Cavs vs Nuggets Behind the Box Score: One Step Back
November 17, 2014Indians prospect Giovany Urshela injures knee in winter ball
November 18, 2014Nobody knows exactly what Josh Gordon is going to do for the Cleveland Browns when he finally takes to the field. As Brian Hoyer said during media availability, we as fans shouldn’t expect Gordon to be a “savior.” And while that is thoughtful, calculated talk by a veteran quarterback, it doesn’t do much to quell the excitement. The fact is that the Browns are getting back the most dynamic playmaker and physical freak that the team has had since 1999. And it isn’t just potential with Josh Gordon. He actually has delivered before.
Don’t tell me you forgot already. In 14 games, Josh Gordon caught 87 balls for 1,646 yards, including nine touchdowns and a ridiculously awesome 95-yard reception.
It obviously doesn’t stop there. Consider that Josh Gordon did that while being force-fed on a team that didn’t have Brian Hoyer for long, while being forced to rely on Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell under center while the corpse of Willis McGahee ran the ball. Norv Turner, midway through the season, basically stopped running the ball, so everyone knew Josh Gordon was getting it, yet he was still productive. Gordon caught 16 balls over his last three games as the Browns were sputtering to the finish line with Rob Chudzinski.
Now Josh Gordon comes back to a team with a healthy Brian Hoyer, a running game that is improved (even if it has been up and down since Alex Mack got hurt). He also comes to an offense that seems to create big down-field opportunities with the play-action. I don’t have a savior complex with Josh Gordon, but I sure think the time is ripe for him to come into this team and make a huge difference, because the Browns and their 6-4 record show us that it has been working anyway, more times than not.
It would actually be worse and more of a misguided “savior complex” if the Browns offense was horrendous and unable to put up any points at all for the first 10 games and then expect Gordon to get the whole thing started. The fact is that the Browns are averaging 21.6 points per game. It’s a bit on a downward trend over the past five games as the Browns are only averaging 16.4 over that span (thanks to the Jacksonville and Houston games where the Browns put up a six- and a seven-spot, respectively), but on the season, it’s still a respectable amount of points.
I do expect Josh Gordon to be enough of a difference-maker to help open a few more holes in opposing defenses. Gordon just has to run longer routes to open up the middle of the field for guys like Andrew Hawkins. Josh Gordon can help keep safeties out of the box to allow the Browns running game to get a little bit back on track as well. Josh Gordon doesn’t need to come out and catch 15 balls in his first week to have that kind of impact. It’s kind of nice that the Browns don’t need a savior, and they might not even need Josh Gordon to make a run down the stretch, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think it wasn’t going to help immensely.
Welcome back, Josh Gordon.
9 Comments
Well put, and nice perspective. I expect Gabriel, Hawkins, Austin et al look much more open over the middle and in the flat going forward, and assuming Hoyer’s down field accuracy is for real I think it’s fair to expect Gordon’s touchdown pace to pick up where it left off. So excited to watch this team this week.
they just released ben tate
Kyle Shanahan finally gets his deep threat back and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Gordon can make an impact without catching the ball his presence alone should help not only the other WRs but the run game as well.
Considering he hasn’t played NFL football in 11 weeks (10 games), I think it’s going to take him some time to get back up to speed and I also worry about him pushing it too hard, too fast and injuring himself. WR is a finnicky position (and Gordon has never had the best catch:target ratio).
I am curious to see if he can provide Hoyer with the big target + deep threat component that our offense is completely lacking without him. And, in games when our running game is working that play-action may be devastating with Gordon out there.
Cautiously hopeful that he can help us sneak into the playoffs.
COUNTERPOINT: Josh Gordon needs to be a savior for the Browns
Atlanta’s defense isn’t very good against either the rush or the pass so I am expecting the Browns offense to do something. Injury is always a possibility but it will be interesting to see how long Gordon can go due to lack of conditioning. They said he has been around the facility so I’m assuming he’s been working out but as we know there’s a huge difference between working out and playing a full NFL game. But like I said his presence/threat being out there should help. Or at least I hope so anyways.
If you’re assuming Hoyer’s down field accuracy is for real, you can stop. It isn’t.
i hope he catches a touchdown go pass
On the other hand, Josh’s own actions have kept him on the sideline all season. No matter your stance on recreational drugs, that’s on him.
He doesn’t need to be a world beater, but he better be in good enough shape to contribute full time. The team kept him when they could have cut him loose purely for this 6-game stretch.
You’re the man, Josh. Let’s see what you’re made of.