Peter King loves Phil Dawson too
November 5, 2012Buckeyes’ Shazier, Dunn win weekly conference honors
November 5, 2012Pat Shurmur was given an inch and took a mile. Toting two wins in his last three games, and a roster full of players who opted to work rather than rest while heading into a divisional game, this was Pat’s chance. Backed by a tailwind rooted in improved fan morale and a fiery man who received his first game ball as majority owner, those who were mentally packing up the coach’s belongings just three weeks earlier stopped, put down their tape and crumpled up newspaper, and stood by to see if, by some chance, the head coach finally figured it out — if he took a season-and-a-half of embarrassment, studied and learned from prior mistakes, and became a coach who could actually win football games. In-game management, on-feet thinking and proactive decision-making all playing key roles.
And then Sunday happened.
What should have been an on-field chess match punctuated by a Cleveland Browns defense that had its best second-half of play over the course of the entire season coupled with a running back who had amassed yet another 100-yard game1 was one that was marred with communication issues and reactive late-game decisions.
The chief responsibility of an NFL head coach in a playing dealt cards-type of way, is to ensure that he puts his players in the best possible place that will in turn give them the best chance to win — this can be drilled down to a play-by-play basis just as much as it can in the big picture.
If we can forget, just for a moment, that Shurmur was willing to throw first-half timeouts into the lakefront wind, seemingly having the inability to get a play relayed to his quarterback within the time allotted by the play clock. Let’s also ignore, for another moment, that Shurmur decided to go for it on 4th-and-2 with four minutes — and two timeouts — remaining, turning into “aggressive Pat” with the ball deep in his own territory.
Instead, we can focus on the multiple botched opportunities, including the bound-to-be-dissected 4th-and-2, wherein Shurmur put the entire weight of focus on a rookie quarterback who was obviously struggling. Refusing to tweak short-yardage plays to provide Trent Richardson with a better opportunity for success, Shurmur decided to throw the ball on the first two 3rd-and-1s — both of which were failed attempts. Rather than creating space for Richardson to run wild in the red zone, Shurmur opted for three- and five-step drops that ultimately resulted in check-down passes and Phil Dawson field goals. It’s not just fourth downs; even the 3rd-and-long plays are not thrown beyond the sticks.
And illegal formation penalties? Twelve men on the field((Though the penalty was declined as the Ravens still gained the necessary yardage))? Purely on the coach. But the only item in whichShurmur was willing to take even the most remote amount of blame: the first-half timeouts.
As our own Craig pointed out, Shurmur can blame the loss on poor execution, he can point the fingers at a few questionable penalties which shaped the second half, but as he stands at his post-game podium, sucking in on his bottom lip while being battered with a litany of “what the hell were you thinking here?” questions, rather than focusing on the holes in the roster or the missed crossing routes, Shurmur needs to find a mirror.
Week after week, Shurmur continues to display a lack of growth a head coach. Sure, the Cleveland Browns have not fallen victim to a quick snap. To this point, we have not seen a handoff to a player playing the fullback position for the first time in his career. And we haven’t had field-goal snaps three-hop their way to Reggie Hodges. But when it comes to putting his team in the best position to win winnable contests, when it comes to in-game decisions that are not based on headlines and sound bites from two weeks earlier, and — most importantly — when it comes to taking advantage of the morale and optimism afforded to him by the last two weeks, Shurmur, once again, regressed mightily and squandered every ounce of postive thought he had in his back pocket.
“What do you mean?” Shurmur asked when questioned on his play-calling. “It’ll be a fun thing for everyone to talk about this week, just when we lost the game [in Indianapolis] and I didn’t go for it. I don’t know what you’re talking about, my nature? I don’t know you that well. You probably don’t me that well. You know what, in both situations, the decision didn’t lead us to a victory, did it? So that’s why we talk about it. Had we converted it and we moved forward, then it would’ve been talked about on what a gutsy move it was. Right? That’s all. I think it’s fair. And I’ll join into it.”
