Browns Film Room: What to expect from Spencer Drango at LT
October 26, 2017Indians add Carl Willis as pitching coach—again
October 26, 2017I’m not calling for the Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson to be fired… yet. The rebuild is still less than two years old where most every useful veteran was removed from the roster leaving this staff with the youngest team in the NFL, two years running. The expectations were that executing The Plan from the Harvard Brain Trust (HBT) would be a difficult process that left us frustrated as the foundation of future contending years was built.
However, there were some expectations of competence and development for Year 2. Having the most penalized team with the worst turnover ratio, least amount of points per game scored, and a bottom 10 defense in points per game is not what anybody had in mind. Development is never a linear process, but it is disheartening to see how wretched the team has been in 2017.
After a 2016 season in Jackson led the team to a 1-15 record, there were many proclamations how it was not a death knell in the NFL as many great, successful coaches before him had initial stumbles before building great teams. It should also then be noted these coaches showed obvious progress- in wins and losses- in the second year. Tom Landry went 0-11-1 his first year, but 4-9 his second. Jimmie Johnson’s 1-15 with Troy Aikman was followed by a 7-9 season. Chuck Knoll’s 1-13 saw a 5-9 step. And, Bill Walsh jumped from 2-14 to 6-10. No one on this list was competing for playoff spots, let alone championships, that second year, but they sure were a much more competitive team.
After a 0-7 start for the Browns, even achieving four wins- the low bar above though with three more games in which to achieve it- would require a 4-5 finish, which seems near impossible from the efforts on the field thus far. If not, the only head coach in NFL history I could find with a similar start to his career that continued to be employed in Year 3 was John McVay. He went 0-14, then 2-12 with the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers before eventually rebounding some and scraping three playoff seasons together in his nine seasons with the team.1
Compounding the matter is Jackson’s handling of the quarterback situation. While the Browns hold a less than ideal combination at the game’s most important position, Jackson has done little to calm anyone about it with his proclamations and actions along the way. Cody Kessler entered Training Camp as the starter whom others would have to take it from him. It took less than two weeks before Kessler was third string with Brock Osweiler starting and DeShone Kizer taking second-string snaps. Kizer was named the starter before preseason Game 3 and Osweiler waived from the team by the end of August putting Kevin Hogan as the backup quarterback despite limited snaps received.
Jackson assured us he would stick with Kizer through the ups and downs of his rookie season. He did not. “I know what everybody is concerned about – that I have this quick hook.” Jackson said on Wednesday. Later adding “I have patience. I have had patience up until whatever game it was I first took him out.”
It was Week 5 when Kizer was benched for Hogan against the New York Jets giving Hogan the start in Week 6, which went so well that Kizer was re-instituted as the starter for Week 7 and Kessler emerged as the backup even before Hogan injured his ribs at practice. Jackson, again, benched Kizer during the Week 7 game after a couple of interceptions, but he, again, named Kizer the starter for Week 8. Yeah, everybody is concerned about that quick hook for a reason.
“Like I said, last week, (Kizer) started off extremely well. He has to finish it that way.” Jackson reasoned. “I would like to have a game where we have no turnovers, period. That is what we are chasing, and just see what happens after the game then and see where we are. That is the message that I give to the team and also to the quarterback room.”
Kizer does have a high interception rate- though lower than Hogan. He was also taking too many sacks early in the season; something he now does less than any of the other quarterbacks to take snaps behind center for the Browns. For his part, Kizer notes he understands where Jackson is trying to lead him. “You don’t ever have to worry about me not bringing aggressiveness. That is who I am.” Kizer said. “My instincts are always going to want to push the ball down the field, but also accepting that not putting the ball in harm’s way is the best thing for us.”
Jackson and the Browns head to London before their bye week. For their sake and our sanity, a surprise upset victory over the Minnesota Vikings would be grand. There are fewer and fewer games left upon which the current coaches can help demonstrate they are part of the long-term solution in Cleveland. It is up to them to have something tangible to bring to their end of season exit interviews. Well, there’s nothing more tangible than some wins.
- Wow, let’s point out that the often derided and laughed at expansion Buccaneers would be a significant step up from what the Browns have given us since 1999. Sigh. [↩]
72 Comments
“Compounding the matter is Jackson’s handling of the quarterback situation.”
