Browns LCB Joe Haden (shoulder) has yet to resume practicing. Haden was riding a stationary bike at Thursday's session. That's a sign he's yet to be ruled out for Sunday's game against the Panthers. With the Browns fighting for a .500 record or better, they'd undoubtedly let Haden suit up even if he doesn't practice this week. His status will be updated in the next 48 hours.
Manziel?s debut starting performance aside, entire team needs better effort vs. Panthers Well, that went poorly. Johnny Manziel?s debut as a starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns went as bad as one could have imagined. No, worse, actually. There was buildup. The Browns were leading national sports programs all week. ?Here comes Johnny Football. This guy is going to be electric. The Bengals are in trouble.? Aaaaand then the game started and Manziel finished 10 of 18 passing for 80 yards with two interceptions and ran the ball five times for 13 yards. Bengals 30, Browns 0 ? final. Remember those national sports programs? Now they were having fun at Mr. Manziel?s expense. And rightfully so. He brought it upon himself. So, now what? Manziel can?t possibly play that bad of a game again. Maybe that is just what he needed to be humbled, to take things serious and to understand what he can and can?t do on an NFL football field. But as bad as Manziel played the bigger issues was that the entire team played poorly. That loss was not solely on Manziel?s shoulders. The offensive line couldn?t block. The receivers couldn?t get open. The running backs couldn?t run and the defense, woah, that defense. For the second time this season the Browns allowed more than 200 yards rushing to an opponent. The Texans gashed the Browns for 213 yards in Week 11 and the Bengals got the Browns for 244 yards last week. Yes, the Browns miss their running game. Yes, the Browns need better play from the quarterback position. Yes, the Browns would like to see Josh Gordon score a touchdown. But that defense, though. Teams are averaging 4.5 yards per carry against the Browns. It doesn't matter that Joe Haden isn?t healthy or Justin Gilbert is having a poor season. Teams know the recipe to beat the Browns ? run the football. In the Browns? seven wins, opponents are rushing for 114.1 yards per game. In their seven losses, opponents are rushing for 161.1. Here?s the good news, the Panthers offense is ranked 21st out of 32 with an average of 20.6 points per game. Here?s the bad news, they rushed for 151 yards last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Derek Anderson played quarterback for Carolina in that game. Yup, that DA. He was 25-for-40 for 277 with a touchdown and no picks. See what a good running game can do? Jonathan Stewart had 75 yards rushing on 22 carries. In all, the Panthers attempted 32 runs and 40 passes. Expect that to be to be imbalanced this week. Cam Newton returns at quarterback after a week away because of a car crash. No sense placing him back in the pocket if you?re Carolina. Hand the ball off and watch the yards pile up. This will be a big game for the Panthers. Even at 5-8-1 they are still in the hunt to win the NFC South. For the Browns, win or lose, it really doesn?t matter. All hope of a positive future came crashing down with the back-to-back losses at home coupled with Manziel?s performance. Does he rebound this week or do all those positive vibes become pointed in a familiar direction ? the NFL Draft? theOBR.com Recommended Stories
Some days the jokes fall right into your lap. According to the Associated Press, Browns left tackle Joe Thomas is accused of multiple enviornmental violations on his Wisconsin hunting land, including ?discharging manure into a wetland.? Considering his employer has been doing that along the banks of Lake Erie for the last few decades, we?ll assume he?ll have the support of management. The report said the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources sent him a letter claiming he has built bridges and dams without permits, along with dredging a pond and tearing down a barn without notice. The DNR wants to meet with him on Jan. 6 to discuss the violations, and he could face $10,000 a day in fines There are actual environmental and property rights issues at play here, but let?s not kid ourselves. Discharging manure. That?s all.
