Dwayne Bowe and Justin Gilbert join Josh McCown on Browns’ Week 10 inactive list
November 15, 2015Andrew Hawkins reportedly admitted to the hospital, doesn’t remember
November 15, 2015It’s time to change things up. The Cleveland Browns are bad and they can’t even keep from embarrassing themselves in the pre-game chatter. So, I’ve decided to make it a live-blog kind of day. I could tell well ahead of time that the Browns were going to be bad today, so I decided to at least try and enjoy myself and give you some kind of post that might be worthy of being read by the end. We’ll see.
First up? The Cleveland Browns posted (and then deleted) a “pump-up” kind of picture to Instagram featuring Justin Gilbert! BOOM! We bark TOGETHER! The Cleveland Browns made Justin Gilbert a healthy scratch, by the way.
Browns Instagram post for today's game, encouraging fans to get excited, features Justin Gilbert, who is inactive. pic.twitter.com/pSwPMhz73V
— Hayden Grove (@H_Grove) November 15, 2015
First Quarter
The first offensive play from scrimmage? You’ve got to be joking when after a week of controversy and not naming a starter and trying to play coy, the guy the Browns end up having to play – a second-year first-rounder Johnny Manziel – throws an empty hand forward and gives the Steelers the ball inside the Cleveland red zone.
SCORE: Steelers kick a short field goal to go up 3-0.
The Browns knock Landry Jones out of the game, and only the Browns would clear the way for Ben Roethlisberger to make a gimpy statement on his career résumé for Canton. I know that sounds paranoid and overly dramatic, but everything feels fatalistic as a Browns fan this early in a game after watching Johnny Manziel fumble on the first play from scrimmage.
Travis Benjamin connects with Johnny Manziel on the longest play of the season! First and goal Browns after a 61-yard play! Pay no attention to the fact that it was a broken play that almost got intercepted. If you’re counting at home, Manziel has maybe run one play that was according to plan, and that was a hand-off to Isaiah Crowell.
SCORE: Browns kick a short field goal to tie it, 3-3.
Ben Roethlisberger enters the game, but it seems like a really good time to tell you that I have my first ever beef brisket cooking slowly in the kitchen. I’m actually more nervous about that than I am the Browns game today. I followed the recipe and everything and I love brisket, but there’s this fear, especially now that I cook for a family of four that it’s going to end in utter disaster. You’re officially on notice local pizza places.
The Steelers go on a pretty long drive, but the Browns hold on third down around their own 20 thanks to a nice pass block by Nate Orchard. Regardless of Johnny Manziel as the most high profile “young player” that needs to play in a lost season, Nate Orchard is the kind I’m almost more interested in. The Browns used a nice pick on Orchard and he’s played some this year, but it seems like he’s getting better and better as the season progresses. That’s a good thing, obviously, but so often these things seem to get overshadowed by Johnny and Josh McCown.
SCORE: Steelers kick a 33-yarder to go up 6-3.
The first quarter ends with the Browns in punt formation. The Steelers feel infinitely more dangerous with Ben Roethlisberger in the game. He’s now throwing over the top to Martavis Bryant and picking on Pierre Desir. That’s not to say Desir is awful or anything, but it wouldn’t be shocking to watch Ben Roethlisberger expose him for the better part of four quarters. The Browns simply don’t have an answer. Johnny Manziel doesn’t look awful, but he also doesn’t look great. The Browns are keeping possessions alive and moving the ball a bit, but over the course of a full game it’s hard to imagine the Browns not running a deficit soon.
Second Quarter
So the downside is that Martavis Bryant torched Charles Gaines really badly. The upside is that after getting torched, Gaines chased Bryant down and stripped him so the Steelers basically threw a 64-yard arm punt. Browns ball deep at their own 14-yard-line. It’s one of those plays though, that doesn’t actually project well for the Browns. The oddity was not Bryant torching a Browns defensive back.
Arthur Moats committed one of the worst facemask penalties that I’ve ever seen against Johnny Manziel. To Moats’ credit he seemed to be immediately apologetic and bashful about it, but he really did try and turn Johnny Manziel into Johnny Manzowl. (Yes, I was proud of that one.)
