What a brutal week...I take so much shit for trying to be optimistic about this team. lol! Not so much here, just in my daily life......Can't hardly get myself to even talk about them this week. At least Pettine admitted that they "thought" about benching Hoyer last Sunday. Still not sure what the hold up was, but I definately think in saying that, coach fired a shot at Brian Hoyer....Gotta believe the leash will be much shorter this week. Hoyer needs to step his game up right now, or he's going to have to step aside...
The Morning Kickoff ? Had to happen: And in his ninth start for the Browns ? sixth this season -- Brian Hoyer stunk. For the first time. Not just for one quarter, or two, or three. For the whole game. And there was no miraculous comeback. And the Browns lost to winless Jacksonville, 24-6, dropping their record to 3-3, joining the ranks of ? egads! ? the lowly Seattle Seahawks. And the sky began to fall. And the conversation was reopened. ?When does Johnny Football get in?? This is what it?s like to be Brian Hoyer in the immediate days after your first clunker. You?re angry about your worst game ever ? at any level of football. You can?t wait to erase the memory of missing Jordan Cameron in the end zone. You can?t wait to delve into the gameplan for the Oakland Raiders, the next challenge. And all around you, the conversation and debate starts again about Johnny Manziel. When will he get his chance? Will the Johnny Package be put in for the Oakland game? And if he goes in and actually does something positive this time, will the coaches keep him in? ?There?s overreaction when you win. There?s overreaction when you lose, and especially at the quarterback position,? Hoyer said. ?When you win, you?re the hero. When you lose, you?re the goat. I think that?s just the way it goes. That?s the way this league kind of has become. It comes with the territory. It?s something that I knew going into it that?s the way it is. ?There?s not much you can do about it. You worry about what you can control, and that?s what?s going on in this building. The outside noise you just kind of try to block out, whether it?s good or bad. Sometimes, you can get caught up when people are patting you on your back. It feels good, and yeah maybe you want to check and see what they?re saying, but if you?re going to do that you better be able to take it when they?re saying bad stuff, too.? Dealing with it: In one game, Hoyer was transformed from comeback player-of-the-year candidate to the walking dead. ?Three weeks ago everyone was saying Tom Brady was done with,? Hoyer said. ?He?s the greatest quarterback of all time. He had one bad game, and people are throwing him under the bus. ?I think when you see that even the great ones have bad games you know you?re going to have a few. Yeah, it sucks. You don?t want to go out there and not perform well. Obviously, we prepare our butts off all week to go out there and execute and play the best of our ability, but sometimes you have a situation where you don?t play great, and the other team plays well. It?s a bad combination. ?For me, really of all the games I?ve ever played, that was the worst I?ve ever felt after one. That?s just something that you have to deal with, learning on the job. It?s not always going to be perfect, and you?re not always going to win the game. The games you lose, yeah you might have played well, but for the first time in my career in the NFL I played a really bad game. It sucks. I take a lot on myself, and that?s why I probably wasn?t very pleasant to be around for the past two days.? The Brady example only goes so far. Brady is Brady, a winner of three Super Bowls and arguably the greatest quarterback of all time. Hoyer, or course, is just trying to establish himself as a viable starting quarterback who can not only withstand the rigors of a full season but also take a team to the playoffs. And Brady?s heir-apparent, Jimmy Garoppolo, isn?t the most famous, most talked about, most loved by network TV cameras quarterback to enter the NFL since Tim Tebow. Brady doesn?t have Johnny Manziel nipping at his ankles. Hoyer?s hole card: Who had Zach Mettenberger making his first NFL start before Johnny Manziel? The Titans announced on Wednesday that they were turning over their team to Mettenberger, who was the 10th quarterback taken in the 2014 draft. On Sunday, the Raiders come to town with Derek Carr making his seventh consecutive start. Carr was the fourth quarterback taken, No. 36 overall. Last week, the Browns lost to Jacksonville with Blake Bortles making his fourth consecutive start. Bortles was the first quarterback taken, No. 3 overall. Meanwhile, Teddy Bridgewater will make his third start for the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Bridgewater was the third quarterback taken, No. 32 overall. This is the time of year when teams with losing, veteran quarterbacks can?t resist taking a look at the hotshots they have waiting in the wings. But so far, Manziel, the second quarterback taken, No. 22 overall, has appeared in two games for a total of three plays. Hoyer has a few things going for him. At 3-3, he has the Browns poised to make a run at division contention. The Ravens (5-2) are only 1 ? games ahead, and they beat the Browns by only two points. And Hoyer has the firm backing of his head coach, Mike Pettine, who was an admirer of his work when Pettine game-planned Hoyer as defensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills a year ago. ?I don?t even think about it to be honest with you,? Hoyer said of the elephant in the room. ?I know what goes into my preparation. I know that talking to my coaches, that?s the farthest thing on my mind. Yeah, I don?t doubt that (Pettine) has my back. I also know that if you have one bad game, I think that people are just going to be calling for your job already. That?s just the way it goes. But I know within this building I feel more than comfortable.? Just to be safe, I would suggest to Hoyer not to have another game like the last one.
