While We’re Waiting… Wins all around!
September 30, 2013Like ’97, Tribe turns to the kid
September 30, 2013Who caught your eye? Did someone stand out? Who blew it? That’s what were interested in this morning. Winners and losers.
The Browns are tied atop the AFC North. Sure it’s only been four games, but we need to take the small victories where we can get them.
Heck of a performance by the defense. Game balls all around.
WINNER: Joe Haden. Haden shut down all-everything receiver A.J. Green. Green finished the game with seven catches for 51 yards but had a flourish at the end of the game to get there. The game film will eventually show that Haden probably didn’t give up half those yards to Green. That’s what a shutdown corner does. That’s what Haden is.
WINNER: Jordan Cameron. For a good chunk of the second half, it felt like 4 and 5 yard passes to Cameron over the middle were replacing our running game. Cameron took a beating in this one, but held on to the football and continued his incredible string to start the season.
With Cameron’s fifth touchdown catch of the season, he’s already in rare company. The only Browns tight ends to haul in five TDs are Cameron, Winslow and Ozzie Newsome who did it three times.
WINNER: Barkevious Mingo. Mingo played very well in his first start, and the most action he’s seen since back at LSU. He had a sack, a couple of tackles for loss as well as a couple of passes batted down or tipped. He wasn’t perfect. There were a couple times against the run that the Bengals got to the edge against him, but a pretty impressive first start.
LOSER: The running game. The Browns finally got some production from the running game on the long touchdown drive, but it was pretty ugly before that drive. They finished the game with 89 yards rushing on 30 carries. 35 of those yards came on 7 carries in that game clinching drive.
Really there were no big losers in this game. Unless you are a Bengal.
Your turn…
76 Comments
WINNER: Hoyer. It’s his team now.
LOSER: Greg Little. Has he gotten open yet this year?
WINNER: Skrine. Not there yet, but has improved a lot since game 1.
WINNER: Fans get to walk up West 3rd Street happy.
WINNERS:
Hoyer: You win games like this by protecting the football. Although there were some close calls, ultimately, said football was protected.
Obie: They gave him a good number of touches and he did good things with those touches, like score a game clinching TD.
Haden: Pro Bowl. He’s had an amazing season thus far.
LOSERS:
TRich: 60 yards on 20 carries sounds about right.
Little: When the only impact you made on the game was a nice block, you’re not contributing.
Cundiff: Left 6 easy points out there.
Hardesty: 4 years. 500 yards. 1 TD. Glad we traded up for all of that production.
Heckert: Yes, I’m piling on.
Winner: Greg Little for embracing his new role in special teams, setting up solid field position with his hard, hole-hitting runs after both CIN field goals.
Winner: Phil Taylor. An absolute animal. He’s Pro Bowl bound if he keeps this up.
Loser: Third down defense. Picking nits, perhaps, but there were entirely too many 3rd-and-longs converted for my liking. Thankfully, the 3rd-and-14 to Gresham was negated by a dumb penalty, forcing a CIN punt late in the game. Outcome could’ve been a lot different if not for that back breaker.
Loser: Billy Cundiff. Injury or not, dude wiped out mid-field during a practice kick. C’mon.
I’m a well-known Greg Little basher, and he still stinks on offense, but what I do like to see from him is the competent kick returning he has brought. He doesn’t have big time speed and he’s not flashy, but if he brings it out you at least know that he’s going to get past the 20 yard line.
That’s fair. On Special Teams, he’s played well.
Winner:
The offensive line: Holding that Bengals defensive line to 3 sacks, 5 TFLs, and only 6 QB hits is a win, particularly when Oniel Cousins and 2013 Mitchell Schwartz are members of that line.
Buster Skrine: The kid has had two solid games in a row, and seems to be flashing the confidence that coaching staffs have seen in practice. He’s locking down that CB2 role right now.
Loser:
Davone Bess: His first bad game with the Browns. He didn’t really seem to get open as much yesterday, and when he did he botched the play. Chalk this one up as unusual and watch him get it right on Thursday.