A “fun thing to talk about,” as if that’s the goal of fans and those covering the team for a living. As ESPN Cleveland’s Bruce Hooley put best following the game, we write about the planes that crash. The fact that quarterback Brandon Weeden would not even comment on the communication issues that littered the contest speaks volumes — how can the rookie trust the message being delivered when the means are substandard? Ten weeks in to the season and it’s akin to hiring a cross-eyed carpenter to build your home. Not having a play ready to call upon the prior play’s completion is merely unacceptable at any level of football, let alone the NFL.
Even “Red Right 88,” a play that will forever live in Cleveland Browns lore, was called before that now-infamous second down. Not wanting to risk attempting a Don Cocroft field goal into the wind, despite being down being down two points, Sam Rutilgiano went into that four-down set knowing that he would run the ball on first and third down as the clock continued to expire. However, given the elements that come along with a January in Cleveland, the Browns’ head coach knew he had to take a shot at the end zone — having a mis-match with the 6-foot-4-inch Dave Logan on an otherwise smaller defensive back. The end result of the play is well documented, but it was a proactive decision aimed at putting the Cleveland Browns in the best position to win; the right play, poorly executed.
Despite that call, Rutigliano won the NFL’s Coach of the Year award and was afforded the chance to coach four more seasons, backed by the goodwill afforded to him in the Kardiac Kids era. His players played hard as well as smart, representing the man who paced the sidelines while they mowed through the AFC. The 2012 Cleveland Browns undoubtedly play hard — the 28th-ranked run defense swarmed Baltimore’s Ray Rice through the entire second half, allowing one scoring drive through 30 minutes of play. But to say they play smart would be the biggest reach yet; no level of fandom can rightfully say that this Cleveland Browns team limits its own mistakes.
And that, right there, is a product of the man calling the plays. That, right there, will be the reason Pat Shurmur will not be the head coach of the Cleveland Browns come 2013.
- The last Cleveland Brown to rush for 100 yards in back-to-back games was Peyton Hillis in 2010. He was also the first rookie since 1998 to rush for over 100 yards against the Baltimore Ravens [↩]
62 Comments
To quibble just a little bit, the illegal formation penalty is not entirely on the coach. Indeed, I would argue that it’s entirely on the player. The first time that I lined up as a receiver as a kid in a football practice, the first thing the coach ever said to me was, “Look inside. Is the next player to the inside a Tight End? If so, you MUST stay off the line.” We worked on that for a whole practice. I was 12. Nobody on the Browns team is 12.
I want Pat Shurmur gone so bad, but I think we need a GM before we start looking at/for coaches.
Here is idea. Have a play named Brown, and if coach can’t get in a play of decide, yell Brown and everyone knows what it is. Brown can be changed later to a different play. Don’t call it an audible though.
I thought I saw a G next to the TE on that play. He may have lined up on the wrong side. Stupid mistakes because people are not paying attention. We will continue to be on the losing end if we do not do the little things right.
“A “fun thing to talk about,” as if that’s the goal of fans and those covering the team for a living.”
This is my favorite part of the criticism. I hadn’t thought about it from this angle. So indicative of Shurmur’s perception and disdain for the media and fans. Nobody wants to talk about coaching blunders. We want to talk about wins and development and competing for division leads and playoff spots.
He seems to regress every week in both coaching and handling the media. He is getting to cute and snappy with the media and they are loving it, but the fans aren’t.
Agreed to a point, but perhaps Pat should consider not calling a red zone play with cute formations involving a third-down back flanked out wide.
I am horrible at new video football games. I was awesome at Bill Walsh College Football ’95, but since the Genesis went the way of the Pterodactyl, so too have my video game chops.
Now when I play my nephews, I’m the dunderhead taking forever to get a play called, leafing through the playbook like its Chinese Algebra, getting lost, not being able to find the play I wanted and having to burn timeouts.
Apparently I am qualified to coach the Browns
So well done Scott. I was very skeptical about the Shurmur hiring when it happened, felt even worse about it after one season and now think it’s completely done. He’s simply not head coaching material at this time.
