May 22, 2013

Hardesty and Shurmur: Second-guessing the second-guessing

December 10, 2012 by 12 Comments

Before anyone could question or critique any facets of his team’s most recent victory, Cleveland Browns head coach Pat Shurmur lobbed the criticism upon himself. Visibly upset, Shurmur stated that he was “pissed” at himself for not handing the ball to reserve running back Montario Hardesty. Given the frequency of scoring drives over the course of the last two seasons, picking nits seems superfluous. But when it came to the team’s second-half drive which tacked on seven additional points, Shurmur pulled no punches when it came to himself.

Hardesty had, once again, provided substantial relief for Trent Richardson, hitting holes that were barely existent, providing bursts and extending drives. Looking every bit like the player Tom Heckert thought he was acquiring when he traded back into the second round in 2010, Hardesty amassed a team-high rushing total in just 10 carries. But it was his play during the end of the third quarter which will be the talk of the town as the team heads into it’s home stretch.

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WFNY Podcast – 2012-12-03 – Craig and Rick talk Browns and fan use of “we”

December 3, 2012 by 14 Comments

Rick and I have been talking “offline” about fan use of the word “we” when describing their favorite team. He uses “we” and I do not or at least try my hardest not to do so. Rick and I were wondering if that’s even a compelling topic, but I found it interesting. Let me know if I’m the only one. Additionally we talked about:

  • How impressive was the Browns win over the Raiders?
  • Phil Dawson’s streak ends at 29
  • Tom Heckert’s drafts panning out
  • Using Montario Hardesty
  • Weeden’s rough start
  • Trent Richardson’s solid finish
  • Josh Cribbs returning the ball from 9 yards deep in the end zone
  • Buster Skrine’s struggles
  • Shurmur’s timeout vs. challenge
  • And an update on the gentlemen’s bet Rick and I have over the Redskins vs. Browns spread. This is another topic where we wondered if anyone was remotely interested or not. Again, you can let us know.

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Is this the beginning of a Browns running committee?

December 3, 2012 by 26 Comments

The NFL really doesn’t seem to care a lot about the lives of fantasy football “owners.”  How else can you explain the multiple teams that seem to run the ball almost exclusively without exclusivity? Running by committee is a clichéd statement around the NFL, but the committee has pretty much completely avoided Cleveland since 1999. Even when it seemed like the Browns had accidentally found their way into two running backs with breakout performances by Jerome Harrison and Peyton Hillis, it seemed that the Browns could never find a way to mix and match the opportunities for both backs. Yesterday with Montario Hardesty and Trent Richardson, it seemed like the beginnings of something that might just take hold if the Browns’ coaching staff trusts in it.

I made a Twitter joke after Montario Hardesty sat with one carry for 19 yards for an extended period of time. Hardesty came in on the first drive of the game for the Browns and followed up Trent Richardson’s nine yard gain with a much speedier 19 yard run around the left side. The joke, of course, was what the Vegas odds were that Montario Hardesty would complete the game with one carry for 19 yards. My joke was almost completely based in truth. After Hardesty’s 19-yard run in the first quarter, he didn’t receive another carry until giving Trent Richardson a break in the fourth quarter. What a break it was.

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Browns end ugly road losing streak against Raiders 20-17

December 2, 2012 by 39 Comments

“Just win baby!” The famous words of deceased Raiders head honcho Al Davis rang so very true in Oakland today as the Browns faced the silver and black. It wasn’t a pretty game. The rain held off, but the field was mucky just the same. The Browns had some big plays including long passes to Mohamed Massaquoi and a 44-yard TD to Josh Gordon. The Browns also turned the ball over via two ugly, early rising fastballs from Brandon Weeden who was wild early. On the Raiders side, I couldn’t tell you how many balls were dropped by Raider receivers, but it was a noticeably high amount. In the end, the Browns had what felt like one of their better offensive games of the season as they won 20-17.

