I think we are all in agreement that keeping Freddie on board is imperative. Considering he's still using the same system that Haley installed, it is impressive what a difference he has made. No doubt other teams are taking note as well, so I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a considerable bump in pay to go with the official OC title. As far as the defense goes, I think it's wide open, and nothing would surprise me...Does our defense scare the better QB's in this league? I don't think so...We still got a ways to go on that side of the ball.
I don't know, Irish. With exceptions of the punter, kicker and long snapper (who are selected by the GM) the rank and file of the special teams units are generally guys who are not starters and are trying make their bones through their special teams play. While the starting offence and defensive units do have some talent, this team is still not very deep in talent nor NFL experience. Most of these guys were starters in college and, thus, probably didn't get a lot of ST experience at that level. Another solid draft to add talented depth and another years experience playing at the speed of the NFL game could very well fix the ST problems.
I don't know, Irish. With exceptions of the punter, kicker and long snapper (who are selected by the GM) the rank and file of the special teams units are generally guys who are not starters and are trying make their bones through their special teams play. While the starting offence and defensive units do have some talent, this team is still not very deep in talent nor NFL experience. Most of these guys were starters in college and, thus, probably didn't get a lot of ST experience at that level. Another solid draft to add talented depth and another years experience playing at the speed of the NFL game could very well fix the ST problems.
What worries me is that we have a guy who's kickers have missed 5 extra points this season. That isn't having your team ready to play... Greg Joseph is 18 of 21 and Zane Gonzalez was 3 of 5.... Zane Gonzalez in Arizona is 2 of 2. I agree, sheer talent would improve a team, but will it help them be more disciplined, avoiding all the costly penalties we have had?
Again . . . Amos didn't put either Joseph or Gonzales on the roster. Dorsey did. And, in all fairness to Dorsey, the 2018 Browns aren't the only team in the NFL having place kicking issues. I guess what I'm saying is the solution to fixing a problem area isn't always fire the coach. If a coach's position group is having problems I would expect Dorsey to drill down to the root cause(s) of the problem(s) and fix those rather than simply fire the coach and give the next one the same set of root causes. Dorsey has only been on the job for less than a year. His primary focus (rightfully so) has been to put 53 players on the roster to improve the offence and defense. I have no doubt he will continue to do just that and it will result in more talented and experienced players becoming available to play special teams.
Upgrades are absolutely needed but FIVE missed extra points is on the kicker IMO...At this level, those are expected to be made. I don't hold our coaches responsible for that. I hold them responsible for our horrible return game, and the fact we never have a kick return of any kind without a penalty backing us up inside our own 20 yard line. Granted, Josh Cribbs spoiled us, but our return game has been non-existent since he left, and the penalties are becoming absurd. How can a team with Peppers AND Callaway struggle so bad in this department?? It makes no sense. We should have busted one or two by now. I can't even remember the last time we did bring a kick back....
That's true, however, these are top echelon kickers...a special teams coordinator should be able to get the best out of them possible.. The Browns are ranked #32 in Extra Point Percentage...That would be dead last in the league. Unless the root cause, is the coach... I know a lot of teams are also having penalty issues and the Browns are 5th worst in the league in that category. I can't find a breakdown of the ones contributed to special teams, but it is more likely than not that any punt/kick return taken out of the end zone will end up with a penalty. That is undisciplined football. That is on the coordinator. I disagree, I don't think he was lackadaisical in any sense of the word when it comes to getting players capable of playing special teams. I think he hired quite a few players expecting them to contribute, and many individual players have. They are great in coverage, they have a better than average return ability on both punt and kickoff return/coverage...what they lack in is discipline, penalties and missed kicks. That is generally a shortcoming in the coaching.
I guess we will have to continue to agree to disagree. Firing coaches has worked so well for the past 20 years. These guys can coach their collective asses off during the week, but if the players don't execute - then, by all means fire the coach.
FG got blocked percentage is also a reflection of the coaches. You better have schemes that don't allow the other team to have an opportunity to block your FG attempts... Cleveland is 29th in the league @5% Ironically, the only ones below us are AFC North bretheren Steelers 30th @6.25% Ravens 31st @7.14% Bengals 32nd @11.76% There are 26 teams that haven't had a single kick blocked...we are not one of them..We've also had a punt blocked, something 19 other teams have avoided
If he isn't getting the job done...execution is one thing, penalties every fucking week is quite another. The players execute pretty well actually, it's the undisciplined side of things that are killing us.
I don't know Lym, it sounds like a coaching problem when you yourself point out that special teams guys with the exception of K,P,KR, are the "other guys on the roster". That's true of all the NFL teams and yet we rank very poorly. The Holding, Block in the back, etc..... flags are rampant throughout the NFL, so it's hard to make that a sticking point, but IMO attitude and effort are the hallmarks of a good Special Teams unit, and I don't see it. That blocked FG was lack of effort on a block, and that is simply unacceptable. I guess I don't see where we would hurt the team by making a change at ST coord, or enough playmaking to argue him staying, so let he new HC decide. I just hope Joseph doesn't cost us a win, and that feels like a prayer.
First, at every level of the game, ST players (with very few exceptions) ARE the "other guys on the roster". These are players good enough to make the team but not good enough to start. Second. Good point concerning the penalties. Frankly, I hadn't considered that. I was attributing it more to NFL game speed experience. Third. Coaches can, in fact, motivate players. But its been my experience that attitude comes more from within and from peers than from coaching. But how is it that when a skilled, motivated player doesn't execute or takes a play off that its on the coach? Players have to be responsible for their own effort. Lastly. Joseph won't cost us a win. At least not next year.
So pack up your surf board, beach boy? I don't know who or how anyone coaches a punter or kicker, but it seems like those guys live outside coaching. They also die there. Not really sure but since we let Dawson go, have we had a kicker who survived more than one full season? It's the coverage, tackling, blocking, where I look for coaching to matter. I think we too will have to agree to disagree Lym. On to Denver
Well we actually invested a draft pick in Gonzalez, and his college career at Arizona State warranted it. I'm not sure what happened with him. Probably just a confidence thing. I know he's back in the league now kicking for the Cardinals. I haven't even looked to see if there are any draftable placekickers in this years draft, but we gotta come up with a more reliable guy, one way or the other. I don't care if we gotta go steal someone from Manchester United, our kicking issues need to be resolved.
He was kicking hurt in those first couple games. The coaches said they didn't know, so either the training staff and Gonzalez never told them - in which case, shame on him, or they did know and just didn't want to bring in another guy after they hit the regular season. Either way, there's a ton of quality free agent kickers this offseason. If Buddy Boy can talk one of them into kicking for Cleveland in the Playoffs, I'm all for it.
