2014 Cleveland Browns

[godfather]

I think the problem in New England rhymes with Yosh McDangles...

To think we were once considering him too, yikes. I might not be a champion of Mike Pettine yet, but I'd want to light my head on fire if he was our head coach.


Back to the Browns, my gosh, they better beat the really not so good Steelers at home. I refuse to get too excited, until they at least beat a division rival, the way they should.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Yep, they went after a few pie in the sky names - I guess the owner believes Browns fans need flashy national headlines in lieu of wins - who shot the job down. Then they thought a few guys with local ties would be a fallback, including McDaniels and Gase in Denver. I've never been impressed with McDaniels as a possible head coach, so that was fine by me. This is a valuable story to remember going forward... plenty of people were calling for Pettine's head after a shaky first half. Sometimes the Devil You Know isn't perfect, but it's better than the Devil you don't.

 

[Jack Brickman]

Yep, they went after a few pie in the sky names - I guess the owner believes Browns fans need flashy national headlines in lieu of wins - who shot the job down. Then they thought a few guys with local ties would be a fallback, including McDaniels and Gase in Denver. I've never been impressed with McDaniels as a possible head coach, so that was fine by me. This is a valuable story to remember going forward... plenty of people were calling for Pettine's head after a shaky first half. Sometimes the Devil You Know isn't perfect, but it's better than the Devil you don't.

Anyone calling for a first-year coach's head in the middle of the fourth game, particularly with our team's point differential in the first three games, is just being ridiculous. It's true that we're a few plays away from being either 0-4, but the fact that we've kept it that close in every game is already a hell of a lot better than the shit we've been watching the past half-decade and beyond.

I'd sort of get it if we were losing every game by 30, but it's pretty clear that the team hasn't quit on Pettine and that he can motivate them to play hard after half time. He just needs to work on his pre-game speeches, apparently.

 

[AZ_]

PFF rankings for the Offensive Line:

LT - Joe Thomas - +7.0
LG - John Greco - +5.9
C - Alex Mack - +6.4
RG - Joel Bitonio - +9.9
RT - Mitchell Schwartz - +4.0

 

[Jack Brickman]

Kind of makes you wonder how many QBs that the Browns ruined over the past fifteen years could have stepped in and been successful with a line like the one we have now.

 

[AZ_]

Kind of makes you wonder how many QBs that the Browns ruined over the past fifteen years could have stepped in and been successful with a line like the one we have now.

In before Soda comments on your lack of respect for Hoyer.

 

[Soda]

In before Soda comments on your lack of respect for Hoyer.

Just you, boss. You lambaste QBs when their WRs drop balls, then laud the WRs when the QB throws a good toss. I have a pretty good memory; I can recall enough to see the hypocrisy in some of the shit you spew.

You can go back to patting yourself on the back at any moment, though.

 

[AZ_]

Just you, boss. You lambaste QBs when their WRs drop balls, then laud the WRs when the QB throws a good toss. I have a pretty good memory; I can recall enough to see the hypocrisy in some of the shit you spew.

You can go back to patting yourself on the back at any moment, though.

Taylor Gabriel and Miles Austin are tied for the team lead...at ONE.

And yeah, I think the receivers deserve a ton of credit.

As does Hoyer, as does the offensive line.

You keep being angry at my anti-Hoyer agenda, though.

 

[Soda]

Taylor Gabriel and Miles Austin are tied for the team lead...at ONE.

And yeah, I think the receivers deserve a ton of credit.

As does Hoyer, as does the offensive line.

You keep being angry at my anti-Hoyer agenda, though.

I'm just ending this now. You win.

 

[AZ_]

I'm just ending this now. You win.

Apology accepted.

 

[elcheato]

Taylor Gabriel and Miles Austin are tied for the team lead...at ONE.

And yeah, I think the receivers deserve a ton of credit.

As does Hoyer, as does the offensive line.

You keep being angry at my anti-Hoyer agenda, though.

This is my only issue. People seem to find it necessary to bash the receiving core to elevate Hoyer. I guess it keeps the option open to blame the core when the offense struggles instead of Hoyer.

The entire offense is playing well. There has been no issue with the receiving core. They're consistently getting open, they're consistently making catches, and Hoyer is making the right throws and decisions. The more appropriate generalization if someone would want to make one would be that the running game and the offensive line is taking a ton of pressure off of Hoyer AND the receiving core, and they're elevating their games.

 

[Randolphkeys]

When I went on a "Island of Misfit Receivers" rant, I was actually trying to establish how well the passing attack was fairing with such low expectations and perceived value of the talent. Aside from some concerns I had during the frustrating preseason, the receivers have been doing a good job. Aside from Austin, they are all having career years.

Ironically, the king of drops in the preseason was Flash Gordon. That guy was averaging two drops a game. Wherever he is, I hope they have a jugs machine.

 

[AZ_]

Hawkins in space is almost unguardable, he's been open since getting to Berea this winter.

Gabriel had his best game yesterday as well, as did Benjamin.

 

[elcheato]

Gabriel, Hawkins, and Benjamin are basically all the same guy to me, with Hawkins being more polished running routes. Little bit more shifty than those two as well.

All very capable receivers though. Gabriel was a good find by Farmer, Hawkins was a nice under the radar signing, and Benjamin was a good flier by the former management team. Hopefully at least 2 out of the 3 can stay healthy at the same time. The offense is going to be extremely enjoyable once Gordon gets back and he shifts those guys into a role that fits them better. They actually have a foundation on offense, exciting times.

 

[DaNewCavs]

Gabriel, Hawkins, and Benjamin are basically all the same guy to me, with Hawkins being more polished running routes. Little bit more shifty than those two as well.

Did you say Little? I shuddered for a second.