2017 Season The Good, Bad and Ugly

Is it just me or do the Browns tend to run more to the right?

 

Also Good...

 

Based on splits from Week 1 and Week 2, here's the breakdown:

Left: 14 attempts, 34 yards, 2.4 YPC
Middle: 5 attempts, 23 yards, 4.6 YPC
Right: 24 attempts, 99 yards, 4.1 YPC

Left Tackle (Thomas): 2 attempts, 15 yards, 7.5 YPC
Left Guard (Bitonio): 9 attempts, 15 yards, 1.7 YPC
Center (Tretter): 5 attempts, 23 yards, 4.6 YPC
Right Guard (Zeitler): 14 attempts, 70 yards, 5.0 YPC
Right Tackle (Coleman): 2 attempts, 2 yards, 1.0 YPC

Left End (running back): 3 attempts, 4 yards, 1.3 YPC
Right End (running back): 8 attempts, 27 yards, 3.4 YPC

So clearly, we don't have the horses (running backs) to get to the outside with regularity. Maybe run behind Thomas (league-best 7.5 YPC), Tretter (4.6 YPC), and Zeitler (5.0 YPC) more frequently?

 

Just checked again... most of those attempts outside are Kizer or Crowell. Johnson only has one end run (no gain).

 

MORE Good



This Gregg Williams defense is holding up its end of the bargain. Time for Hue & Co. to get the offense on track.

 

Speaking of...



More worrying: "On throws coming under no pressure and on throws traveling at least 10 yards through the air down field he was just 3-of-11 for 83 yards and two interceptions." #longball #hashtags4Hogan



Not at "Dwyane Bowe-levels" of bad yet, but currently earning $5.25M per catch this season or $700,000 per yard.



Best offensive players? Linemen and tight ends.

 

You beat me, I just went and charted the Ravens game and your numbers line up...Left side 7/3.3ypc, Middle 2/9ypc, Right side 11/4.5ypc...

Left side Bitonio not so good, Thomas superior, Right side Zeitler excellent, but the Coleman not terrible either...I have 2 negative plays attributed to QB scrambles in which I counted on the run totals, take those away and he averaged 5.2 ypc.

 

Now, all of this talk needs to be tabled, imho, until we are playing a team that is closer to our current ability. Of course they are going to look dire compared to playoff teams, we are NOT yet a playoff caliber team and I don't believe anyone on these boards thought we were before the season started. So, grade them out in 3 weeks and see where they stand..looks like we know where they stand vs playoff caliber talent, probably the two best teams we will face all year top to bottom.

 

The fact that Crowell (I'll try to grab the citation) is thinking about his contract "all the time" certainly has to play into his dismal performance thus far. He's probably forcing it and not relying on the blocking or timing of his offensive line.

Duke Johnson took more snaps at running back against Baltimore after being used almost exclusively in the slot as a receiver against Pit. Part of that was match-up and player availability - Higgins dominated time in the slot against Baltimore and came away looking good (7 receptions, 95 yards).

I already mentioned I don't expect them to get the running game going against Indy since they're sneaky-good at stopping the run. It'll be another trying day for the backs and if Crowell can't find a way to make thing happen, I've got no problems turning over primary ball-carrying duty to Johnson Jr.

 

I don't know that I accept that.

Pittsburgh is the best team we'll play all season and the Browns came within three points of winning that game. When you consider how poorly it started versus where it finished, that's not only a huge moral victory but damn-near an impressive Week 1 upset.

The go into Baltimore and play like hot poo and still - thanks to the defense - have a shot at making it a close game. If Baltimore were a better team (and a playoff caliber one) the score would and should have been way more lopsided than it was.

Not beating Pittsburgh? Fine.
Not making a game of it in Baltimore? No okay.
Losing more than one of the next four games to the likes of: Indy, Cincy, Houston, and NY Jets? Inexcusable.

 

Thanks, Sammy! Those are some interesting numbers.

I assume the "Zeitler 14 attempts for 70 yards 5.0 YPC" includes when Kizer rabbited out of the pocket for a couple of big gains?

I can also assume that PIT and BAL line up their studs over Thomas (Kizer's blind side). Maybe Hue should consider the old adage: attack your opponents' strength, don't run away from it.

 

Sorry, Irish . . . I can't buy into this at all. The Browns went out and built an O-line so they COULD compete with these guys! Its Jackson's job to make that happen!

Do you really think they built a team to compete with the Colts, Jets and Bears of the world?

 

Actually, no. Kizer's runs, by game:

PIT
Middle: 3 attempts, 5 yards (1.7 YPC) *QB sneak at goalline for TD skews the overall average a bit
R End: 2 attempts, 12 yards (6.0 YPC)

BAL
L Tackle: 1 attempt, 13 yards
R Guard: 1 attempt, 9 yards
R Tackle: 1 attempt, 3 yards
R End: 2 attempts, 1 yard (0.5 YPC)

Only one run to the right guard spot, albeit for solid gain.

