I'll start: Chargers RB duo gashed the Bengals for about 145 yards at a clip of 5.0. They are most definitely NOT Chubb and Hunt. Bengals are just dreadful at stopping the run and Atkins is hurt.
Conversely, they couldn't run the ball against the Chargers and stopping the run is the only thing the Browns defense did right.
On offense, in addition to running the ball and stopping the run, partying like it's 1979, the OL did in fact protect Baker very well.
Finally: Rookie QB on a short week is historically a recipe for disaster. If they can't run, he's gotta throw... and Browns should feast. If they don't? Well, that's bad.
Generally speaking, things align for the Browns to win a game without really getting everything right in their passing game, which is unrealistic on such a short turnaround. They should be able to play a safe gameplan and stick to it like they couldn't against the Ravens. No, I don't damn a coach for trying to get aggressive with the pass when down 24-6.
Finally: Sendejo was a train wreck. It's on the table that flipping him for Harrison could be a pretty huge upgrade, particularly covering safeties. Get Malcolm or Tae in more on packages makes sense too.
Right after swapping out Seibert for Parkey, I'd swap out Sandejo for Harrison or someone.
So, vs the Super Bowl favorites last weekend, our O-line performed well above average with no-duds and both Hunt and Chubb were in the top 5 of YAC numbers.
Baker can't throw. OBJ can't catch. Njoku, the only receiving bright spot, is out.
Whadda ya say we run the damn ball?
This is going to be a HUGE game for Chubb and Hunt. The key to beating the Bengals last year was to crush them in the running game and it seems like that is the formula this season as well. The offensive line played well in week 1 and we have the best running back tandem in the league. The Browns took a beating last week, but this week they should get to deliver one. Could easily be a double digit victory for us. Go Browns.
Another positive to effective running the ball is as old and true as when the owner gathered at the Hupmobile Agency in Canton in 1920.....
It revs up the morale of the entire team. It keeps the defense off the field and rested. Need I go on? LOL...
Offensive coaches will retort: Then hey, D, don't give up 24 points in the first half? Keep it at 13-6?
Dear god, the Browns and obvious turning points. The drop and missed field goal followed by a knife-through-butter Ravens drive... from 17-13 to 24-6? From down 4 to down 18 at the half?
Anybody who yeah-buts that is being obstinate. It changes absolutely everything. Winners win moments.
Shep, you are 100% spot on in the OP and especially about the key moments being the difference, not the final score. For those of us who watch much too closely, it's absolutely objective fact that the Browns failures the last two years all break down to key plays at key moments that don't get made, or that go disastrously wrong.
Last week, the key plays that decided the game were, in order:
The unlucky deflection into a great pick.
The terrible punt fake in the first quarter, down 7-0.
The 99-yard drive that had multiple failures.
Beckham's AWFUL drop, which is honestly the biggest issue of them all.
Star WR can't handle basic pass ending in a failed drive.
Missed FG. Unacceptable. Glad they cut him, honestly. Can't have it.
The rest was details, as usual. The game was lost after the FG, even before the back-breaking end-of-half drive.
So, takeaways for this week? Physical running game. Feature TEs. Shots downfield only after establishing tone. Play the Lamar D: Make Burrow move and beat you with accuracy while on the run. Keep everything in front. Make him sustain drives and play perfectly to beat you. No stupidity this week.
Losing this game would be VERY bad. Browns better come out like they don't want to be last in the AFCN because if they lose this one? That's what they'll be. Can't have it.
It's about as close to a must-win game as you'll see in mid-September. This team needs good vibes in the worst way going into those 11 days off.
"People shouldn't over react to Baltimore boat-racing Cleveland... I would swallow the 6 (points), I love Cleveland in this spot"
- Colin Cowherd
https://twitter.com/FOXSports/status/1305921850875277313?s=20
How is Montrel Meander 26? Did he play in Canada or something?
He's not quite there. He's 25, but I was suprised to find out he's been with the Browns for 3 years???
2018 UDFA at age 23, 2nd stint in 2019 at age 24, and now here in 2020 at age 25.
Can't really recall him TBH. Word is he's grind-ed his way to this point, and has gained respect for reinventing himself (S to LB).
Former safety with legit 4.4 speed. Not shocked he's the type of guy who caught some attention. Anyone remember when being a S/LB 'Tweener' was a bad thing?
Fascinating that he's on his third stint with the Browns. That's grapevine success right there.