BEREA, Ohio ? The Raiders come to town Sunday with the NFL's worst rushing attack. If that sounds familiar to Browns fans it's because the Jaguars held the same distinction a week ago before gashing Cleveland for 185 yards in a 24-6 victory in Jacksonville. While other facets of the defense are showing improvement, it continues to allow EZ Pass-like access to running lanes. Established backs, rookies making their NFL debuts, converted Big 10 quarterbacks, they're all feasting on a run defense on pace for its worst season in 14 years. "It's frustrating," coach Mike Pettine said. "It's something we look at, but we don't want to panic about it. When it's a lot of little things, sometimes it takes some time to get that corrected." It's six games and counting for the league's most porous rush defense, one yet to hold an opponent under 127 yards in a game. The Browns are yielding 155.5 yards per contest ? just a yard less than they did during the 2000 season when the franchise could still use expansion as an excuse. Poor tackling, suspect technique, lack of gap integrity and schematic matters are among the issues that have been cited for the consistently bad efforts. In recent weeks, the Browns also have been hit with a spate of injuries to linemen, including run stuffers Phil Taylor (knee surgery) and Ahtyba Rubin (ankle). "Those guys are great football players," defensive end Desmond Bryant said. "Anytime they're not on the field you're going to miss them, but we haven't stopped the run all year." Screen Shot 2014-10-22 at 8.13.51 PM.png View full size The Browns rank dead last in rush defense, allowing 155.5 yards per game. ESPN graphics In Week 3, Ravens halfback Lorenzo Taliaferro rushed for 91 yards in his NFL debut against the Browns. It was a humbling afternoon, but not nearly as bad as Sunday when Denard Robinsion, a former Michigan quarterback replaced an injured Toby Gerhart and ran for 127 yards. The Jags entered action averaging 69.5 yards per game. Robinson nearly eclipsed that paltry sum in the first quarter. "We don't have any excuses, this is the truth and the truth hurts," said inside linebacker Karlos Dansby, one of the few Browns defenders playing well this season. "No excuses. This is what's happening right now. You've got to look in the mirror and make sure you're doing everything you can to get better." Pettine said there have been several games ? against the Saints and two weeks ago versus the Steelers ? in which the defense prioritized the pass and conceded some yards on the ground. "But I just think overall it's obvious we need to improve," the coach added. "We know schematically what we have has been effective in stopping the run previously. It's a point of emphasis and we look to improve on it each week." The Browns hope to get Rubin back this week. He practiced on Wednesday. The problems, however, go beyond personnel. The defense had made strides in the past two years against the run, a shortcoming since the franchise's 1999 return. Dansby said the Browns are still adjusting to Pettine's scheme nearly midway through the campaign. The veteran believes the biggest issue remains sloppy technique, which manifests itself in poor tackling. "You've got to put forth the effort," Dansby said. "You've got to continue to work at it. You've got to hone your craft and be consistent at it. That's the hardest thing to do is be consistent at your technique." Bryant thinks defenders are sometimes trying to do too much, vacating gaps to assist teammates only to see runners cut back to the hole they had previously plugged. The defensive end said he's as guilty as anyone. He also mentioned fatigue and players occasionally not knowing their assignments as reasons for the breakdowns. "It's discipline to stay within the scheme coaches have given us," Bryant said. "If we execute what the coaches ask us to do then we'll stop the run." And if they don't, another ailing rushing attack will get healthy against the Browns on Sunday.