The Browns ended an ugly 12-game road losing streak. Phil Dawson also ended a not-so-ugly streak as he couldn’t escape the ugly Oakland turf. His impressive consecutive field goal streak was ended at 29. Rather than bemoan the end of the streak, it’s much more important to realize just how impressive Dawson has been. The field goal attempt that ultimately missed was a high snap on bad turf and was ultimately blocked as well. Even in missing his first out of thirty attempts, Dawson didn’t go down easily with a common shank.

The game wasn’t even really as close as the final three point margin. The Raiders had one big play to score a touchdown for 64-yards to Rob Streater over Buster Skrine. The Raiders added a 17-yarder to tight end Brandon Meyers with one second on the game clock, but it was already pretty much over, although not before some tense moments. [Read more...]

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WFNY Podcast – 2012-11-29 – Craig talks Browns with DP

November 29, 2012 by 1 Comment

After talking to Denny earlier in the week, I wasn’t satisfied only talking to one former WFNY’er. So, I decided to track down DP to talk about the Browns and their upcoming matchup with the Raiders. We did talk ever so briefly about the NHL lockout because DP writes about the Blue Jackets for SB Nation, but I promise it’s only a few minutes at the beginning. We get into the Browns very quickly.

  • The Browns vs. the Raiders and how to beat them
  • Would you trade spots with some of the other teams like the Raiders that are at the bottom of NFL power rankings?
  • Where are Montario Hardesty, Chris Ogbonnaya and other guys?
  • Are disappearing players indicative of an overmatched coach?
  • The Steelers’ fans didn’t like the way they were treated last weekend. Craig and DP weigh in. (Spoiler alert, we’re not sympathetic.)
  • Tom Heckert and his teaching Browns fans the true value of draft picks.
  • Is he gone just the same?
  • And much much more…

 

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NFL Injury News: Ahtyba Rubin out for Sunday’s game against Chargers

October 26, 2012 by 3 Comments

The Cleveland Browns might someday dominate the defensive line when they get Ahtyba Rubin and Phil Taylor back. That won’t be the case this Sunday.

The Browns injury report as of Friday says that Rubin, Dimitri Patterson and (of course) Scott Fujita are out.

Mohamed Massaquoi, Trent Richardson and Tashaun Gipson are questionable.

The probables are Montario Hardesty, John Hughes, Tank Carder, Travis Benjamin, Johnson Bademosi, Chris Ogbonnaya, Frostee Rucker, Usama Young, T.J. Ward, Bubba Ventrone, and some others.

Interestingly enough, Montario Hardesty hasn’t really been a frequent guest on the injury report. Between that and Trent Richardson, could it be that Brandon Jackson sees himself as an active member of the roster this weekend?

[Related: WFNY Podcast – 2012-10-26 – Craig and Rick preview Chargers matchup]

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Browns Survey Results: 57% of Browns fans expected a win

October 14, 2012 by 2 Comments

The Cleveland Browns got a win on Sunday and 57% of Browns fans who filled out our survey expected them to win. And then, of those 57%, the expected spread was seven points. That’s not all bad as the Browns won by ten 34-24. Of those who predicted victory, the average Browns score was 27 points. So the Browns actually out-performed even the optimists’ expectations by a Phil Dawson field goal.

Overall, Browns fans predicted that the Bengals would score 24 points and that the Browns would score 23. Tough to be more split than that. Now for the rest of the guesses.

First up? Sacks. Nailed it. Weeden was sacked twice and the majority of you thought he would be sacked twice.

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Hardesty has big day filling in for Richardson

October 14, 2012 by 10 Comments

Montario Hardesty hadn’t seen any action at all this season until Sunday’s win against the Bengals. He also scored his first regular season NFL TD in the win.

Hardesty carried the ball 15 times for 56 yards with a 14-yard long. He also had a catch for nine yards. It’s the third highest rushing yard total of Hardesty’s brief career. He had 95 yards against Seattle and 67 against Miami a year ago.