Water's for drinking; whiskey's for fighting! How are things with the Cleve sand-lotters? Myron says it lovingly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdjYFleXNro
Speaking of Big Joe there, I guess we seen this year who the true leader is on that offensive line.......ALEX MACK! Joe, although is good at what he does, seems to have a passive nature. He is not one of those big and ugly type tackles you hear about. More of a technical guy. Which is why he is good at what he does. When this line (Schwartz) was getting man handled out there I didn't see Joe in any faces on the sidelines. I've seen other players with clout on other teams get into guy's faces but not Joe. Then you hear that Joe endorsed Hoyer and that brought a lot of clout to the coaching decision to play Hoyer over Manziel. So the coaching staff listens to him. But how is he with other players? You never hear about that. Again, I like Joe Thomas! He does his job and does it well. But this team lacks leaders on offense. He is the every year Pro Bowler. With Gordon and Manziel dividing this offensive group there has to be someone in the locker room with credibility that can speak up and people listen. Maybe that was Alex Mack! He is also one of the best at his position and since he has been out our line has looked like chit! GO BROWNS!
Interesting take on the line personalities and leadership. I agree we lack forceful leadership. I think Hoyer provided that, but he also went from team leader to a "me" guy at times. I remember him dismissing contract talks when he came up big after Pittsburgh, and said so at the time. I wondered how his team mates felt when instead of talking about the team, he was talking about his future. That turned me off, and I wonder if it did the same for some of the guys in the locker room. I think you take of Thomas is correct. A quiet guy who takes pride in his won work, but isn't going to demand better performance from others. Maybe Mack was that guy, I don't know, but his loss went beyond missing a guy to hike the ball. The question that come to mind for me is; Does our Head Coach lead like Thomas, and is that enough? He's not a big talker, and sometimes I think we need "that guy". The number of games we didn't show up, and started poorly, I was looking for the coach to show some fire. I remember Romeo Crennel standing there stoically game after game, and it made me wonder if he had a clue about what to do. I guess we all have seen coaches like Ditka, Cowher, Parcels, etc.... get in a players face, and not passively pose on the sidelines waiting for someone to step up, but demanding that they do it. I DO NOT want to change coaches, but I do want to see growth there too. OK so we have a "new" owner, coach and staff. What did you do well? What did you fail to do? What would you like to change and how will you go about it. When a team goes out and lays and egg, it is on the coaching staff at least in part. If the team goes out and does that in multiple game that is unquestionably on the coaching. We need our coaches to step up their game going forward. Leadership comes in many styles, and if shouting isn't your thing then you'd better find "your way" to reach the players, cause you didn't this year in too many instances.
Browns placed S Tashaun Gipson on injured reserve with a knee injury, ending his season. Gipson had expressed optimism he would be able to play again this season after tearing his MCL Week 12 against the Falcons, but the Browns have little reason to rush back their emerging star safety. Gipson still leagues the league with six interceptions despite missing the last three games. The Browns signed OLB Scott Solomon off their practice squad in a corresponding roster move.
WHOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO *DANCE* I got my new TV ..Sony 50" ultra HD 4K Smart TV which is smarter than me Lets hope the Browns don't stink it up in ultra HD tomorrow .
Ken You mentioned Romeo. I agree with that statement. Football is a game of emotion! At that level it has to be. Yes you got coaches like Ditka, Parcells, Cowher, Lombardi and that, that are screamers. But on the other side you have P. Brown, Landry, Walsh and Belichek that are not. Remember Romeo came from the Parcells tree. The only coach screaming was him. Same with Belichek but even Parcells had guy's in the locker room that took care of business when they had to. From Taylor to Carson. P. Brown had Hickerson who got in J. Browns face. Pettine looks the part of a tough coach but doesn't play that roll. At least he hasn't yet. That roll has been played by Haslam! Like the Johnny draft to put Johnny at QB. For this team to move forward it needs veteran leadership! Gordon is not a leader, Thomas has shown he is not/doesn't want to be a leader and you have a rookie QB who doesn't know how to lead. So this team needs to find who then? Dansby, Haden and Whitner have shown veteran leadership on this team. I have seen them walk up to guys. But offense after Mack went down the whole thing went to chit! That tells me something. That tells me the snake lost it's head. It wasn't the all world LT it was the pro bowl center, Mack. Every lineman on the team knows the blocking assignments. Yes the center calls them but someone should of been helping him with that! WHO? Bitonio is having the season he is having by playing LG. He is in between 2 pro bowl lineman. I loved that move. Matter of fact that move was better than drafting Gilbert and Manziel combined put together. Just by moving him to LG! He can learn from 2 of the best in his business every day. But back to the point the Browns this off season need to find some veteran leadership on offense.
