Browns comeback falls short, lose to Raiders 27-20
September 27, 2015Happy Cavs Media Day, You Guys: While We’re Waiting…
September 28, 2015Mike Pettine doesn’t make tackles or catch passes, but his fingerprints were all over the Cleveland Browns’ loss at home to the Oakland Raiders. Pettine never shies away from taking responsibility, which is a good thing after a game like the Browns played on Sunday, but his responsibility still must be noted. The Browns didn’t look ready to play on Sunday and wasted the entire first half before mustering a comeback that fell short. About the best thing I can say for Pettine and his staff is that the Browns never quit. The team had a chance to tie it up in the fourth quarter and were driving to do so before Josh McCown threw off his back foot and was intercepted by Charles Woodson. That’s not specifically Mike Pettine’s fault either, but it ended a day that seemed doomed from the beginning based on how the Browns came out (or didn’t come out) to start the game.
Let’s not start with his choice in quarterback, though. I’m not “blaming” Mike Pettine for playing Josh McCown over Johnny Manziel. It was my preference that the Browns just play Johnny Manziel after he helped lead the team to victory over the Tennessee Titans. Even that given, it was close to a 50-50 decision between Manziel and McCown in my mind. Pettine seemed to have a finger on the pulse of his own locker room and made a decision that showed a commitment to the plan that had been set since early in the off-season. That kind of consistency of approach is admirable in many ways and I have tough time criticizing the coach for that. The problems on Sunday were related more to inconsistency.
The coaching was indecisive and contributed to the issues that ultimately had the Browns down more than one score for the majority of the game. The Browns played ultra aggressive at times, which resulted in a roughing the punter penalty in one case. Then they played ultra conservative at other times, like not using their last timeout at the end of the first half as Oakland ran the ball with just under two minutes to go. The Raiders ultimately scored a touchdown with less than a minute left in the first half. That meant the Browns got the ball back with no time, which seemed to be what they were trying to do. Except for what they did next.
Instead of taking a touchback and then kneeling out the clock, the Browns returned the ball, were lucky to keep the ball after a near fumble — ruled not a fumble because the ground caused it — and then passed the ball on first down. What? From deep in their own end the Browns decide to play like they’re going to try and do something after not using their timeout and nearly giving Oakland more easy points to end the first half? Finally, the Browns just decided to hand off for a draw on second down and thankfully they and the Raiders just let the clock run out. That’s just one example of course, but this unevenness is too inconsistent and indecisive.
On top of that, the Browns were sunk on defense and the inability to stop long plays.
- Latavius Murray had 139 yards rushing including a 54-yard long
- Amari Cooper had 134 yards receiving including a 40-yard long
- Seth Roberts had 56 yards receiving including a 36-yard long
- Marcel Reece had 55 yards receiving including (wait for it) a 55-yard long
You can’t be an elite defensive team giving up big plays like that, and yet that’s the performance that the Browns put up in their third game for their defensive head coach. The Browns also had zero quarterback sacks and zero quarterback hits. Some of that is good design on the part of the Raiders and you can’t take all the credit away from them, but it’s still unacceptable for this Browns team. This is a Browns team that spends disproportionately more on their defense as a percentage than any other team in the NFL.
The Browns had a real opportunity to cash in on an easier early portion of the schedule and failed to capitalize on a winnable game at home. They did so by not doing the things they’re built to do well even to an average level. They didn’t show up for nearly the whole first half and by the time they started to gain some ground it was too late. This wasn’t about one thing. This was everything. The Browns committed turnovers, gave the Raiders one of their scores by roughing the punter, and gave up big plays on defense. That’s all phases of the game, and while Mike Pettine can’t execute on the field, when the team fails so miserably in all phases in a winnable game at home, he’s got to stand responsible for it.
After the game Pettine did just that saying that the team “wasted an opportunity,” and that the defense looked like a “scout team.” That’s something Mike Pettine’s always been good at, but it’s going to take more than words. The Browns go to bed tonight as a 1-2 team that has to spend the next two weeks on the road in San Diego and Baltimore. It will take something special from Mike Pettine and his team to somehow not come back to Cleveland as a 1-4 team with Denver staring them in the face.
Strap in, Browns fans. This thing might be going down.
100 Comments
Ineffective and misguided aggressive play. The attempted blocked punt leads to a penalty. Extra rushers lead to NO QB hits (has that ever happened before?). Throwing late in the first half with NO intention to go for a score.
The QB choice is part of it too. What’s the plan? Trying to win? Trying to keep it close every week so you don’t lose by too much? Manziel is the better “risk/reward” choice. McCown is just…McCown.