You forgot the guy they should have drafted: [video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bKbnEfTTYw[/video]
Reading the Hoyer quotes in your post Bluez, and I sit here thinkkng "he isn't getting it". The fact is he has a #1 draft pick, and media darling who everyone nationwide is waiting to see, and if he leaves the smallest opening he is out of the starter job, period. He doesn't possess a Brady resume, to lean on, and comments like "I feel comfortable" are an illustration of him focussing on the wrong thing. He can say he doesn't listen to or hear the drumbeats, but a comment like that tells me he is looking for constant validation of his position from the coaches, which also reads as insecurity on his part. And frankly he should feel insecure, not because I believe Johnny is better yet but because of the "yet" part. The Browns bought Johnny for more than a few sheckles, and they are going to want to find out what they paid for, so IMO he doesn't even need to pull even, to get the nod. If Hoyer thinks he's the starter, he should also be cognizent of the simple fact that Johnny is the future starter. The only way that doesn't materialize is if Hoyer makes himself irreplaceable. Being better, being smart, being a great leader, being competent, won't keep his job, and I feel like his referring to the coaches backing is diverting the responsibility for deciding who the starter is: Him. I like Hoyer, and I support him, but if I am his teamate, this talk of comfortable, coaches support, etc... rubs me the wrong way. His performance after getting national recognition as well as his press conferences revolving around his status, where he voiced "I want to start", were the worst thing he could have done IMO. If undermines the team first mentality that he has to at least portray, if not 100% believe, and live. Too much "me" talk, for a guy who's future is NOW. This last game has surely humbled him, and I hope taught him to stay away from any talk of who's the starter, who's got the coaches support, etc....... On to Oakland. That's it. What do I need to do to help this team. Any other conversation should be cut off, with, "we" are preparing for Oaklend. I'm sure it was flattering, and felt good to get some media love, but he blew it, by using it for his own agenda. Bad move, but hopefully he puts that where it belongs, in January, and goes about playing is most focussed and best football. That is how he can secure his position, not in front of a microphone. I still support him, but I fear he hurt himself and his team with his actions the past week. Anyone can make a mistake, and usually recover, but his support base in the huddle and on the sidelines may have been damaged enough to make a difference he never intended, making the leash a "choke collar" with not room to deviate from success at all. I would expect the coaches will continue to say Briam has our full support, until ..... he doesn't. No point in underming your QB's status as the offensive leader, until you have decided he isn't, so Pettine and co. will toe that line, until Brian cuts it. Waht is it about success that seems to scare the be-jesus out of this team. The "culture" remains that of a loser franchise until they can handle and wear success with aplomb. Stay tuned.
I just read on yahoo that the Seahawks wanted to trade for Cameron and the trade was rejected by the Browns. Good move Brownies! I also read on there that Vincent Jackson and Nate Washington are being shopped. I would be very interested about Jackson. Big WR with play making ability. I would offer a 3rd rd. pick for him. Maybe even that 2nd rd. pick. I wouldn't give up one of those #1's for him. Next years WR class is small. You will have Gordon back and hopefully Cameron. Gordon,Jackson,Hawkins and Cameron with our running game and you are setting Manziel up to succeed. Yes I said Manziel because if Hoyer plays as bad as he did last week against another bad team its time for Johnny Football. I want to add talent. Washington is talented but Jackson is my kind of NFL WR.