Els I don't disagree with anything you said here, and I certainly agree you don't have to be a screamer, but those other Elite coaches did it in another way, so that their teams didn't lay eggs in game after game. That was my point, Whatever way he needs to do it, it needs to get done. It was his first year, and he failed in that respect, but it doesn't mean he can't, it just means he hasn't yet found "his way" to get the team "up". Too many times he has said "he thought they practiced well, and thought they were ready" only to see the team flat. Then he didn't seem to have an answer "in game" to get them going. It's not all on the coach. Yes there is a gap in leadership on the O, and maybe that's Mack, but he can't have a team that goes south because the center is out. Here's hoping Manziel can provide some of that leadership, but if not him.............????? It is a shortcoming on this team, and I am pointing at the coaching as the guys who have to be the inpetus. I get your point, but let me ask this: do you think Pettine did a good job of ensuring his team was ready to play every Sunday?
I totally agree with you man and NO! this team has not been ready to play on some Sunday's. I think it's as plain as day that this team from the Jags game on has been flat as a board. As we were discussing, that either has to be on the HC or the leaders in the locker room (TEAM). Also it was unfair or not right to bring up coaches from decades ago. The game, players and ego's have changed a lot since way back yonder,lol! I was just trying to bring up coaches with winning records that were both styles and those were the first to pop into my finger tips,lol. Again I agree with where I think you are going with this. I think you are saying that Pettine my not be the vocal leader type in the locker room and we either have one in (whoever), we need to find that offensive leader or someone has to step up and take on that roll. If that is the case then I am totally at agreement with ya! If Hoyer was the vocal leader in the locker room and he is going to leave in free agency then we need to find one! The offense has looked like a captain less ship! Now that could be coaching, execution or talent! One of those 3. When we were winning things looked great but all 3 of those things started to fail. Coaching- The team looked flat and not ready to play on Sunday afternoons, Execution- line breaking down, not tackling, not blocking, interceptions, dropped balls and missed field goals. Talent- A lot of the execution could be on talent. We had a lot of injuries to our d-line and teams ran all over us, Mingo is not who everyone thought he was, wide receivers dropping passes, Hoyer missing them by 5 yards & o-line getting owned. That could be to talent. The reason why I've kinda been laying off Pettine is because the one thing I'm tired of in this organization is the changes. I agree with Kosar & Couch. We need stability in this organization. Pettine was hired and so for even if we go 7-9 has done a good job. Records don't lie. I dont want to even think about chatting about getting a new coach! Record wise this team has won more games this year than most 2 years combined. Coaching, Execution and Talent has been a part of that. Or I should say Coaching, talent and execution have been part of that. 1. Scheme (Coaching) 2. You need the talent to 3. Execute the plays at a high level. To me that makes a football team! Coaching, Talent and Execution! That's true from Pop Warner all the way to the Pro's. The Browns have some good talent on this football team. What? there is 8/9 pro-bowlers and Mack would of made it 9/10. There still are some positions that need upgraded like RT or RG, OLB, WR and D-line and of coarse we have to see if Johnny is the QB of this team. But unlike years past we can see where we need the most help. I think its those positions I just stated. TE if Cameron is not resigned. So besides QB that's 4 spots maybe 5 with TE that we need help or upgrade. I want to give Pettine at least 3 years to see how Farmer builds and this team grows. By then we should see if Johnny is the man and how Pettine can coach a more talented team. GO BROWNS!
