Browns, Paul Rudd, Jewish Christmas traditions and more – WFNY Podcast – 2014-12-22
December 22, 2014The Browns quest for âthe answerâ at QB is the wrong one
December 22, 2014I spent a good portion of my Sunday afternoon pacing in front of the television. You see, I’m in the finals in all three of my fantasy football leagues and an entire season of minor tweaks and a boat load of luck got me to where I am. But you also see that given the number of leagues, it’s a chasm between the floor and ceiling for what can happen in a financial sense.
Not having Sunday Ticket this year was a blessing in disguise. My anxiety level was high enough as I attempted to decide between starting Matt Stafford against the woebegone Chicago Bears or Matt Ryan against the New Orleans Saints. I chose Ryan, which was undoubtedly the right call, but it was more of a Dance With Who Brought You decision than anything else. Not making matters any better is that in the biggest of the three leagues, I’m ahead by just a handful of points and the two of us have a combined five players suiting up for the Monday Night tilt between the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos. Typically, I choose to call it a night around halftime on Monday Nights. I’m already resigned to the fact that I’m going to be one tired guy come this time Tuesday morning.
So it goes.
LOSER: Johnny Manziel Sometimes we lose though by no fault of our own. When he left the game midway through the second quarter with a hamstring injury, Manziel had thrown just eight passes. One of them, a laser down the middle of the field to Andrew Hawkins, made eyes perk up across Clevelandâthe ball was not just over midfield, but was there via an actual play! The bitch of the whole thing? Hamstrings linger. There’s a good chance that we won’t get to see what sort of progress (if any) Manziel was able to make after his alleged improvement in practice. We won’t know what we have heading into the offseason and that debacle against Cincinnati is still way too fresh in our minds. If there was immense progress and we knew the Browns could rely on Manziel going forward, great. If we knew Manziel was a bust (I’m talking legit, tangible knowledge of fact, not couch-side bloviating on the matter), the Browns would be able to address as needed. Uncertainty, however, is the worst.
WINNER: Joe Thomas It may not have seemed so as the left tackle was called out a few times on TV, but the Pro Bowl-bound Thomas had yet another solid game. Sure, he wasn’t flawless, but left tackles rarely are. Ever since the Buffalo game (Thomas’ lone poor mark on the season), fans have been bizarrely attempting to float out some narrative that No. 73 is having “another bad year.” Interestingly, Thomas is still, as he has been for his entire career, among the best left tackles in the game. Perhaps he’s spoiled us throughout his career? Perhaps fans simply have no knowledge of just how sketchy other left tackles can be. Either way, perception is a funny thing.
LOSER: Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West Rookie Wall? Shoddy blocking? Either way, the lack of running game is absolutely killing the Cleveland Browns. Crowell managed to get just 3.4 yards per carry with his only modicum of success coming behind the left side of the line. West? Oh, he was just a healthy scratch due to what Mike Pettine referred to as a “poor week of practice.” West went from starting the previous two weeks to playing behind Shaun Draughn Sunday. That doesn’t bode well for the kid’s work ethic.
WINNERS: Billy Winn I love when big guys get in on the action.
LOSERS: The officiating crew From the guys on the field all the way down to Mike Carey in the warm CBS studio. Sure, we review plays to ensure that the calls were correct, but manâit just felt brutal.
WINNER: Scott Solomon Just called up this week from the practice squad, the relatively unknown Solomon was easily the defensive player of the game for the Browns. Crushing down the line in run defense and keeping Cam Newton running for his life in the passing game, Solomon was seemingly everywhere. Solomon played on his feet, he played with his hand down. Everything he did appeared to be at 100 miles per hour. While it would have been nice for the Browns to contain the Panthers in the running game a bit better, it’s nice to finally be able to mention a defensive player as a winner.