Arthur Moats just turned Johnny Manziel into Johnny Manzowl. pic.twitter.com/z96gEDjwhG
— WaitingForNextYear (@WFNYCLE) November 15, 2015
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Dude 360s Manziel by the face mask and the *Browns* get charged a timeout? Got it.
— Scott @ WFNY (@WFNYScott) November 15, 2015
So there’s a game going on and the Browns are still running drives that are lasting plays and minutes, but don’t seem ultimately any more productive than the assault they’re putting on the time of possession. It’s funny to watch Steeler fans make dummies out of themselves. They all yell “HEATH” whenever their tight end catches the ball, but it’s hysterical to hear them do it when another tight end – Jesse James – catches a pass on a bad play for a two yard gain. In the meantime, Ben Roethlisberger just uses mediocre plays like that to set up another bomb over the top of Charles Gaines to Martavis Bryant. This time, Bryant didn’t make the play but Gaines obviously interfered and gave the Steelers the ball at the Browns’ 14-yard-line. The Browns did a nice job of holding the Steelers to another field goal attempt, but Armonty Bryant was found guilty of “leverage.” Apparently you can’t jump to try and block a field goal if you land on an opponent. Of course after a search of the penalty database, the call against Armonty Bryant is either the first time all season the penalty was committed or the first time it was called… against the Browns… to give the Steelers a touchdown, which they promptly scored. You know, plus the two-point conversion.
SCORE: Steelers touchdown plus two-point conversion to Antonio Brown, Steelers up 14-6.
On the first offensive play after the touchdown, Andrew Hawkins caught a pass over the middle for a nice gain, only to have it knocked out by Pittsburgh. They get the ball at the Browns’ 40-yard-line. I legitimately tried to figure out if I could just quit watching the game and post this conversation and go outside. It’s 60 degrees and sunny and I’m watching this Browns game for almost no reason what-so-ever. The Browns hold on 4th down at their own 1-yard line which is great, but then they don’t gain a single yard in order to save the scoreboard until the end of the first half. With just 90 seconds to burn off the clock, they give the ball back to Pittsburgh in Browns territory at the 40. A couple plays later Roethlisberger is victimizing Pierre Desir for 32-yards and a Martavis Bryant touchdown.
SCORE: Steelers 21-3 over the hapless Browns.
This week on his podcast, Bill Simmons made the statement that it was possible the Browns had quit on the season. It’s pretty official that is the case. Cleveland Browns fans talk about “tanking” and whatever as a possibility on the way to the first pick in the NFL draft, but the Browns don’t need to “tank” or whatever. They are beaten down. They aren’t healthy. They can’t seem to get any kind of luck even when they knock a backup quarterback out of the game, as they end up yielding to Ben Roethlisberger off the bench. So, what are you doing for the second half?
This game isn't fun and there's almost zero chance for the Browns to win. What are you going to do for the 2nd half?
— WaitingForNextYear (@WFNYCLE) November 15, 2015
Halftime Steelers 21 – Browns 3
Third Quarter
Mike Pettine apparently told a reporter coming out of halftime that the Browns had to run the ball. The Browns had -0.6 yards in the first half, so it’s both true and ridiculous to say out loud. If they could, they presumably would, but even if you take away Travis Benjamin’s minus-seven rush, the Browns didn’t have 10 yards rushing in the first half. You can’t guarantee you are going to be a good running team, but like rebounding in the NBA says more about effort and pride, the fact that the Browns can’t even average two yards per rush is abysmal and embarrassing. Prior to playing the Browns, the Steelers gave up more than 100 yards rushing in all but two games. They gave up 147 or more yards in a game four times including 195 yards rushing to the Raiders in the game prior. In other news, there’s a zebra on the loose in Philly.
https://twitter.com/jasonrmcintyre/status/665976579466510336
SCORE: After two pass interference calls for 77 yards against Johnson Bademosi and Tramon Williams, the Steelers kick a field goal to make it Steelers 24 – Browns 3.
