Cleveland Browns 2020 Regular Season: What a Ride!

[Frank Stallone]

Here’s my big thing on Baker, despite that bad mistake, and that fact that when it gets broken down I’m sure he was doing some of the same things and got away with them...

He wasn’t doing any of that last year.

Think back to the Jets game Week 2. They won, but he looked fucking terrible. This isn’t a win masking a bad Baker day, which we got plenty of last year.

A few less than desirable moments, but otherwise loved what I saw.

No need to say anything about the ground attack or defense, numbers speak for themselves in either direction of good and bad.

 

[Marcus]

I wouldn't be so quick to chalk up Washington as a W. Their defensive line is really good.

 

[Triplethreat]

I wouldn't be so quick to chalk up Washington as a W. Their defensive line is really good.

Having 11 days to prepare should give us a significant advantage..

 

[CleveRocks]

It was an ugly win. Defensively, just not good enough. I think baker was better, but that's a pretty low bar.. still a lot of mistakes and sloppy play.

I think defensively we are banking on disruptive line play to cover lack of talent in the LB core.. We are not getting that, so getting killed in the passing side..

A good ground game relies on stout defense so the offense has time to beat up the other guys. Ground game is awesome so there is that, but unless we play better defensively, we won't be able to use it..

 

[Triplethreat]

It was an ugly win. Defensively, just not good enough. I think baker was better, but that's a pretty low bar.. still a lot of mistakes and sloppy play.

I think defensively we are banking on disruptive line play to cover lack of talent in the LB core.. We are not getting that, so getting killed in the passing side..

A good ground game relies on stout defense so the offense has time to beat up the other guys. Ground game is awesome so there is that, but unless we play better defensively, we won't be able to use it..

Did you watch the game? We punted ONE time and Baker threw one pick. Not sure how you can say that is a low bar for him?

70% completion / 9.5 YPA / 2-1 TD-INT ratio

On top of that, he was disgustingly efficient on 3rd down..

Nothing, and I mean nothing about his game last night screamed sloppy and a lot of mistakes outside of only 2 PLAYS.

 

[Jordan]

Last night was a perfect example of how this offense can use all of its weapons. WR's got targets and chances to make big plays, and both our stud RB's ran the hell out of the ball. Everybody was happy. Of course, that's not going to happen in every game because unsuccessful drives mean less plays run, and fewer opportunities, and more frustration. But as long as the shit is working, why would you want to get rid of OBJ? Absent a missed PI call, he might have had two TD receptions last night. The Bengals were clearly off balance defensively, and the threat he presented was a big part of that.

There may well come a point where it all doesn't work, and that trading OBJ may make sense. It's something to keep an eye on, especially if we decide that we need defensive help more than OBJ. But at least as of right now, PFF's argument for a trade looks more like just trying to be "right", then a fair evaluation of what is truly best for the team.

PFT**

PFF is on record as saying the Browns should keep OBJ unless a trade gives them future assets and help in another area. A lot of it has to do with how they rate wide-receivers, though, because they think they are the most important position behind QB.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I don't think trading OBJ is prudent unless we replace him with a bonified deep threat. Who else is is going to make the defense respect the deep shot? We'd see 9 man boxes almost every play.

The threat of OBJ at least keeps the big play in defenses minds.

I hate talking about trading OBJ as if it is something that "needs" to be done. It could get to that point, just as we could end up deciding that Baker isn't the guy and we "need" to get someone else. But we're not there with either guy yet, and may never get there.

On the flip side....we didn't have OBJ in 2018, and didn't see routine 9 man boxes then either. I'm not saying we should trade him in the abstract, but I don't believe that the offense collapses if we trade him. We have a defense with a lot of issues right now, so I think the Browns would have to listen at least listen to offers for him. You could perhaps find someone who is at least a plausible deep threat who isn't as good as OBJ to keep defenses honest, and it might be worth it if the return for OBJ is otherwise good.

So I don't think it is a should/shouldn't trade him thing. It all depends on who/what is being offered in return.