LOSERS: Anyone talking about firing Mike Pettine I made the mistake of flicking through my Twitter timeline late Sunday night to find discussion surrounding the potential firing of Mike Pettine. The basis of this astounding proposition was rooted in the fact that Rob Chudzinski was fired for a lack of progress throughout the season and that Pettine’s Browns were once 7-4 and appear to be staring down the barrel of a five-loss finish. I’ll be the first to admit that I handed it to Pettine after he went with Brian Hoyer against the Buffalo Bills, but under no circumstances did I even consider anything he has done this season to be a fireable offense. This isn’t even one of those “why we can’t have nice things” discussion; it’s a stop, you sound ridiculous discussion.
Remember how difficult it was for the Browns to fill their head coaching vacancy last offseason? You wouldn’t be able to pay a solid candidate enough to take this gig if you fired yet another coach. Just stop.
WINNER: Pierre Desir Sure, he allowed six catches for 61 yards, but the little-known defensive back who the team effectively planned to red shirt this season came up big during multiple instances, the biggest of which was a fade-route to the 6-5 Kelvin Benjamin. Desir took what was close to being a six-point play and played perfect technique, ultimately batting the ball down to the turf. The Panthers would go on to score in that drive, but it was Desir’s play that made them have to try again.
LOSERS: Desmond Bryant and Ishmaa’ily Kitchen This team continues to just get obliterated up the middle and these two continue to be the biggest offenders.
WINNER: Jordan Cameron It may have been blown coverage, or it may have been a long time coming. Either way, it was great to see Brian Hoyer and Cameron connect for a much-needed 80-yard touchdown.
The down side to this? It was the team’s first touchdown in weeks. Also: Cameron still trails JJ Watt in the touchdown category. Bonus points, however, for Cameron using the jumbotron to gauge how much space he had on the defensive backs as he was sprinting to the end zone.
LOSER: Josh Gordon Feel free to show up at any time, Josh. Would be nice to have you.
88 Comments
Loser: Offensive strategy for gaining first downs. Throwing the ball 50 yards downfield for an interception then stripping the ball from the guy after a 40 yard return for a net 10 yard gain may be effective, but I’m not sure it’s efficient. Nor is it reasonable to expect to replicate it consistently. In the Army, we had this saying that there were 3 ways to do something: The easy way; the hard way; and the Army way – for when the hard way was not hard enough. The Browns have clearly adopted the Army way and have made it their own. I think we need another strategy. The Browns way is just dumb.
I don’t see any disagreement. More than preference, he can’t play in the NFL without substantially better decision making and enough work ethic to know what the hell is going on. All I’m saying is that he was always a bit of a project. Now it turns out he’s more of a project than optimists originally thought. But there’s no reason he can’t develop a work ethic.
Winner: Me, for making the right decision and shutting the game off until the 4th quarter. Easily the most exciting part of the game. I don’t think anyone should be a winner except Hoyer for at least knowing how to run an offense.
Loser: Browns fans for another lost season. Now the team goes to Baltimore to face an angry Ravens team. Yikes.
Loser: CBS games all year. Stop trying to be like Fox with your instant replays. They are brutal and the guy is clueless when he is on.
On the plus side, though, it’s easier – at least possible – to develop good decision making and work ethic. Notsomuch elusiveness and personality.
Shaw didn’t beat Rotten out because of Haslem. No way can you put a first rounder on the practice squad.No way can you carry 3 QB’s (2 rookies) on the active roster eleven though the skins did it with RGIII. I think Pettine did a remarkable job of stashing our starting QB that finishes out the season next year on the practice squad this year. If you don’t think Connor Shaw will come out guns blazing, good or bad, in pre season trying to take the starting QB job next year, you just don’t know. At least the Browns will know that Shaw can read a defense somewhat by then, whereas Rotten may never learn. I’ll take the QB who was coached in college by an ex NFL head coach over the system QB any day. Anyone remember Kenny Thrill? The next Heisman guy?
Alex Mack is good indeed, but he’s not THAT good. It’s correlation, not causation. We played a creampuff schedule after the Cincy game, and not coincidentally, the wheels came off the bus. I’d say that as a whole, the first Cincy game was anomalous (all aspects/all cylinders all going, Hoyer looking sharp as hell). I think that was our first real helping of false hope. The rest of the performances that ensued was more realistic.