Hardesty might not have a chance to top his 2012 debut as Trent Richardson seemed confident he’ll play next weekend in Indianapolis.

[Related:Browns “Winn!” Top Bengals 34-24]

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NFL News: Trent Richardson injures “flank”

October 14, 2012 by 2 Comments

Fantasy news… Browns news… NFL news… Bad news…

Trent Richardson departed the Cleveland Browns’ first victory over the Bengals with an injury to his “flank.” Most assume this means his side, and could even be his ribs. He missed big chunks of the second half of the game after appearing tentative attacking the hole.

Montario Hardesty filled in for the Browns. There is no word on the severity of Richardson’s injury yet.

[Related: Browns Winn! Top Bengals 34-24]

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Cleveland Browns Preseason Game #4: Winners and Losers

August 31, 2012 by 11 Comments

Who caught your eye? Did someone stand out? Who blew it? That’s what were interested in this morning. Winners and losers.

Well, that was….not…really…that good.

With cuts coming sometime today (deadline is 9pm), the Browns got their final look at several players last night. What they saw might not have been very impressive.

WINNER: Brandon Jackson. Jackson looked strong and determined running the ball. He even seemed to be enjoying himself out there. Of course, Jackson really wasn’t fighting for a roster spot. I bet he is getting more and more fans in the coaches office for the 3rd down back duties. [Read more...]

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Montario Hardesty: I Think I Played Well

August 31, 2012 by 5 Comments

I think I came and played well. I think I put my best foot forward and we’re going to just go from there. I’m not into this and that, I just try to come out here and work everyday and do the best I can do.  [...] I just go out and take everyday day-by-day. We just have to go out and put our best foot forward. Like I said, if I answer those things and whatever comes out of it, is what will happen.

– Cleveland Browns running back Montario Hardesty, Thursday, following the team’s fourth pre-season game. Fumbling twice in two previous contests, Hardesty finished up the exhibition period by rushing six times for 24 yards. This compares to an abysmal 12 yards on eight carries in the team’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles just one week earlier.

[Related: Bears Backups Beat Browns Backups 28-20]

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Browns Preseason Game #3: Winners and Losers

August 27, 2012 by 50 Comments

Who caught your eye? Did someone stand out? Who blew it? That’s what were interested in this morning. Winners and losers.

Kind of the opposite of last week.

We could name an awful lot of losers from this past weekend. But let’s start with the positives-

WINNER: Josh Gordon. Three catches for 50 yards, and a highlight reel play over Nnamdi Asomugha. Well, highlight reel for the Browns last season anyway. That’s how you draw it up though. The rookie had his best week of practice, and it spilled over to the game. Good for him, and good for the Browns if he keeps developing. [Read more...]

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Pat Shurmur 2.0: A No-Nonsense Approach to the Head Coach’s Second Season

August 23, 2012 by 8 Comments

A year older, a year wiser and giving just as much — if not more — than he is taking, Cleveland Browns head coach Pat Shurmur appears to be a mentally improved version of the man who attempted to construct an entire make-over on a limited budget within a limited amount of time just one season earlier.

He takes in training camp from the same spots on the practice field. He wears the same practice field uniform; Pat typically opts for the khaki pants which house a tucked in team polo or long-sleeve t-shirt. He still focuses primarily on the offensive side of the ball, allowing the veteran coordinators to fine tune the defensive players. While play calling and clock management within the regular season remains to be seen, the coach’s demeanor, both with his team and with members of the media, is noticeably different.

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Cleveland Browns Training Camp Report: 8/21/12

August 21, 2012 by 20 Comments

Brandon Weeden probably won’t like much of what he sees from the film of this practice. It wasn’t interceptions or drops, but rather passes that were off the mark. In my nearly half dozen practices this year, it was Weeden’s most inconsistent performance. At least in 11 on 11 drills.

