C-Cap Recap: A Brief Breath Above Water
September 14, 2015
The Browns get plastered by the Jets – WFNY Podcast – 2015-09-13
September 14, 2015Hopes were not high out of the gate. Heading in to East Rutherford, New Jersey, I saw a team that defied perception. Optimistic fans of the Cleveland Browns saw the lowly New York Jets with their backup quarterback and new head coach and began tallying Week 1 as a win that would set the stage for a season that would see somewhere between five and seven more. I saw a Jets team with their backup quarterback and new head coach and saw a roster that, outside of left tackle, was equal or better than the Cleveland Browns across the board. I saw a team, losers of four straight to finish 2014, heading on the road to start the year.
When the Browns stopped the Jets to start the game and went on to possess the next nine minutes of the clock, things looked up. Converted third downs, receptions by guys named Gary Barnidge and Malcolm Johnsonâeverything was coming together. And, with one airborne quarterback fumbling the ball in the end zone, everything snapped back to reality. The oranger orange and brown rug was pulled from under our feet. The Cleveland Browns returned.
Those who are still optimistic will try and tell you that the game came down to just a few plays and that Tennesee is coming up. Those who are not completely out of their minds will remind you that the final score was 31-10 and that Tennessee just hung 42 in their first game of the Marcus Mariota era. I wouldn’t print those playoff tickets just yet.
Losers: Josh McCown and Johnny Manziel
I’m as big of a fan of hustle and determination as anyone, but Josh McCown’s luck was bound to run out. If the hits he took during the team’s Week 3 preseason contest were not enough, the second of two big hits in the first quarter of their Week 1 regular season tilt would be. Of all the injuries this iteration of the Browns could ill afford to sustain, one to McCown may have topped the list. Not the most talented Brown, but the one whose absence would tilt the axis of what this team is trying to accomplish this season. Again: Kudos to Josh for leaving it all on the field, but by “all,” we didn’t mean his head.
What started out with a bang could have ended with more of a fizzle. The deep ball to Travis Benajmin (more on this later) was beautiful. After that, however, once the Jets completely eliminated the run and cut off the short passing routes, that was all she wrote. Manziel held on to the ball entirely too long, bailed quickly and effectively set himself up to leave the game the same way McCown did if not for some shifty slides.
We don’t know what the future of either of these men will be heading in to Week 2. I wish this were not the case, and I can presume Mike Pettine shares this sentiment.
Loser: Joe Haden
Well, that could have gone better. I try to remind myself that No. 23 started off last season with a bit of a rough patch and went on to finish the season in Pro Bowl form. Then my thoughts turn to the fact that our defensive backs will perpetually be outmanned by larger, more physical receivers. I try to remind myself that many of these plays would not have happened had the Browns defense stopped the Jets when it was third-and-long in their own territory. Then I remember that the third-down conversion that led to New York’s first score was when 6-foot-tall Chris Owusu (who?) burnt Haden down the right sideline for a drive-extending gain.
By no means was Sunday indicative of what Joe Haden is capable of as a cornerback, and any fan who writes him off at this stage is completely short-sighted. But man, that was painful to watch.
Winner: Travis Benjamin
Cleveland countered New York’s Amazonian receiving corps with a bunch of shifty slot receivers, and Travis Benjamin was the only one to shine. Carrying over from a solid preseason, it was Benjamin’s beautiful hesitation move that allowed him to break free of the Jets deep secondary. It took Manziel delivering his best pass as a professional, but it was a play that, for a split second, reminded us all what an NFL offense is supposed to look like. Any time a Browns player delivers a week that would help a fantasy football roster, he’s going to get a ‘win’ in this here column.
Loser: Cleveland Browns front seven
When improving the run defense is an area of focus over your entire offseason and then you get gouged for an entire half, wellâyou have issues. The first-half whiff by Donte Whitner notwithstanding, there were points in the second half of Sunday’s debacle that saw the Browns put eight men in the box and the Jets were still gaining positive yardage. Pass plays became an afterthought as Chris Ivory was able to do whatever he pleased. Even Bilal Powell was getting in on the fun.
Special shout out to the to-be-named defensive back who opted to run in to the back of his teammate and just fall to the grass. Not exactly a model for success.
