OK, so Baltimore is good ... we lost.
Burrow is good too, but unlike the score would suggest, we really dominated and KS and Baker found their identity.
In comes the WFT at 1-1. They beat the now 0-2 Eagles, who are starting to get rumbles about their starting QB (uh, was Depo right? lol).
Vegas Insider has the Browns as 6.5 favorites.
Back at practice today: Mack Wilson, Greedy Williams, and Kevin Johnson. This on the coattails of a horrible day of NFL injuries.
It's pretty safe to say we'd all like to win every game, but if we can go 2-1 with an established offensive identity, we're good with that.
The DL is performing way above where we thought they'd be. Elliott, Larry O, Sheldon, the Edges, etc.
Would like to get OV and AC back, but it's the middle of our pass defense that needs the most attention, and we're getting reinforced from within.
We should romp. It would actually be really good for this team to lay one on somebody real hard.
I do not look at our defensive personnel, when healthy, and think we're in anything close to bad shape. I'd argue that we have one of the top 5 DLs and something similar at 4-deep CB.
I just don't feel like we're "bad" at LB/S when we have the full group.
Can Harrison get up to speed and overtake Sandejo? I'm here for it if so. The initial plan was to "have a few packages for him". Only 6 defensive snaps vs the Bengals.
Harrison Tweeted, "When they let me rock, I'm gonna roll." He just wants to play, thinking his time is coming next Sunday.
Get Tavierre and Sendejo out of the starting lineup. If Sione and BJ can't cover, get them off the field for packages, lean into Malcolm Smith and now Mack Wilson.
Our corners are actually playing quite well and we're stopping the run. We aren't giving up big plays. But we're getting ticky-tacked to death by TEs, to an epic degree.
We're banged up, though, at exactly the places that would cause something like that. Delpit, Mack, KJ, and Greedy.
Burns really wants Mitchell to stay outside, he's playing too well to sit.
The best prescription for a win against Washington is to - borrowing a slogan from Game Show Network - "Unleash the Beast!". Or in our case, The Beasts. When Baker gets tired of handing off, hand off some more.
No one on the Washington team scares me. So, let's just do what we do best. Pound them into submission and take the will to win away from them.
The only thing that "concerns" me, not scares, is Jed vs Chase. But, with the rest of the line playing so well, it should be game-plan-able.
As well as Jed has played, he cost us a TD last week and surrendered pressure on a couple of would-be plays. He owes Odell a dinner because it's a good 80 yards and 1 TD taken off his tally. I like what I've seen from Jed, but watching the film showed a couple of bad moments. Agreed we'll have to be careful with him on Chase.
He's played above expectation early... and early is over, so the arrow should be up. They know he's ridiculously talented and smart, it was all about the flip... and he survived it pretty damn well. Maybe better than that.
I don't see how Chase gets a chance to feast, really. I don't envision them taking a lead at any point or forcing us into obvious passing situations. Browns have been doing a great job of throwing on early downs, makes it really hard to lean into Stef's 2019 tendencies. He so far seems like a guy who literally has none, which is genius.
On top of everything, WFT is missing Reiff, one of their few really good veteran players. As if Larry O. (best DT against run, 2nd best overall) wasn't already gonna burnish his Pro Bowl status.
The one "tendency" of about 80% of the league: Go after the big play early, usually off play-action, and take that lead. Then pin back your ears on defense and release the Chunt on offense. It's our winning recipe, but that's true of most teams in 2020.
Hell, even the Chiefs went into the offseason looking for more of that.
Washington's Brandon Scherff, considered by some to be their best all around offensive lineman, was put on IR today. He is expected to miss 3-5 weeks.
https://www.rotoworld.com/football/nfl/player/12678/brandon-scherff
Expect Myles to 3-tech a lot, as he has been. Very scary time to be Duane Haskins.
I am truly excited for this weekend. Been a long time since the Browns SHOULD totally dominate a game.
Yup, we have been to the woodshed plenty of times but it is usually as the intended victim.......
For the officiating crew, we get "Muscles Lite" this weekend, aka Shawn Hoculi. Supposed to be a fast track at First Energy Stadium - 73° with a 30% chance of scattered showers.
http://www.footballzebras.com/2020/09/week-3-referee-assignments-2020/
Nate Ulrich @ByNateUlrich
3m #Browns starting right tackle Jack Conklin says he's "ready to go" against the Washington Football Team coming off an ankle injury
So, that's K-Jo, Greedy, Mack, MJ, and Conklin all back.