Man, I don’t know. Just looking at the season empirically (and before anyone asks, no, I’m not going to provide empirical evidence, so don’t ask), the single identifiable factor that appears to have contributed more than anything to the horrible trajectory of the season was the loss of Alex Mack. He deserves Andy Dalton money.
Loser: Browns Fans’ Psyche. The first two comments of this thread were both about our 2015 Draft Pick(s) getting better.
Why do our minds go to the Draft so fast?
http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view4/2301010/i-got-nowhere-else-to-go-o.gif
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Naw, that pick wasn’t financially motivated. Purely football move.
http://nesn.com/2014/05/cleveland-browns-ticket-sales-have-skyrocketed-after-drafting-johnny-manziel/
I think there is something to it…probably in the sense that we were fragile and had no depth…and then one loss of a key guy (a chink in the phalanx), set off an imbalance, and then chain reaction. But man, let’s also recall that other key injuries piled up shortly thereafter (Cameron, Gipson, Dansby, Sheard, Phil Taylor, etc). Our offense failed to get first downs, putting the pressure on the D, who failed to stop the run getting us into holes, the offense couldn’t run the ball putting us in 3rd and longs, etc. Chicken or the egg, I’m not sure.
I think from an objective perspective, this season has played out pretty much like it should have.
Are any of these things particularly surprising?
– Hoyer is a flawed QB who is more suited to be a backup in the NFL
– Maturity and dedication issues may sidetrack Manziel’s career before it gets started
– Our offense line is very good when completely healthy
– The WR corp is adequate at best and won’t win us any games on their own
– There’s question about Josh Gordon’s dedication to the game
– It took a while for our defense to learn the new scheme, but there’s a lot of raw talent there
– Injuries can totally derail a decent team that lacks depth
Have there been any serious surprises?
For all our squawking and hand-wringing, how would most of us reacted if someone told us in August that we’d end up at 7-9 thanks to a soft schedule, that there would be serious questions at QB, and that our defense would play admirably despite some limitations? I would have shrugged and thought – that’s about right.
Perhaps I’m being naive, but I refuse to believe we’re “back to square zero.” This team feels to me like it’s a QB, and less defenders on IR, away from being really good.
Of course, a lot of teams are probably a QB away . . .
*knock knock*
Raybone, you in there?
*Knock Knock*
Raybone! Our pick is coming up!
*KNOCK KNOCK*
RAYBONE! I hear you guys in there!
He owes us a rebate.
Can’t we place some blame on Cundiff too?
Definitely chicken. The whole notion that the egg might have come first is pure nonsense. I mean, if the egg came first, how would it have been incubated – let alone fertilized? That egg would have just sat there, cooking in the heat, consumed by a ravenous weasel.
What were we talking about again?
Oh yeah, Alex Mack. Despite the fact that the Eagles got Chip Kelly and the Browns didn’t, I was mostly just using the comment above as an excuse to mention “Andy Dalton money” out of context. But . . . you raise some interesting points that get me thinking:
Cameron: Didn’t do anything to help the team even when they were winning.
Gipson: Went out during the downward spiral, but I guess there’s some merit.
Dansby: See Gipson, above.
Sheard: See Cameron, above.
Taylor: I think this is the closest thing to the Alex Mack loss.
Etc.: I still think losing Mack was the biggest factor in the season, but I do think you may be right that it’s more “correlation” than “causation.” The correlation is really strong though – strong enough to really smell and taste like causation.
There’s always room to blame the idiot kicker. That’s why they exist.
Loser – How about punting on 4th & 13 with less than 4 minutes left in the game? Two first downs were all Carolina needed to run out the clock and with our defense being run all over the last few weeks, who in their right mind thought this was good strategy. Also, we had nothing to lose since we were already eliminated from the playoffs. How about the coaches taking a chance on actually being aggressive for a change?
Yes, I think we are getting somewhere! And I hope Farmer is reading our thread (and taking copious notes). The injuries have highlighted who’s who. So after this season, we can safely let Sheard & Cameron hold hands and walk into the sunset. Later dudes.