It’s an absurd point of view. If he’s making decisions based on this, God help us all.
Thank you.
It is the NFL. “Third down back” or no, he also is a “professional” (or at least should be).
This guy needs to go. To everyone who says firing him midseason doesn’t accomplish anything, I say it’s addition through subtraction. This bozo is killing players development. There’s a reason there’s lack of execution and sloppy play week in and week out, it starts at the top. If nothing else getting rid of Pat can give a more seasoned coach (like either our o or d coordinator) a chance to step in and get some discipline and fundamentals down for the rest of the season. These young players need some guidance, and Shurmur is not the guy to get it done. The longer he stays on, the more permanent the development of these guys will be affected.
No, no, no, no, no.
If your players can’t get themselves lined up properly , then they shouldn’t be in the game. If you don’t have a replacement good enough to do the job, then that play should not be part of the game plan.
Those things don’t happen to guys who play for Coughlin, Harbaugh or Bellichik. And on the rare occurrence they do, you can almost bet that guy will either never make that mistake again, or he will be riding the pine. And all their teammates know it too.
New coaches often adapt the demeanor of their bosses, and I tie Shurmur’s self-destructive tone in post-game pressers to Holmgren, who as president here was pretty condescending when he wasn’t acting all angry that a guy of his station had to bother explaining himself. Belichik here was intolerable after leaving Parcells and his antipress attitude, and Mangini was smug after leaving Belichik.
Not sure explanations in pressers are all that important in a vacuum – Shurmur is absolutely correct in inferring that this is an outcome-determinative business (anyone in Baltimore blasting Harbaugh for throwing and stopping the clock at the end of the half which resulted in 3 points for us?).. But when you’re on the hotseat as far as perception of competence and still speak defiantly, that tells your new owner you don’t get it. And that’s a problem.
New coaches often adapt the demeanor of their bosses, and I tie Shurmur’s self-destructive tone in post-game pressers to Holmgren, who as president here was pretty condescending when he wasn’t acting all angry that a guy of his station had to bother explaining himself. Belichik here was intolerable after leaving Parcells and his antipress attitude, and Mangini was smug after leaving Belichik.
Not sure explanations in pressers are all that important in a vacuum – Shurmur is absolutely correct in inferring that this is an outcome-determinative business (anyone in Baltimore blasting Harbaugh for throwing and stopping the clock at the end of the half which resulted in 3 points for us?).. But when you’re on the hotseat as far as perception of competence and still speak defiantly, that tells your new owner you don’t get it. And that’s a problem.
I for one am happy to read this from you not because I dislike Pat Shurmur for personal reasons (I don’t know him never met him) but because it’s been clear for quite awhile that he has been in over his head.
I for one am happy to read this from you not because I dislike Pat Shurmur for personal reasons (I don’t know him never met him) but because it’s been clear for quite awhile that he has been in over his head.
Not sure what else it would take for people to realize he’s in over his head I mean he all but tells you himself. Clearly the time for a change is coming there is no way Haslam/Banner will keep this guy. I think Heckert will be a casualty as well I’ve never been on the Heckert bandwagon although he’s done a significantly better job then his predecessors. That being said he’s made mistakes too they just aren’t remotely close to Shurmur’s, IMO.
Not sure what else it would take for people to realize he’s in over his head I mean he all but tells you himself. Clearly the time for a change is coming there is no way Haslam/Banner will keep this guy. I think Heckert will be a casualty as well I’ve never been on the Heckert bandwagon although he’s done a significantly better job then his predecessors. That being said he’s made mistakes too they just aren’t remotely close to Shurmur’s, IMO.
I’ll fight you on this one. The player is, at least notionally, a professional. The coach of an NFL team should neither have to concern himself with coaching his guys up on this nor worry on Sunday whether his guy will remember his Pop Warner instruction. (Granted, it’s on the coach to teach the plays and formations, but most of those formations – particularly when it comes to lining up out wide – are intuitive. The play was clearly taught well.)