Winner: Brian Hartline
When you lose 31-10, you have to reach for a few bright spots. Not only was Mr. Hartline the team’s emergency quarterback in the event Johnny Manziel pulled a Josh McCown, but he hauled in this passâone that wasn’t even thrown to him.
You know you did something awesome when the other team has to challenge the play just to verify how awesome it was. If only it would’ve meant something…
Loser: Offensive Line
When your leading rushers are your two quarterbacksâone of which didn’t last past the first drive of the gameâyou have problems. The offensive line was supposed to be a strength of the team, yet they provided little in the way of running lanes, and a lot in terms of penalty yardage. When you can’t get by on talent, you have to execute. And when plays get called back for dumb holding penalties, or your kicker has to boot a 48-yard point after attempt because you can’t line up right, you have yourself the exact opposite of execution.
Making matters worse, this unit was largely intact during preseason. They had all the time in the world to get ready for Week 1. If any unit desperately needs to bounce back, this is the one.
Winner: John DeFilippo
Oftentimes in life, you have “idea” people and “execution” people; rarely can someone be both. In the case of John DeFilippo, you have a guy who was in his first NFL game as a play-calling offensive coordinator who drew up a pretty solid game plan. The first play of the game hit tight end Gary Barnidge square in the hands. Getting Malcolm Johnson out in space worked out well. The touchdown pass to Travis Benjamin was legit. There were times last season, with as much as Kyle Shanahan did for this team, where you left a game wondering what the hell he was thinking. Given the options with which to work, DeFilippo’s playcalling was enough to make you silently nod in approval.
Loser: Jim O’Neil
Conversely, it’s going to be a long week in Berea for the Browns’ defensive coordinator. The Ryan Fitzpatrick-led Jets did everything and anything they wanted against a defensive unit that was supposed to be one of the best in the NFL. Losing Scott Solomon in the early going was a bit of a blow. The only thing worse would be hinging your team’s success on the back of Scott Solomon.
Winner:
Loser: Ray Farmer
Not only was Ray Farmer suspended for this one, his prize free agent signing and his first pick as a general manager were both inactive. His second first-round pick this season can’t sniff the field, his only playmaker in the game was a holdover from a past regime, and Marcus Mariotaâan actual quarterback whom the Browns were allegedly interested in trading up to obtainâwas yanked from his game early because he scored too many points. Add in that Brandon Marshall, who abused the Browns on Sunday, was acquired for a fifth-round draft pick while the team’s fourth-round pick (also a wide receiver) didn’t make the final 53-man roster and things are not looking up for Ray.
I would assume Farmer will address the local media when he returns from his suspension. If and when this happens, it will be one interesting press conference.
Browns Fans Have Their Say:
@WFNYScott we have winners in this dumpster fire?
— Mike (@MikeAmmo) September 13, 2015
@WFNYScott the whole team, every part are losers. johnny has been ok. the punter is good.
— Will Woke for Food (@bkdeadhead) September 13, 2015
@WFNYScott Loser: September. Winner: October (Go Cavs).
— Joe Butvin (@butvin) September 13, 2015
@WFNYScott Losers: Everyone wearing Orange.
Winners? What are those again?
— Nate (@NatedogCLE) September 13, 2015
@WFNYScott Travis Benjamin looks like he actually wants to be out there, he's the only winner IMO
— TMac (@TheTMac3) September 13, 2015
@WFNYScott Do "fans who turned off the game at halftime" count as winners?
— Paul Forrester (@pwforrester) September 13, 2015
@WFNYScott Winners: Hartline, Mingo, Joe Banner. Losers: Pettine, Farmer, the O-line, the D-line, Cleveland Browns Daily.
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) September 13, 2015
https://twitter.com/ARalsto/status/643148391657119744
@WFNYScott winners: FF owners of jets defense. Losers: everyone who walks into that building in Berea on Monday.
— Breakdance Exorcist (@tom_rini) September 13, 2015
@WFNYScott losers: The fans that root for this team every year and end up disappointed. Also, the entire Browns organization.
