Hoyer blew it big time! The Browns are begging him to take this job and run with it and I just don't think he can. Last night was a chance for him to make a statement, and he couldn't have played much worse. The fact that he hasn't run away with the job by now, leaves little doubt in my mind that they just need to roll with Johnny and see what he's got...It may be an ugly start to the season, but one way or another the Browns need to find out what Johnny is made of. He has GOT to keep his composure though. Flipping the bird in D.C. is only going to make things worse for him against the Rams. He's gotta know that. Every team is going to be runnin their mouths. Now they'll all think they can get under his skin....Until he "man's up" and rises above it, it'll get worse and worse....
I completely disagree that Hawkins shuld have caught that ball....I wuldnt EXPECT any WR to make that catch.....that doesnt mean it wuld never happen, but to say he shuld have caught it is off base....it wuld have been a hell of a catch and not of the norm
Tuesday, August 19, 2014 The day after the bad dream Meanderings of the mind in the wake of yet another head-scratching game by the Browns . . . No matter whom Mile Pettine chooses to be his opening-game quarterback, one thing remains perfectly clear: The Browns are desperately seeking an offense. Based strictly on what we?ve seen thus far of Kyle Shanahan?s offense ? and, yes, most of it is vanilla-based because, you know, this is just the exhibition season ? it is going to be a long season. With Brian Hoyer expected to be named the starter for the season opener in Pittsburgh on Sept. 7, the Browns? offense won?t look much different than the last few seasons. Unlike last season, though, Hoyer won?t get much help from his receiving corps. That?s because the Browns have arguably the worst set of wide receivers in the National Football League. With the impending Josh Gordon suspension ? and didn?t he look totally disinterested in the Monday exhibition loss to Washington? ? and the emergence of no one to replace him, who is Hoyer going to throw to? It won?t be Jordan Cameron often because opponents now will begin taking the tight end out of the equation by double-teaming him. That leaves the likes of Miles Austin, Nate Burleson, Andrew Hawkins and Travis Benjamin. Scary bunch, no? It won?t be long before General Manager Ray Farmer starts experiencing feelings of regret, if he already isn?t, for not selecting at least one wide receiver in the last college draft. He did absolutely nothing to help his quarterbacks. Yes, the running game has improved. Ben Tate and Terrance West grinded out some tough yardage against a good Redskins defense Monday night. But unless the run game is complemented by the passing game, opponents soon will be able to shut that down, too, and dare the Browns to pass. Right now, we have no idea what Shanahan wants his offense to look like. Not certain even he knows. It is disjointed, has no identity and is heading in too many different directions. * * * Based on their performances, Hoyer and Johnny Manziel took Pettine?s pre-game challenge of stepping up and laughed at it. What other conclusion can one come to with such awful performances? On more than one occasion, we saw both quarterbacks slap their helmets in frustration with both hands after missing easy passes. Executing the basic fundamentals of the game escaped both men. And there was no good reason for it. Both knew what was on the line and they gagged. Yes, it was only an exhibition, but it?s possible it foretold what lies ahead. That?s the pessimistic view. Optimists will say it was a meaningless game and it can?t get any worse. * * * The NFL?s crackdown on grabbing and holding bit both clubs Monday night. Officials are now flagging all contact outside the five-yard area beyond the line of scrimmage and the players are having problems adjusting to it. It all stems from the antics of the extremely active secondary of the Seattle Seahawks, whose clutch-and-grab tactics were a factor in their successful march to a Super Bowl championship. Many coaches complained officials let the Seahawks get away with them. The league complied and the result is a preponderance of illegal contact and holding calls. Unless the league steps in and backs off or the clubs make dramatic adjustments in their pass coverage to comply, the laundry will fly often this season. They are just five-yard penalties, but they carry an automatic first down with them. What hurts the most ? and is the most frustrating ? are those penalties on a third and long that negate a good play. They help sustain drives and take away defensive momentum. * * * Not certain what Pettine said to his club in his pre-game remarks, but whatever it was, it did not work. For the most part, especially