weapons around him to consistently score enough to win games which is why I think he eventually gets replaced (although I may not agree with the fairness of this seemingly-inevitable conclusion). At quarterback, you want someone who is consistent enough that you live and die with his performance. With someone of Hoyer’s quarterback, it just feels like the Browns will be treading water the whole game.
Scott: Good or bad, I see Brian Hoyer playing just as he did last season. There will be some mistakes, but there will be some quality plays. Truthfully, if Miles Austin turns into an older, poor-man’s version of what Pierre Garcon was for Kyle Shanahan last season, and Jordan Cameron builds off of last year’s ascension, the weapons are there for moderate success. But if there are dropped passes and incorrect routes run by all-too-small receivers, and that’s what he’s given in the way of an arsenal, then it’ll be rough goes. How much of it is Hoyer’s fault, regardless of outcome, will be debated until that chariot rolls in with a 21-year-old doing the money sign—and beyond.
Craig: I think Hoyer will throw some interceptions and get the ball out quickly. I think if the Browns play disciplined to their gameplan and run the ball like crazy, Hoyer can be decent enough to hold down the spot all year. Hoyer threw the ball 54 times in his first game and 38 in his second last season. That isn’t a recipe for success with a guy like Brian Hoyer.
TD: I’ve said it before and I will say it again: Hoyer will flop in the first three games and be out of the job by the bye week. He’s without a contract after this year and Johnny Manziel was drafted to be the QB of the future. They want Hoyer to be the next Kurt Warner story, but I just don’t see it happening. He handled the “challenge” from JFF wonderfully off the field, but horribly on it. He won’t sneak up on anyone this year, not to mention Josh Gordon isn’t out there to help him. He’s a career backup who will continue to be a career backup. By the way, if Hoyer was from San Diego instead of Cleveland, nobody would want him out there.
Andrew: I think it’s going to be a short and brutal season for Brian. I’ve heard so many athletes with ACL injuries say that even though they came back in a year, it wasn’t until the following season before they felt back to their normal selves. Last season in his brief appearance, he looked so solid and sure in the pocket. In the preseason, I saw him look more hesitant that I felt he looked last year. Some of it is probably his knee, some of it was the pressure of Johnny Manziel. But these first three games are such a gauntlet for a QB coming back from a serious injury. I don’t see this going well for him.
Kirk: Not well. I see a lot of mistake free or minimized, 150-175-yard, 0-1 TD performances. He’ll throw short and try to grind it out on O. I’m also not convinced he’s all the way back health-wise. He’ll be a better start at the beginning of the year than Johnny and might keep them in the game for the defense to win it. That’s about all I expect.
Ryan: My hope is Hoyer will build off last year and continue to get the ball out of his hands fast, and be decisive with his reads. My fear is that Hoyer doesn’t have the talent to replicate his 2013 success over a full 16 game season. He should be less head scratching than Weeden, but I’m not sure that’s saying much.
Joe G: I may be in the minority, but I think Brian Hoyer will play well and keep the job all season. Hoyer has the pocket presence and accuracy that I think is key in the NFL. He showed in a small stint last season that he has the ability to be a starting NFL quarterback and the one who can lead the Browns to win. I know we have not seen it yet this preseason, but he is coming off an ACL injury, and needed to get the rust off. If he can stay healthy (a big if), I think Hoyer will remain the starter all season.
When do you think Johnny Manziel will play this season, if at all? Do you think he can be the team’s franchise quarterback?
Joe G: As I noted in the previous question, I do not think Manziel will start at all this season unless Hoyer gets injured. I do think that we may see him come in in certain packages to give the Browns a different dynamic. In terms of being a franchise quarterback, the case is still to early to tell. But contrary to what Merril Hoge said, I think he has the talent to be the team’s future quarterback. If Hoyer can play all season, I think it will let Manziel learn and be a better player in the long run.
Colin: I was glad to find out that Pettine decided to sit Manziel at least for the beginning of the season. In the portion of preseason play we have seen from him, he simply was not prepared enough to play in the regular season. Yet.
