Week 5 - 2014 - Titans

Well that was an interesting game.  The Browns won yesterday, 29-28 over the Titans.  Just your average 25 point comeback on the road, the largest deficit ever made up on the road in NFL history, and the largest comeback in Browns history.  Once again they fell behind in the first half, only to have Brian Hoyer lead them to victory.  This Brian Hoyer guy is moving rapidly from "game manager" to "captain comeback" and "a winner" if you're keeping score on quarterback cliches.  How they ever got down 28-3 to the Titans is another story, but the fact is they won, and as we all know it's a results based business.  The Browns have evened up their record at 2-2, with all four games decided by a field goal or less, and all 4 games decided in the final 2 minutes.  The Kardiac Kids are back.

Let's start with the Titans, who are basically the Ravens without the success.  They were owned by a scumbag named Bud Adams who moved them from Houston where they were the Oilers.  Adams basically held Houston hostage for 10 years before moving the team, much like Art Modell did here.  Adams employed huge ahole Jeff Fisher for 16 (!) years.  Jeff Fisher is the WORST.  They also decided it was a good idea to honor Rob Bironas, their former kicker, before the game and with a decal on their helmets.  What happened to Rob Bironas you ask?  Well a few weeks ago he got ridiculously drunk, went driving, nearly ran two cars off the road (explicitly threatening to kill one carload of people) before smashing his own vehicle into a tree, killing himself.  (For the record it's obviously a horrible tragedy that Bironas died but I'm not sure the manner he did is something that you should celebrate.)  They also drafted noted scumbag Taylor Lewan, Michigan Man.  Your Tenneessee Titans everyone.

Going into the game with the Browns, the Titans were 1-3.  They had lost 3 straight games, getting outscored 100-34 in the process.  They hadn't scored a point in the first quarter all season.  They were led on offense by Jake Locker, who should have been a welcomed sight to the Browns after facing Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees, and Joe Flacco, all Super Bowl champion quarterbacks.  Basically, the Titans stink, and the Browns were coming off a bye to shore up their defensive problems.  It should be an easy win, right?  But part of the problem is that teams also look at the Browns as easy wins.  That's part of the reputation that this Browns team needs to shake.  And the Titans came out like they were the better team, and they expected to win.  And the Browns came out and looked like the team that played that disgusting first half against the Steelers.  They couldn't tackle.  They couldn't get off blocks.  They couldn't get off the field on third down against a team that was the worst in the league at converting them.  They certainly couldn't cover anyone.  They were rushing six and getting no pressure.  They fell behind 28-3, it was awful.  The best thing that happened to the Browns in the first 25 minutes or so was that Jake Locker hit his thumb on Buster Skrine's helmet and had to leave the game.  That sent Charlie Whitehurst into the game, one of Nashville's most beautiful people.  And while that didn't help immediately with Whitehurst torching Buster Skine, once Charlie Whitehurst realized that he's Charlie Whitehurst, the Browns were able to start chipping away.

It was not a pleasant first half though.  Mike Pettine, I kind of think your team should have been a little more prepared, a little more ready to play.  Pettine is a defensive guy, that's his background.  But man his defense has looked bad at times.  It seems clear that what he wants to do right now on defense, isolating corners in one on one coverage and pressuring the quarterback, he cannot.  It hasn't worked.  Haden, Skrine, and Gilbert have all been torched at times.  It may be time to pare it back a little.  I still wonder what is going on with the defensive play calling, if it's O'Neil or if it's Pettine.  Whatever is going on, it hasn't looked good, especially early in games.  This is a very poor tackling team also.  The Browns were able to score a touchdown before the half and went into the locker room down 28-10. 

And much like the Pittsburgh game, they came out of the locker room and stuck with the plan.  I love Kyle Shanahan.  I think there were times that he could have run the ball even more.  On both possessions that the Browns went for it on fourth down and were stopped in the second half I thought they could have kept pounding with the run game, but it's easy to second guess.  But he never abandoned the run game.  They never panicked.  They went more uptempo, and it worked (shocking), and they were able to move the ball in the second half.  The balance on offense is outstanding, for the year they've had 138 pass plays and 127 runs.  Ben Tate looked great.  Travis Benjamin went from goat to hero with two great touchdown catches.  Amazing how no one talks about the receivers anymore.  Hawkins, Gabriel, Austin and Benjamin all made big plays in the second half.  And Hoyer is becoming captain clutch.

