Buckeyes Roundball Roundup: Splitting a pair with the state of Virginia
December 8, 2015A Redditor has created Mike Pettine Bingo
December 8, 2015Fans of the Cleveland Browns are used to closing the proverbial book on the season well before Christmas or New Year’s Eve are celebrated. 2015 will be the eighth straight losing season for the Browns and the 13th straight season which will end without a playoff trip. They have had only one season with more than seven wins over that timespan, and this particular season seems especially lost given the nature of the continual blowout defeats.
However, as every book closes, a new one emerges in the promise (or curse) of a new season forthcoming. Whether or not the organization should sustain stability or fire Mike Pettine / Ray Farmer has already been discussed and will continue to be discussed throughout the rest of the season. Here the focus shall be on the players worth watching through the end of the season and which should be retained moving forward.
Cleveland Browns Offense
Position: Quarterback
High Quality:
Roster Worthy: Josh McCown (IR), Johnny Manziel
Good Luck Elsewhere: Austin Davis, Connor Shaw (IR)
If the Browns elect to throw out all of their current quarterback options and start over, it would be completely understandable. Despite a modicum of success this season — hat tip to offensive coordinator John DeFilippo and quarterback coach Kevin O’Connnell — none of these players seem destined for stardom unless Johnny Manziel demonstrates something special through the remainder of the season.
Position: Wide Receiver
High Quality: Josh Gordon (Suspended), Travis Benjamin
Roster Worthy: Andrew Hawkins, Brian Hartline
Good Luck Elsewhere: Dwayne Bowe, Taylor Gabriel, Darius Jennings, Terrelle Pryor
The mess of the Browns current situation is perfectly encapsulated by their wide receiver position. Bowe and Hartline have another year on their contracts, which the Browns would likely love to get out from under. Benjamin is set to be an unrestricted free agent (UFA) after a year when he broke out as a great deep threat. The best receiver on the team, Gordon, is not even allowed to practice with the team. However, the biggest local story of the year is about Pryor, a player who has yet to appear in an actual game despite practice squad call-up Darius Jennings being prominently featured against the Bengals.
Position: Tight End
High Quality: Gary Barnidge
Roster Worthy: E.J. Bibbs, Randall Telfer (IR-non-football)
Good Luck Elsewhere: Jim Dray
Another position where the player the Browns would likely want to leave is signed for another season (Dray), and the one who broke out as a big playmaker this season is an UFA (Barnidge). Good luck crafting a message to convince these players to stay.
Position: Running Back
High Quality:
Roster Worthy: Duke Johnson Jr., Malcolm Johnson
Good Luck Elsewhere: Isaiah Crowell, Glenn Winston
Running the ball has been absent from the Browns this season and the complete meltdowns of Crowell and Terrance West are a huge part of it. West is not even on the team anymore, and it is likely time for the same to be said of Crowell. After a summer where running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery was practically begging someone to take hold of the job, it is now winter and no one has done so.
Duke Johnson has looked good in a Darren Sproles/receiver back type of way. Despite being an abomination this season, fullback tends to take a couple seasons to master, giving the “other” Johnson (Malcolm) at least some promise moving forward.
Position: Offensive Line
High Quality: Joe Thomas
Roster Worthy: Joel Bitonio (IR), Alex Mack, Mitchell Schwartz, John Greco, Cameron Erving, Michael Bowie (IR)
Good Luck Elsewhere: Austin Pasztor, Darrian Miller
Well, if you want to trust PFF with all your being, then this is a top-five unit in the NFL. However, for those of us that have watched the game a bit more closely, we have seen issues. Now, the OL is certainly much better than the sack and yards per rush numbers indicate, but the struggle for a consistent push up front is real. The talent is there, though, and it will be up to the coaching staff to find a run blocking scheme better suited to this group (i.e. the zone-blocking scheme Kyle Shanahan used was much more equipped to be used with this athletic — but not mauling — line).
The real concerns for the offensive line are that Mitchell Schwartz is an UFA and Alex Mack can opt out of his contract to become an UFA. The Browns OL of 2015 has struggled, but the Browns OL of 2016 without these two players — both of whom could be debated as moving into the “high quality” category — is horrific to consider. It is not as if Cameron Erving has calmed anyone’s nerves about having the capacity to take over for Mack at center.