That’s all you need to know. Forget about everything else.
The guy who was hired directly BECAUSE OF his supposed expertise in this area has shown nothing even remotely resembling competency. “Trust me,” he said about Kessler. Kizer, he says, “He has all the tools to be a franchise quarterback.”
He has missed the mark by too much, too often to be considered a “QB Guru” anymore; and if he can’t even hang his hat on that, he has no reason to hang his hat in Cleveland anymore.
Depends on whether he still has those pics of Jimmah from that one time in Cabo…
(The Teflon Goldfish keeps his set under lock and key.)
good piece , MG … many are making a big deal of Hue benching KIzer … Hue has told his QB’s he will not tolerate turnovers … is this unreasonable ? Hue was fine after the first knuckle-headed throw into triple coverage that led to the 1st interception … after the 2nd interception he got yanked … I’m fine with that.
and Kizer is right back in there starting this week … and if Kizer turns the ball over multiple times & we’re not in the lead , he will probably get benched again.
Kizer has the highest int% in the NFL , not good … not to mention all the red-zone turnovers … that’s worse yet. Kizer has got to learn not to turn the ball over , he has to be smarter … that’s gotta be first & foremost right now.
I am totally fine with the way Hue is handling the QB’s right now.
as far as job security , I truly don’t think Haslam & the HBT were too concerned about wins last year or this year … i think we’d /they’d like to see steady improvement as this season goes along. i think they would have to lose every single game & look really really bad doing it for Hue to lose his job.
you can crack on Hue all you want , but the bottom line is : look what he has to work with … yes , i understand the criticisms about some of his coaching & play-calling … but how about we get a decent team around him first ?
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I’m all about giving Hue Jackson until (at least) the end of this season because we don’t have a coach in waiting. Firing Jackson now would do nothing for the team in the immediate future. I already know that I have zero interest in a team directed by Gregg Williams. I’ll say this, though. I think this team may have been worse up to this point than last year’s 1-15 team, and I just don’t see how that is possible. I see Schobert as an upgrade over Demario Davis. McCourty and Garrett are upgrades over Joe Haden and (pick a player). This offensive line is way better. This tight end group is stronger. I think Duke Johnson has improved. This is a better roster than last year from a talent perspective and they’re achieving less. That’s on Hue Jackson.
And I almost forgot… the schedule! Is this the easiest schedule the Browns have ever had? I think it might be. You have tanking Jets, a rookie-led Houston, Indy without Luck, Green Bay without Rodgers, Pittsburgh with a decrepit Roethlisberger, Cincy and Baltimore with losing records, another rookie QB in Chicago… I mean the Browns should be able to compete with this schedule to some degree.
Bode you nailed it. Yet is key here.
Now, can you explain why Kenny Britt is still on this team? I never in my wildest Browns nightmares thought it would be possible to despise a Cleveland Brown receiver more than Bowe, but here we are.
Yes, it is unreasonable to tell a rookie QB that if he throws an interception you are going to bench him. You need to allow him to process and develop and not play scared.
Now, what we don’t know— it is possible that Kizer has “too much Favre” in him and maybe it’s Hue’s way of trying to rein that in. I’m willing to watch how it plays out, which goes to that first line of this article.
Thank you, on Britt:
Ducking curfew I thought would be the excuse
Trashing the NFL in London I thought would be the excuse
Leaking that Gregg Williams warned the FO about Britt I thought would be the excuse
I don’t know what we are waiting for on him
We’re going to disagree vastly on this one. I think the roster has clearly been upgraded this season.
not “an” interception … multiple interceptions. Hue won’t yank him after throwing 1 interception … that happens … but multiple times & he’s outta there . Hue is trying to drill protecting the ball & being smart into his mind … THEN they can concentrate on the other QB things.
Why wasn’t Hogan benched during his game then?
hi PAT … upgraded … yes. this is also the youngest team in the NFL , younger than last year , starting a rookie QB who has no WR corps … he’s already behind the 8-ball going into every game.
easy … we have no one else. worst WR corps in the NFL ??
Hue needs to channel his inner John McKay, who when asked after another defeat what he thought of his teams execution said:
“I am all for it.”