There were the two passes that sailed over Greg Little’s head for example. Or the out route throws that didn’t connect.

Weeden bounced back in 7 on 7 drills however. Completed a nice out route to Benjamin.

It was a slow day at practice otherwise. The team came out in shoulder pads, helmets and shorts. After positional warm-ups, they went at each other in an 11 on 11 drill. Following that drill, the team collectively took their shoulder pads off and went to ‘shells’ which are just half inch thick plastic shoulder pads. There was no real contact following the switch.

—

The team concentrated a bit on the running game while still in pads. Montario Hardesty bounced a run to the outside off of right tackle for a big gain. The question that bears asking following that play is was it a product of a good offensive effort, or poor rush defense? Unlike the tootsie roll pop question, I think the world will know soon enough. [Read more...]

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Allowing Myself To Think (Some) Good Thoughts About The Browns

August 19, 2012 by 22 Comments

It took a second viewing of Thursday night’s blowout victory against the Green Bay Packers for it to sink in, but there were plenty of things to take away in a cautiously optimistic fashion. While I’m on the record (or soon will be) that I don’t think the Browns will be making any drastic moves northward in the standings that will result in making the playoffs or anything like that, I do think the collective processes of drafting good, young players with star potential, developing the current young core further, along with the change in ownership should give the organization and its fans some collective momentum going forward. Here’s a few thoughts as we creep closer to the regular season.

  • We’ve seen it many times how NFL teams have been able to rebuild almost overnight and rise up from a 5-11 or 6-10 record and make the playoffs the very next year. 1 We saw the Browns drop six games by 7 points or less last season (three by three points or less). That was with a green and all-around pathetic offense.
  • Now, I think the Browns have a chance to be a threat with a legitimate running game. We haven’t even seen our best running back yet, and that will go a long way in determining whether my statement above will come to fruition. But, I’ve been impressed with what we’ve seen from both Montario Hardesty and Brandon Jackson thus far. Both have shown an ability to run between the tackles and get some tough yards. Given the injury histories of the three guys at the top of the depth chart, I also hope the Browns will hold onto either Chris Ogbonnaya or rookie Adonis Thomas.

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  1. That is, outside of the coaching/front office carousel that has been the Browns for over a decade now. [back]

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Browns Preseason Game #2: Winners and Losers

August 17, 2012 by 44 Comments

Who caught your eye? Did someone stand out? Who blew it? That’s what were interested in this morning. Winners and losers.

It might be pretty tough to say anyone in a Browns uniform was a loser last night. Generally, the team accomplished it’s goals in the game.

I’ll start it off, you finish it.

WINNER: Montario Hardesty. Everyone in Cleveland had to be thinking the same thing when Montario coughed the ball up on the first offensive play- “Here we go again.” But Hardesty put that carry behind him and ran well all game long. He didn’t break anything open, his longest run was nine yards, but he was solid and averaged just under four yards a carry. He also found the end zone on a one yard run on first down. Much better than in the past when we’ve struggled on first and second down to punch the ball over the line. [Read more...]

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Pat Shurmur Post-game Comments

August 17, 2012 by 15 Comments

From Pat Shurmur’s post-game press conference-

“I felt like we were pretty efficient running the football.”

“I thought for the most part Brandon played well.” “There were some things he saw for the first time.”

“I’m proud of our defense. Six turnovers is a lot.”

“I didn’t see any drops per se on offense.”

“Some of the things we’re focusing on are showing up a little bit.”

“Our defensive backs did a good job of challenging.”

On Trevin Wade’s injury- “Carted off? No, no he was, he just got some soreness, so we’ll find out what it is, but he was fine as far as I know. I reserve the right to update this stuff tomorrow… he was due to come out in the fourth quarter anyway. Beyond that, I don’t know what you guys may have seen.”