The second pass interference call was pure and utter garbage against Williams, but when the Browns defense plays as undisciplined as they do and as they’re overmatched from a pure speed standpoint, the Steelers rightfully play long-pass-lottery consistently all game long and win. The Browns tried it in the first half from their own end zone, but even if Travis Benjamin had been able to draw a penalty from William Gay, the ball was thrown out of bounds and I think they would have waived the call off.
#Browns with another pass interference penalty, this on Tramon Williams. Antonio Brown getting the calls.
— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) November 15, 2015
There are two different brands of football on the field today and it’s not even fair to call the Browns a “poor man’s” NFL team right now. I take no solace in this, but they seem bankrupt. Even their completions seem to result in absolute smashings for Browns receivers. Barnidge and Hartline seem to get de-cleated as a reward for every catch from Johnny Manziel. I’m not trying to pile on Johnny Manziel. I’ve tried to be his biggest supporter. I just don’t know why everyone won’t trust Mike Pettine when he is so hesitant to play the kid if he can play Josh McCown. It’s not a bet on the future of McCown, but he’s kind of telling you all you need to know about Johnny Manziel and his readiness. I’m writing this as Johnny Manziel goes full Johnny and scrambles to the end zone for a highlight-reel touchdown, except the referees inexplicably mark it down at the one. And of course the referees mark what was almost clearly a touchdown down at the 1-yard-line so the Browns have to challenge it. Of course there’s no video evidence and the Browns proceed to get a holding call against Cameron Erving and now they have the ball first and goal from the 11. Of course the Browns commit a procedure penalty to make it first and goal from the 16. Of course Johnny Manziel gets sacked on the next play to make it second and goal from the 26.
Fourth Quarter
Of course the Browns get a couple yards back to make it third and goal from the 19-yard-line. Of course the Browns commit a holding penalty while Johnny Manziel simultaneously throws an interception to the goal line. We don’t root for these things to happen. We don’t cause them to happen. They just continue to happen.
SCORE: The Browns intercept the ball and get to the Steelers 10. Johnny Manziel finds Gary Barnidge for a touchdown. Steelers 24 – Browns 9 as Travis Coons misses an extra point.
Of course Travis Coons misses the extra point. Dear deities of football and life and culture, let this clock wear out faster. May you run at 1.5x speed like most people who listen to podcasts. SCORE: Antonio Brown goes 56 yards for a touchdown including a front flip into the end zone. Steelers miss the extra point. Steelers 30 – Browns 9
Flipping into the end zone should be a penalty. Everything else is a penalty. It will be a penalty against the Browns someday.
— WaitingForNextYear (@WFNYCLE) November 15, 2015
By this point I’ve given up any semblance of remembering the play-by-play. The Browns didn’t bother using their timeouts to end the game and I can’t wait until the beat reporters ask Mike Pettine about this following what was a runaway train in his face. The Steelers got the ball down to the Browns’ one-yard line and Mike Tomlin kneeled on the ball and Mike Pettine seemed content to not pretend like the timeouts would save him. This next two weeks of arguing are going to be abysmal.
In the box score it’s going to look like Johnny Manziel had a good game. And maybe it was good enough to continue to play him for the rest of the season, but if you really watched the game and remember what the individual plays looked like, you will remember that stat lines can be deceiving. This game was never in doubt. The Steelers could complete long (LONG) passes at will and achieved numerous pass interference gains when they didn’t complete the catches. The point being that Manziel was given tons of passing yards as the Steelers seemed content to play back and hit Browns receivers as hard as humanly possible. Still, Johnny Manziel finishes the day with 33 completions on 45 attempts for 372 yards with a TD and one interception.
There were some highlights of course, but there was also a fumble, an interception and numerous QB sacks when Manziel couldn’t trust his reads and held the ball too long. Those things can get better with experience, but I’m happy that I’m not the one deciding what to do over the next week and after the bye week. I could honestly go either way because I’m pretty well convinced that I’ve already seen Johnny Manziel’s relatively low ceiling. I could be wrong, but I rarely am when it comes to predicting Browns failures.
Enjoy your bye week Browns fans. You’ve earned it.
87 Comments
Yeah, it’s a loser’s mentality/insecurity thing when people say that no one wants us.