Had to throw that in there eh Els? If I had to guess where the Browns Staff and Mgt stands, I'd guess they are Hoping Johnny is their starter next season. That of course is contingent on Johnny showing the staff he isn't the guy who showed up at camp, rubbing his fingers together, and making a point of being in the newspapers, but has learned, and earned his shot. Frankly, if he were doing as well as they had hoped when they drafted him, he'd be the starter now, but he isn't, and instead Hoyer has played well enough to win, and make them playoff relevant. So far. Pettine made the right choice at the season start, and it has worked well, but it also makes it harder to make the switch, as long as the playoffs remain within grasp. Like most coaches, most teams you don't make that move without accepting it's impact on the team as a whole, and a team that is "in" every game, and within a W of vying for first in their division, doesn't do that, unless they have lost confidence in their QB, and think the team has too. Otherwise it looks like waving th white flag on the season, and like last year the surrender runs top to bottom, and losing ensues. If you are trying to erase the "losing culture" you go with the guy who gives you the best shot to win "this week", and worry about next season later. Nothing done or said regarding Johnny indicates they are even thinking that way now. There are games to be played, and they will more than anything else, determine the answer to the Browns future QB question. We can wring our hands and fret about not getting to find out what Johnny can do, but I don't see the staff making any move to Johnny unless they are truly ready to hand him the keys, and simultaneously allow Hoyer to move on. Not sure if that's how it will go, or even if it's the right way to go. To me both guys are still question marks: Johnny because he has proven nothing on an NFL field, and Hoyer because his history says "backup" and his play competent, not spectacular. I could easily live with unspectacular if it proves to be a 75% wins formula. Would anyone object to 12 and 4? Since that question remains unanswered, and Johnny is totally unproven, we will all have to wait and see, but if I am Browns management, I am still expecting to start Johnny next year, with the only answer being "we F'd up and still need to draft a QB" to backup Hoyer.
Found this on Yahoo Sports. Absolutely hilarious!! Browns receiver kicks 2-year-old son out of house for liking A.J. Green Wide receiver Andrew Hawkins is having a nice season with the Cleveland Browns after being signed away from the Cincinnati Bengals. Apparently, though, Hawkins' 2-year-old son hasn't given up on his dad's former team. Watch this funny Instagram video from Hawkins, who doesn't take kindly to his son's proclamation that the Bengals' A.J. Green is his favorite receiver and the mock (we hope!) eviction that follows. We'll be curious to see if Green is healthy enough to play against Hawkins and the Browns and if his son finds a new home. We'll go ahead and assume he'll get a second chance with Dad. http://instagram.com/p/uayUkqENRL/
The NFL should be ashamed...Why even play the season? We have to see him in every stupid commercial, but obviously that's not enough... They (NFL brass) want Peyton Manning in the SB again. Period. I feel sorry for the Chargers tonight...they never had any chance. The refs made sure of that, and I'm sure their jobs were on the line if they didn't.... It's obvious!...Denver gets every ticky tack call in the world every single week! You aren't aloud to play defense against anything thrown by the great Peyton Manning. That's pretty clear If P Manning throws it, don't even try to play defense...It's a waste of time.
Maybe, but the guy i'm playing in Fantasy Football had 2 of Payton's recievers, and only got 8 pts, so Yeah me!
