Tribe’s Ongoing Case of the Mondays: While We’re Waiting
September 23, 2019Buckeyes climb to No. 5 in latest AP Poll
September 23, 2019The Rams spoiled the Browns appearance on NBC with a 20-13 win. Los Angeles left Cleveland with plenty of questions to be answered and a whole lot of angry fans barking for changes. What needs to be fixed and how bad really is it?
The defense showed up and gifted opportunities
Heading into the first edition of Sunday Night Football in Cleveland since 2008, the Browns welcomed the reigning NFC Champions in the Los Angeles Rams and their high powered offense into FirstEnergy Stadium.
Missing from the celebration were five starters on the defensive side of the ball for the Orange and Brown, including the entire starting secondary.
And it wasn’t the Browns defense that lost them the game, it was the offense.
The Los Angeles Rams under head coach Sean McVay finished first and second in the league in points per game respectively. Through a pair of games in 2019, they ranked sixth.
With all five starters on defense inactive last night and healthy in week one, the Browns allowed the Titans to hang 37 points (discounting the pick-six) in week one. Tennessee went onto score a combined 24 points in the next two weeks.
Tonight, the Browns held the Rams to just 20 points. Not perfect, but pretty good considering the circumstances.
Down a field goal with 3:38 left in the third quarter, T.J. Carrie, starting for Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward, intercepted Jared Goff.
Four plays later, James Gillian punted the ball back into the hands of the Rams offense. Los Angeles responded with a touchdown.
On third and three with 2:54 left and a seven-point lead, Goff dropped back and looked to seal the win. Juston Burris, who was signed earlier this week, picked off Goff and gifted the Browns an opportunity to tie the game.
The two-minute warning, three timeouts, and taking over the ball at their own 43-yard line is what head coach Freddie Kitchens and quarterback Baker Mayfield has in their arsenal to tie the game.
Mayfield led the Browns to the Los Angeles four-line with 43 seconds left. Incomplete, incomplete, incomplete, and interception. That is how the final four plays went with the game on the line.
Rams kneel, game over.
And the Browns offense play-calling and execution blew up in their faces
Down just four points with over nine minutes left in the game and facing fourth and nine, Kitchens elected to call a draw, the only such play in this situation since 2007 when it was being tracked, according to ESPN Stats and Info.
Nick Chubb ran behind blockers, only to be stopped by veteran safety Eric Weddle seven yards short of the first down marker.
Where do I begin?
Now, going for it on fourth and nine, on the Rams 40-yard line: bad. Calling a draw: horrific.
There is no excuse for this play call and there is no sense in complaining about it any further. Aside from a turnover on downs, that play call should automatically put the play sheet into the hands of offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
Kitchens ain’t cookin’
Week 10 into the NFL season, Kitchens became an offensive play-caller for the first time in his 20-year coaching career. Two months later, he became a head coach for the first time as well.
Let’s not kid ourselves, we knew why Kitchens was hired. In an era of NFL football where teams drool at the idea of pairing an effective offensive play-caller with a young quarterback, the Browns quickly fell into that same category.
Mayfield and Kitchens lit the league on fire in the eight games of the season. They developed a great relationship, built trust and chemistry, and most importantly won games.
There was no logical argument for breaking up what was working, especially so quick into Mayfield’s career. But logic has set in 10 months later.
Kitchens is in-over his head. He has only called plays *11* games in his coaching career and he is battling being a head coach for the first time too. And if that’s not enough, he is balancing a cast of characters that can tilt the team off a tight rope at any time.
Something has to give. The Browns next four opponents: Ravens (2-1, first place in AFC North), 49ers (3-0), Seahawks (2-1, on a short week), and Patriots (3-0).
Even after making it through that gauntlet, there will still be seven games left in the 2019 season. However, with the Ravens thriving, Bills dominating and Colts surprising, there is no time to be wasted or losses to be afforded.
