2018 Season | The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

Yeah, for whatever reason, Denver has always had Cleveland's number. It's not just those brutal AFC championship games in the 80's either....Their lifetime record against us is scary, and absolutely should be used by Williams to get the teams' attention this week. It's exciting to think about going out there and beating them, but chalking it up would be a mistake. It won't be easy in Denver. It never is for visiting teams.

 

I agree SAS. No victory laps this week. Put your nose in the playbook, practice tackling, and let's get it done.

I am reluctant to believe we could possilbly be playing the final two games for something real, but if they can take care of business.........

Plenty of upsets this weekend. The Football Gods have opened the door to a wild finish, and I'd love to go to Baltimore for that final test.

 

Us (really) old-timers don't have a problem with that, TD. Back in the Browns' dynasty years, it was rare when they wore anything but all white regardless of whether they were home or on the road.

Only two teams in the NFL have ever practised this. The Cowboys being the other one.

 

Colin Cowherd crying into a pillow somewhere.

I wondered about this, and according to Next Gen Stats, Mayfield's time-to-throw and rank:

Week 10: 2.29 (3rd)
Week 12: 3.01s (31st)
Week 13: 3.27 (29th)
Week 14: 3.25 (30th)

The last three weeks he's been one of the slowest to release in the entire NFL, but one of the most effective quarterbacks (outside of a half in Houston). He's seeing the whole field, making complete reads, and spreading the football around. He's displaying a level of understanding the offense of 4th and 5th year guys as a rookie... and he's going to get better.

When he regularly reaches that Drew Brees level of time-to-throw (2.57s, 3rd all season)... watch out.

 

Yeah, ya don't have to go back to Paul Brown days though. Marty Shottenheimer loved the all white unis too.....Just never been my favorite look. I don't dislike them, I just prefer the Brown jersey.

 

Number of active quarterbacks that make this play?

One, maybe two (includes Mayfield).

 

Crazy Crextin Mad Musings...

Happy Victory Monday Fellow Lounge Houndz!

The Good
O-line Play has vastly improved since the jettisoning of Hue and Toad:

I think that the fact that it takes Baker longer from snap to release is that he is actually getting the time to survey the field and to throw. I had at least a 3 count on Landry’s flea flicker to Chubb.

And I agree that as his vision grows this will get even better.

Now if we can just get the run game clicking as well…

Baker Mayfield.
The kid sure can zip the rock. He makes throws that we’ve only seen in the highlight reels of other teams. Yes Browns Fans we have a QB finally! Not quite sure that he’s NFL MVP level...

yet , but is definitely going to give Denzel Ward, Nick Chubb, and Barkley a run for Rookie of the year honors.

Myles Garrett:
Robbed of a strip sack fumble… Nothing like the defenders having control of the upper arm only to have the QB “limpwrist” an incompletion. I can’t wait till the rest of the D-line gets healthy. I think Garrett's totals will either increase or there'll be 2-3 other guys with double digit sacks.

Genard Avery:
A diamond in the rough. This guy will be a solid contributor for years to come.

The Bad

Turnovers and Penalties:
Still continue to be drive and momentum killers.

Tackling:
I think it’s TIME for Gregg to run some basic tackling drills for a few hours a day until this issue is rectified. It’s not even like guys are making great plays and breaking through solid tackling efforts. These guys seem to forget how to do it at the most inconvenient times.

The Ugly

Kicking.
Hey Mr Dorsey, Can we get the next someone who doesn’t kick knuckle balls all the time PLEASE!

Jekyll and Hyde from the WR.
One play they make a spectacular catch and the next drop a big pass that hits them right square in the mits. I think we all understand how frustrating it is to watch a WR drop a hand hitting Mayfield dime only to have to punt the next play.

Duke Johnson.
I don’t know if they are not utilizing him like they should, or what the deal is. He seems to be an afterthought anymore. I know this kid is a play maker. He just hasn’t been very effective as of late.


HERE WE GO BROWNIES

HERE WE GO

WOOF WOOF!

 

Good - or at least, "Pleasant Surprise": Breshad Perriman. Most, if not all folks, were down on him when he joined the team - his third in two years - with the reputation of a first round bust with bad hands.

This was a clutch catch that helped seal the victory Sunday.

For the season, he's catching 66.7% of his passes. He came in to Cleveland catching 42.6%.

 

I agree SAS. No victory laps this week. Put your nose in the playbook, practice tackling, and let's get it done.

I am reluctant to believe we could possilbly be playing the final two games for something real, but if they can take care of business.........

Plenty of upsets this weekend. The Football Gods have opened the door to a wild finish, and I'd love to go to Baltimore for that final test.

 

Duke does seem to have disappeared. This week I'll chalk it up to whatever "personal issues" he was dealing with, but otherwise I think Freddie needs to get him the ball. Chubb becoming a recieving threat probably has some impact, but Duke is a different cat, and his ability to contribute is real, so let's not let that atrophy.

Baker seems to spread the ball around pretty well, but if I had to rate "catchers" of the ball, I'd rank Duke right behind Landry. Some of the best hands on the team, and he can make people miss.

Set em up Freddie

 

Just too funny not to share

 

https://www.cleveland.com/expo/spor...-kitchens-why-the-brown.html#incart_big-photo

^^^^Great article on Freddie Kitchens and his effect on this offense since taking over....We would be crazy to let this guy go.

 

Nice read TD. I've been wondering if he clock would strike midnight on Freddie (D's would begin to figure out his philosophy), but so far he keeps adding wrinkles and variations that keep it fresh.

It would seem it's not what he does, but how he approaches the problems that make that true. He hasn't developed "tendencies" so much as attacked D weaknesses, and that's great.

Denver will pose another set of "issues" to deal with, while avoiding tendencies. We'll see what he's got up his sleeve.

 

He made that list after Cincinnati game too....

 

Pretty good read...

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...k-progress-reports-2018-draft-picks-shown-far

 

This part:

10 starts into his rookie campaign and analysts are already convinced of his ability to dominate the NFL game.

Baker is going to shift the NFL quarterback paradigm. Six-foot flat quarterbacks of the world over rejoice!

 

Just for funzies

Spoiler

Baker Mayfield.

SPLIT CMP ATT CMP% YDS Y/ATT TD INT RATING

w/ Haley 130 223 58.3% 1,471 6.6 8 6 78.9

w/ Kitchens 112 153 73.2% 1,406 9.2 11 4 114.4

I sure Hope Dorsey doesn't mess up this dynamic.

p.s. Not like you didn't know this already

 

Unicorns are pretty rare, but yeah.

 

My way too early bold draft prediction;

Buckeyes go #1 and #2. Haskins and Bosa. Not sure which order....