There were other factors that worked into this comeback, most notably that the Titans stink and make stupid plays and coaching decisions.  Penalties by the Titans wiped out two HUGE Browns turnovers.  One was on a Benjamin muffed punt (probably need to leave him off of punt returns), and one was on an interception.  So those were huge plays in the game that went the Browns way (that even feels weird to type).  And Ken Whisenhunt made some absolutely idiotic coaching decisions, from throwing the ball with the lead 3 straight plays when they needed to run the clock out to the ill-fated quarterback sneak on 4th and 1 that gave the ball back to the Browns in Titan territory.  He exasperated the problem by challenging the play and burning a timeout.  The Titans are a bad team.  The Browns outgained the Titans in yardage in the second half 278 to 126, and scored the last 26 points of the game.  However, the Browns hadn't won a road game since last year against Minnesota, losing their previous 7, so this was a big win regardless of the opponent.  And credit has to go to Mike Pettine for challenging the spot on that key 3rd down reception by Walker.  Pettine won the challenge and that proved to be a gamechanger.  And the special teams shockingly didn't blow it, and Tank Carder made a huge play, which just goes to show what a weird weird game this was.  Carder's blocked punt was the first by the Browns since November 2003.

The Browns are back to .500, 2-2, with the Steelers coming to town next Sunday.  After that it goes at Jacksonville, home against Oakland and Tampa Bay, at Cincinnati, then home against Houston.  They really do have a chance to make some noise, that is not a murder's row of opponents.  They have scored at least 21 points in their first four games for the first time since 1969.  They are stressful but apparently never out of the game.  They have a local boy leading them.  There is a lot to like here.  Although it wasn't pretty, they won.  And a win is a win.  The Kardiac Kids are back, keep your defibulators close by.


Random gifs

Hoyer's got some wiggle

Damn Julio

Not great defense on the Hail Mary, USC (sorry D)

Bonus Pic - Saddest Browns fans

Week 5 - 2013

 

 

Let's start with this.  The Cleveland Browns are in first place in the AFC North.  Process that if you can.  First Place.  Sure, they are only 5 games in.  But they are 3-2 for the first time since 2001.  Think about that.  It's been 12 years since the Browns were 3-2 after 5 games.  They haven't even been over .500 since the clock ticked off on the final game of the 2007 season.  This was a big time win last night, on national television, at home, in front of the best fans in football.  Here's some more food for thought - in the NFL, 50% of teams that start 3-2 make the playoffs.  Yup.  Playoffs. 

It was a big win for many reasons.  First of all, in a town with a psyche as fragile as Cleveland's, following the egg the Indians layed in the Wild Card game, there was a feeling of trepidation (for me anyway) going into the game.  Because just when things appear to be going right for Cleveland, the universe has a way of balancing itself out.  It started on Tuesday with the Indians, and seemed to be continuing from the opening kickoff, when Greg Little caught the kickoff deep in the endzone and jogged out to the eight before he was buried.  Despite the raucous crowd, the Browns seemed intent on finishing the let down the Indians started, on a week where Cleveland was going to be the center of the sports world.  Josh Gordon let a potential 80 yard touchdown slip through his fingers, and the Bills used good field position and a horrible pass interference call to jump out to a 7-0 lead.

Then the unthinkable.  The pin that popped the collective balloon.  Brian Hoyer laying on the field, legs crumpled under him, in obvious pain.  Injured.  Out of the game.  Local boy turned hero turned tragic figure.  In stepped Brandon Weeden, who promptly looked like Brandon Weeden while the boos rained down and the frustration boiled over.  The Bills kicked another field goal and led 10-0. Hope was lost, it appeared.  It felt like another Cleveland sports story.  You could feel it. 

Only this time, something different happened.  Maybe it's having a coach that understands the region.  And understands basic football principles, unlike his predecessor.  Maybe the players are mentally tougher.  Maybe it's just different this season.  But there was a spark, a flash, wearing a brown #80 jersey that turned the game around.  Travis Benjamin, on the strength of two long punt returns, one for a touchdown and one that led to a field goal, almost single handedly tied the game at 10.  The defense clamped down, led by a ferocious front 7.  And somehow, in spite of his shortcomings, (and his long holdings) and the rough start to the game, Brandon Weeden calmed down, made some decent throws, and staked his team out to a halftime lead.

Things appeared to be going right.  The Browns took the lead.  The crowd was wild.  The greatest player to ever wear a Browns jersey was honored at halftime.  Everything was going to be okay it seemed.  Then CJ Spiller blew past Barkevious Mingo for a 54 yard touchdown and the air left the stadium again.  And then the Bills scored again, although the drive cost them their quarterback, as EJ Manuel was cut down by Tashuan Gipson and injured his knee.  24-17.  Bills. 

 

Hope had left, for good this time it seemed.  Surely Brandon Weeden couldn't get the job done.  But then he did.  In the face of adversity he did.  A deep pass, thrown perfectly, (and caught!!) to Greg Little for 47 yards.  Then another, following a penalty, to Josh Gordon for a juggling 37 yard touchdown.  Pandemonium.  Tie ball game.  And then Ray Horton did his thing, and the defense did their thing.  They are fun to watch, this Browns defense.  And Weeden was sharp when he needed to be, making some clutch throws down the stretch.  And Jeff Tuel, Buffalo's backup, was not.  And TJ Ward finished the job with a pick 6 to end the game and start the party.  It would not be the same old story in Cleveland.  Not on this Thursday night anyway.  It was a badly needed win for the Browns, but it was a badly needed win for the area.  They had a chance to fold.  They had every excuse to be like every other Cleveland team that has faced adversity and let us down.  But not this team, not this team.  Not this first place Cleveland Browns team.