Cleveland Browns Defense
Position: Safety
High Quality: Tashaun Gipson
Roster Worthy: Ibraheim Campbell, Jordan Poyer, Donte Whitner
Good Luck Elsewhere:
Gipson has struggled to stay on the field, but he has still been one of the few bright spots on the defense when healthy. Whitner took a step back this season, but he can still be a useful piece along with Campbell and Poyer.
Position: Cornerback
High Quality: Joe Haden
Roster Worthy: K’Waun Williams, Tramon Williams, Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (IR), Charles Gaines, Justin Gilbert
Good Luck Elsewhere: Pierre Desir, Don Jones
Haden likely wants to forget 2015 ever existed. Horrific season for him both with injuries and his attempts to play with those injuries. He should be back to his usual self in 2016. K’Waun and Tramon Williams both had high and low points, but showed enough to be part of the forward solution. Gilbert will have to play to prove he belongs on the roster.
Position: Linebacker
High Quality:
Roster Worthy: Karlos Dansby, Christian Kirksey, Paul Kruger, Nate Orchard, Scott Solomon (IR)
Good Luck Elsewhere: Armonty Bryant, Craig Robertson, Barkevious Mingo, Tank Carder
The weakness of the defense starts with the linebacking group. The group has failed in so many categories: sealing the edge, generating a pass rush, taking angles on tackles, wrapping up on tackles, and in coverage.
Position: Defensive Line
High Quality:
Roster Worthy: Danny Shelton, Desmond Bryant, Xavier Cooper, Randy Starks
Good Luck Elsewhere: John Hughes III, Jamie Meder
Shelton did not have the impact year many hoped he would, but he also was not one of the bigger problems. Starks is the least talked-about free agent signing bust of the Browns offseason. Hughes is supposedly known for being a run-stopper but rarely stops a run. Meder was a great August story who never panned out. The group needs a whole lot of work.
Cleveland Browns Special Teams
Position: Kicker, Punter, Long-Snapper, Gunners
High Quality: Andy Lee, Marlon Moore
Roster Worthy: Travis Coons, Charley Hughlett, Johnson Bademosi
Good Luck Elsewhere:
Andy Lee might have been the best offseason acquisition for the Browns, which is only sad because he is the team’s punter. He lived up to the billing. Despite the kick-six against Baltimore, Coons has been a useful kicker throughout the season. His leg isn’t especially strong for the longer field goal attempts, but he is young and should get stronger as his career unfolds. (If you don’t know who Hughlett is, then he is doing his job well.)
Your Turn
There have to be players who you do not agree with their categorization. Let me know where I have it wrong and why in the comments, while keeping in mind the Before You Comment guidelines. Enjoy.
117 Comments
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hi tb2…nope on Bosa not with this coaching staff just don’t see that working. The scenario needed is, hold on, is for Manziel to show something ON the field these last four games which makes the need to discuss the QB position irrelevant. You keep him and McCown and as you mentioned you trade down. IMO the deck is stacked against Johnny Deuce because he has no WRs, lost his only weapon possibly in Barnidge, the OL sucks especially with Bitonio out and the RBs can’t run. So if the Deuce shows anything then maybe just maybe we can forget about the QB position between him and McCown.
If the Deuce has only marginal success which I expect and has any and I mean any more off field issues then he’s gone. I keep McCown as my starter and I draft another rookie QB AFTER I trade out of the #1. Preferably I’d like to see Tennessee be a buffer between #1 and #3 so if I’m Cleveland I know they won’t draft a QB and I look to make a deal for #3.
The problem is all of the above requires a more competent GM as well as a coaching staff who is more suited to developing and coaching college talent to become professionals. It’s not this HC or staff. Mike Pettine is a coordinator at best not a head coach. Not now.
Joe Thomas is really amazing shiny rims on our 1982 Buick Century that stalls out in intersections (my first car).
You’ll have to replace Gipson for sure.
What are we afraid of?
that’ll take another 3K words or so to begin.
I said as much after the loss to Pittsburgh. Fans like to go on about the Browns lacking a culture of winning, yet they then want to ignore that Thomas has been the one constant throughout years of the dysfunction.