Agreed—bar is crawl-over low. Who wouldn’t want that job?!
Totally agree. That was a TD and should have been called on the field. During the final drive, Manziel was victimized by at least three drops.
Listen, there are a lot of people who have given up on this kid and are on record as not being believers, including Craig, but also Mary Kay Cabot and Tony Grossi. I think all of those people seem at least currently to be more invested in having their take proven right rather reconsider new evidence and refine their hypothesis.
But the fact of the matter is that Johnny Football has a better QB rating than Bridgewater or Bortles (he’s also playing better than Matthew Stafford, Payton Manning and Andrew Luck) for that matter. Those are facts people.
But he also passes the eye test. He looks poised in the pocket. His arm strength is way better than I thought, almost too good in certain instances (just ask Taylor Gabriel). His accuracy at least today was pinpoint, I didn’t see him miss a lot of throws, if any. He stayed in the pocket and made quick and decisive throws for the entirety of the whole game and then left the pocket and improvised when needed. He also had some truly vintage Manziel magical plays.
This kid is the QB of the future. He not only has the potential to be a competent quarterback, but has shown flashes of superstardom. Maybe you don’t believe that, particularly as you’ve gone on the record as a doubter. Fine. But the facts, at least for today, are not on your side and you are going to have to do far better than trotting out some vague terms like trustworthyness that have nothing to do with quarterbacking if you are going to convince me.
Their defense never let up. They were out for blood and Manziel fought all the way to the end, even when the game was over. Most players in this teams history would have quit.
I have no idea if Johnny will be good in th is league, but I am surprised that so many folks are so unethused by him. He has a good arm, is accurate, and has a unique ability to throw on the run and improvise. He also is undersized and has streaks of immaturity, but, christ, this is Cleveland. This dude is the most talented prospect we have had in awhile. I want to see him play more and see if he can keep getting better. What else do we have to play for? And why is everyone trying to quickly to write him off after 4 games? Yes, he makes mistakes, but he also gets better and has talent.
Wrong. Unlike Josh Gordon, who racked up most of his yards during garbage time when defenses were more than happy to trade yardage for time, JF earned most of his yards when the outcome of this game was very much in the balance. Aside from a fumble to start, he had a nearly flawless first half and played exceedingly well throughout the second half.
Furthermore, due to the gutless performance by the defense on the final drive of the game, JFF actually saw little action during garbage time.
As for your assertion that this was a meaningless game, I assume you’re not a Browns fan as there is no such thing as a meaningless game that involves Browns v Steelers.
Great post.
Josh McCown threw for like 400 yards three games in a row…you respect him?
…Please do not take this comment as an advocacy of Josh McCown.
Okay, now that I got that out of the way; Ben came in on one bad foot and made the Browns secondary look like a pee wee team.
Yes, Antonio Brown is amazing, but to use the “put him on our team” as an argument for a positive of your own players is as weak as they come.
Look, Manziel made several NFL throws today no doubt and he should play the rest of the season out… But let’s not put him on par with Bens performance today.
Don’t need to shut up on our account, Harv, I’m always interested in your opinion.
Maybe it’s just me, but the ad hominem stuff leads to this outcome. People don’t like Johnny the celebrity, people think he’s a relapsed alcoholic, people think he doesn’t care that much about learning NFL football. I admit that he looked pretty good today, and has a certain set of skills and talents, but I’m down on him as QBOTF due to off-field stuff. You can’t be roboQB and make up for that stuff, you need to be really good.
i don’t normally like to make the “interchangeable parts” argument. But let’s look at it from a different perspective: Imagine Manziel with the protection Ben had, and imagine him playing against Cleveland’s pass rush and 3rd-string secondary.
I give props to Ben for gutting out a win but don’t make it seem like he’s the second coming of Willis Reed, since Ben was basically playing against a JV squad out there (and I know the Steelers aren’t quite the Steel Curtain).
I’m not saying there isn’t much to be desired, by I thought Manziel showed substantial improvements. He slowed everything down and sat in the pocket for long periods of time without looking like he was panicking at all when he left the pocket. It looked like he made a choice that he wants to play like NFL QBs play at this level instead of how he played in college. The only time he got away from that was his one scramble near the endzone, and I even think that’s ok to do every once in awhile so long as he can stay healthy.
