Monthly Archives: September 2013

Who were those guys? The Browns played one of the most exciting games they’ve played in years, and actually won it. They didn’t build a big lead and actually snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. For a while there it looked like the same old Browns, blowing a half time lead for the third straight game, but they made just enough plays to get the win. It was enjoyable and fun to watch!

After a week of turmoil and distractions head coach Rob Chudzinski found a way to rally his troops and have them ready to play on the road and pick up their first win of the season and his first win as an NFL head coach. A tip of the cap to Chud for a job well done.

For a week at least, Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi look like geniuses with the moves and decisions they made this past week. But let’s wait a little longer before we anoint them front office of the year in the NFL.

Loved the aggressive playing calling by Norv Turner and Chud of going down the field to Josh Godon and the fake punt and field goal and going for it on 4^th down. The Browns took some chances and they paid off in a big, big way!

A lot of money was spent on beefing up the pass rush in the off season and it has paid dividends for the Browns as they registered six sacks against the Vikings, including the game saver on the final play of the game by Desmond Bryant.

First round pick Barkevious Mingo flashed again, picking up his 2^nd sack of the season. Mingo has that lean on the edge that great pass rushers have that allows them to turn the corner and get to the quarterback.

Josh Gordon is a play maker and a game breaker. Just having him on the field creates opportunities for everyone else and then when his numbered is called he seems to answer with a big play! Just keep clean off the field Josh, so you can continue to make those big plays on the field!

Speaking of play makers, how about the start tight end Jordan Cameron is having in this Norv Turner run offense.  Four touchdowns in three games and he had the hat trick yesterday. My biggest concern with Cameron wasn’t his ability, it was him staying healthy and on the field and so far, so good. If he can play in all sixteen games this season, he’ll score double digit touchdowns in Norv’s offense. He’s a red zone nightmare for the opposition!

It had to be a dream come true for Brian Hoyer. A Cleveland kid, getting to start for his hometown team and then leading them on a game winning drive, late in the 4^th quarter. I still have my doubts about Hoyer, but no one will ever be able to take away the 31-27 win over the Vikings from him in his Cleveland Browns debut.

As much as I criticized the offensive line last week, I’ve got to give them a little credit for their efforts. They were far from perfect or even really good, but they did improve in their pass blocking, only allowing 3 sacks this week. That still has to get better, but it’s a start.

We praised Chud earlier, now it’s time to take him to task a little bit. His team has led at halftime in all three games this year only to give up the lead in the second half in all three games. The Browns have been outscored 41-10 in the second half of games this season. That cannot continue if the Browns expect to win more games this year. Chud and his coaches have to do a better job with their halftime adjustments.

Everyone shouldn’t get too carried away with the win, it was against the win less Vikings whose quarterback play is shaky at best, but take them any way you can get them and then build on it. Let’s see if the Browns can do exactly that, as they play a very good football team in the Cincinnati Bengals at home on Sunday.

The Browns look pitiful! They will be one of eight teams who will be (0-2) after the first two weeks of the NFL season.

Bad quarterback play, dropped passes, a porous offensive line, questionable play calling and personnel decisions, along with a secondary who has one guy who can cover somebody most of the time, ladies and gentleman and Browns Backers across the world, I give you your 2013 Cleveland Browns.

Quarterback Brandon Weeden doesn’t look like he’s improved at all. He’s still staring down receivers and missing wide open receivers and getting balls batted down at the line of scrimmage.  And when Weeden does make a good throw Greg Little or Devon Bess drop it.  And oh yeah one more thing on Greg Little, you’re supposed to be putting points up on the scoreboard, not on your driver’s license. Obey the rules of the road before someone gets hurt!

 The offense, which was supposed to take a giant leap forward under first year head coach Rob Chudzinski and offensive coordinator Norv Turner ‘s vertical system, looks very Pat Shurmur-esque through two games. They’ve scored the second fewest points in the NFL (16) through two games, only Jacksonville has scored less (11). They’re averaging 56 yards per game rushing with franchise running back Trent Richardson. The offensive line, which was considered one of the team’s strengths, has given up 11 sacks in the first 2 contests. Without suspended wide receiver Josh Gordon for the first two games, it looks like the receiving core doesn’t know how to run routes, or get open and when they do the drops continue to happen! The lone and I mean loan bright spot on offense has been tight end Jordan Cameron.

Defensively at times the Browns have played well. They’re holding the opposition to just 59.5 yards per game rushing and only 2 yards per carry.  They have registered 6 sacks in the games against Miami and Baltimore, but everyone in the secondary not named Joe Haden is a liability.  Both Ryan Tannehill and Joe Flacco eventually figured out just throw the ball to the side of the field where Haden isn’t, and Chris Owens and Buster Skrine are, and you’ll get a completion, or a third down conversion, or both! Those two have turned the likes of Brian Hartline, Brandon Gibson, Marlon Brown and Brandon Stokely into all pro’s!

The coaching staff hasn’t helped matters either with their questionable use of Trent Richardson so far. Should they have played the starters more in the pre-season? Theri inability to make half time adjustments is glaring, as the Browns have taken a lead into the locker room in both games, only to be outscored in the second half by a combined score of (31-3).

On top of all that, going into week number three, you may have a quarterback change because of a thumb injury Brandon Weeden suffered in the loss to the Ravens.  That means Jason Campbell, who looked awful in the snaps that he played against Baltimore, will probably be your starter.  Not the way Joe Banner, Mike Lombardi and company wanted, or expected their first season to start, but then again we are talking about the Browns, one of the worst franchises in the NFL since their return in 1999.

Next up for Jimmy Haslam’s franchise the Vikings at Minnesota on Sunday at 1pm.  The good news for that game is, the Vikings are winless as well through two games and wide receiver Josh Gordon will be back after serving his two game suspension.  How much that will help, who knows, but there’s only one way to go if you’re at the bottom right?