Week 8 (10/30/11): Browns (3-3) @ 49ers (5-1)

[The Oi]

I was thinking I'd take the victory on McCoy breaking either benchmark, but how about if one is broken and the other is not, we each put up $5 and call it a tie?

That'll do.

 

[MD13]

Interesting stat from PFF: Greg Little hasn't graded very highly by their system, but he does lead all NFL WR's with 8 missed tackles against him so far.

 

[elcheato]

He hasn't played well, so I would understand why he hasn't been graded well by a website..

 

[Surge]

49ers defense looks TOUGH. I don't know the stats, but from the eye test, they look just plain mean...

 

[AZ_]

Their grading system takes into account completion percentage on targets, so Colt McCoy throwing it into the ground more often than not will have an effect on receiver ratings.

 

[elcheato]

Bright future for Browns defense

For as much as we all made about the arrival of Mike Holmgren in Cleveland and the gradual implementation of the West Coast offense -- his mentor Bill Walsh's offense -- the commitment early in the tenure of Browns president Mike Holmgren has been on the other side of the ball.

As Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer noted the other day, Holmgren and GM Tom Heckert have had four Top 40 picks in their first two drafts. And all of them have been spent on defense. Last year, corner Joe Haden and safety T.J. Ward came on board. This year, it was defensive tackle Phil Taylor and defensive end Jabaal Sheard.

Seems to be working. The Browns rank fourth in total defense -- interestingly enough, behind AFC North rivals Baltimore, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh -- and it's in no small part due to Heckert and Holmgren's Core 4.

"They're really hard-working guys," Browns defensive coordinator Dick Jauron, who was charged with leading Cleveland's switch from Rob Ryan's 3-4 to his own 4-3. "They continue to play hard, and we've got a long ways to go, we can better, but they're learning. In this game, everyone's good enough to beat you. You gotta be really sound, tough and talented, and get lucky at times. A number of those things occurred on Sunday."

That led to a near shutout -- the Browns beat the Seahawks 6-3 -- and Cleveland's other two wins also came with the defense holding the opposition under 20 points.

But where this story really started was in camp. One of the more startling things I encountered on the trail this summer was seeing Taylor and Sheard running with the first team very early in the summer.

Jauron had an idea on what he had with Haden and Ward: "Joe's exceptional. I don't look at every corner in the league, but he's gotta be playing at a level with anyone else. And T.J.'s played well. He's a tough guy and we're learning more on how to use him." What he needed was a better idea of how ready the rookies were, and trial-by-fire was his preferred method, rather than making the players fight their way up the depth chart.

"There are times when you think, 'We drafted him high, we believe he's a player, we're starting something different than what they had here, and he's gonna be a starter, so let's put him out there," Jauron said. "Then, there's the argument that you make them earn it. But I think you increase the learning curve and say, 'Here we go. Get it done."

Things get tougher from here for Cleveland. Trips to San Francisco and Houston are next, and Baltimore and Pittsburgh populate four of the final five weeks of the season. And Pat Shurmur's group might need another draft or two to get things right, roster-wise. But Heckert and Co. went searching for mentally tough, smart football players in the draft because the staff knew they'd have to play right away.

Add those guys to Haden and Ward, and it does look like foundation pieces are in place.

"That's what they have to be," said Jauron. "They can and have to be good for us to succeed. … Overall, they've been very good picks for us, and good players for us. So far, so good."

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...e-chiefs-haley-perseveres-through-rough-start

 

[Ohdang]

49ers defense looks TOUGH. I don't know the stats, but from the eye test, they look just plain mean...

Willis is a beast. I hope Hardesty pays the fuck attention in the open field this week or we might be wearing his initials on our jerseys for the rest of the season.

 

[cdt]

^ Yeah Hardesty needs to get downhill and get his shoulders pointing towards the ground and find a low center of gravity because he got fucking chalked last week.

 

[Pyro]

Browns will win this one. No question in my mind. Offense will have it's coming-out party.

CLEVELAND BROWNS 23
San Fransisco 49ers 10

 

[Chris]

23 points is the offense's "coming out party."

Good god.

 

[CPK]

Baby steps. McCoy has shorter legs.

 

[SauDogg]

I'm also feeling good about this weekend. I think the team will surprise everyone (in a good way)

 

[Chris]

I'm also feeling good about this weekend. I think the team will surprise everyone (in a good way)

I keep thinking that every weekend and every weekend the offense just gets more inept.

 

[chrisrich91]

People setting themselves up for huge disappointment as usual. :chuckles:

This thread is going to be a mess by 4:30 on Sunday.

 

[Aussie]

People setting themselves up for huge disappointment as usual. :chuckles:

This thread is going to be a mess by 4:30 on Sunday.

What do you expect to happen in the first 15 minutes after kick off