The WR corps has been disappointing for sure and there have been drives stalled by drops and running the wrong route, but the real back-breaking plays have come from the QBs. The interceptions are why our otherwise solid defense gives up so many points. If the QBs were managing the game better, the Browns would look more like the Jaguars than their current form.
you’ll have to ask Hue … again , I’m okay with Hue’s handling of the QB’s … isn’t that the very first thing a QB should learn , be smart with the ball & don’t turn it over ? Hue is really trying to drive this point home & Kizer will probably be better because of it.
agreed … that’s why I’m okay with Hue being hard on his QB’s … he doesn’t have a veteran QB to lean on. the Browns should have at least 2 wins right now.
You’re right. We’d never find a receiver who can’t run routes, jumps offsides, drops passes and misses curfews on any other NFL practice squad.
seriously , can anyone imagine how hard this is for Hue ?? i’m sure he knew it would be tough , but this is the hand he was dealt … he puts-up a good front , but it’s gotta be killing him on the inside. he didn’t all-of-the-sudden turn into a bad coach.
No. The first thing a QB should learn is the playbook. The next thing, how to read NFL defenses. Being smart with the ball also does mean sometimes taking risks. The quotes to the media are alarming because he is so harsh on just the INTs- we have to hope that he isn’t solely harping on those in the QB room.
I mean, he’s not even trying.
You forgot not block on run plays but otherwise nailed it.
I just think the head coaching and play-calling duties are too much for him. He was dealt a solid defense, a dynamic running back, a talented TE group, and an excellent offensive line. Yes, he was also dealt a rookie QB, who he has effusively praised this year. The WR group is bad, but that’s not enough for me to give him a pass. He’s complicit in this disaster.
here’s what i’ve seen : Kizer held on to the ball way too long the first 2 games , i have seen improvement there. he also has improved on watching the play clock … and he was playing really well / smart last week , almost the whole first half , until he decided to throw into triple coverage.
Kizer is back in there this week , just like i knew he would be … let’s see if he continues to show improvement.
It’s officially “WR corps(e)” now.
hi CHRIS … sorry … LMAO !!
man, i don’t know about that … they all have pride & egos , don’t they ?
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being smart with the ball is a product of learning the playbook and reading NFL defenses.
There are other things involved, of course, but if you know where the ball is supposed to go and where the defenders are likely to be, you should do fine most of the time.
I think he has improved in certain areas. I don’t agree w/ benching him when he is playing well- as everyone seems to indicate- for throwing an interception (or even two). I think he should work through his issues on the field.
You got to where I was leading 🙂
gotta be fair, tho – this is the worst set of receivers in league history. I’m kidding, but maybe I’m not. So while there has been an overall upgrade — the defense has actually played OK, and the offense just lost their best player and future HOFer — I feel you have to temper it a bit.
you’d think so
absolutely. A revolution is destined for failure without a proper replacement. No reason to fire the guy before the end of the year.
um, yeah.
you led me there, bode wan.
Well, if you’re 0 and 12 or 13ish, it starts to make some sense to put Tabor in change and guarantee the draft pick.
Bode wan Cannoli? Why yes, I would love a delicious cannoli, thank you.
hi SAGGY … you are right & i understand this. the fumbles in the red-zone , dropped passes that turn into interceptions & bad throws have nothing to do with knowing the play-book & reading defenses .
i understand what you 2 are getting at , but it’s not all about just that.
Hey, I once ran into Marisa Tomei buying cannoli’s in Little Italy.
I got the sausage for the Cannoli.
** pulls a sausage patty from between my biscuits **
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They might not even be the worst group of receivers in the NFL this season. The Giants are honestly and seriously putting up a strong bid.
Tabor. My old nemesis.
Curious. Can analytics be used to determine a probable outcome? If so then I wouldn’t be surprised if everything is going according to plan, and we’ll hear Jimmy announce that Hue Jackson will stay for another season at the end of the season. Then Browns’s fans will dance in joy and celebrate in the middle of ponyville’s town square. Hooray!!
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If anyone ever labels another Browns coach a “guru” or “whisperer” or “genius” they should be shot.
While Kizer has thrown a ton of INTs, and a lot of really bad ones, I do feel like the number is bloated.
Some are directly on the receivers and some are on Hue. That said, still way too many.