Cavs working on Anderson Varejao contract extension
October 27, 2014Video: Sprite’s “First Home Game” LeBron Commercial
October 27, 2014My father really, really dislikes Johnny Manziel. You have to take this with a grain of salt as he’s not a fan of LeBron James either—talent is surely not a part of his fan barometer. But every time a commenter mentions Manziel, or the CBS cameras pan to him wearing a knit cap on the sidelines, or he’s simply part of a rookie quarterback montage which gives him no extra time when compared to his peers, it’s typically met with a point-at-the-television “See!?” to anyone in the room, and is ultimately brushed away with an swipe at the air—the same gesture you or I make any time the Browns come up short on third down.
My father is also not unlike many other middle-aged men who used to cheer for Cleveland sports teams prior to the Internet age when they were athletes; not celebrities. He was at Red Right 88, he watched Byner fumble, he looked on as Ehlo laid there on the floor and Michael Jordan pumped his fist to the point where his arm almost detached from his torso.
But he has turned sour as he’s gotten older and players, especially those who have yet to earn anything, get propped up on pedestals before stepping on to the floor or court. With James it was the Hummer and the “Chosen 1” tattoo. With Manziel, it’s everything. And I feel bad because with each additional game where the Cleveland Browns offense struggles against lackluster opponents, the rookie’s time is drawing closer. It’s not here yet, but it’s coming. And I’d be willing to be my father won’t even watch the game when No. 2 gets called.
WINNER: Tashaun Gipson This spot is typically reserved for The Destroyer, but I can’t bring myself to do it this week. Last season, I watched as Gipson was given some praise by Browns apologists, only to see him get torn up on the regular. This year, Gipson has proven me wrong each time he takes to the field. Sure, you can chalk up a few of his interceptions this season as luck or being the benefactor of a solid pass rush, but between his work on the edges and his development into a threat in the middle of the field, it wouldn’t surprise me if defenses started to account for the Browns’ free safety the same way they used to do with Joe Haden. (More on that later.) By now, you’ve seen Gipson’s pick of Matt Schaub—it was surely exciting. But the highlight, for me anyway, is No. 39’s recognition of what is about to unfold. Watch him drop from edge containment back into center field.
The pick was beautiful, the run back was fun. But if it wasn’t for the recognition and the placement, it would’ve never happened. Solid work by a player who may very well have taken the reigns as the MVP of the defense.
LOSER: Nick McDonald Look: I want to be easy on the kid as he went from the street to starting on an offensive line, attempting to fill in for a Pro Bowl center. McDonald offered little in the way of pass protection, and even less in terms of blocking for his running backs. A lot of fans will point to Ben Tate and yell something that wholly conjecture, but it’s not like the kid forgot how to run the ball. Interior blocking has been atrocious since Alex Mack and his extended thumb disappeared into the Browns’ tunnel. I surely hope the team doesn’t think of McDonald as the answer from here out—if so, Hoyer is sca-rewwwwwed.
WINNER: Andrew Hawkins Perhaps Austin Hawkins will reconsider who his favorite player is? It wasn’t just the seven catches, 88 yards and a touchdown that propelled Hawk to winner status; it was the fact that six of his seven plays went for first downs in a game that was not exactly oozing with offensive prowess. As bad as Brian Hoyer was, the veteran quarterback had a passer rating north of 152 when throwing in Hawkins’ direction—six points shy of perfection.
Over the last two weeks, though the Browns’ run game has disappeared, Hawkins has 12 receptions for 200 yards and a touchdown. Kid’s been one hell of a pick-up.
WINNER: Spencer Lanning If it wasn’t for that one touchback (it was a terribly unfortuante bounce), Lanning would’ve had an average of 50-plus yards on the day. Das boot.
WINNER: Billy Cundiff I admit that I was nervous as all get out when the Browns trotted Cundiff out there for that 52-yarder, but it was a bullet down the middle. Cundiff earned his paycheck this week. And for that: Header Image!
WINNER: Paul Kruger Beast mode. Kruger was on the field for 67 snaps and rushed Derek Carr 44 times. Only Desmond Bryant had a higher rush total. He’s a boom-or-bust guy, but most outside rushers are. Against the Raiders, Kruger was all boom. In addition to his three sacks, he had two hurries and one additional quarterback hit. He added two tackles and a stop for good measure. Typically, players only get one GIF in this space. Kruger was so damn good that he gets three. Take a look.
The best part may have been after the untouched B-Line for Derek Carr’s head, WFNY’s own Ryan Jones got plenty of face time from the CBS cameras as his seats were about 20 yards from the action. He famous.