Tashaun Gipson: The Bengals picked on him a good bit in that game. He was a second late in coverage all game long. He did have a few nice hits though.
Maybe his role needs to be Special Teams Ace, a la Nick Sorensen, Blake Costanzo, Jason Trusnik, etc.
WINNERS
– Haden: this was the break-out game, the whole package worthy of Hanford and Minniefield: Game-long concentration, technique and relentless physical play while being targeted all day. The broadcast team announced Green had 22 yards after 3 quarters, meaning his remaining 30 yards came in the final drive while they were ceding the underneath stuff. And the refs respect Haden enough now to not call the obvious illegal contact in Green’s end zone corner route. Yesterday the Pro Bowl-level performance arrived.
– Tackling: the whole defense. This is the best tackling team since Bud Carson. Even the smurfs wrap up, every time.
– Mingo: for years I’ve been begging for the snot nose, stop-the-nonsense LB who makes the center point and keeps the screens and scrambles from going 30 yards. Mingo’s not exactly that leader guy, but the effect is the same. He’s Mr. Chaos, creating it and exploiting it. When the ball is loose or the QB confused, he pounces as quickly as any Brown I’ve seen since maybe Jerry Sherk. And love how low he charges, reducing his weight disadvantage. Real deal. Kudos, Lombardi.
– Hoyer’s moxie: does not die a little in the moment. Not at all convinced he’s the future, but watching him calmly grab the game by the cajones for the second week in a row makes me embarrassed for thinking Weeden is close to ready to do that. My fav play: 9:40 to go in the 4th, avoids huge rush and extends play for a 5 yard throw to the RB, making it 3rd down and makeable. Which they did. A QB has to make plays himself.
– Cousins: never heard his name.
– Norv Turner: for hiding the lack of a running game second week in a row. Pretty perfect play calling.
– Physical play, both sides of ball: I’ve always thought that when the Browns finally get physical enough to compete they’d initially steal a few division wins against opponents who can’t believe it after 15 years of domination. Believe yesterday was one of those games. Watch how Cincy reacts next game.
LOSERS
– Dalton: really horrible game. Took the Browns for granted? I thought he was better than this. He had great match-ups with his tight ends but wouldn’t adjust off A.J. Green. Stupid.
– Weeden: now that the HC sees how the system can run with a no-name, don’t think he’ll be starting again unless due to injury.
– Chud’s sunglasses: a fashion crisis. We’re presumably safe Thursday night, but if it’s not overcast the next game I’m calling Mike Brown for an intervention.
I’m surprised they’re having him do that, given that it’s clear he doesn’t have the speed to break one. But maybe this is the new era of deep kick-offs: forget the TD, just get it to the 25-30.
Is Mike Brown known for his stylish sunglasses?
Interesting how you mention the short passes replacing the running game then call the running game itself a loser. Thing is, short passes/WR screens (which were also very effective) have pretty much replaced the running game in the NFL. Those short passes might as well be considered runs as they are just as low risk. As it has been for years, the running game is meaningless. This offense has been good to above average when not Brandon Weeden is passing to not Greg Little. Key word: passing.
For me, the play you talk about at 9:40 in the 4th was the play of the game, even though we only picked up a few yards. I was sitting in that end zone, and I thought for sure he was going down. If he gets sacked there and we end up punting out of our own end zone in a 10-6 game, that’s a total momentum shift and we might have let that game get away from us. The game clinching drive never gets off the ground without that play. Hoyer was money on that drive, and that play was crucial.
winners
Browns & Fans – 1st place in AFC North
Hoyer – much better in 2nd game. 2-0 as a Browns starting QB.
Gordon/Cameron – having weapons on offense is nice.
Haden/Mingo/Taylor – defense too.
OL pass blocking – much better this week against a stout Cinci DL.
Browns FO – Hoyer, Mingo, Richardson struggling w/ Indy, Pitt 0-4. They are looking pretty dang smart this week.
losers
Bengals & Fans – hope you enjoyed getting waxed by the Texans in the playoffs the past 2 years, but your team still has Dalton under center.