On Josh Gordon- “We wanted to get the ball to him, and he caught two balls on the same route actually. You know he had a drop, which we gotta clean up. That was in my opinion a gimme. We ran a hitch, and that’s supposed to be completed ten out of ten. So although there was some improvement from last week’s game, he’d be the first one to tell you, I’m sure there are things he needs to get way better at.”

On Brandon Weeden- “I just thought he moved the team. We found a way to drive the ball. He completed a couple of third downs that were important, but then what comes to mind are a couple of other third downs on plays that we’re just kind of getting a feel for, that he’ll do better the next time. He’s like any of the young ones out there working, he’s going to look at the film and say darn it, I can’t do that. So he’s got a couple of those, but for the most part I though he executed pretty well.”

On Montario Hardesty- “I thought he really ran the ball hard. You can’t have ball security issues. He knows that. But I do like the fact that he went there and responded. He ran as well as I’ve seen him run, but we’ve all been talking about how he’s a different looking Montario this year since he’s healthy. He looks just different. Let’s hope it stays that way.”

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Browns vs. Packers – Halftime Report

August 16, 2012 by 20 Comments

The Cleveland Browns played the starters longer, as promised. The results were far from perfect, but they did enough to make you feel like they worked on a few things.

The Browns’ defense largely played pretty well. Montario Hardesty gave the Packers a very short field on the first play of the game with a fumble. Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson had Joe Haden beat badly and the ball fell harmlessly incomplete off of Nelson’s fingers. A play or two later, Haden had beautiful coverage, got his hand on the ball, and somehow Nelson and Rodgers managed to score a touchdown. Bad coverage, incompletion. Near-perfect coverage, touchdown. Those are the breaks when playing against all-NFL talents like Rodgers and Nelson.

Seemed like a very Browns-like start to the game, but the Browns and Hardesty fought back. After two first quarter field goals by all-world kicker Phil Dawson, the Browns finally put a TD drive together. It wasn’t the first quarter when Hardesty crossed the goal line , but most of the yardage occurred during the first quarter. In all Hardesty had a good day with 12 carries, 45 yards and a touchdown. It also gave the Browns a 13-7 lead which technically could be considered over the Green Bay starters. [Read more...]

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Montario Hardesty: Something to Prove

August 15, 2012 by 11 Comments

Six days. That’s how long the Browns have in between their first preseason game last Friday, and the second contest Thursday in Green Bay. For a number of Browns (and their fans) that six days probably seems like an eternity.

Quarterback Brandon Weeden is in that group, anxious to put his first performance in the rear view mirror. Weeden could silence (for a while anyways) a lot of ridiculous conversations with a strong performance against the Packers. Count Mitchell Schwartz in that group looking to improve on last week’s performance as well.

One other player that should be interested in making his mark on one of these preseason games is Montario Hardesty.

We’ve heard, and seen for ourselves Montario Hardesty having a good camp. Strong practices. But we’ve always heard that about Hardesty. He is a very good practice player. Unfortunately for Hardesty, he hasn’t had a game to match. [Read more...]

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Trent Richardson to have arthroscopic surgery

August 8, 2012 by 26 Comments

What was once thought to be an issue of rest has now become a small arthroscopic surgery according to reports on ESPN.com. Trent Richardson previously underwent surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee. Now, there is apparently a small piece of cartilage that is causing discomfort and swelling.

As someone who has had two ACL surgeries, one of which included a partial cartilage tear, I can speak somewhat from experience. Trent Richardson’s surgery shouldn’t be a giant ordeal like what Montario Hardesty went through previously with his ACL injury that had him looking hobbled even a year later.

All that being said, I’d be lying if I said things couldn’t be going better. Even an elite running back prospect like Trent Richardson would be best served to have pre-season reps. Even with optimistic recovery estimates there’s pretty much 0% chance that Richardson can play on Friday, and probably almost equally doubtful for the Browns’ second game on Thursday August 16th against Green Bay.

[Related: Trent Richardson to Meet Dr. James Andrews]

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