It is time for Kitchens to take a step back and fulfill his main role. Let Monken direct the offense and watch from afar. It is at the point where Kitchens is hurting and not helping, and it’s time to go back to the drawing board now before the season becomes out of reach.
Last season with the Buccaneers, Monken led a Tampa Bay offense featuring Jameis Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm to first in total yards, 12th in scoring and 12th in DVOA. All better than the Browns.
Speaking of Mayfield
Let me make this clear, the lack of success and poor execution on offense is not all on Mayfield; however, there is blame to be had.
In the fourth quarter with the game on the line, Mayfield went 5-for-11, was sacked three times, and threw an interception.
While Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen have made the critical year one to year three jump, Mayfield has hit the dreaded sophomore slump.
Judging by the eye test, Mayfield is still holding onto the ball too long, he is inconsistent and hazardous in the pocket, and targeting unnecessary players at the incorrect times.
The Browns are supposed to be winning because of Mayfield, not losing games because of him. A poor fourth quarter against Tennesse and a less than ideal finish against the Rams leaves plenty of room for improvement.
Hopefully, for his sake, our sake, and the Browns sake, that improvement will come sooner rather than later. I am betting that it will but there is plenty of work to be done.
Experienced veterans but new faces finally shine
For the first time this season, I felt like defensive line additions Olivier Vernon and Sheldon Richardson made their mark.
Don’t get me wrong, they weren’t completely absent the previous two weeks, but I finally felt settled with the duo’s play against the Rams.
Richardson and Vernon finished the game combined for eight tackles. Vernon made a key tackle on Todd Gurley on second and 12 that led to the Burris interception on the following play. Richardson stopped Los Angeles running back Malcolm Brown two plays before the Carrie interception.
Perfectly imperfect
With all four starting defensive backs out, the reserves stepped up. T.J. Carrie led the Browns with seven tackles, two passes defended, and an interception. Terrance Mitchell notched four tackles, including a team-high two for loss. Eric Murray had five tackles, one for a loss, and a pass defended, and Juston Burris collected four tackles, an interception, and a pass defended.
Not too shabby.
But…
Rams receivers Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods combined for 19 receptions 214 receiving yards, and two touchdowns.
Not too good.
But…
It could’ve been worse.
Concluding Thoughts
- The Rams can deny it all they want but Todd Gurley ain’t right. First three weeks of 2018: 42 rushes, 255 yards, four touchdowns, 11 receptions, 121 yards, and a touchdown. Three weeks into 2019: 44 carries, 203 yards, one touchdown, four receptions, eight yards, and zero touchdowns.
- No penalties for Myles Garrett! Except he should have had a few in his favor.
- Are we sure Aaron Donald isn’t the best player in the NFL? Just kidding. Patrick Mahomes II is insane.
- How about Teddy Bridgewater. After Rex Ryan was done going on a tirade on ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown saying Taysom Hill should start over Teddy Bridgewater … Bridgewater led the Saints into CenturyLink Field and defeated the Seahawks 33-27. He was 19-of-27 for 177 yards and two touchdowns.
- Jaguars rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew has the highest passer rating in the first three games of rookies in the Super Bowl era (NFL Research). He was dropping dimes against the Titans.
- From ESPN Stats and Info: Daniel Jones is 1-0 when trailing by 18+. Eli Manning is 0-44 in those games in his career. Jones went 23-of-36 for 336 yards and two passing touchdowns. He also had two rushing touchdowns and no interceptions. Better than Mayfield…
- Mike Evans and Keenan Allen dominated yesterday. Evans had 45 PPR points in fantasy and Allen had 43.6. Congratulations if you have those guys on your teams, as I did not. I went 3-0 last week but 0-3 this week.
- As a Notre Dame fan, I am stoked with how the team played against Georgia. The Fighting Irish were right there until the final minutes. They proved they can play with the big dogs (no pun intended.) There is no such thing as moral victories but that is pretty close to one.
- Michigan … woof.
- I’m done talking about Antonio Brown. Unless John Dorsey proves he is insane.