What’s the plan, Mike? Ride McCown and an ineffective defense all the way to the unemployment line?
So if the O-line is playing so poorly (an assertion I don’t necessarily agree with), why not play the more elusive QB?
my mother just purchased an awesome black Kia only from working parttime off a pc. blog link,.,. siteAfterearning an average of 19952 Dollars monthly,I’m finally getting 97 Dollars an hour,just working 4-5 hours daily online.….. Weekly paycheck… Bonus opportunities…earn upto $16k to $19k /a month…Only a few hour required to understand and start working,..,ghgh
Success Your Dreams And Br your Own Boss.. …look Here…
›››› http;//SpotlightFoundationMegaBonusOffer-FinacialWork======================================================
It was not a fluke. Tabor playcalled blocking the punt instead of allowing Travis Benjamin to receive the punt who most likely would’ve returned it to the Oakland 45 yd line. That’s why 3 guys were called on it, not one. Once again poor coaching.
Drowning, without question.
It’s tough to pinpoint single issue that could be the problem. But the problem may be the worst one of all, which is The owner.
The Washington Redskins drafted well, Drafted poorly, overpaid, underpaid, did just about everything you should and shouldn’t do in professional football over the last 10+ years. And they are terrible. That is a multiple Super Bowl winning franchise in one of the nation’s biggest cities, with huge fan support, and they are miserable. No one wants to coach there and no one can coach there and there’s no way the team will ever go anywhere as long as the owner is Dan Snyder.
Is Jimmy Haslam another Dan Snyder?
That’s how the last 15+ years have felt!
Cavs media day tomorrow – magic to my ears!
I know that Craig didn’t say this, but it appears to be the
way a lot of the discussion is generally going.
I don’t think judging Mike Pettines abilities by an “Are they successful
today?” standard has any value at all. The
following coaches have in their time with the Cleveland Browns have had bad
offenses or bad defenses for an up to two year stretch (in parentheses: what many
of them were deemed untalented by even more thoughtful Cleveland sports pundits):
Bill Belichick (As head coach and understanding of NFL
offense), Bruce Arians (as an offensive mind), Romeo Crennel (as a defensive
mind), Dick Jauron, Norv Turner, Ray Horton, Kyle Shanahan (overly tricky
offense / too cocky).
All of these coaches have had coordinator or head coaching
job with great success for many years and/or are currently coaching a very
successful unit. The point I’m getting
at is that I believe there are no coaches good enough to never have a failing
unit, despite the fact that it feels like this is too much failure to fans and
writers.
The evidence shows Mike Pettine was part of a successful
defensive coaching staff with the Jets, then as a very successful coordinator
with the Bills. In his two years with
the Browns, he improved a poor defense to a slightly above average one, and
appears to in year two be back to poor.
On offense his units have maintained the bottom third which is no worse
or better than where they were before him.
There is reason to think Pettine will see success with the right
players, and we should give it the time to see if we can construct them over
the next few years.
Rebuilding and sticking with a strategy is not sexy, but new
coaching staffs every two years is not “rebuilding”, it is throwing darts
blindly at a wall and expecting to hit a bulls eye.
NFL 101, game of mismatches. Having Haden cover Cooper on an island as your core scheme is a recipe for disaster. I learned this simply watching last week Ravens game.
Back to the Browns, on one play in the first half they rushed three, dropped into coverage and spied the QB. Raiders punted next play.They never went back to it.
They finally played zone late in Q3 because of injuries and still got burnt for a huge play in the flat because nobody was home.
This defensive scheme is horrible, the plays are still getting in late. 3 defensive timeouts in two games. Late substitutions and general assignment confusion before the snap. I am just a Joe Fan and this stuff is blatantly obvious. NFL OC’s are just going to feast on this team with O’Neil as the DC. It is really that simple.
BTW, the story is the same on the other side of the ball.
Ultimately, I’m not surprised we lost this game. Our defense is poor. Our offense is bad. Every single group of both units. I think our ST is average. Our coaches are apparently bad, although I like Pettine the Talker and it is so hard for the laymen to assess coaching. Our GM is surely bad, our drafting has been bad for several GMs. Our last owner, he was bad, he was in England getting bamboozled by the likes of the walrus. He sold the team to a literal criminal who built a Tennessee-shaped scoreboard in our stadium and hired a man who decided to change our uniforms. Our uniforms are now bad. The owner is bad. Why does anyone think we will win any football games? I am starting to feel silly I picked us for 4 wins, if lunch is even keeping track.
