Don’t misread this as a defense of the Browns’ offense last week against Baltimore. There is no defense for a professional team to get owned the way the Browns did versus the Ravens. Last week the Browns had 11 first downs, which sounded like touchdowns with the cheers of the starving home crowd. The Browns had 86 yards rushing and 99 yards passing as a team. The Ravens defense is good. They are far from great as they used to be, especially considering the fact that the Browns’ offense didn’t have to play against Haloti Ngata who was out last week. But this week, Brian Daboll and the Browns’ offense have a legitimate shot to show if they are capable of anything at all.
The Detroit Lions’ defense is horrendous. Their defense has allowed almost 30 points per game to the opposition. It isn’t just early season woes going into those stats, either. In the last three games the Lions have been “better” in only giving up just north of 25 points per game. So, I mean it when I say that even the Browns and Brian Daboll’s offense have a chance this week. The Lions have given up 100 yards or more to opposing running games in 6 out of 9 games. They have given up 300 or more yards passing in 5 out of 9 games. The Saints, Packers and Vikings did both against the Lions.
The timing of the situation is this. Brian Daboll has a chance this week to show if his offense is capable of anything at all against the Lions. After this week, the Browns won’t have a favorable matchup again until maybe the 15th week against the Kansas City Chiefs who are currently ranked 23rd in the NFL for team defense. It is a long road between Detroit and Kansas City with games against Bengals, Chargers and Steelers first.
Point being, if Brian Daboll and the offense don’t give us something semi-favorable to think about this week, it could be full-on suicide watch for offensive players in the Browns locker room (or in Browns fans’ living rooms) come the Pittsburgh game. I am not one for setting toothless ultimatums, but I am guessing if the Browns offense fails to show signs of life this week against Detroit, we might see another flex of the Lerner muscle in forcing change. Over the bye week, we learned about Carl Smith, former Jaguars offensive coordinator, who is on the coaching staff in Berea. As Browns fans, it would be a real “second verse, same as the first” moment as we would remember Mo Carthon.
(That swell picture above is courtesy of WFNY’s good ol’ friend Chuck.)
Author: CraigLyndall
Craig Lyndall has been writing about all the Cleveland sports teams at WaitingForNextYear since September 2008. When he isn't, you can find him selling insurance or playing music. Follow WFNYCraig on Twitter.Craig Lyndall has written 338 articles for Waiting for Next Year.
Toothless ultimatums? That sounds like the name of a yinzer heavy metal band.
I’d have thought they’d make the move over the bye… for the life of me, I can’t understand why Dahole is still the O.C.
Daboll might have a copy of that book in his hand, but judging by his play calling I’d say he hasn’t read it. The coach for my division III alma mater could do better.
Haven’t you seen Douchboll’s playcalling? And you think he’s capable of a decent showing? His playcalling is as predictable and as elementary as it gets-the entire offense and all of the players have been hampered by him.
#2-isn’t it obvious why Scumgini (not “they”) hasn’t made the move with Douchboll? It’s because Scumgini is playing for the renumeration of the remainder of the 3 years of his contract…….OBSERVE.
Gotta love #2’s monicker, I shuoulda chose that one myself!
Hooray new “clever” nicknames!
[...] game we see all year. If nothing else, if when if the offense falters again we may see the end of the Brian Daboll Era. So we’ve got that going for us, which is [...]