on offense, the Browns arrived not ready to play a football game. The Redskins were active on both sides of the ball. The Cleveland defense had its moments. Four turnovers, a solid goal-line stand, but spotty tackling. Not certain how the latter can be improved since teams no longer place a great emphasis on that phase of the game. * * * Consider Mike Foss, who writes the ForTheWin column for USA Today, an optimist in regard to Manziel?s future in the NFL. ?It isn?t Johnny Football?s time,? he wrote. ?Now, he has a chance to be ready when it is.? Manziel fans can rationalize by saying it can?t get any worse than this. His detractors can reply, ?Or can it?? * * * Notebook: Only plus from the game? No one was seriously injured. At least that we know of. . . . Defensive end Armonty Bryant made a strong push to get more playing time with his second straight solid game. . . . Veteran safety Jim Leonhard will prove a valuable contributor to the secondary. His savvy feel for the game is invaluable. . . . We?ll get a much better idea of just how strong the defense is in the St. Louis exhibition Saturday night in Cleveland when they play into the third quarter. . . . Curious as to why we saw just a few misdirection bootleg plays by both quarterbacks. They seemed to work well in the exhibition opener against Detroit. . . . Backup Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins must enjoy playing against the Browns. As a rookie in 2012, he beat the Browns, 38-21, with a 26-37, 329-yard, two-touchdown performance while filling in for an injured Robert Griffin III. Monday night, he dissected the Cleveland secondary again, albeit the second- and third-teamers, 12-21, 145 yards and a TD. Posted by Rich Passan
it was thrown on his back shoulder . it could have should have been caught . when you consider what they paid for Hawkins .
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap3000000379973/NFL-NOW-What-Did-We-Learn-Hoyer-and-Manziel It was not an easy catch to make but Hawkins did short arm it. Now part of that is the obvious, the guy has short arms. It was catchable, but the pass should have been in front of him. For everyone that has been going off about Manziel having an obviously better arm I think this clip illustrates that is a lot of smoke. You get to see the both of them back to back. If someone wants to make the argument about John having the superior arm here is your chance to prove it. If you listen to the clip you will hear discussion on a lot of the concerns that we talked about on Manziel prior. Its only the second preseason game. I expect both players to improve before the end of the preseason but I fail to see the logic in starting John over Brian. There were reports out today about the both of them running the no huddle in practice and again, Hoyer basically handed Manziel his ass. Hoyer will win the starting job and if he wins 1 game going into the bye he is the Browns starter coming out of it. If not, the pressure to start Manziel may be to great for the coaching staff to ignore.
Wow low expectations for a guy that was praised as the next star after 2 games last yr...Im not saying u were sending the praise just in general
Yes Pitt, New Orleans and Balt.....only 1 team made the playoffs and 2 of those games at home....I think they win 2 of 3 w Manziel...both the home games
I don't care who you have behind center in the first 3, I didn't see or smell anything last night that says 2 of 3 for the Browns let alone Hoyer or Manziel. I want to think the Browns will compete well prior to the bye in week 4 but where do you see that logic showstopper. Wait, I'll watch the game again, I must of missed something, NOT. That game is done, they should play better against the Rams this week but the Rams haven't played well either so even a great outing has to be ???? We'll see but even 2 out of the first 3 at home, is a huge hill to climb after what we witnessed last night. I would be very surprized to see Johnny the starting QB prior to after the bye week
Because of the level of defense that I think Cleveland will play, I have to agree with stopper (haha!)on the early season possibilities. I feel certain that Browns D is for real, and they will be riding high on emotion early on. It's not THAT far fetched to see them winning 2 of the first 3....It's not likely, but it wouldn't shock me either...If this team can just get "average" (by NFL standards) performances from the QB, they should easily be a .500 team...You guys are probably sick of me saying that, but I truly believe it. As horrible as it was Monday Night, they were right there in striking distance all game thanks to the defense....
New Orleans being a very poor road team and Balt missing a key player weeks 1 n 2 shuld make him rusty week 3....plus they dont play very well in Clev