As for those other coaches, there’s a whole wide world of mess on the Browns that doesn’t happen to those guys. It’s not all a reflection of those guys, though.
The play was a GREAT play to call, as is evidenced by the pre-penalty result. Ogbanaya (sp?) is plenty good enough to know not to cover an eligible receiver – or to not leave a Guard uncovered (I’m too depressed and angry to recall which it was). Heck, I’M good enough for that. Even you are – and you root for TSUN. (Seriously, it’s about time to start a fightin’ and a feudin’!)
I’ll fight you on this one. The player is, at least notionally, a professional. The coach of an NFL team should neither have to concern himself with coaching his guys up on this nor worry on Sunday whether his guy will remember his Pop Warner instruction. (Granted, it’s on the coach to teach the plays and formations, but most of those formations – particularly when it comes to lining up out wide – are intuitive. The play was clearly taught well.)
As for those other coaches, there’s a whole wide world of mess on the Browns that doesn’t happen to those guys. It’s not all a reflection of those guys, though.
The play was a GREAT play to call, as is evidenced by the pre-penalty result. Ogbanaya (sp?) is plenty good enough to know not to cover an eligible receiver – or to not leave a Guard uncovered (I’m too depressed and angry to recall which it was). Heck, I’M good enough for that. Even you are – and you root for TSUN. (Seriously, it’s about time to start a fightin’ and a feudin’!)
I get your point but disagree in the cost/benefit analysis unless it appears the players have stopped listening or are rebelling. I see every rookie developing nicely – every one of the first six rounds. The basics of on-field discipline are instilled through repitition and emphasis before the season starts, not between regular season games. I think you want to keep the rookies’ minds clear, and mid-season upheaval has a better chance of stalling distracting from their games than assisting while they adjust to a new regime they know is temporary.
Btw, a few people have brought up the Marty example as one time a ship was righted in mid-season by an interim coach. But it’s not true, he was outright hired in mid-season and the players knew he was going to stay, and things got better after an off-season.
I’m sorry but Shurmur is the kid in the back of the class eating too much paste and then smacking himself in the head muttering “stupid, stupid, stupid.” I am so sick and tired of losing and talking about how this is better or that is improving. The ultimate question is are we winning? NO. Don’t tell me to be patient or that this is a young team. For the love of Christmas Ale, those are not valid excuses. I can’t take the love of mediocrity or the admiration of what could be. Coulda, woulda, shouda.
Great stuff here Scott. COmpletely agree. Pat must go!
we can always hire the HC and have him pick the Gm. Wait …
Pat continues and will always be a CLOWN. Fire Dat Pat
Excellent write up, Scott. Sure as hell better than my Sunday afternoon, 12 Dogs of Christmas fueled blind-rage. #FunTilOne
You usually don’t see the media criticize a coach who has gone 49-22 since he was hired in 2008 and brought his team to the playoffs in four straight years for allowing 3 “unnecessary” points in a game.
But nice try.
I think we are going with the president-in-control model with Banner. So, he will hire (or keep) the GM, HC, etc.
It’s the model that Lerner rejected when he chose Savage over Collins. So, since it’s the opposite or Lerner, it must be the right decision. Right? Right?
You may be right. I’m too angry to remember how the play went. Either way, it was “Day 1” of youth football.
It was also a great play call. Indeed, perfect for the situation.
I’ve said it before: his ineptitude may start to rub off on players, and in the soft, impressionable minds of our incredibly young team, that could mean horrible consequences.
Great article – sums it all up pretty well.
“nice try”? You just restated my point.
Unnecessarily confrontational much?
one more thing: I don’t think sheltered football lifers like Shurmur see the NFL as an entertainment business competing for entertainment dollars. Business tycoon Haslam certainly does. He must view press conference petulance as destructive as, for example, the CEO of a company with a bad product lashing out at the customers instead of attempting damage control. Sure, it’s hard for a competitive guy just after a close loss to have to face reporters smelling blood but you’re selling a product and that has to be part of the HC skill set. You have to be self-disciplined enough and mature enough to do it.