Manziel looked like a leader out there, and never seemed confused. I’m excited to see what he could do with Gordon. He always had big receivers at A & M, and it would be great to put a couple others around him to see if it could create a couple of big plays and allow him to convert in the red zone. His one ball to Barnidge in the red zone today was perfect, and Benjamin should have caught the other ball too. Something to build on at least.
Can’t say the same thing for the rest of the team.
Last year, Antonio Brown kicks Spencer Lanning in the face – no consequences.
Colt McCoy gets knocked out by a cheap head shot from James Harrison – nothing.
This team has no identity, no character, and no spine. You can’t let that stuff go when you are the Browns, the refs are not going call it straight, and if you won’t throw down for your teammates, you’re not really a team.
I have no respect for Rothlisberger the person but dude is an iron man.
I remember a Thursday night game on the NFL network years ago we played against the Stillers (don’t remember what year; the bland nothingness has congealed together so seamlessly that all I can picture in my head is a dark, dark void) where our defense was looking pretty ferocious and someone (forget who) drilled Ben and hit him low. Immediately I thought Ben’s season was over. I think he got carted off the field.
But he returned in the second half and led them to the win essentially playing on one leg.
Hate to say it but guy’s impressive.
Manziel completing underneath routes against soft coverage (late in a game that the opponent is running away from, against what is largely considered a below average secondary) is not really indicative of him becoming a true NFL QB. This is a positive sign for Johnny, it’s the first time he’s looked like anything other than a complete bust in all of his time in the league. It does not mean he is the best option for the team this year or going forward, or that he’s anything more than a backup.
In Brown & Orange he’d be yet another weak, undersized WR. Of this I have no doubt. Because Browns.
Healthy Manziel, who cannot perform well enough in practice to actually earn the starting job, is currently playong better than Andrew Luck with a bad shoulder, broken ribs, and a lacerated kidney. Better than Hall of Fame QB and now all-time passing yards record holder Peyton Manning, who is 39 years old, had multiple neck surgeries, and is currently nursing foot and rib injuries. Way to go, Johnny! Stafford is pretty terrible this year, though.And if you wouldn’t trade Manziel straight up for Bortles or Bridgewater right now today, it might be you who is more interested in having your take proven right.
He may not have been THE problem, but the point is he’s also not the guy to build a future around because of his performance in a 30-9 beatdown. Play him the rest of the way, fine. But if whomever the GM is come draft day doesn’t draft a QB a some point, that person should be fired on the spot. Every position outside of left tackle on this team is a hole right now.
Here’s the thing though:
1. No run game, so Pitt sat in an umbrella zone all day and gave up the short stuff.
2. Manziel was chided publicly to the media (and likely privately in film rooms) about needing to take what was there and throw to those short open guys if that was the first read.
Add those two together and you get what you get. I saw your analysis BEFORE watching the game. I went in thinking I was going to see those leads, but Manziel mostly threw to the short underneath guy who was then clobbered by the two guys deeper than him because they had ZERO respect for anything resembling a run game.
Ugly game.
And, I have no idea of Manziel will ever be trustworthy as a NFL starter, but I would like to see us give him a shot at being exciting the rest of the year. I don’t think Manziel was holding back the development of anyone today, which was one of the bars you wanted to see him go over.
In fairness, Manziel doesn’t play defense. That 30 number isn’t on him. The 10 and 9, however, isn’t looking too hot.
Bademosi should never see this much playing time again. I don’t care if Gilbert murdered Pettine’s family, he needs to be in the game.
College QB position this year is pretty lean. Ugh.
It would be nice to draft a WR…
Uh, we have a guy named Josh Gordon coming back. WR position solved forever!
Is it hyperbole to say this season is the worst since the expansion year? The utter lack of hope and upcoming front office denuding point to no.