What play are u talking bout? They dominated that game w 2 WRs going over 100 yds and a RB go over 100 yds...their defense is quick as hell and they apply pressure w Ware and Miller on the outside...their the most complete team in the NFL...well mayb they need a FG kicker, but w Peyton he usually scores TDs
Extra Points? Nowhere to go but up: The state of the Browns? punt return game is not good. They?ve burned through two lead punt returners and both have muffed the ball away. They don?t have a return longer than eight yards. And this week they check in dead last as a unit, averaging 2.6 yards a return. ?Right now, we?re 32nd in the league,? said special teams coordinator Chris Tabor. ?We?re not happy about that. If we continue at this pace, we?re going to be 35th.? Tabor defended Jordan Poyer, who lost his place on the field in a key moment in Jacksonville, tried to field a punt at the 2-yard line and had it bounce off his face visor, giving the Jaguars the ball at the 8 with a 10-6 lead. A few games earlier, Poyer had supplanted team record-holder Travis Benjamin, who lost his confidence fielding punts. Tabor said that both Poyer are Benjamin remain in the mix to fill the role, along with punt ?catcher? Jim Leonhard. But there is no clear-cut choice. ?We?re still working through all those things right now. Obviously, it?s an area we need to improve on,? Tabor said. The X-factor is rookie cornerback Justin Gilbert, who, Tabor said, has gotten some work at punt returner. Gilbert holds the record at Oklahoma State with six career kickoff returns for touchdowns. But he returned only eight punts in his career (for 55 yards), and none after his freshman year. ?He?s little bit more of a kick returner than a punt returner,? Tabor said. ?They are two different skills. Catching a kick is a little easier than catching a punt. Obviously, you?ve got to look at the rotation of the ball, nose of the ball, wind patterns, all those things. It?s like playing center field, being able to judge and get a bead on the ball and not chase a ball. He?s a guy in the mix and we?ll see where it takes us.? Wildcat alert: Occasional use of the Wildcat formation has accomplished the goal of having the Browns spend some work time preparing for the 2008 fad popularized by Raiders interim coach Tony Sparano while head coach of the Miami Dolphins. But the Browns don?t expect Sparano to unleash the Wildcat ? with either back Darren McFadden or Maurice Jones-Drew taking direct snaps from center ? on an extended basis. ?I don?t know if he would commit to it for a whole game,? said defensive coordinator Jim O?Neil. ?We?re practicing it, repping it, have a plan for it. He?s shown a snap or two of it in every game. I know he was a fan of it when I worked with him back with the Jets in 2012, so it?s been a part of something he?s done his whole career. ?I just listened to his press conference ? Like they?re probably preparing for a Johnny Package, we?re preparing for a Wildcat package. If that?s the direction they want to go in all game, then let?s go. That prevents them from throwing the ball deep down the field with the quarterback. I think they feel pretty good about that quarterback (rookie Derek Carr).? Brownie bits: Nose tackle Ahtyba Rubin (ankle) and nickel back K?Waun Williams (concussion) continue to work themselves back into game action after missing last week. But coach Mike Pettine said this about Rubin: ?I?m not ready to commit and say he?s full go.? ? On the other hand, O?Neil could not conceal his excitement about having Williams back ? Pettine is not tipping his hand on whether Nick McDonald would be activated to start at center or John Greco would remain there, and whether Paul McQuistan or Vinston Painter would play right guard if Greco remained at center.
Evidently you didn't notice that Phillip Rivers matched him step for step. The only real difference in the game last night was that every crucial call went against San Diego...I suppose the pivotal play was when the Chargers picked Manning off at the goal line in the second half on the short pass and the refs took it away with the phantom call....Or you could point to the second half kick return by Denver that was fumbled and recovered by the Chargers. That one was huge. San Diego had just scored to draw within seven...But no. The refs said no fumble. The announcers, the replay expert in the booth and 60 million people were wrong apparently... I'm not trying to debate this. It was just an obvious observation i noted during last night's telecast...The Bronco love that was spewing from the refs was disgusting...
Friday and so little talk about the upcoming game? A nervous fan base, me thinks. Yeah last week really put a damper on the steady rise we had been enjoying, bit I am inclined to believe it was and ugly wake up call, that will be answered this week. With question marks at center, punt returner/catdher, defensive line, and RB mix, there's much to worry about, but I think most of us didn't recognize the team we saw last week, and it will prove to be the aberration, not the rule. Hoyer will never be mistaken for Peyton Manning, but neither has he ever been so horrendous as we saw last week, so I would expect to see a big improvement Sunday, not enought to win over SAS or Showstopper, but back on track, and thus another win. So how about it Loungers, where you at this week????