AJ Green – he’s really going to have to wash that uniform to get out the smell of Haden’s cologne as Green never could shake him.
Cinci OL – owned all day.
Cundiff – ugh.
Browns OL run-blocking – it wasn’t all the RBs (though they rarely helped).
winners
Browns & Fans – 1st place in AFC North
Hoyer – much better in 2nd game. 2-0 as a Browns starting QB.
Gordon/Cameron – having weapons on offense is nice.
Haden/Mingo/Taylor – defense too.
OL pass blocking – much better this week against a stout Cinci DL.
Browns FO – Hoyer, Mingo, Richardson struggling w/ Indy, Pitt 0-4. They are looking pretty dang smart this week.
losers
Bengals & Fans – hope you enjoyed getting waxed by the Texans in the playoffs the past 2 years, but your team still has Dalton under center.
AJ Green – he’s really going to have to wash that uniform to get out the smell of Haden’s cologne as Green never could shake him.
Cinci OL – owned all day.
Cundiff – ugh.
Browns OL run-blocking – it wasn’t all the RBs (though they rarely helped).
Just a couple to add…
Winner: Chud. Though it didn’t amount to much, great challenge on the first down spot.
Winner: Norv. Final drive starting with about 11:15 in the 4th, said to my friend, what they need to do is run it down the field, score a TD and kill the clock. Obvious to me and Norv and all of you, but Shurmur would have done the opposite.
Loser: Phil Dawson. Niners looked dominant on Thursday against a weak team, but Phil’s not getting the opportunities and SF hasn’t yet shown they’re as strong as last year. Niners fans aren’t thrilled with him either. Clearly there would still have been a need for him here, and without a doubt, lots of love.
Just a couple to add…
Winner: Chud. Though it didn’t amount to much, great challenge on the first down spot.
Winner: Norv. Final drive starting with about 11:15 in the 4th, said to my friend, what they need to do is run it down the field, score a TD and kill the clock. Obvious to me and Norv and all of you, but Shurmur would have done the opposite.
Loser: Phil Dawson. Niners looked dominant on Thursday against a weak team, but Phil’s not getting the opportunities and SF hasn’t yet shown they’re as strong as last year. Niners fans aren’t thrilled with him either. Clearly there would still have been a need for him here, and without a doubt, lots of love.
WINNER: Buster Skrine. Absolutely incredible game. I never thought the criticisms in the first game were completely fair, and the last two games he’s gone back on balls that were not even his responsibility, making up about 5-10 yards in just one-two seconds (!!!) on NFL WRs and TEs, knocking the balls away – including one TD throw in each game. Those were unbelievable plays.
WINNER: Shaun Lavauo and Jason Pinkston. Suffice it to say the Browns’ running game is eagerly awaiting their returns. There were a few plays where on the replay you see Oniel Cousins about five yards behind the line of scrimmage on a running play. Ugh. He wasn’t as horrible in pass protection, but he’s got to go.
WINNER: Greg Little. Look how good he looks when he starts with the ball already in his hands! He’s doing a great job of blocking as a WR as well.
WINNER: Joe Banner and Co. Every player they’ve brought in is performing (unless they’re hurt). That front 7 looks monstrous.
WINNER: Spencer Lanning. He’s looked better and better each week. Those were some great punts yesterday, and filling in at K for kickoffs and holding etc. etc. Good job.
LOSERS: The entire rest of the AFC North. WOO!!!
WINNER: Buster Skrine. Absolutely incredible game. I never thought the criticisms in the first game were completely fair, and the last two games he’s gone back on balls that were not even his responsibility, making up about 5-10 yards in just one-two seconds (!!!) on NFL WRs and TEs, knocking the balls away – including one TD throw in each game. Those were unbelievable plays.
WINNER: Shaun Lavauo and Jason Pinkston. Suffice it to say the Browns’ running game is eagerly awaiting their returns. There were a few plays where on the replay you see Oniel Cousins about five yards behind the line of scrimmage on a running play. Ugh. He wasn’t as horrible in pass protection, but he’s got to go.