Kyle Shanahan seems to love Manziel and I think he will get a shot at some point in this season. I can’t even comprehend a scenario in which Hoyer, in this offense, performs well enough to quell the Manziel chants. If you made me put a date on it, I think Manziel gets his first shot in week 7 against the Jaguars.
Craig: I think Manziel will play only if Brian Hoyer gets hurt. I just don’t think he’s ready yet. I think he can be a franchise quarterback, although like any QB prospect it’s somewhat long odds. Remember when we used to think RG3 was a sure thing, second only to Andrew Luck? We’ll see. I definitely think it’s still possible for Johnny Manziel to become a good NFL quarterback for the Browns.
Scott: I’m looking at a Week 5 to Week 7 start. He’ll likely play before then, but he won’t be starting until the wheels are completely off. I’m a believer—I do think he can be the team’s franchise quarterback. Once things slow down for him at this level, which will take time, I think the kid will be dangerous under center. How long he can last with his skill set, however, is the million-dollar question.
TD: I want to believe he is the guy. I’m not ready to say he can be unequivocally. Can he be? Of course he can. Will he play this year? He will make his debut in Week Five at Tennessee.
Ryan: I think Manziel will start in Week 5 after the bye. I don’t see Hoyer doing enough in the first three games to withstand Johnny Mania. Manziel is still just a 21-year-old kid, four years younger than Russell Wilson. I think he has the talent and fight to be a franchise quarterback, but it will take time and plenty of growing pains.
Rick: As I said earlier, Manziel will get a shot. The week after the bye sounds as logical as any. I hope for Hoyer’s sake it isn’t because of another injury.
Is he a franchise quarterback? What are OUR standards for ‘franchise’ status? QB play in this town has been so dreadful that a 15-20 range QB sounds pretty good.
Andrew: I think there will be a lot of pressure to start Manziel if the Browns start 0-3. And I do think they’re going to start 0-3. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see the Browns go with Manziel off the bye week. But I don’t think that will go well for the Browns, either. No, I do not think Manziel can be the team’s franchise QB. I didn’t see anything in preseason that I liked about Manziel’s pro game. He certainly could improve, and I hope he does. But he doesn’t pass the eye test for me.
Kirk: It would not surprise me to see him in a package immediately and get a series per game. Johnny has as good of a chance as any Browns QB since the return to be the guy, but he’ll have to prove it to me. He’ll be flashy, but can he make the smart read, the clutch throw that isn’t improvised? I think he’ll be the starter after the bye if the Browns are 0-3. You have to see what Johnny has. Otherwise, I’m ready to take another QB if the opportunity presents itself.
***
Who on the Browns do you see having a breakout season?
Ryan: I really liked what Tashaun Gipson brought to the defense last year. At one point Ray Horton called him the MVP of the defense. Now that he’s paired with proven veteran and winner in Donte Whitner on the back end, I look for Gipson to take another step forward and become a top half safety in the league.
Craig: For me, it better be Ben Tate. Can he play 16 games? That’s a big question for any NFL running back. If he can, can he make the impact the Browns need him to make? With this offensive line, in this division, with this quarterback situation, if I’m betting on anyone with the Browns to break out, it’s Ben Tate.
Rick: A breakout player this year. Hmmmm. The smart money would be on Armonty Bryant or perhaps Chris Kirksey. I’ll go with Bryant. As I imagine many others will as well.
TD: I think the Browns have a real steal in LB Chris Kirksey. I think he becomes an impact player right from the jump and will be a fixture in years to come.
Andrew: The Browns have established guys at many positions, so it’s hard to pinpoint a breakout player. But I think Chris Kirksey looks like a player who just has a knack for making impact plays. I think he could have a really nice rookie season for the Browns.
Colin: Based on preseason performance alone, Chris Kirksey and Armonty Bryant likely top everyone else’s lists. But, I’ll go on a limb and say Isaiah Crowell gets an opportunity at some point during the season and runs with it. The Browns have three talented backs, all of whom could be the answer to this question. The Browns have a non-existent passing game, so I expect the running backs to get a ton of carries.
