Buckeyes Roundball Roundup
November 30, 2015WFNY on WWE: How’s the state of WWE? Not great, Bob
November 30, 2015The Monday after Thanksgiving has become known as Cyber Monday. Every year millions of shoppers scour the Internet hunting for deals and bargains for Christmas presents. I do not know Browns GM Ray Farmer’s plan, but I wonder if he will be browsing for a quarterback. On Monday night the Cleveland Browns (2-8) welcome in the Baltimore Ravens (3-7) before a national TV audience with both looking for a partial salve during lost seasons.
During Week 5, 2015 the Browns traveled to Baltimore and bested the birds in a 33-30 overtime victory. Cleveland trailed 21-16 after three quarters, and the teams traded scores over the last frame. An Isaiah Crowell touchdown gave the Browns a 22-21 lead with 3:03 to go. Before the club could even begin to contemplate victory, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco led Baltimore down the field to set up a Justin Tucker game-tying field goal. The rivals rolled into overtime deadlocked at 30. Baltimore received the ball first and immediately went three-and-out. Starting at his own 35, Cleveland quarterback Josh McCown steered the offense down the field converting three third downs to keep the drive alive. The offense progressed to the Baltimore 14 which set up Travis Coons for the game-winning 32-yard field goal. The Browns left Maryland with their first road victory over Baltimore since 2007 and a 2-3 record. Josh McCown enjoyed his best day in an orange helmet. The veteran threw for 457 yards and three touchdowns (one rushing).
The Ravens are slogging through their worst season in years. The club has endured two separate three-game losing streaks and are battling through significant injuries. All-Pro linebacker Terrell Suggs tore his Achilles and is done for the year. Pro Bowl running back Justin Forsett suffered a broken arm and was placed on injured reserve. Perhaps most significantly elite(?) quarterback Joe Flacco recently fell victim to a torn ACL and is shut down for the year. With their playoff hopes all but over, the Ravens find themselves playing meaningless December games for the first time in years. The Ravens backup quarterback, Virginia product Matt Schaub, will get his first NFL start since 2013 when he was slinging interceptions for touchdowns with Houston. Schaub has plenty of NFL experience, and previously found success with the same style of offense the Ravens run. Baltimore ranks poorly in most statistical NFL categories. Their rushing offense is a mediocre 22nd in rushing yards. Their defense is below average both in points allowed, 20th, and yards allowed, 18th.
In high school, I would joke with my friends that the Browns bye week was always great because there’s no way they can lose. Despite not playing last week, second year quarterback Johnny Manziel still found a way to lose his job. A weekend of ill-advised socializing followed up by deceit resulted in Manziel’s demotion to the bench. A healthy Josh McCown returns to the huddle hoping he can recapture his September magic versus the Birds. Head coach Mike Pettine believes in his veteran signal caller. “[McCown] knows it’s not going to be similar to the first game that it’s not just they’re going to sit and give us the exact same coverages and the same opportunities…we’re confident he’ll do a good job for us.”
However, it is not all bad news on the lakefront. One consistent bright spot for the Browns in 2015 is kicker Travis Coons. The Browns picked up Coons off the Tennessee Titans practice squad in late 2014. Phil Dawson’s departure after the 2012 season left some big cleats to fill. Billy Cundiff found moderate success in 2013, but but late season inconsistencies in 2014 led to his dismissal. So far Coons provides a higher level of stability on field goals. In 2015 he is 16-for-16 on field goals and 14-of-16 on extra points. Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor has set the bar high for Coons for the rest of the season. “We’ve challenged Travis – no more misses on that deal. I have great confidence that he can get that done.” He has not yet attempted a kick beyond fifty yards, but shows remarkable consistency from shorter distances. Coons tops league for field goal percentage and has shown poise under pressure. The upcoming Cleveland winter will test his long term viability, but the early returns are promising.
The battle marks the Browns’ return to Monday night football. Cleveland is 15-14 all-time on MNF, and are inexorably tied to the phenomenon. The Browns defeated the visiting New York Jets 31-21 on September 21, 1970 in the league’s inaugural weekday contest. Most recently the Browns hosted the event on November 16, 2009 but lost a stinker to the Baltimore Ravens 16-0. Monday Night games have by-and-large eluded the Browns since returning in 1999. Fans enjoy being chosen for the game because not everyone receives the honor in a given year. ESPN deigns which clubs are worthy of the honor before the season starts and each team commits to playing regardless of their record.
Since the Browns returned in 1999, they have battled the Baltimore Ravens twice per year every season. Cleveland has swept the season series twice (2001 and 2007) with a chance to push that number to three on Monday night. Neither the Browns nor Ravens are having the season they wanted. No doubt ESPN is second-guessing putting these clubs in the national spotlight. With the Browns season lost, Clevelanders can still salvage some pride by winning in prime time, especially against a team that has so vexed them in the past. There will be time later to evaluate the draft prospects; for now, for an evening, Cleveland can enjoy the spotlight.
8 Comments
A win won’t hurt the draft prospects but a loss would help strengthen their hold on the #1 pick. Therefore a win is probably going to happen.
Assuming the Browns are going to draft a QB, falling to #2 behind the Titans is fine, since they won’t be drafting a QB.
Until they trade the pick
Not to worry. If that happens, we can trade down for an extra first-rounder and then grab a QB with, say, the No. 22 pick. Sheer genius.
Exactly.
Based on the talent evaluating with this franchise trading down probably wouldn’t be such a bad idea. The problem is they have to start getting it right otherwise you remain trapped in the same cycle that they are now.
*Farnsworth Voice* Good news, everyone!
My spot in fantasy football playoffs hinges on the Browns defense scoring fewer than 10 points tonight. Therefore, it is a near-certainty that they will do their best ’85 Bears impersonation and dominate the shorthanded ratbirds. Huzzah!
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