— King (@BlkGhostKing) September 13, 2015
@WFNYScott the fans. Always the fans
— UncleGrumpy (@Unc1eGrumpy) September 13, 2015
@WFNYScott @WFNYCraig Winner? The kicker for nailing 48 yard PAT & Andy Lee. Losers? Fans & Nike. Those new uniforms are awful.
— Dougie Stardust (@MrDougEStardust) September 14, 2015
@WFNYScott @WFNYCraig winners: those who let go of their season tickets.
— Stan (@StanFinger) September 14, 2015
https://twitter.com/CollinJones/status/643236527028502528
@WFNYScott @WFNYArticles Losers: anyone calling from Berea attempting to sell me tickets.
— The Stank Lord (@stank_lord) September 14, 2015
@WFNYScott @WFNYArticles Andy Lee and Travis Benjamin are lone bright spots but thought manziel played well outside of the fumbles
— clevelandsportsfan (@Gamedaysack) September 14, 2015
@WFNYScott I'm sorry Joe Thomas #BrownsInFourWords
— Mike Reed (@MikeReedUSN) September 14, 2015
@WFNYScott Multiple blown draft picks. #brownsinfourwords
— Christopher. (@chrisdottcomm) September 14, 2015
@WFNYScott totally unprepared once again #BrownsInFourWords
— Matt Borngen (@Borney25) September 14, 2015
89 Comments
Like Stannis vs. the Boltons?
http://imagesmtv-a.akamaihd.net/uri/mgid:file:http:shared:mtv.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/baratheon-bolton-1434470497.gif
“Ugh, it was one game”
….Except it’s 6 games in a row now Pettine has lost but hey the offense looked “okay” for one drive so let’s just forget about it.
Oh and the overagressive play that was almost a TD is also better known as a “turnover”
need better…kruger needs suggs to be any good.
LeBron has a few extra days available right now; but better hurry up.
LeBron is installing his new offense in Miami with his Cavs teammates. Most of his teammates.
I’m surprised that people are giving so many kudos to DeFilippo.
I guess if you’re starting with the assumption that the entire offense is trash, then it’s hard to be too critical of the guy calling the plays. But jeesh, he had about 20 good minutes and then that was that. I realize the limitations of a back-up QB like Manziel and little-to-no run game, but I didn’t see anything worthwhile on offense in about the last 40 minutes.
Five million stupid offensive penalties, an o-line that played way below it’s abilities, and like a 100 yards in the second half…. and we’re patting the offensive coordinator on the back? No dice. Again, I get it that MANZIEL SUCKS, but the guy is your back-up QB. You don’t have a game plan with some plays the guy can successfully run? It’s cool that Flip can make the offense look good when everything is going right, but this is Cleveland. In the course of a season, everything is going right for all of ten minutes.
And as much as I like Pettine and as much as I want to lay this on Farmer, the head coach deserves a boatload of blame for such an uninspired game. During this off-season, I didn’t think Pettine was on the hot seat. After yesterday, I think he put himself there.
Jamir Miller FTW
Agree on Johnny. He at least looked like an NFL QB. Granted, like an overwhelmed back-up NFL QB, but an NFL QB nonetheless. He played with an urgency and passion that seemed to be missing from most of the rest of the team.
For a first-time OC, I still think he did pretty well. He called a good game with a bunch of right calls that just weren’t executed well, or at all. Blocking was terrible; RB reads were off; TEs can’t freaking catch the ball; fumbles from a guy who’s simultaneously both inexperienced and rusty. And then you have good, positive plays called back because of brain farts and/or over-zealous refs. Flip was served a crap sandwich after the first drive and did his best to eat it one bite at a time. Not saying he’s going to win a Super Bowl or change the world, but I liked enough of what I saw to think that the problem yesterday was with the guys in the helmets and not with the guy in the headset.
Now, with that other guy in the headset (the bald one) . . . I think it’s WAY too early to talk about “hotseats,” but he certainly didn’t appear to do much to help his team yesterday with either leadership, focus, or inspiration. Disappointing.
He was impactful? Reminds me more of another ex-Cardinals LB Karlos Dansby. Veteran, solid nice to call signals but not impactful.