Kirk: Joel Bitonio will be quietly awesome and a fixture here in Cleveland. I also expect Barkevious Mingo to make a jump in this system with other players around him.
Scott: By breakout season, I presume we’re looking for a 2014 version of Jordan Cameron or Josh Gordon—guys who become Pro Bowl-caliber players seemingly overnight. The unfortunate part with this team is that I think you’re going to get what you’re going to get. Joe Haden and company will continue to excel; the veterans like Donte Whitner will provide ample, quality play. Gun to head, if I had to pick someone to surprise, it’ll be, just for the hell of it, Barkevious Mingo.
Joe G: My breakout player for this season is Barkevious Mingo. I saw a lot of great things from him this preseason. His speed and athleticism makes his speed rush very hard to block. He has improved his ability to play from sideline to sideline and make plays on all three downs. He seems to be more confident and understand what he needs to do as an outside linebacker. My bold prediction is that he will get double-digit sacks and at least one interception.
What is your biggest concern going into the season?
Craig: Kyle Shanahan’s offense. We’ve been so focused on players, whether it be the quarterbacks, Josh Gordon, or Mitchell Schwartz that we’ve not talked a lot about whether this is a Kyle Shanahan problem. Upon his arrival, we heard lots of anonymous reports about how arrogant and immature he was at times in the shadow of his father. Is he getting through to his players and making them better continually? That’s my concern.
TD: The offense. It could be awful. They have to rely on the run early and the hope is that Ben Tate can become “the man” in his first chance as being a feature back. But the receiving corps is arguably the worst in the league and I don’t know how you win if you can’t score.
Colin: This answer is easy for me: the passing game. The only way the offense will be able to score is if the Browns can do anything through the air. If this preseason is any indication, Hoyer and friends will need a team to be forced to play their second team to even reach the end zone. Kyle Shanahan’s offense is predicated on running the ball to set up the pass. But if defenses do not have to worry about the pass, they will be free to load the box and the Browns will have no answers.
Kirk: Quarterback previously discussed and accounted for, it has to be wide receiver. I believe Hawkins will do well in his slot role, but can Austin stay healthy and produce? Can Gabriel or someone else make an impact? If they don’t, Jordan Cameron will be neutralized with double coverage.
Joe G: My biggest concern for the season is the wide receiver position. Without Josh Gordon, the group does not have much talent. Miles Austin was someone who I thought could be a big playmaker, but he has not looked like the player he was in Dallas. Andrew Hawkins is probably the only receiver I am confident will make plays this season. Because of the lack of receivers, Jordan Cameron and the running game will need to carry the offense this season. Maybe Taylor Gabriel or LaRon Byrd can step up and be a threat at the receiver position. We can hope right?
Scott: Many will point to the wide receivers, and for good reason, but my concerns lie on the right side of the offensive line—specifically Mitchell Scwhartz. If the right side can’t protect, throws will be rushed or runs will be stopped short. Schwartz was billed as the bully, rough-and-tumble run blocker and has yet to show a hint of such. I know that plenty other teams have it far worse when it comes to their offensive line, but I think we’re going to be seeing a lot of two-tight end sets, which doesn’t exactly bode well for stretching the field.
Ryan: The offensive line. Despite all the accolades that Thomas and Mack have received the Browns could not run the ball a lick last season. For the team and the quarterback to be successful this team has to be able to run. The way the line was manhandled by St. Louis in the preseason was staggering. Albeit the Rams have the best d-line in all of football, the Browns o-line needs to be more than a speed bump when facing top talent.
Andrew: My biggest concern is unquestionably the team’s ability to score TDs. The WRs just aren’t good enough for the way the NFL is played today. I like Ben Tate and all, and running the ball and defense sounds like a good way to win games. But I think the Browns’ defense is being overrated and as much as I like Tate, I’m not sold on him being able to carry the entire offensive load by himself. One of the QBs is really going to have to surprise us for the Browns offense to score enough points to win games.
Rick: My biggest concern going into the season? Honestly, my biggest concern is another step back. Both in record and enjoyment of watching the games. It just hurts anymore to see this team struggle to get over the 5 or 6 win hump.