 

Random gifs

For some reason I can't stop watching this

This is what Texas football has become

LOL Jimmy Haslam LOL

Knee Jerk - Day 3

Overall impression of the Browns draft - I love it.  I don't care what anybody thinks the Browns are hella better than they were on Wednesday and got better at key spots.  The picks from yesterday.






Travis Benjamin - WR, Miami - I'm on record as being in love with Jarius Wright, but Travis Benjamin is in the same mold.  He's small, (5'10 175) and fast (4.35 forty).  Nicknamed the "Belle Glade Blur" and they're fast down there.  He's a different type of player than the Browns currently have, and offers special teams ability to take some of the load off of Cribbs.  He's a dynamic player that can take a short pass the distance, and exactly what I've been clamoring for.  He was a good pick.  I'd have taken Wright but I am not the general manager of a football team.  And it's apparent that at the 87th or 120th pick, they didn't think there was a receiver there that is better than Massaquoi, Cribbs or Norwood.  Or they'd have taken another one.  Last thought on this, Brandon Weeden should make the current receivers better.  That's what QB's do.

James-Michael Johnson - LB, Nevada - He can't be any worst than the last linebacker we took from a state school in Nevada (Beau Bell).  This guy has position versatility, he can play inside or outside, and will play special teams.  We knew the Browns were going to address the linebacker position, they have no depth.  This guy could develop into a starter.  I was going to do a little write up in my linebackers take about him but thought he was a Mike and skipped over him.  Solid pick.











Ryan Miller - OL, Colorado - He was one of the top recruits in the country when he was in high school.  He's a giant (6'7 300) who stated a ton of games at both tackle and guard.  He may be a guard, but again, position versatility is paramount for players like this to stick in the NFL, and he can play tackle as well.  Building young depth up the middle on the offensive and defensive lines was obviously a focus of this draft.  Again I liked the pick.  Cody Risien anyone??











Emmanuel Acho - LB, Texas - Solid if not spectacular weakside linebacker prospect.  Was a tackling machine last year for Texas playing in the wide-open Big 12.  It will be interesting to see if he's a better player when he plays against pro-style offenses.  I liked him better than Keenan Robinson, who was a 4th round pick.  He flies to the ball, and again should provide depth at linebacker and be a key special teams player.  His brother is a good player for Arizona, and was a 4th rounder last season.  I'll get a better  scouting report from my Uncle Chris.








Billy Winn - DT, Boise State - This is an example of the inanity in attempting to analyze the draft.  Everywhere you read this guy was a second-third-fourth round prospect.  The Browns got him at the tail end of the sixth.  So, if they'd have taken him in the third, and John Hughes with this pick, no one would have complained in the least.  Be that as it may, the defensive tackle position should be fortified with the addition of Hughes and Winn.  He's got good size and may be able to play end as well.  He was a powerlifter and wrestler in high school and was a highly productive player in a good program (36.5 tackles for loss and 16 sacks in his career).  Good teams are strong up the middle and the Browns got stronger.

Trevin Wade - CB, Arizona - Another guy who was projected to go a lot higher than he did.  I would not have been mad if they took him in the 4th or 5th.  I really like the guy.  He's a good man cover corner who should be able to develop into at least a number 3.  Not a burner but has good functional speed and quickness.  Three year starter.  Really like the value pick here.

Brad Smelley - FB/TE, Alabama - Try hard, hybrid type who lacks the size (6'2 238) to be a tight end but should compete at fullback.  He has good hands (7 catches in the National Championship game) and is a willing blocker.  Everybody complained about Marecic last year (who I think will be much better this year) and they brought in some competition.  Blocked for Trent Richardson in college.








They've also signed some undrafted free-agents at this point, you can view the list here (rumors only until they're announced).  Like Josh Cooper, Andrew Sweat and my guy Tashuan Gipson.  Also looks like we signed Toby Gerharts brother Garth, JB "false start" Shugarts, and another William Green, since the first one worked out so well.


All and all I really like this draft.  I know I'm in the minority but I think in terms of building this team and getting stronger up front they were solid.  They drafted an absolute MONSTER and running back, a quarterback with the physical tools that the position requires and a starting right tackle.  They got two solid linebackers for depth, one of whom should develop into a starter.  They got great value in the 7th on a good corner, and they solidified their defensive line.  I'm not usually a rosy person on the day after the draft but I honestly feel that this team has a direction and a GM that gets it.  Solid work Heckert, PLAYOFFS IN 2013!!!!!!  BOOK IT!