A Way To Get Paid $97/hour And More…….After earning an average of 19952 Dollars monthly,I’m finally getting 97 Dollars an hour,just working 4-5 hours daily online.….. Weekly paycheck… Bonus opportunities…earn upto $16k to $19k /a month……….Only a few hour req..uired to understand and start working…….look over here …
.jt……
➤➤➤ http://GoogleTopCareersGetStandardFinanceReports/get/morethan$97/h…
✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥
At least the tailgate in the Muni was as good as ever. Fans were tremendous – never felt like we had a chance even at the end. The D stinks.
I agree with your statement as I had the same thought yesterday. Farmer drafts JFF and Gilbert. Both don’t play. Farmer brings in Dwayne Bowe at a much inflated salary. Bowe is a healthy scratch. Use an early draft pick on T West. West is traded for a conditional 7th rounder a year later. Spend a draft pick on a WR. WR is cut in training camp.
It’s easy to see that the two aren’t seeing eye to eye on things if the coach isn’t playing the players that the GM has drafted. Also starting to wonder about the scouting department. They score on some of the UDFA’s that they bring in (Crowell being the most recent) but swing and miss on guys that they spend much more time on when it comes to the draft.
Up until the last couple of years I would have said the Raiders were bad at drafting. Mack, Carr and Cooper have made me change my mind a bit on that one.
Which JM? 😉
Completely agree. If you want a scapegoat it is Farmer, but I’d give them both more time.
In fairness to the Browns, the whole top of that Mingo draft was pretty bad. But the dude is built like free safety, not a linebacker.
I’m not sure I follow. Snyder has a track record over a decade long. Haslam has been here for 3 years.
If you are going to lose, lose young. Oakland rode Derrick Carr last year to an early draft pick. Carr got the needed experience. Why lose old with McCown? I am sick of losing old when we could lose just as Browns like with young players learning to play, when McCown won’t be here all that long.
I have always felt every Browns HC hikes up the skirt too much. Never are they aggressive at the end of the first half. Never, as a matter of fact, like against Atlanta last year, there are always near first half disasters we avoid, like Hester being caught by Bitonio.
Outside of Schottenheimer and Kosar, I have not seen a Browns HC use the end of the first half to create any chance whatsoever to score. Had the team used TOs better, and lets say got a FG at the end of the half, they would have been playing for the win at the end of the game instead of a tie.
Kyle Shanahan looks like a genius now in Atlanta. The browns still look like brown crap on the field…
Agreed. The big picture is our terrible drafts not McCown vs Manziel. Just think if we could switch 2014 drafts with Oakland. Carr will be a solid pro and Mack is already dominant. Our 2 guys, not so much. Evaluating and developing talent is the single most important skill in the NFL. Farmer does not have a good track record to date. Oakland was considered the most disorganized team in the league only 2 years ago, but their drafting has changed things.
He’s unquestionably overrated. Great team guy, great job of embracing the town, but none of that means a damn thing if he cannot do with consistency the job he is paid to do. And yes, the offensive line is the only thing close to being as overrated as this defensive unit.
My real frustration will come when we hit week 10 or so, and this defense finally starts putting it all together, much like last year. The “adjusting to the system” excuses wear thin. Either the system is entirely too complex, or the players are not bright enough to pick it up. As for the offensive line, I’m not even sure where to begin, other than to say they have taken a collective step back from the post-Mack period of last season.
As we sit here the morning after the Browns go to 1-2 while the Bengals are sitting at 3-0, I can’t believe that people are actually suggesting that Pettine should be on the proverbial “hot seat” or “coaching for his job.” Stop. Please. He’s the best HC we’ve had since Schottenheimer (only because we had Belichick before he learned how to cheat). The Brown family (sigh) stuck with Marvin Lewis for years and years of crap, until they found a QB (of sorts) and built a solid team (with real, bona fide WRs). Can we just, for once, not lose our minds and go all “Cleveland” on this thing? Please?
The problem starts with drafting. Until this team starts hitting on their top picks with consistency (it won’t be 100% for any team, but what are we at since ’99? 10%?), no top man is going to find sustainable success. This franchise has been unprecedentedly bad at drafting for nearly two decades now, and the past couple years hasn’t shown much hope for improving on that. The Raiders have begun to draft well, and are finally seeing some positive returns.
That was 30 years ago. You might as well be talking about Green Bay’s power sweep. The NFL is a huge business with a ton of resources and scouting. If the defense knows what you’re going to do, you’ve lost already. Period.
They looked pretty good last year before Mack got hurt and our offensive coordinator went to Atlanta. Who’s running back just put up 150 yards and 3 touchdowns.