Not to blame him for all the ills the Browns have suffered because that’s just silly, but he is (or at least should be) the veteran leader for the offense, if not the team. Yet when we’ve had stuff like Gordon and Manziel both acting the fool, does anyone step up? Maybe there’s nothing Thomas can really do in those situations, but he’s the only guy in that locker room with the reputation and time served to at least try. Now we’ve got Hartline and Hawkins biting their tongues, probably because they’re tired of an offensive game plan that gets them killed for 6-yard receptions. Hartline doesn’t want to complain and lose his job, but I wonder what veteran leader has enough respect to say something to the powers that be and maybe help his teammates out?
And since I’m rolling: I’ve seen too many times where McCown gets late shot and then pulls himself up off the turf while Thomas just watches the whole time. The Pittsburgh game was particularly tough to watch. It was like our offensive and Pittsburgh’s defensive coaches were conspiring to get our WRs killed. Yet nobody steps up. Nobody does something unseemly to send a message that our guys shouldn’t be abused like that. Nobody tells Flip that padding the stats at the cost of player safety is unacceptable. Again, not sure if anything would even come of it, but it sure seems like someone should step up. And who should that be?
Oh, and I constantly hear about how Thomas doesn’t have to practice all the time during training camp. What message does that send again? Accountability and all that, except for really gifted players who the coaches like.
in my mind , it would be really hard for farmer to screw this up , whether he keeps #1 overall or trades down … farmer redeems himself this year.
I am a Michigan guy who wanted both Braylon and Robiskie…BUT AT LEAST I WANTED TO DRAFT WRS!
No way! When it comes to the Browns, our worst fears have already been realized.
Team moved? Check
Perpetually losing? Check
Constant laughingstock irrelevance? Check
Death of cherished rivalries? Check
Blown drafts, year after year? Check
Ravens as Super Bowl winners? Check and check.
Uniforms changed? Check.
At this point, the only thing we have to fear is fear itself (and logos on the helmet).
Preach!
we “are afraid of” staying the course … even though it may mean hitting rock-bottom , which we are currently doing.
LMFAO !!!!
This made my day: https://www.change.org/p/arthur-blank-fire-kyle-shanahan
Beat me to it.
Yea, I agree with your assessment mostly but I would keep Desir and drop Malcom Johnson. Easily the worst fullback in the league. We need a quality guy in that spot if we are going to run this offensive scheme. I know we may blow it all up again and start with a different system yet again next year but that’s a different issue.
“hat tip to offensive coordinator John DeFilippo and quarterback coach Kevin O’Connnell”
I have taken a 180 on DeFilippo over the course of the season. Clearly, defenses know that our offense is based on completing short passes while being completely ineffective at running the ball. To counter this appraoch, they’ve taken to keeping the game in-front of them and punishing our wide receivers after the catch (and quarterbacks after the throw). This allows our offense to make a few first downs, but leads to our players getting physically worn down (both over the course of the game and the season as a whole). And since we lack a red zone threat, this dink-and-dunk gets less effective as the team moves down the field and the area of play gets smaller. I think this is why we see our QBs going 30/40 for 350 yards while putting up all of 13 points. I think it’s also why all our receivers are dead and Brian Hartline is afraid of what he might say to reporters.
Fire everyone.
Everyone, really?
Yes.
You can’t be serious.
I am.
Everyone?
Yes.
But Joe Thom…..
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Um did you say you think it would be hard? And if so were you being serious? I can see Farmer screwing this up 99% if somehow he manages to retain his position.
the chances are much lower than 99% that he will screw-it-up …
Poor Kyle he’s amassing quite the pitchfork following. But this raises an interesting question. Is it worse to be a Browns fan where not much is expected so when the product stinks it doesn’t matter? Or a Falcons fan who was teased with a great start to the season only to have it all implode and the bottom fall out? Ironically Browns fans experienced this when none other then Kyle Shanahan was their OC too.
Dude we need to party sometime ‘cuz u must have some great s&^t!
I think you hit the nail on the head here.