Gipson and Taylor’s loss not only means they were playing good ball, but that we are woefully thin there (Leonhard put in a yeoman’s effort). You can always use more LBs, but I like the way Robertson & Kirksey have stepped up in Dansby’s absence.
As for AD$–I hope that phrase is retired (or beat to death in street). I do, however, envision a future scenario where Andy’s wife’s divorce attorney makes an fist pounding argument why she deserves “Andy Dalton money,” but I digress.
Yup yup yup yup, which is what I was expecting after Year 1 of this regime – you can’t build a whole team in one offseason.
I’d add that the D was good but not consistently so, and that we’d live and die by our D-line’s pressure, which we did.
This year I expect upgrades at DL and perhaps OL, WR, and a future ILB to take on Dansby’s role.
Can we add to this the notion that Gordon can and should be traded for a huge payday? Dude did NOTHING to help in the 10 minutes he played this year.
Also, loved Leonhard’s effort, but in terms of tackling, dude is the defensive equivalent of John St. Clair.
Disagree on Sheard, who I think opens up a lot for other guys and is under-appreciated. He’s not great but he’s good. But Gipson’s value is obvious. Cameron was a net negative with his pathetic blocking.
I think that’s exactly right. Should we ask that fortune teller for our money back (was it Esmerelda)? In hindsight, everything she told us really seems so predictable. But we did have a few drinks…
The biggest surprise for me has been the contributions from a few undrafted free agents and a few other “who’s that?” type guys.
That was my rejoinder elsewhere here as to why I think Farmer has been very good.
Yup, I would make that trade if we can net a sexy 2nd rounder or something equiv.
We are repeatedly told that he only LOOKS like he’s just coasting, but JH Cristo, I swear that my eyes aren’t fooling me, and he really IS just half assing it. His body language is horrible, especially on balls thrown his way that are off target.
Next is his contract year, so we’ll see.
That’s a good pick.
“Gilbert has played very well since the first few games…”
Are there two Gilberts on this team?
Just got the call from my bro…Shaw is going to start Sunday! đ
Press conference later today.
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Oh now you like him. I see. Next, you’ll be telling me you now all of a sudden like Sammy Watkins. Pshhh.
Tecmo Super Bowl had it right. Don’t even print their names on the back of their jerseys.
http://www.joshshoberg.com/Jobs/Tecmo/Images/Rosters/Browns/0.png
Never hesitate to ignore a sunk cost
Look, I’m all for Shaw getting his shot–at this point, it’s not like he can do worse than Manziel did, and the game has zero meaning outside of not getting embarrassed by the ratbirds yet again. But I’m not giving Shaw some big leg up in the competition because the Old Ball Coach had a cup of coffee as an NFL HC.
The BALTIMORE colt should be hated, it was their stupid move from BALTIMORE that lost the Browns in Clelveland. Baltimore stole the St. Louis BROWNS (orioles) and the Cleveland BROWNS as well.
Honestly, I am very happy with 7-9 this year. We blew some games the team should have won, like against the Ravens and Steelers early this year. Should have beat Indy, should have beat Carolina. Yes, I know “WINNING” teams have to learn to finish, but well, they did finish a few games this year (i.e. Tennessee, new Orleans, Oakland, and Tampon Bay). We once again have two first round picks that Farmer MUST actually nail this time, or we will see countless more annual WFNY articles on busted first round picks and what the team must do to become a contender. But, this is progress.
And please, for the love of the Gods, since Hoyer and Manziel are not starting QBs, and they are looking to sign Rex Grossman, just play Conner Shaw. He was kept on the practice squad all year. Thus, he showed some promise. Give the kid a shot, don’t sign some old washed up QB we know everything about who needs to stay in retirement.
hilarious, this is exactly my team too. Luck over Wilson all season long. Can’t complain, still no.1 overall. Killed my playoffs though Sunday.
His scouting report was much much better than Johnnies before he got injured. He kind of fell off of everyones radar after that. Just watch this week.