 

[Randolphkeys]

It's very telling that the Browns opened with two play action rollouts in a row. They aren't worried about OBJ as much as they are worried about Baker. Odell will be fine if they can get the quarterback throwing the ball out of some really awful and regressive habits.

They got him into his comfort zone early and the offense clicked. He made two awful plays that killed drives and otherwise avoided mistakes.

OBJ isn't so much the problem. He dropped a pass a week ago. Getting Baker back on track is clearly the goal for the franchise.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

It was an ugly win. Defensively, just not good enough. I think baker was better, but that's a pretty low bar.. still a lot of mistakes and sloppy play.

I think defensively we are banking on disruptive line play to cover lack of talent in the LB core.. We are not getting that, so getting killed in the passing side..

A good ground game relies on stout defense so the offense has time to beat up the other guys. Ground game is awesome so there is that, but unless we play better defensively, we won't be able to use it..

I agree it was a mostly ugly win on the defensive side of the ball. On the bright side, they didn't give up anything deep, and had good run defense. They were just obliterated in the short passing game.

I'd take that kind of offensive performance 10/10. Dominant run, and a massive 9.5 YPA on passing plays. That's a high bar.

 

[Kbiz]

It's amazing what playing to OBJ's strengths can look like. He is one of the best at creating separation using double moves. Kitchens dumb ass just kept having him run fly routes half the time. I wonder if that has contributed to some of him and Baker's timing issues to start the year.

Also Stefanski is on another level when it comes to scheming running plays. I wish he had that innate understanding with passing plays. Time will tell.

All in all a good win but giving up 30 points to the Gals is pretty bad. We have a lot to work on to get ready for Washington.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

I won't be too quick to write off the defense. Tav Thomas is not an NFL caliber corner at any spot, let alone being the starting nickelback. Give them some time to even work in a guy like MJ Stewart, let alone Greedy and Johnson, and I think they will prove to be quality cover guys.

BJ Goodson needs to have his snaps cut dramatically, though. The Bengals were abusing him during this game. Takitaki was pretty good against Baltimore but was just not tackling last night. Could be a short week thing, we'll see.

Sendajo looks like basura. Old, washed up from the depths of the Atlantic basura. Joseph is fine in the box, but not very good in coverage. Harrison is still new and they refuse to give Redwine a chance. It's the only position on the team where I'd look for a legitimate upgrade immediately.

The offense was simply brilliant and really made the week 1 panic look exactly like it was, a total overreaction. The formula is there, and few teams will be able to do what Baltimore did to the Browns offense. The offensive line is dominating, from Wills to Hubbard. Best offensive line I've seen, from LT-RT since 99 and it's not even close. They are making the 90s Cowboys look like the 2019 Browns offensive line. Whatever we are paying Bill Callahan, he deserves double.

You know you have something special when the pariah Chris Hubbard comes in and simply dominates.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

The offensive line is dominating, from Wills to Hubbard. Best offensive line I've seen, from LT-RT since 99 and it's not even close. They are making the 90s Cowboys look like the 2019 Browns offensive line. Whatever we are paying Bill Callahan, he deserves double.

You know you have something special when the pariah Chris Hubbard comes in and simply dominates.

Great point about Bill Callahan. I imagine he also had significant input in terms of choosing which OT to draft.

 

[Randolphkeys]

The offense was simply brilliant and really made the week 1 panic look exactly like it was, a total overreaction. The formula is there, and few teams will be able to do what Baltimore did to the Browns offense. The offensive line is dominating, from Wills to Hubbard. Best offensive line I've seen, from LT-RT since 99 and it's not even close. They are making the 90s Cowboys look like the 2019 Browns offensive line. Whatever we are paying Bill Callahan, he deserves double.

While I agree the offensive line looked as good as I've seen a Browns offensive line play in a long time, that line under Kyle Shanahan was special. Before Alex Mack wrecked his knee they boasted four Pro Bowl/All NFL level players.

 

[Hurl Bruce]

 

[Marcus]

Somewhere, Tony Grossi is smiling.