He's 26 in 4 days!! But yeah, feels like he fits the description. Now please cover a TE.
I feel like this game has become unfairly big for Baker. There's no way to get all that's wrong right with one practice. He'll be handing off a lot... and I guess just trying to pull the fucking trigger.
I have higher hopes for 11 days later.
No doubt it's a big game but yes, unfair to put it on Baker. I keep making the Mangini-ball point, and at first I was semi-joking, but not any more. Stef needs to freaking think like a TE coach and fire these dudes up to just go out and DOMINATE this game. Bench OBJ, if you have to get him out of Baker's ear. Baker has got to realize that trying to be OBJ's buddy could sink the team. And his career.
This challenge should be much easier than the Baltimore Ravens. I get what you're saying though, Shep. The microscope is on Baker tonight big time. It might be unfair being that it's only week 2, but that's where we're at right now given 2019 and this past Sunday. The Bengals were the worst team in football last season and if the Browns lose tonight, it's going to look bad on Baker. But here's the thing. If the Browns win tonight and do so largely with their run game (which they should do because that is our strength and the Bengals weakness), then people will cool off on the Baker criticism even if Baker doesn't have a great game. In my mind, he just has to not be awful and more importantly we have to win the game. I'm saying it now. This week 2 matchup with the Bengals is a must-win game. I truly believe that.
I think it speaks volumes that we're worried about pressure on our quarterback to perform against one of the worst teams in the league, who are missing half their DL including their best pass rusher, and have a rookie QB starting his second game on a short week.
It doesn't get much easier than this in the NFL. He damn well better be up to the challenge.
It does feel like a must-win game, the accumulation of last season's splat, which continued across a new regime.
As far as Baker... holy shit, it's coming big and fast like only Browns fans and media can do. I have to say, I find it really disappointing. QB is so much between the ears, and not just intellectual but also emotional. It's literally a head game.
Defense getting inside his head is one thing. His own fans? It's not necessary. And it's not at all about him being Teflon or above reproach, it's just that we all know what last year was and we all know what this preseason was about (absence).
I already hate the OBJ experience. He has trainers who feel totally chill taking Twitter shots at their buddy's QB. I'm sorry, but if OBJ doesn't allow that shit, it does not happen. Landry's trainer taking any shots? Hooper's? Nope. And they didn't see 6 straight looks after halftime because they were a little sad.
Does Landry get blind drunk on national TV for the Natty? Nope. Does he play coy about his feels all the time? Nope. I just don't see this AB/Stef organization blending well with The OBJ Experience, which isn't Big Baller... but it's something.
We should be handing of a ton to set up play-action. We should be targeting TEs to and backs with easy stuff to tee up deep shots. We should not be concerned about getting anybody enough looks, it's just not the offense for that.
I'll try to re-open my mind but it's gonna be tough. I think it's adding to the stress on our QB and that never goes well.
Yep. It's looking like OBJ is poison to a guy like Baker, who actually cares about the "other stuff" in a way that he simply couldn't be with a guy like Eli who was seemingly impervious to...uh...anything interesting. I hope to be wrong, truly. I want this to work. The bro-love between OBJ and Landry is an amazing story.
But if OBJ can't fit in HERE, where will he? Only a place where he respects the authority of the coach, which means PIT, SEA, KC, SF or NE. Which he'll never get to if he's not careful.
I know Stefanski's repeated use of the word "precise" about this passing game was no accident. It's not a word that's ever been applied to OBJ's route running. I imagine there are offenses where there's some sandlot, some instinctive stuff, some I'll run around and you get open.
This is not that.
But man, the stills (and video) of Baker not throwing to open receivers is kind of stunning, and not at all his MO. I hope watching himself look like a blind man makes him see better (!).
Baker is the only QB ever to have 30 starts with one team... and 4 head coaches. If he looks lost, well, that'll do it. 4 new offenses and no preseason for this latest one.
I mean, you can call it "making excuses," but they kinda make themselves.
Orange pants it is, says JWJ.
Yessss. I am a huge fan of the orange pants, especially paired with the white jerseys.
Uniforms drawn lines between allies, man. On Twitter, I'll probably lose half of my 11 followers based on my loathing for orange pants (or jerseys).
I hope someone in the organization is doing this on purpose. Kardiac kids look, the version of the Browns who were at their best with their backs against the wall. Sounds familiar.
I'm going to be annoyed if it's just a coincidence lol.