I absolutely do not want Pettine replaced. I am in complete agreement that "Change" has been at the heart of our problems ever since we were reborn. The lists of coaches, QBs, GMs, ettc.... isn't worthy of review. We all know there were too many, too soon, time and time again. I felt that the change in ownership was the only one that has a chance to bring success. I don't know how I feel about Slam as an owner just yet. I applaud his cleaning house last year, because I felt he didn't really have "his choices" in place, and the ones in mgt just weren't the right guys. Now he has made his choices, and I hope he commits to their success through their learning curve, as well as his own. I want them to recognize their shortcomings, and to commit to grow "together" through this season and at least the next two, so we have the opportunity to develop. I feel like the D was remarkably solid, especially with all the guys lost to injury. and that the experience those 2nd and 3rd tier guys who had to step in, proved to have talent too. Overall I think we need some tweaking or upgrading, but there aren't gaping holes. The O is where we continue to struggle, and it is hard to assess how much the QB play is holding it back. The loss of Mack did a lot more damage than I would have expected (your point about leadreship is well taken here). I keep wondering what kind of record we might have achieved this year if he hadn't gone down. We started the year with a running game, that disappeared which then strangled the passing game, exacerbated by a QB who's accuracy was suspect, and with his top two recievers MIA. Everybogy loses guys every year, so while I think we could have had a better season, we "have to" be able to overcome injuries better than we did this year. Most of all I wanted to say that I believe it is the size of the fight in the dog, not the size of the dog in the fight that makes the difference, and that is where coaching / leadership makes the difference. That was clearly lacking for the team, and I don't know how you draft that, or you create that, but I hope Pettine & Co do, cause I want them back, better than ever, so we can be better as a team. Here's hoping Johnny shows us some leadership, and some playmaking tomorrow. Go Browns !!!
Browns at Panthers Browns: CB K?Waun Williams, WR Rodney Smith, CB Joe Haden, RB Glenn Winston, OL Vinston Painter, OL Andrew McDonald, TE Gary Barnidge Panthers: RB DeAngelo Williams, CB Carrington Byndom, S Robert Lester, LB A.J. Klein, DT Kyle Love, OL David Foucault, G Amini Silatolu No Haden no Williams ..that sucks ..time for Dilbert to show up ..you are Dilbert to me until you prove otherwise ..Skrine cant cover the whole field .. time for Desir to show up as well .
a good friend of mines son plays for the Panthers ..LB Chase Blackburn . he had some very good games while with the Giants . when he left the Giants I we were hoping the Browns would have showed interest . his father is a long time Browns fan .he is at the game today .I could have went with him but with my recent back surgery its to much to soon . hoping Chase has a good game ..not to good though but the Panthers lose .
lets see how this team responds from last weeks embarrassment .. is Manziel humbled ? the Panthers will keep him in the pocket .. can he play from the pocket ? better learn quick kid it isn't amature hour anymore . big boys play on Sundays .
good luck today, guys. sucks that the browns are out of the running now, but that means it's time to start building for next year. here's hoping for some good stuff from JF today *DRINK*
I just got in from Christmas shopping for the girls. So I just turned on the TV. Browns are down 10-3. Along with Schwartz I want Mingo done as a starter also. As I'm typing this Manziel just went down! Hope it's not serious. I hate to say this and we do have 4/5 holes to fill but would any of you trade those 2 1st rd picks for Mariota? I'm just thinking out load here? On the FA thread we have seen that there isn't much in way of veteran leadership out there. So should we go after Jake Locker or Ryan Mallett? Pocket passers! Locker showed some promise before he got hurt and i like Malletts arm strength! Again I'm just thinking out loud. Our QB position is a problem! An unknown NFL rookie and a career backup QB! That has to be addressed this off season! Whether it's the draft or FA!