LOSER: Ben Tate Again, I don’t want to knock Tate too much because his blocking has been invisible since Mack’s injury. He also found the end zone. That said, 26 yards on 15 attempts is not going to get it done. Kyle Shnahan has a LOT of work to do this week.
WINNER: Joe Haden The Browns’ Pro Bowl cornerback has taken his fair share of lumps in this here column over the first two months—and with good reason. This past Sunday, however, he looked every bit of the guy who represented Cleveland in Hawaii last winter. Haden was solid in his run defense and made several huge plays in pass protection. He was called for another penalty, but it was pretty bush. Targeted 13 times, he allowed just 64 yards on seven receptions—a 4.9-yard average. James Jones, Oakland’s leading receiver, was held to just 15 yards on the day when Haden was covering him. And that fumble recovery, though largely luck, was dead sexy.
Welcome back, Joe Haden. We missed you.
125 Comments
I was listening to the Men in Blazers podcast yesterday. Roger described the Tottenham Hotspurs fans as being “filled with punctured hope.” This sums up beautifully what it’s like to be a Cleveland fan (and I also, quite randomly, happen to be a Spurs supporter).
I read that Schaub’s last two passes were INTs…last year with Houston and his one and only pass this year. What a terrible stinging sensation that guy must have today…I actually feel a little badly for him. haha
Sweet mother of God he nearly drives me up to the roof naked with a deer rifle.
Agreed. Say we’re the top matchup every week as far as CBS is concerned. Then we get “rewarded” with Phil Simms as an announcer. What a blowhard. “I’ll tell you what I would have done…” (repeat approx. 20 times per half).
is that good or bad?
Not sure in what context naked on the roof with a deer rifle could be a good thing.
YPA is huge. And, so are numbers after a game has been decided.
Carr, thus far, has looked a bunch like Colt McCoy. Checkdown artist who can put up some artificial numbers when the other team is playing prevent.
Colt had an extremely similar 10-game stretch in 2011 to what Carr is doing (right down to YPA, comp%, yards/game). Anyone think the first 10 games of the Shurmur era are something we want to relive?
2011 Colt 10-game 214/359 59.61% 2181 11-TD 7-INT 79.2-RAT 6.08-YPA
Mo Sizlack on Snake Whacking Day
http://i.imgur.com/62yvBrI.gif
I’m waiting for the week when he’s injured and Jeff Hostetler steps in and does a better job, yet Simms gets his job back anyway and we are supposed to believe that he’s HOFer.
My effort at humor has failed. I guess I’ll keep my day job.
Winner: Brian Hoyer – still getting this team to score points/win while his options are Jim Dray, Taylor Gabriel, Hawkins and Austin…..and no running game. Think about that.
My counter humor did about as well as the browns running game without Alex Mack. Ah well 🙂
i think Carr has a definitively stronger arm than McCoy. Maybe his checkdowns are because his receivers straight up suck?
is a turd sandwich anything like a sh*tburger?
oh my god – it’s really happening: Colt McCoy vs. Brandon Weeden!!!!
Bye bye Johhny…enjoy Dallas!
Same same.
Truth.
“By now, you’ve seen Gipson’s pick of Matt Schaub—it was surely exciting. But the highlight, for me anyway, is No. 39’s recognition of what is about to unfold. Watch him drop from edge containment back into center field.”
Watch a little closer here… Presnap… Jim Leonhard yells at Gipson. Gipson turns around to look at him. Leonhard then points back towards the middle of the field for Gipson to drop back to safety position. We have Leonhard to thank for Gipson recognizing to be in position to make that play.
Can’t really see it on the gif… I picked this up in my rigorous film study watching “Come on Man” last night.
Amen!
If either one of them said, “Winning the field position game” or “Winning the battle of field position” one more time, I was going to lose it.
I agree he has a stronger arm (his throws are much more on a line).
I was shocked to see Cundiff out there attempting a 52 yard field goal. Not only did he make it, but he made it with a few yards to spare. I though he was completely incapable of making anything over 48 yards. Either the coaches are clueless that he could always make them or they somehow coached him into a good kicker. Seriously…. WTF is up with that.
LOSER – Hoyer the Destroyer. IT’s becoming clear to me that Hoyer is a career backup. While he is a great leader and can be clutch, he can also be shockingly inaccurate for no reason. He is also incapable of throwing the ball 40 yards. Not sure what advantage Gordon will be when Hoyer can’t get him the ball. God bless him.
On a different note, I don’t understand the logic that because Manziel isn’t starting, he is a bust. The browns are 4-3 but they are not going to make the playoffs this year and I don’t think Manziel starting will change that. What winning Rookie QB do you want starting for the Browns? Carr? Bridgewater? I don’t see either of them being better than Hoyer right now.