***
Ok what is your Browns record prediction?
Rick: My prediction is 3-13. My bold prediction is that Shanahan doesn’t see a second season in Cleveland. God I hope I’m wrong.
Kirk: I’ve thought about this a lot. I’m usually the high man on predictions, but not this time. The Browns will play a LOT of games in the teens and low twenties. They lose eight games by one possession or less, and they go 4-12. Johnny starts after Hoyer takes them to a 0-3 start. The Browns end up with two top five picks as Buffalo goes 4-12, too. There’s time for optimism next year. I do think the Browns will be happy with defensive strides made, but they have no proven QB or deep threat in a QB/WR league.
TD: 4-12 bad and boring again (unless JFF takes over). wash….rinse….repeat.
Scott: They should have won more games than they did last season, but they also didn’t steal a win from a team that should have topped them. Given this incredibly fuzzy math and no tangible signs of outright improvement, I’m going with 5-11. Wins over Tennessee, Jacksonville, Oakland, Tampa Bay and Buffalo with a winless record in the AFC North. Woof. Woof.
Andrew: I’m pretty pessimistic on the Browns. There are some win-able games in the heart of the schedule, but I’m worried about these first games taking their spirit away. When things start to go bad for the Browns, there’s definitely a “here we go again” vibe to the team. Year after year I predict the Browns will be better, and then it’s the same old results on the field. Until they prove otherwise, I’m going to go with my gut and say we’re in for another long season. 5-11 is my prediction. Please, please, please prove me wrong, Browns.
Colin: I have gone back and forth on this, landing anywhere from two to seven wins this season. There is certainly a worst-case scenario in which the passing game can’t get going which negates any positive running game. But in the end, I believe the Browns will end up finishing 6-10. An improved defense and strong running game will help the Browns improve upon their 4-12 record in 2013. That, my friends, is what Pat Shurmur would call progress.
Ryan: 6-10. The second half of the season will all be about whether or not Manziel shows enough to not use a top pick on a quarterback next year.
Craig: I’m going to make an optimistic prediction of 7-9. I hate doing predictions, but the Browns are likely to be uneven this year. They have a lot of talent in a lot of places, but it will take time with yet another new coaching staff. The best I think we can hope for is enough wins to give hope for the future and hopefully enough progress to keep anyone from thinking about firing anyone, even just a coordinator.
Joe G: I see the Browns going 8-8. I am more optimistic then most. The schedule is not terribly difficult after the tough first three games. If the team can grab at least one win from the first three games, then I believe the Browns will be in good shape to reach this mark. The defense and run game will lead this team to a .500 season for the first time since 2007. Believe!
—
(Haslam photo via Scott Sargent/WFNY)
80 Comments
Hoyer was here a year ago all be it just for three games so that’s why I said the same. We’ll see if this years duo is better then the triumverant of a year ago.
Understandable. Sometimes they work out though. Mike McCoy (Chargers), Ron Rivera (Panthers), Bruce Arians (Cardinals), and Chuck Pagano (Colts) are some that have worked out well recently. You could look further back and find two in our division in Mike Tomlin and Jon Harbaugh. Hopefully Pettine can be in that group rather than the group with Pat Shurmur and Josh McDaniels.
Are you trying to make me feel better or worse about Pettine? I understand all those it just would have been nice for the Browns to have had one guy in the past fifteen years. Just one, honest, that’s all.
I’ve always maintained this franchise needed an experienced/emotional head coach which is why I always had daydreams of a once former Browns assistant named Bill Cowher. Sadly it never happened. And it’s quite obvious no experienced ex-head coach including Mr. Cowher wanted the Browns. Reminds me a lot of my third marriage.
Btw, why did the Browns cost $1 billion again?
Um the Browns have even more highly drafted players so not sure what you mean. I was drawing a comparison between personnel and how they are used/could be used between the two teams.
It’s already my e-mail signature
7-9.
Hoyer shows enough promise early that JFF gets traded to Dallas after Cowboy fans are forced to endure a couple Weeden starts after Romo goes down in week 2.