I pretty sure Kokinis’s ears are burning.
Did anyone else see the assistant right next to Shurmur counting down to when the headset would cut out at one point? I can’t EVER remember seeing that before.
Agree wholeheartedly with the post. One play that bothered me most of all was the run to start the drive with 1:10 left in the first half with one timeout left. They got about a yard, and started the next play with just :50 left, ultimately driving down and not having time to take a few shots at the end zone with :10 left. I don’t understand how an NFL head coach can continually make such poor time management decisions and play-calling decisions and keep his job.
I am torn on whether a mid-season firing harms or helps. I tend to agree that it only helps if it’s a preparation for next year, so perhaps Haslam should begin his coaching search now, and if he finds the proper coach then just make the switch. Otherwise, just make it to the end of the year.
I know this isn’t the Winners and Losers post, but Winner: Tom Heckert. Even with an incredibly young team, this team competes week in and out despite horrible coaching and preparation. I think every game starts with a TD drive from the other team before the defense learns from it and locks down, and the Browns almost never score to start. If he could have a better head coach to work with this team could really be a contender for many years.
How much is “too much” when it comes to eating paste? I’m asking for a friend.
wrong body part “burning” and it’s from the alleged affair I’m told.
Sam Adam’s Winter Ale is deliciousness in liquid form… mmmmmmm… beer… I was hoping to enjoy some while being competitive with the squeelers this December, but now, I am not so sure…
Haha, ouch!
I couldn’t help but think of “opposite George” when Shurmur was offerring his explanation about the Indy play compared to the 4th and 2 in this game. It seems like every first instinct Shurmur has is wrong, therefore he should just call the opposite play of the one he thinks will work. 9-7 here we come.
Ba-zing!
You are correct…..in 9 games we have scored 1st in only 2 of them , in 5 of them we didnt score in 1st….We have only scored 27 points in 9 games in 1st qtr….and 14 of them were in Giants game…( our worst loss of the season ironically )….but yet we are still competitive…..I am telling you….with the right Coach and improvemnet from Weedon ( if he can )……We are going to be a huge force to deal with in a few years……Just wait…..We dont know how to win yet…..but we are young and once we do….Look out……BUT OUR CURRENT CAOCH IS NOT ABLE TO BE THAT GUY
Interesting insight, I noticed that but didn’t piece together what was happening. Didn’t Shurmur get upset and browbeat the assistant? Epic fail on multiple levels.
Great article Scott – this channels what much of the fan base has been saying.
Two words: Wasted Season. If we had a competent coach this team easily
could be .500 or close to it, competing for a playoff sport; maybe not
make it but at least competing.Talent there, coaching not.
Shurmur’s instincts seem opposite of conventional wisdom, and conventional wisdom became conventional for a reason. At one point yesterday he threw on 3d and 1, then there was the penalty, then he ran on 3d and 11. It wasn’t predictable, but it wasn’t good, either. I won’t criticize the decision to go for it on 4th and 2, which may have been the right call but at least was defensible, but why pass instead of run? He’s addicted to throwing on 3d or 4th and short, often while having the QB roll out, and I don’t understand why, if that’s the kind of offense they want to run, the Browns drafted Richardson and didn’t trade up for RG3, for whom rolling out on 3d and 1 makes more sense.
I think a prerequisite for the next Browns coach needs to be the ability to go 19-0 in Tecmo Super Bowl with the 1991 Browns lineup. I would request that the prospective coach take a screenshot of the Super Bowl victory if using an emulator, or take a picture of the TV if using the actual cartridge. I will also insist the prospective coach post screenshots from the “NFL Leaders” section in the season menu prior to playing the Super Bowl — we need to inspect his yards/TDs/INTs with “QB BROWNS” as well as offensive and defensive stats for the skill players. I will be also taking a look at his FG% with Jerry Kauric, and whether he took it the house (and if so, how many times?) with Metcalf on KRs/PRs. It’s fine with me if he customizes the 8-play playbook, or subs in Leroy Hoard and Brian Brennan to his heart’s content.