Any word on OV and AC?
Pluto says the Browns brass is super high on Ronnie Harrison, really wanted him, believe he fits what they wanna do at safety.
Loved reading that. Would be ideal if Delpit recovers and he, Harrison, Joseph, and Redwine make up a potentially really strong group.
#1 (lower than usual) would be a LB right now, I bet. It's do-able at 24 or something.... but would AB do it? He's made his feelings pretty clear, but it depends on how loud the need screams.
I think Wilson and Phillips are keepers. I'd love for healthy Malcolm Smith to stay with the program. Not sure about BJ or Sione just yet.
Could also add that hyrbid guy, a Dugger.
Nick Mensio @NickMensio
4m
Fastest-paced offenses in neutral situations through Week 2:
1. #Cowboys
2. #WFT
3. #Cardinals
4. #Chargers
5. #Falcons
6. #Rams
7. #Jets
8. #Eagles
9. #Browns
10. #Lions
My take from that is KS is getting things in on time, and that's excellent with the wacky off season we had. Impressive even.
So the injury thing is looking better ...
Mack is back
K-Jo is back
MJ is fully back
Conklin is back
----
AC working on the side today
OV doing crunches on the side today
Phillips on the bike
We'll never get Delpit back and who knows about Njoku, but we're darn close to as full-health as 2020 gets.
Oh, and can we pleeeeease get Harrison in more?
I would expect to see plenty of Harrison given the long week. We haven't really seen any of him. I think it's something like 9 total snaps across these first two weeks, but that's to be expected given both how late he arrived and how quick the turnaround was for week two. He's probably in a better position now to see an increase in snaps.
What I can't understand is why we haven't seen Redwine over Sendejo. He played both safety spots last year, apparently had a pretty damn good camp and would be expected to make improvements in year two. He's a very athletic safety and has proven he can make plays. I'm not saying Redwine is an All-Pro, of course, but Sendejo has been pretty awful and I don't see how Redwine wouldn't be an upgrade.
Who knows, but I'm hoping at least one of those guys is going to get some extended playing time. As I've said, it could be because Sendejo appears to be one of the main communicators on the defense. I'm not sure if it's within his abilities, but perhaps Mack can fill that role now.
Redwine reminds me of whatsisname (#55), new coach not seeing the value of a guy who played really well the season before. I hope we don't toss him away... although #55 hasn't done anything since.
Getting cover guys back obviously is a direct solution to the biggest problem, which is coverage. Ironic for a team with so much CB talent, and even depleted they played very well (Warden and Money). But we reached a depth point where the special teams guy had to play and he got abused.
I'm getting Gustin vibes. A door has been throw open, by his own play and an unlikely combo of injuries... and he seems like the kind of dude who's gonna go animal on that.
Genard Avery, mon frere
A couple of things...
Washington:
- The Washington offense is terrible. Their skill position talent as a whole is terrible. Terry McLaurin has accounted for 46% of their catches and 33% of their offensive production.
- TE, Logan Thomas is second on the team in receptions.
- Washington's rushing offense is as average as it gets, 98.5 ypg. They have nothing but average RB's with limited talent.
- Dwayne Haskins stinks. He's is dead last in the NFL in total QBR at a measly 27.9. That is awful. Really bad.
Browns:
- The Browns are doing an excellent job stopping the run this season. We held Baltimore to 3.7 yards per carry and Cincinnati to 2.8 yards per carry. For comparison, the Ravens (who led the NFL in rushing last season) averaged 6.2 yards per carry vs Houston this past weekend; and the Bengals averaged 4.4 yards per carry vs the Chargers. Both offense can run the football.
- The Browns can get after the QB, which they will need to do on Sunday because the pass defense has some issues. On the outside, the Browns have been solid. The biggest area of concern is the middle of the field. When the Nickel, LB's and safeties are responsible in coverage, opposing teams are 30-35 passing the football.
- Getting Johnson and Wilson...and Harrison getting more acclimated (will most likely play that dime LB role)...should help the defense be better in the middle of the field.
If the Browns want to be taken seriously, they have no business losing this game. Last week vs Cincy was a 'get right' game for the offense...and the offense took advantage. This week is a 'get right' game for the defense...and they have to take advantage.
I like that final paragraph QCT. Overall, we are the better football team. And we are at home.
No excuses. No looking ahead on the schedule.
Just know your assignments, go out and do your job and come home a winner.
Oh for the love of Pete, just read if we win on Sunday, it'll be the first time we've been over .500 since 2014. #FacePalm