Irrelevant Question. PERIOD. The only question that matters is will Haslem hire the right guy to replace Farmer, a football moron who is responsible for a handful of roster moves any moron fan can figure out was a mistake. Browns were not the worst team in the NFL when Farmer took over but they are now. PERIOD. Get all the idiot coaches and GM out, get everyone out, and hire someone who can make competent decision that we the fans can’t make. We may be football idiots as we are not in football professionally, but any CPA (me) can look at the Browns and say “Browns=Bad” and “Browns were bad before Farmer, and are worse with Farmer, i.e. 2-10”
Lets think more like a CPA, Browns have highest paid Defense in the league, and they rank 31st (second to last) in the NFL. Hence, we have all the accounting documented evidence we need to fire the farmer clown…
Any corporation in America would replace Farmer if we translate Farmer’s production in business and financial terms. There are ZERO ways you can say he was a success.
And yes, I get that the browns are bad because ownership fired the Chud crew too fast. And in hindsight, Haslem would have been better off with Chud and company than Pettine. The fact of the matter is, you don’t keep continuity when you have hit rock bottom. And yes, it can get worse, 20 years of no decent competitive football can turn into 30. Period.
He has a “concussion”.
I personally don’t think Haden has been high quality in years but I agree with the rest.
The only way he, or any other RB is going to see open field, is if we use a catapult.
I swear the Browns are the only team in the league that loses players to concussions for 4+ weeks at a time. Someone should check to make sure our players aren’t wearing plastic toy helmets by mistake.
It was a strange play. Haden got burned yet again and fell down trying to tackle.
At least you can’t accuse all of our players of being thick headed, amiright?
Remember it can always get worse.
The last paragraph is something that should scare people with this team. The highest paid defense and it is dead last. Not only that but I heard that they are on pace to be the worst defense in the teams history as far as points allowed go.
So this means even spending doesn’t help. If I was Haslam and my GM had achieved this that would be reason #1 as to why I fired him.
The way Norv Turner was treated didn’t go unnoticed around the league. The fact that he and Chudzinski were replaced by what is there now only compounds things. Haslam in the short time he’s been in Cleveland makes people miss Randy Lerner and I never thought I’d type let alone think it.
I disagree with the lofty status of PFF, but our OL is not putrid either. Just a middle of pack OL. But, they are a much better pass-blocking group than run-blocking group.
Despite it, Crowell is often his own worst enemy. The goalline play against the Ravens? He stood there rather than going full steam into the hole (which was there) and got tackled from behind.
Yeah, but if we draft the next Robiskie and MoMass and Quincy Morgan, then does it really help anything?
This guy needs a power point presentation to go with his petition.
Young ‘Shanny was looking like a genius when they were 5-0. And the Brownies were looking like suckers to let him go. (of course now the Brownies look foolish for a multitude of reasons that aren’t letting Shanahan walk.)
I much preferred 2014. I was really angry about now, but I had real joy at portions of the season too (which is why I was real angry in December because I lost that joy).
hi BOB … i would put the defense on pettine & o’neill , not farmer … but that’s just me.
downside to coaching a Matt Ryans / Julio Jones offense: if you are not successful, then that is your own fault and everyone knows it.
You are absolutely correct. Pittsburgh did this the most effectively when they went straight into an umbrella defense (daring us to run, which we could not).
However, despite all the limitations, I still have seen the offense get guys like Benjamin and Barnidge open on the seams and use action with the WRs to open up a side of the field. Lots of good things, when doing good things against defenses who know you are limited makes everything harder.
He cannot cover Antonio Brown, but he (before ’15) was able to cover the bigger guys like Calvin, AJ, D.Thomas, and Fitz as well as anyone in the NFL.
Gives us one less thing to complain about? But who wants that…
Right now, it is all we have. But, do not fret, we will always find something new to complain about. It is our gift to the world.
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So, “I’m not playing another down and risking one more second of my life for this crap franchise” constitutes a “concussion.”
I would have to go back and look. He was solid up until 2014 or perhaps this year.
I wish we could go back and again if you asked me at that time I’d never have admitted to it. I also never thought I’d miss Buster Skrine or Jabal Sheard either but based on their success this season with new teams I think it’s clear the problem was the Browns and not them.
The OL is hands down my biggest disappointment of the team. For a group that was going to be heavily depended upon to play the way they have is another disturbing sign. Not to beat a dead horse but I still maintain the loss of their position coach hurt. But probably the offensive scheming hurt more.
Schemes, plans, uses yes but not the personnel itself.
Haden did do well against AJ Green but he never shutdown the others and Antonio Brown flat out owns Haden.