Against Baltimore, Crowell averaged 7.0 YPC (4 carries, 28 yards) behind Zeitler. Against Pittsburgh it was Crowell again, 3.8 YPC (8 carries, 30 yards).

 

Aw, shit! That means, if you remove Kizer's runs off of Joe Thomas, the RB's have a grand total of 1 attempt for 2 yards?

 

And compete they are Lym..But not ready to beat them.

The offense played like poo, but you said it yourself SAS, the defense is on another level.

We weren't going to become a playoff team the year after fielding a 1-15 team..You guys are way freaking unrealistic.

Baltimore is historically a very hard place to play. The rookie looked like a rookie, and I expect he would have without having a headache. Don't come back at me about the almighty Hogan either...he was 5/11, so please put that to rest.

Last year 6 of their 8 wins came at home, the other two were in Cleveland and Jacksonville...so that means 6-2 at home, 2-6 away from home. Home field in Baltimore is for real.

The year before 3 of their 5 wins came at home, the other two were in Cleveland and Pittsburgh...Cleveland is like a home field win for them.

In fact we have only beaten the Ravens 3 times in the last 18 years in Baltimore...but magically if they don't beat them, this team needs to change to a backup QB, and now there are whispers out there (not so much here yet) that Hue needs replaced..

This fan base is ridiculous. Talk about building a team and patience in the pre-season only to start demanding better 2 games in, when they have obviously taken steps forward from last season.

It is impossible to go from a 1-15 team to a playoff caliber team in 2 years...It cannot be done. The only team that I can recall is the Manningless Colts when he was injured, but that was not a 2-14 caliber team, they tanked bad in order to get Andrew Luck, the first I can recall of a team that seemed desperate to lose.

When you have half of your starters in year 1 or 2 of their career, you are going to have 4-5 turnover games that are not winnable...It's just common sense.

 

Irish, I think I made myself perfectly clear about supporting Kizer. Not because I think he's the great talent you think he is, but because he is the starting QB of our Cleveland Browns. I get it . . . he's a rookie and he will make rookie mistakes.

BUT

If he continues to make those same rookie mistakes week after week, you can bet your children I'll be on his ass like stink on shit!

If you read back a little, my issues haven't been with players. I've taken exception to some of the decisions made by Jackson.

• Jackson confessed that the block punt against Pit was caused by a "miscommunication". THAT's on the coaching staff and it cost us a win!
• IMO, Jackson completely botched the decision to put Kizer back in the game against Baltimore. Hogan was, in fact, moving the ball. No need to go back to Kizer.
• Jackson is now oh-fer on challenges. Why? Because some diva WR said he caught the ball? Hue admitted he didn't have a chance to see the replay. THAT's on Jackson!
• Every fucking week Hue says the "players have to play better". Guess what, Hue? YOU also have to coach better!

 

I think part of the reason with the offense IS due to the fact that Kizer doesn't take snaps from center. I think the running backs need that extra couple steps to get moving as they get the ball. Getting it earlier theyre pressing to make the right decision and overthinking it instead of going down hill and reacting.

 

I still call BS on these weekly grades....Thomas had trouble w Suggs most of the game and the last 4th down Williams beat him off the edge to force a dirt ball

 

Irish, I don't think any of us are trying to be ridiculous or delusional. This is pro sports. The Cleveland Browns are young, but that doesn't mean they are beyond criticism. I like Hue Jackson, but he has made some mistakes. More than a few. This is what fans do. We get on these boards to discuss all things Browns, good and bad. Quarterbacks and coaches always take more criticisms...We are the youngest NFL team, and that should be taken into consideration, but are we supposed to just come in here and sugar coat everything as if the Browns can do no wrong? I don't think so...I've heard some (way too early) rumblings about Hue, but has anybody really called for his ousting?

If Kizer misses 8 wide open receivers this week, and compounds it with turnovers, I see nothing wrong with voicing concerns. Same with coach Jackson and his always interesting late game decisions...Pro sports bro. We pay a lot of money to watch our professional sports teams. Critics come with the territory.

When they win, it's all wine and roses.....When they lose, folks are gonna gripe.

 

I agree wholeheartedly Dogside, but because they decided to start the rookie, that is the trade off to hopefully get him up to speed sooner than later. Supposedly, they are working on footwork under center in practice, but until they feel comfortable, this is what we will continue to see.

That said, offenses around the league see high percentage of shotgun snaps, so it isn't really out of the ordinary. The NFL as a whole, 60% of 2016 snaps were in shot gun formation...Link

Now, I believe Kizer is closer to 95%, lol, but eventually they will begin working it into the formations.