WINNER: Greg Little. Look how good he looks when he starts with the ball already in his hands! He’s doing a great job of blocking as a WR as well.
WINNER: Joe Banner and Co. Every player they’ve brought in is performing (unless they’re hurt). That front 7 looks monstrous.
WINNER: Spencer Lanning. He’s looked better and better each week. Those were some great punts yesterday, and filling in at K for kickoffs and holding etc. etc. Good job.
LOSERS: The entire rest of the AFC North. WOO!!!
I’m extrapolating to all eye wear. Mike knows you never wanna look like a chubby little kid trying on Dad’s shades. The refs will never take you seriously, they’re just thinking “what a doofus.”
Exactly what I said to the guy next to me when they started that drive. They needed to get up two scores there and for the first time in a long time they did it. Awesome.
make sure he knows you are talking about Cavs HC Mike Brown and not befuddled Bengals owner Mike Brown.
To add to that – Green’s yards late came when they’d motion him out so Owens ended up on him instead of Haden.
And amen on the tackling. It feels like the Browns simply do NOT miss tackles 98% of the time. (Especially Skrine, Robertson, and the interior D-line.)
Yeah, I figured it was Cavs Mike Brown which was why I was confused. Not a ton of sunglasses going on inside the Q. Though he did show some quality specs, so now I get Harv’s point.
He doesn’t stink on offense, just at catching balls. He’s been a great blocker on runs and screens and upfield. He really does everything well except, well… catch the ball. It’s nice on special teams where it’s an easier catch and then he gets to break tackles and use his moves/speed.
Don’t forget, Greg Little was originally a RB. Frankly, I’d like to see them convert him back to the position, even if just for a little bit.
I suggested a few weeks back they should make him a RB and Richardson a WR. I still think a shot at RB for him is worthwhile to try out.
Ha haaa! Chud’s haircut could use some work too.
Winners: Everyone except Cundiff. Specifically:
Hoyer: Hometown guy, living his dream of starting QB for the Browns in a key division game against a solid Cincy team. Would have been easy to be overwhelmed by the moment. What does he do? 269/2TD/0INT, and lead a game clinching 91 yard 4th quarter drive. Congrats, man. Here are the keys. This team (and city) is yours now. Keep it up. (Sorry, Brandon…it’s over)
Mingo: 3 games, 3 sacks, not to mention the countless disruptive plays. He’s the real deal.
Haden: I’m not sure there is another CB I would rather have. Single handedly took AJ Green out of the game. Pro Bowl.
Cameron: the numbers say it all. He’s a total mismatch and a great safety valve. That was a big time TD grab. He was covered…he just went and got it.
Front 7: Sheard and Winn were out, and we didn’t miss a beat. That’s what depth does for you.
Fans: I was concerned about the overall vibe at the stadium since it was the first game since “the trade”. The place was rockin’. Had a lot of fun yesterday on a day that I was just hoping to hang with the Bengals, not thoroughly whip them.
Losers: the Steelers. They are worse than I thought they would be, and I thought they would be bad. Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch…
True, he’s a good blocker, but you can’t hold up a receiver position with a one-dimensional player like that. His yards-after-catch numbers have been consistently terrible since he’s been with the Browns… he just doesn’t beat the first man very often. He doesn’t really have good moves/speed from what I’ve seen. He does have some power if he gets a head of steam.
yeah, I forgot about Taylor. Played like an angry beast. Had a few where he shed double teams like the second coming of Casey Hampton. The players clearly love this defense, and Taylor clogging the middle seems like its fulcrum, the roro-rooter that opens things up for everyone else.
Little’s been switched back and forth between WR and RB since high school. Nobody can figure out what to do with him because he’s basically built like a strong WR, but seems to have more strengths in a RB role. When he runs, he reminds me of Eddie George. He’s tall and carries the ball kind of high… most teams would prefer a shorter/stockier RB that can hide behind offensive linemen and has a low center of gravity.
Agreed on Skrine. He has redeemed himself. He made some big time plays yesterday.