Kruger had 11 sacks last season… max he had with Suggs was 9. 36 tackles last season, max he had with Suggs was 30. Let’s give him more than one game, I think he’ll be pretty good for us. Not sure about the rest of the pass rushers though.
maybe he just seemed like more of a force since ravens d was better then i don’t know but i wasn’t speaking about just yesterday more as a whole.
Well said. I really liked his game plan… the players just couldn’t seem to execute and that’s not on Flip. It did drive me crazy watching him try to run on second down as the game was starting to get out of hand in the second half. I think he was trying to protect Manziel from having to make too many plays, but at that point in the game it was beyond obvious that our running backs and offensive line couldn’t scrape together more than a yard or two with each attempt. He ended up making it harder on Johnny with so many 3rd and long situations. But it’s a shame the Browns couldn’t run the ball, again that’s on the players for not executing as well.
I haven’t watched any of GOT, but I am absolutely mesmerized by this gif. A classic double envelopment. It’s Caesar at Cannae, only this battle must have ended after only 5 minutes. Whoever is leading that smaller army really needed to stay in the trees.
I didn’t see it in here, so I have to throw in my limited analysis:
LOSER: Andy Moeller. O-Line has better than average individual talent, and looked awful. No doubt in my mind that his absence had an impact. Then, there’s the alleged reason for his absence.
Stannis’ army was frozen, on foot, and outnumbered 5ish-1 by cavalry. You do the math.
5 minutes is probably being generous.
Miller was better than Dansby. He was a true pro-bowler. He was just at the end of his career instead of at the beginning or in his prime.
Stay in the trees! Cavalry is no good in the woods!
Losers: Baltimore and Pittsburgh
If we are going to lose, then at least they lost as well. Only AFC North team that managed a win was Cincinnati.
THEY’RE YA GO BODE!
I MEAN HEY, WE’RE ONLY 1 GAME AWAY FROM .500!
They didn’t see the opposing army until it rode over the ridge. Surprise! Was too late by then. (Scout? Who needs to scout. Pffffft.)
Stannis’ reaction when he saw them. For those about to die…
http://www.allgeektome.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/tumblr_nq2125NGkF1qbw704o1_400.gif
http://i.imgur.com/rPoAXi3.gif
What he should have done:
http://media.giphy.com/media/e1Lv6Gvd8bFFC/giphy.gif
They would have just died tired. lol
The “I have cable” Lunch would have been eaten by now. Quite common in those “cable” situations. đ
Johnny Manziel played nearly a full game without getting injured!
(there are some serious positives if you are willing to really stretch to see them)
I’m still hopeful for this team, but the Titans scare me. I wasn’t able to watch their game, but I heard that they were using quite a few Oregon-like read-option plays with Mariota. I think our defense will get their act together, but one thing that I don’t think they do well is gap discipline. The Titans could really expose that next week.
Browns QBs FTW!!!
Now would be a good time to get rid of Farmer.
imagine if not for the holding calls?
Nobody died.
And whose fault is it that all those players don’t know what they’re doing? Sorry, I don’t see it. I guess if we’re grading on a curve since it’s his first year as an OC, but if that’s the case then give me someone with experience so we don’t have to lose a bunch while he gets up to speed.
Kyle Shanahan lost his first game as a Browns OC. Maurice Carthon has experience.
Hard to pin too much on Shelton. He seemed to draw double teams. The other guys need to take advantage.
You haven’t been paying attention, everything (politics, parenting, etc) has become “who is right and who is wrong”. Why else do you have trolls chiming in in comments sections about teams they don’t even like. Sad, but unfortunately it’s how things have become.
Gabriel added a kick to the balls drop near the end of the game. Things were 99% decided, but that drop was really really discouraging for some reason.
I hear you on running on second down, but I think you have to cut him some slack. It was week one, and your offensive strength is supposed to be your O-Line. You have to try to challenge using your perceived strength. It’s just depressing because that strength ended up being such a failure.
Agree with the bad breaks. Browns will eventually get some breaks, but this game was just not going the Browns’ way. I even forgot about the Fitz recovery. The strip by Marshall was ridiculous, the McCown dive couldn’t have gone worse… Sometimes it’s just not your day. Granted, the Browns rarely need bad breaks to lose a game, but these certainly did not help.
Fair enough… it really was a spectacular failure for our perceived pro bowlers.
tied for first place too!