Connor Shaw then shows enough to become the starter next year while in mop up duty or if Hoyer gets hurt.
Id love to get a first from Jerry for Johnny. I dont think his arm is strong enough.
i think you nailed on the head Craig about Shanahan. He’s a big concern for me. We always talk about players but football is a system game and I just don’t have a lot of faith in him.
Also, will Pettine ever have an effective offense under his reign? I know Belichick was a defensive coach who somehow churned out amazing offenses. Can Pettine do the same?
As far as predictions, I think 7 W’s is the cap but I think we will see improvements throughout the year that will keep us coming back (so bold!)
Umm…
if Hoyer + Weedon + Campell = Hoyer + Manziel
Then Weedon + Campell = Manziel
I’m just going to have to call that statement false. 🙂
I’ll make this quick and easy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8RZDs8Gvfo
Check back in 17 weeks!
Since when do we need improvements to keep us coming back?
Shurmur the Buffoon!!! Yes!
(Btw, iPhone corrected me twice on Pat’s last name. “Shutout” and “shut it” were the two corrections. Sounds about right)
I wonder what happens first: you pass judgment, or the Browns pass the 50-yard line?
Farmer – like him a lot. Feels confident. I loved his draft. Maybe he didn’t draft a WR this season because Rosenhaus and the powers that be sold him on their defense of Gordon?? Plus, with this news about a reconstructed drug policy we may indeed see Gordon this season. (Aside: Welker gets suspended and it affects Peyton Manning. The NFL can’t have its Cow being negatively affected so they have the impetus to change the drug rules)
Pettine – as a New Yorker I am very familiar with him and I feel he will do a good job. I like how he has handled most things and I think the times he got bullied or lost control can be part of being a rookie HC. I am supporting him. I, too, knew Pat the Buffoon was a bad choice from Day 1.
Hoyer – well, folks, here’s the bad news: Hoyer goes down in the first series in the second half against the Steelers. It’s Johnny’s football team this season, by default.
That being said, Manziel is my “breakout” player. He won’t be all-pro breakout but he will (unfortunately) lead the team in rushing after Tate also goes down with a hammy in week 5.
On defense, I think Billy Winn plays himself into Pro-Bowl contention (regardless of if you think the game matters or not) with all the attention the other guys are gonna get. I also like Mingo’s chances this season, like many of you out there.
I’m worried about the WR’s just a little bit more than I am worried about Dark Helmet on the right side of the line.
Prediction: Manziel carries the Browns past the Steelers but the mojo runs out, and the rest of the mountain is too steep too soon. An optimistic 7-9.
well, you named 5 guys already, may as well name the other 6, too!
Hoyers goes down first series. Manziel flees for 3.8 quarters before being beaten to a pulp.
Shaw plays last series, starts rest of season. Never loses the job for life.
😀
We will be 2-1 at the bye
3-4 going into week 8 vs. OAK and Hoyer gets benched after we lose to JAX
We go 3-3 in the division
Finish 7-9
Also, I noticed a lot of comparing Petting/this coaching staff to last year’s…thats not fair simply because the people who made that decision are gone now. Whether Chud/Norv/Horton were/are better than what we have now, its irrelevant.
haha. I would be OK with that, too. Would certainly mean Shaw did something right!
Ask me this question again after the season is over. 😉
We are winning 10 games and are a one and done playoff team.
Yeah, we have potential issues at qb, backup OL is horrible and lb depth is just as bad. Well, it won’t always be pretty but we’ll get things done when we need to do it.
Wanna bet?
Not quite accurate, he loved Hoyer last year,yes Hoyer won but he was nowhere as good as Kanicki paints him…so somewhat he has ties to Hoyer as the starter,if just because of how much press he gives him. The review was in effect just the oppisite of what others had said, he blamed the supporting cast almost completely where others blamed Hoyer completely. The truth is in the middle somewhere…I have not been high on Hoyer,but I have not ragged on him either. That said he is not as good as Kanick thinks,and he is not as bad as the presason showed either. Pettine said it was Hoyers job to lose…then he split not just practice reps but series in the preseason. Pretty sure that screws up confidence,and timming with the team. Yet he never really looked competant in the preseason for whatever reasons, which does not give me hope for the season. Missed his much talked about first and only series vs the bears…when I watched the replay on the NFLnetwork it was not shown in favor of new NFL news. Thus many have seen him do something I did not,that being actually score. On scoring drives alone I would have given the job to any QB we had in the preseason(excluding Thigpen) but Hoyer. Maybe Pettine just kept his word that Hoyer wouldn’t lose a job he lost to injury(a job he only got and never kept because of injury). If this is how it was gonna work anyway Pettine screwed the team and Hoyer.
