Tag Archives: Isaiah Crowell

ROOKIE IMPACT A KEY TO BROWNS SUCCESS

Posted: Nov 7, 2014 by . Filed under Blog Posts, Feature Articles | 7 Comments

On “Draft Day” 2014 all the hype and talk in Berea, Ohio was about one rookie selected by the Cleveland Browns, quarterback  Johnny Manziel. But after 9 games into the 2014 season he is the least productive rookie to play in his class.

Manziel has thrown one incomplete pass, caught another pass that was nullified by a penalty and done nothing else but serve as Brian Hoyer’s back up, and that’s OK. Manziel hasn’t had to play because Brian Hoyer is playing above average football at the quarterback position by not making mistakes, connecting on timely throws and leading the Browns to a (6-3) record and into playoff contention for the first time since 2007 this late in the season.

Manziel-Gilbert-Farmer-Pettine Jersey Photo

While Manziel has had no impact on the Browns success this season, six other rookies either drafted or signed as free agents by G.M. Ray Farmer have made major contributions to the Browns best start since 1994.

Here’s what they’ve done:

1st round pick – CB – Justin Gilbert – Has started a number of games – 23 tackles – 5 passes defended

 

2nd round pick – LG – Joel Bitonio – Has started all 9 games and solidified the left side of the line.

 

3rd round pick – RB – Terrance West – Leads the team in rushing through 9 games with 396 yards and 3 touchdowns, plus he’s caught 7 passes for 39 yards and another score.

 

3rd round pick – LB – Christian Kirksey – 41 tackles – 2 sacks – 1 tackle for loss – 2 passes defended

 

Undrafted rookie – RB – Isaiah Crowell – 297 yards rushing with a 4.6 yards per carry average that leads the team. He also leads the squad with 5 rushing touchdowns.

 

Undrafted rookie – WR – Taylor Gabriel – 24 catches for 435 yards and 1 touchdown.  He’s averaging 18.1 yards per catch. He also has 1 kickoff return for 30 yards.

 

When you combine all of the offensive numbers from the rookies, they have accounted for  1,192 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns. On defense, 64 tackles – 2 sacks – 1 tackle for loss – 7 passes defended. Not bad considering “Johnny Football”, the most celebrated rookie of the bunch has added nothing to this team through 9 games.

FRIDAY FOOTBALL FORECAST

Posted: Oct 3, 2014 by . Filed under Blog Posts, Feature Articles | 101 Comments

OHIO STATE at MARYLAND  –  12pm  –  SATURDAY

Maryland has a chance to show all the doubters, like myself, why they belong in the Big Ten as they host Ohio State Saturday. The Buckeyes have chance to show that they’ve started to figure out how to play pass defense as they go up against a talented dual threat quarterback C.J. Brown (wrist injury) and his group of talented receivers – Stefon Diggs, Deon Long and Marcus Leak.  If Brown can’t go at QB then it’ll be Caleb Rowe slinging the pigskin around against the Buckeyes. Either way,  it’s another big test for the back end OSU’s defense.

The Buckeyes special teams better be up to the task as well as they’ll be tested in their coverage units going up against the 11th ranked kickoff return man in the country in Stefon Diggs (29.4avg) and William Likely, the 8th ranked punt return man in the country (22.0avg).

J.T. Barrett Close Up from the FrontOSU quarterback J.T. Barrett has put up some decent numbers overall so far for Urban Meyer. The redshirt freshman signal caller has thrown for 1,080 yards and 13TD’s in his first 4 games while running for 205 yards and a a score. He will have to continue to play at a high level for the Buckeyes to win this game on the road in what could be another shootout.

I’ll take the Buckeyes in another high scoring affair 34-24.

 

CLEVELAND BROWNS at TENNESSEE TITANS  –  1pm  –  SUNDAY

The Browns have an opportunity for a road win at Tennessee this Sunday. The Titans are ranked 22nd against the run in the NFL and the Browns strength is their rushing attack, ranked 9th in the NFL. Because of the solid play of the offensive line it shouldn’t matter if it’s Ben Tate, Isaiah Crowell or Terrance West carrying the rock, Kyle Shanahan’s offense should be able to move the ball on the ground.

If the Browns are successful with ground game, this will set up Brian Hoyer for plenty of play action opportunities against a defense that has given up 74 points over their last 2 games.Brian Hoyer In Game Close Up

If Jake Locker plays for the Titans, the Browns pass defense will be tested more than if Charlie Whitehurst is under center. But Locker is coming off a wrist injury and while he practiced this week, he could be a bit rusty and not at 100 percent. That’s good news, because any help the Browns pass defense can get right now is needed as they rank 27th against the pass in the NFL.

