Here are my thoughts for this week.
The good:
1) Duke Johnson Jr. looks like he could develop into a viable passing-down back. I've said at best I can see DJjr becoming a Reggie Bush-type back. I'm not sure he has the upper body and core strength Reggie had, though. Nonetheless, it is a good developmental piece to have.
2) Travis Benjamin looks like he can play in the NFL for awhile. He's fast and runs crisp routes. I don't believe he is a #1 receiver by any means. But definitely a good #2/#3.
3) Gary Barnidge is better than any Tight End we've had since Kellen Winslow Jr. I'm glad he's on the team.
The bad (literally, everything else):
1) For such an expensive offensive line they suck. Seven penalties directly related to the offensive line. Not being able to hold a Rams defense, that albeit is very good, but we couldn't stop anything. I don't know if Pettine has just lost the team and the line doesn't care, the line has become complacent, or what. But it needs to change.
2) The secondary. I understand Joe Haden didn't play but come on guys. Nick Foles is a good QB. But he kept finding wide-open receivers the entire game.
3) The defensive line and linebackers. I under Gurley is a workhorse. But we couldn't tackle at all. I'm still not coming to conclusions on Danny Shelton, as he's doing everything right, but that's the problem. He seems like a fundamentally sound defensive tackle that doesn't do anything exceptional. I get that it takes two guys to stop him. So the fuck what?!? Welcome to the NFL where nearly every defensive tackle takes two guys to stop him.
4) The overall complacency and a lack of a sense of urgency. Every week that goes by I am starting to believe Pettine has lost the team. We just don't seem to care about winning. Honestly, this needs to change. It's not fair to the fans to need to watch this shit week-in and week-out.
5) The big one, we lack so much talent. I've listed players I think could be part of a longterm strategy to make the Browns a winning team:
-Joe Haden
-Joe Thomas
-Joel Bitonio
-Josh McCown (the guy who can help develop our young QB and serve as a backup)
-Duke Johnson Jr.
-Travis Benjamin
-Gary Barnidge
-Travis Coons
That is eight players. Eight fucking players. One of whom is a backup, two are no more than important rotation players, and one is the kicker. That means we have four starting quality players right now. Certain guys like Danny Shelton I'm not sure of yet. But I'd say, at absolute most, there may be twelve players on this team that can play a part of a future winning franchise. I'm sorry guys, but this is embarrassing. I don't know what needs to be done to change it but it starts from the top on down. I'm always one to advocate consistency, and I like Pettine's coaching talent, but if he has truly lost the locker room he needs to go. Farmer definitely needs to go. If I were Haslem, I would fire Farmer today, and start a firesale. Everyone -- even the untouchable Joe Thomas and Joe Haden -- need to be available.
This team is a joke and not deserving of the city. All I can say is, this weekend, I chose to watch Manchester United instead of driving an hour to the Browns Backers bar. I watched the Browns play on a shitty stream. With the Cavs starting now, too, I have no desire to watch this team. Josh McCown, for all of his weaknesses as a QB, plays with more fucking heart than anyone on this roster. I think the injury does lead to Johnny Wifebeater playing. And I'll still root for the Browns. But I can think of no quarterback that is more emblematic of this shitty franchise than Johnny Manziel.