That Oakland defense is literally the worst in the NFL.
Absolutely true. And drafting has to be connected to the coach’s long-term plan. We have a roster that is comprised of dudes drafted to meet, what, four head coaches’ schemes? Five? That’s insane, and as you said, no head coach could succeed. Even though he’s shown some frustrating tendencies, I’m all in on Pettine.
He’s wondering if in 7 years Haslam will have a similar, terrible, 10-year track record.
It’s the ‘this guy sucks so you might as well play the other guy and see if it gets better’ syndrome. AKA, Waiting For Next Year.
hi guys … maybe i’m trippin’ , but i thought haden had decent coverage on cooper , but carr was throwing perfect passes.
I’ll admit that Joe is overrated. However, when opposing teams put up 150 yards on the ground and the front 7 can’t get a QB pressure, let alone a sack, the DB’s are going to have troubles especially in Mike Pettine’s man coverage scheme.
One of the problems for Haden is that he is the type of DB who has to rely on pure athleticism, which is the first thing that diminishes with time.
hi JPF … you can add getting zero pressure on the QB as well. this is pettine’s scheme , o’neill is trying to run it (?) … is it the scheme , the co-ord , or the players … or all of the above ??
good post CHRIS … did anybody wearing orange & brown play better than mccown did yesterday … no.
mccown was better in the 2nd half than he was in the first half , but the play of the game was a roughing the punter penalty on which oakland then went down & scored a td … also, the browns had 1st & goal at 1 & couldn’t get it in.
good post DAN …
… i told you it would get real ugly around here if they didn’t beat the raiders at home this week.
ask a.j.green & others if they think haden is overrated … he is still one of the top 2 or 3 players on this team , which may not be saying much.
… and has anyone thought : “man , amari cooper is pretty freakin’ good” … i think this young man will be making a lot of good CB’s look very average.
derek carr also has amari cooper , crabtree & holmes to throw to this year … i knew we’d be in trouble this game .
Doesn’t matter if anyone is fired or not—nobody with any experience/competence will sign-on to this dumpster fire. Pettine probably deserves some slack until he gains a little more experience. Farmer’s track record is positively indefensible. Anyone [good] who would possibly replace Farmer would [probably] want say over the coach.
Dream scenario of Peyton retiring » Browns O-coordinator next year tho.
Under what measure would he be phenomenal? I don’t think he is even close to average. He gives great pressers, says all the right things. Show me the money:
8-10 lifetime w/l record
25th and 21st in overall points
26th and 31st in overall yards
23rd and 27th in yards given by defense
32nd and 32nd in rush defense
All of that out of 32, for those keeping score at home.
He has a second year DC that has never held the role before and a first year OC that has never held the role before.
Go through his stats year by year and there is a steady decline across the board. His first year as DC with the Jets he had the number 1 defense in the NFL, 2009. Since then – 3,5,8,10, 23,27
I’m done listening to his old school, smash mouth, accountability bs press conferences. Show it on the field or it doesn’t exist, period.
I wish there was a Vegas bet on ‘ugly time coming’……….
Right. Because you can hire new coaches and so forth. But you can’t hire new owners. Which is why I love the idea ( however unrealistic ) that the fans could pony up 1.5 billion dollars to buy the team.
That would be one of the biggest sports stories in history! All we need is for 3 million Browns fans to pony up $500!
wouldn’t matter if it was yesterday. My point is good players find a way average players get beat by good players no matter how well you game plan. Game planning only wins the even match ups or takes advantage of deficiencies. We don’t have the talent or will to overcome
you maybe right but I seriously cant remember the last time I saw three players get to the punter. Two fo which ran into each other causing the penalty
my Aunty Aria recently got a stunning black Dodge Challenger SRT8 by working part time from a home pc… you can try here,After earning an average of 19952 Dollars monthly,I’m finally getting 97 Dollars an hour,just working 4-5 hours daily online.….. Weekly paycheck… Bonus opportunities…earn upto $16k to $19k /a month…Only a few hour required to understand and start working,..
Follow next Steps.. ………aaad
▶▶▶▶ www,Internet-jobs-istitue/FacebookJoboffer≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≔≕
$86/HOURLY
SPECIAL REPORT!!!!……….After earning an average of
19952 Dollars monthly,I’m finally getting 100 Dollars an
hour,just working 4-5 hours daily online….It’s time to
take some action and you can join it too.It is simple,dedicated and easy
way to get rich.Three weeks from now you will wishyou have started
today – I promise!….HERE I STARTED-TAKE A LOOK AT MY
llllllllll PR0FILE llllllllll…….
92