Invested in getting my take right? I was the one who wanted the Browns to take Manziel in the slot they took Justin Gilbert. I would love to believe in Johnny Manziel. I would love to believe that he’s someone to bet the future on, but I continually come back to the uphill battles he creates for himself including putting himself in position to have 911 calls made regarding his off the field activity. Sorry, but an organization betting on someone, especially to be their NFL quarterback, is a really big deal and putting up some video game stats in isolated weeks doesn’t erase all the other warning signs.
I wish I could double-upvote that for overall good points plus the “sugar huddle” reference.
The WILDCAT, FFS. Using the wildcat reminds me of the scene in Private Ryan where Tom Hanks is mortally wounded, has nothing left and has reached the point of firing his pistol at the approaching Tiger Tank.
To this point, I remember us getting utterly boned by the refs about 15 times in an appalling loss to New England (late 2013 season?)
Even the officials pretty view this franchise as a joke. Sure NE will get every call anyway, but still.
Hold up: you can DRAFT wide receivers? And in ANY round? Does the front office know about this?
Thank you, I literally did a spit-take when I read this and after the game yesterday I need a laugh 🙂
For me at the end of the day that was Manziel’s best game performance ever, and it resulted in 9 points.
I was going for Cleveland Info Minister there!
I always thought Mangini’s first year (2009?) was the worst after 1999 but the last five or so games really saved that year from infamy. That team started off 1-11 and was getting blown out at this point of the season as bad as the 2015 Browns are now. But then they somehow beat Pittsburgh on that Thursday night game and went on a 4-game winning streak to finish at the usual 5-11.
Somehow, I don’t see that scenario playing out this year. Maybe, maybe Manziel goes on an insane run but this defense is one of the worst units to take the field in the NFL in several years.
Fair enough. That said, I think too much is made of his off-the-field issues. They are alarming to a degree, but they are amplified by the sort of TMZ-oriented news media. The busted coverage photos that got released when he was at A&M are freaking tame and completely not newsworthy. The 911 call is disturbing, but I think that had more to do with Crowely being out of control drunk than it did Johnny, who seemed calm, competent and respectful according to the released tape.
Lastly, I don’t how you watch what happened yesterday and not come away encouraged. It’s one of the best performances I’ve seen from a young Browns QB since 99. I understand it’s only one game, we need to see consistency and see if JF can handle success like he handled adversity, but he showed flashes greatness on Sunday and I think the only thing that stops people from recognizing that is if they are entrenched in their opinions.
I will admit to being a Manziel supporter, who only wavered after he showed up late for the walk-through in Baltimore last season. After that I wanted to see him cut. But he’s gotten his life together, and it’s translated onto the field.
I would definitely not trade him for Bortles. Bortles has 11 interceptions, which leads the league and his completion percentage is 55 percent. Bridgewater is winning, but he is the beneficiary of a truly stout defense and the best RB in the game. He has 7 touchdowns to 6 interceptions and when you watch him play he looks indecisive.
The only young QB I would consider trading Johnny for straigt up is Derek Carr, who is a legit top-5 QB in this league right now. That said, he has a capable running game and a myriad of weapons. His team was willing to step up and get him the top WR in the draft last year in Amari Cooper and it’s paid off. If the Browns make the same commitment to Johnny and the kid keeps his nose clean (perhaps literally) and to the grindstone, than I am bullish on the QB position.
i’m right there with ya , SAGGY …
fair point. but that should be an encouraging sign that the kid is improving. He went out and had his best game against the Steelers. Let’s see what happens next week. If he improves again or stays steady I think we may have something.
Thanks, man. Actually, I’m tired of spouting essentially the same thing every week, or even thinking about a team this far down the rabbit hole for so many years. It’s supposed to be fun. Playing coroner every week, year after year = not fun.
As far as being utterly and completely bobbins, I think year 2 (2000) is extremely underrated. IIRC we even got off to a 1-1 start that year. 2-1 even? Including beating Bill Belicheck immediately prior to him becoming a genius, apparently.
But then it just went all and completely to hell. By the end it appeared as if we already needed a new head coach, and a lot of people were starting to get after Couch by this point.
Year 1 was an utter disaster but at the end of it all 2 wins (including at Pittsburgh for what I think was the last time doing so) was not exactly as demoralising as the scenario 12 months later.