Hope the Browns hit 5-11,if we lose the first 3 not sure that happens,think we are 3-13/4-12 Shanny’s O gives our team more problems than opponents, on the other hand if it clicks by game 2 maybe we get to 6-10/7-9 territory. Thing is I see lots of self inflicted wounds base of of the long play calls and it’s complex nature which alone could lose us several games,and when you add in Pettine so far showing poor time manegement skills. Well then they are definitely game killers.
I’ll kick you but not your dog,lol.
Sure they can’t…..speaking of opptimism.
I disagreed with Mike slightly, which can be seen in my comment at the bottom of the page, but I still found it to be largely accurate. I had that game recorded on DVR and when I watched it again, I was in agreement with him. I’m not in agreement with “what others have said”. Mostly because I don’t think many of them actually watched the game closely, I think they just went off of the final stats.
Bear in mind, if you didn’t see the Bears game, you’re working off of an extremely small sample size. Maybe the equivalent of four quarters? So one full preseason game probably isn’t enough to determine that we know anything at all. I’ll be more than happy to adjust my expectations during the bye week in week 4, but for now I don’t see any reason to be worried that Hoyer won’t move the ball down the field and score.
I did miss Hoyers drive in that game…saw the rest. I blame NFL network for me missing it,as I had it on,they just didn’t show it.
Yeah I had a similar issue trying to watch the Rams/Browns game. NFL Network kept listing the Browns game during times when they were showing other programs. Obnoxious!
Someone said Terrance West looked like an immediate contributor and I had to stop reading… Clearly we weren’t watching the same preseason. By all accounts he should be an immediately contributor, but he did not seem ready and kept running east/west instead of north/south.
Honestly don’t know what to expect from the team this year. The safe bet is surely 4-5 wins just like years past. We’re not that improved and arguably now worse at wide receiver unless Gordon gets to return at some point. No doubt Hoyer looked better than Weeden last year, but how is he going to look coming off an ACL injury and Manziel waiting in the wings? If the preseason was any indication he’s going to look horrible. I get the argument the preseason is the preseason, forget about it – but it is extremely alarming how bad the offense looked with him in charge.
That said… I think the Browns win today. I think they look like a vastly improved team overall all year – but they lack the offensive firepower to keep up with teams that can put points on the board. I’m looking at around 6-7 wins for the team this year and I think that number gets reached by Manziel bringing some energy into the team/stadium and making some magic happen in a game or two that we’re not expected to win later this season.
7-9. I’m honestly a little shocked by so many looking down on Pettine. Seriously, the guy just carries himself a lot better than the last 3-4 coaches the Browns have had. I also suspect the offense looked weird because there are clearly two completely different packages for Hoyer and Manziel (just as there were in DC between RGIII and Cousins). Plus, we are now beginning to see the REAL reasons why Josh Gordon’s hearings were dragged out and he got so much preseason work: the apparently imminent new drug testing policy that will likely negate the yearlong suspension. He should be back by no later than week 3. Finally, I just don’t see the schedule as being all that fearsome — the NFC South is no big deal, PIT is FINALLY on the downside (the Browns have better RBs and are younger on defense), and there is a lot of talent and depth, especially on the lines.
I’m guessing Manziel will be on the field by week 8 at the latest and the team will strive to look a little like the ’85 team that rode Mack and Byner and bought enough time for Bernie to learn. I suspect a similar dynamic this year. Then they get those two 1sts next year and are poised for a breakout.
Keep Hope Alive (or at least Cleveland sports dreams)!