BUCKLE UP BROWNS FANS!!! This is the season we've been waiting for

I guess Garrett is not supposed to touch the QB. That's two marginal roughing calls

 

So far it's ok

 

Well I'd say 50/50 on what could happen "again".

No one kicked in the head: Check.
Didn't cycle through the O line depth chart: Check
Didn't fall behind in points (thank God), but certainly didn't "calm the O down, dialing up
consecutive "plus plays": Fail
Play with discipline: Fail (I'm looking at you Miles)

If Mile simply recognized sacking the QB is all that's needed, not Punishing him, we'd have shut out the Jets.

I tend to think it's baker who's looking for the "homerun" rather than the play call, but our unwillingness to simply take a 5 yard pass completion hurt us last night, and specifically hurt Njoku.

 

My assessment:
D was outstanding, especially up front (Shoebert was awesome).
D backfield was OK, but Ward's guys are getting open too much.
Great job of containing Bell

O was erratic
Baker just won't accept the 5 yard gain (keeps looking for the homerun)
Can't run "every time" Baker goes under center.
Without 2 plays this could easily have been a disaster: Beckham's circus catch on the sideline, and an 89 yard completion of a 1 yard pass. that's half of our total pass yards.

Special teams: Outstanding!
Siebert was aces!
The Hammer also was very good (6 punts) too many against this weak team

Overall, Baker was clearly confused by William's D. He got better as the game went on, but never made you feel like "we got this".

Coaching: Meh. I didn't see a lot of creativity, but not sure it that was play calling or Baker simply refusing to take the short gains available.

Baker: He really wasn't accurate last night, and hung Njoku out to dry on the short crosser, getting him injured.

Overall: Plenty to still work on, but if Garrett plays with discipline, we only have 5 penalties in the game. The biggest area of concern is Baker. I hate to say that, cause I love Baker, but he needs to learn to accept the concept of marching down the field 4 to 6 yards at a time.

 

Not sure if it was Baker or just the play call but that INT he threw with 10 minutes left in the game bugs me. Why are they throwing 20 yards down field while up 23-3? Why aren't they just taking small chunks here and there trying to run the clock? And why aren't they running the ball more. Chubb's rushing yard totals so far this year look rather pedantic.

 

@SAS . . .

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y ! ! !

 

Happy birthday SAS!

 

SAS, another year of awesomeness?!!! Congatrulations

 

Happy birthday SAS!

 

Thanks for the birthday wishes, y'all! Another year older, definitely not any wiser... *but* the Browns did give me a win for my birthday which doesn't usually happen. I think 2014 was the last season I had a birthday close to a gameday and they won.

 

Sooooo... how're we feeling about Los Angeles coming to town?

 

After reading some of the post game interviews and hearing Freddie say that the TD was #Baker had changed the play, I wonder how many plays Baker changed or simply how many times he chose to pass on the open short gain, for a shot at something bigger down the field.

It worries me but at the same time it underscores one of the reasons Baker is Baker. It's the balancing of the risk / reward that keeps coming up. I guess the same could be said about Favre. His eagerness to push the ball down field, often is not the "best odds" opportunity, and can drive the coach and the fans crazy, but what a ride!

In our case, coupled with a rookie HC, who has yet to establish his authority, the charismatic young QB, gets a lot more rope. I believe Freddie and Baker's relationship is a good one, but has to evolve. Freddie has to be the HC, not Baker's buddy, in order to be able to assert his authority on the team at large. If Baker is seen by the team as being able to ignore Freddie, without consequence, then others have license to do the same.

Freddie is a first year coach, and he is going to have to learn what is the right balance for him, but I'm concerned it's not in the right place yet. Not an indictment, just the beginning of Freddi's path to becoming the HC he is meant to be.

IMO, Baker needs a HC who reigns in his gambler, to strike a balance that tips the scales towards reward, in the risk / reward equation. Baker won't back off without some push from his coaches to make decisions that protect his team's chances. Position on the field, time left, the score: all of these factors impact the risk / reward equation. Baker's mindset is better suited to playing from behind, and he needs to learn when protecting the lead has to supercede making the play.


Sorry to ramble, but it's been bugging me.

 

LA Rams: a good team with plenty of weapons, but their D is the biggest concern IMO.

They are not unlike the Browns in that way. The O has explosiveness but often isn't, but D is for real.

Should be a battle. Goff isn't the risk taker Baker is, and can be rattled, so our D line needs to bring it. Our Offense needs to be a lot more cohesive than it has shown so far. I don't gamble, so I don't know what the line is, but it should be pretty close, and certainly no more than a one score game IMO.

Ought to be a barn burner

 

Disclaimer: Incoming detail from PFF -- if you're an easily triggered Bears fan and/or lack an understanding/tolerance of analytics, please look away.

Almost makes you forget that Denzel Ward looks like he's sleep-walking through coverage out there in the first two games.

 

Disclaimer: Incoming detail from PFF -- if you're an easily triggered Bears fan and/or lack an understanding/tolerance of analytics, please look away.

Definitely would like to see more out of Vernon - especially with Myles Garrett as the best defensive player in the NFL right now, but tough to argue with that output. Interior isn't the problem at the moment with the offensive line. Also, J.C. Tretter needs a contract extension.

 

Browns getting 2.5 or 3, depending on the book.

Rams are a lot like the Browns right now... they're an incomplete product. They struggled to put away the Panthers and also needed some referee help to handle the Drew Brees-less Saints. Agree that their defense is legit and will give us the biggest challenge. We also have Garrett going up against a much better left tackle (Whitworth) than he's faced in Weeks 1&2. Will he still lead the NFL in sacks after Sunday?

Goff's numbers are down quite a bit from last season at the moment - again, same situation as the Browns. They don't play starters in the pre-season and they seem to be counting on the first few games in the regular season to find their stride. I expect both teams to take strides this week towards a cohesive offense.

Right now, health is probably the biggest concern. Rams are relatively healthy whereas the Browns are already pretty beat up. Need to get guys like Higgins and Randall back.

 

To wit:

 

Lost in all the hoopla is the fact that our Browns are now down to 2 QB's. Drew Stanton was placed on IR due to an old, but lingering knee injury. Garrett Gilbert is now the one and only back-up QB on the roster.

 

Be honest... do you feel better about Drew Stanton or Garret Gilbert as the primary backup?

 

Honestly . . . . Probably Gilbert.