I still love this suggestion and wish NFL teams had the guts to pull a move like this.
i wouldn’t be opposed to some plays that get him the ball in the backfield. Perhaps not a standard hand off b/c I think that might be painfully obvious, but something creative.
Sorry I missed it. I’m with you. Let Cooper see the field at WR; play Little at RB (some). Let’s get creative.
This team needs to just go ahead a do whatever they need to do to win, and break all conventions. We’re already doing that to some degree: Hoyer; TR trade. It’s Indians-style Browns football.
yeah, Gipson is not anticipating the ball but I thought he hit hard, especially the rib shot to the tight end in the fourth (while TJ Ward just watched from behind – I’m becoming convinced his early fines for personal fines keep him from being the intimidator in the secondary they envisioned. He will unload on RBs and sideline routes, but rarely jars a receiver in the middle like Gipson did).
I feel like those BS fines need to be covered by the whole team. Players create a pool of money for BS fines, and that way your enforcer doesn’t need to take such a big financial hit for doing his job.
have to disagree. He was not consistently getting open against the opponent’s second corner and certainly not against the top corner, probably because defenses now understand he can’t run by anyone. Size and strength with no hands and mediocre route-running limits his role greatly.
I should have written except be a WR in terms of what that entails. He’s good at the other facets of the game.
Agreed on not holding up a WR position for him.
and I thought the other play of the game was Cincy’s errant snap on a first down at our 40 in the 4th quarter. Fourteen yard loss when Mingo streaked at the ball like a starving man. It’s like their whole team was getting panicky as the game got late and they still trailed.
I missed the first quarter of the game and was following using the game app on NFL.com. There was a Browns kickoff that NFL.com showed as Lanning only kicking for like 17 yards? Did he botch a kickoff, did the Browns try to sneak in an onside kick and fail, did the Bengals run that kickoff back that far, or is NFL.com just completely crazy? They had some other problems in the game as well, crediting a 17-yard loss on a Bobby Rainey run in the red zone that seemingly never occurred.
Espn said it was a squib. I missed it too. Probaby saw something in the tapes that they wanted to try in the game. Love the guts on special teams.
Right before it I actually said to my friend next to me that I wondered if the reason the ST group was huddled up was to discuss an onside kick. It looks like he tried to line the ball off one of the front men, but the guy actually managed to get his hands up and catch it.
Considering how the D was playing, and that Lanning isn’t really getting touchbacks since he’s a punter, I thought it was a worthwhile gamble. It was just odd because it happened so fast.
I don’t see the Rainey run.
The odd play to me was the second missed FG, which looked from the stands like a block because it came out dead and not end over end at all, but everyone seems to be saying it was just a bad miss. Clearly Cundiff is badly hurt.
don’t think it was a squib when he kicked it that hard. Had the up man not knocked it straight down much more likely would have gone behind him, well away from the kicking team. I think this was a punter filling in for a kicker and missing the sweet spot. If it was a squib, horrible. And you shouldn’t ask a punter to try that.
don’t think it was a squib when he kicked it that hard. Had the up man not knocked it straight down much more likely would have gone behind him, well away from the kicking team. I think this was a punter filling in for a kicker and missing the sweet spot. If it was a squib, horrible. And you shouldn’t ask a punter to try that.
It sure took awhile before someone said the front office as a winner I should have know it would be you ‘bode because you are absolutely right. I must say for someone who has been critical of them they sure look good right now. That being said it’s only week five but 2-2 is better then I had them at this point. When you factor in a change at QB, RB, Mingo coming off a lung injury, Gordon being suspended for two games and the lack of a real kicker .500 is a victory!
I just looked at it again, and Lanning seems to be aiming it as a line drive at the guy (and he says something about it to someone on the sideline after), though it is unclear.
Should also add – I had to look up who #47 was on the Browns because he lined up in the Wildcat as QB twice (and the first time, Cincy immediately blew a timeout). Did anyone know the Browns have a “TE” who actually played QB and some WR in college named Marqueis Gray? I’m betting most teams are not ready for a guy wearing #47 who they’ve never heard of to line up at QB, let alone actually be able to throw like a QB. Looking forward to a play to three of that each game.