 

I’m taking the Browns 24-17 in this one, as they start a stretch of 5 games where I expect them to go at least (3-2) if not (4-1).

KEYS TO A BROWNS WIN AGAINST THE SAINTS

Posted: Sep 11, 2014 by . Filed under Blog Posts, Feature Articles | 8 Comments

 

Browns O-Line

1) Your offensive strength is your offensive line, use it. Run the football 25 to 30 times splitting carries with Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell.  This will help set up your passing game with play action and also, if successful, chew up the clock to keep New Orleans offense off the field.

 

2) Get after Drew Brees. He’s not 100% with that oblique injury. Hit him, knock him down, make him run from the pressure and throw against his body.  I wouldn’t put a bounty out on him, as the NFL frowns upon that, but let it be known to every defensive player on your team that if you can hit him legally, do it to make life uncomfortable for him.

 

3) Don’t get beat deep. If you have to play more zone coverage, then do it. The Saints love to go up top to Marques Colston or Jimmy Graham. Make them earn their yards and points by having to make a number of plays to score.

Antonio Brown Kicks Spencer Lanning In The Face

4) Win the special teams battle for field position. Last week special teams cost the Browns in the Pittsburgh game with Antonio Brown’s big return and not being able to down Spencer Lanning’s punt on the 1 yard line.  Travis Benjamin needs to come up large this week with a big return.

 

5) Tackle better.  It is that simple. The tackling last week, especially in the first half against the Steelers was atrocious. Limit yards after contact with the Saints running backs and wide receivers. Don’t let what should have been a 3 yard run or pass by Mark Ingram or Brandin Cooks, turn into a 25 yard gain or touchdown.

 

6) Win the turnover battle. I guess you could say that each week, but against the Saints who can score a lot of points, it becomes more important. Don’t give them extra opportunities to score, especially on a short field. So value the football and hopefully get a take away or two to put your offense in great field position to score.

 

7) Play from ahead, or be even on the scoreboard. The Saints are a good football team, but they aren’t as good on the road as they are at home. Make them chase you, outside, on natural grass, in an uncomfortable environment. Use your home field advantage by scoring early and getting the crowd into the game.

PODCAST – INSTANT ANALYSIS – STEELERS 30 BROWNS 27

Posted: Sep 7, 2014 by . Filed under Audio, Feature Articles, Podcasts | 8 Comments

The Browns put up a great fight in thesecond half in Pittsburgh but came up short in a week #1 loss to the Steelers, here’s my breakdown of what went down in the “Steel City”.

Shaun Suisham GW Filed Goal vs Browns 9-7-14

POSITION BREAKDOWN – BROWNS AT STEELERS – RUNNING BACKS

Posted: Sep 6, 2014 by . Filed under Blog Posts, Feature Articles | 8 Comments

Both teams now feel they have a feature back. The Steelers with Le’Veon Bell, last year’s second round pick out of Michigan State and the Browns with free agent signee Ben Tate who comes over from the Texans.

Bell and his back-up Legarrette Blount, are lucky to be playing because both are facing marijuana possession charges, and Bell also has a possible DUI charge to deal with. The Steelers, who could have suspended one or both, have decided to wait for due process to play out, thus allowing both running backs to play in the opener. Another reason the Steelers are probably letting both play is because the only other running back they have on the roster is rookie 3rd round pick Dri Archer from Kent State.

Bell racked up over 1,200 yards rushing and receiving last season in Pittsburgh while Blount accumulated over 700 yard rushing in New England. The two combined for 15 touchdowns last season. So Pittsburgh has its starter and a solid back-up, plus a rookie with 4.2 speed in Archer that offensive coordinator Todd Haley and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger can use. That’s a pretty good trio.

The Browns were led in rushing last year by Willis McGahee, but he only gained 377 yards and reached the endzone just twice. The Browns as a team only rushed for a total of 4 TD’s all of last season. So new G.M. Ray Farmer signed Ben Tate to be his feature back and then drafted Terrance West in the third round out of Towson to be his back-up. The third stringer is undrafted rookie Isaiah Crowell. Tate gained almost 800 yards playing for the injured Arian Foster last year in Houston and scored 4 touchdowns in 14 games. Now he gets his chance to be the Browns every down back running behind the better of the two offensive lines in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.  He must hold on to the football and stay healthy for this free agent signing to be a success, something that Tate has had problems with in his career.

Even with the lessor of the two O-Line’s, I like the Steelers running backs better because they’ve got two healthy starters and a speedster to mix in as a change of pace.

RUNNING BACKS  ADVANTAGE – PITTSBURGH