Cleveland Browns 2020 Regular Season: What a Ride!

[bob2the2nd]

Dorsey crippled the offensive line for year two, then Baker got murdered every week and developed the yips.

the offensive line was terrible year 1 as well. But it was masked by the fact that freddie was calling plays that took very little time to develop and baker could make a quick read.

Then in year two freddie completely went away from what worked in year 1, and thats when the offensive line problems really shown through.

 

[Randolphkeys]

People are quick to forget.

Two years isn't that quick, unless you are a Sequoia tree.

Some people wondered why Van Pelt was given the OC job if he isn't calling plays. Well, that was the only way they could pilfer one of the best QB development guys in the NFL away. Baker was such a mess he doesn't need a qb coach, he needs a support system. If he can't shake off some of these bad habits, the Browns will have to move on.

That said, I don't like all the comments claiming he is washed up. He has developed some bad habits which can be cleaned up. It's up to Baker to put in the work.

 

[JDailey23]

Pretty simple to me. He was a wide-eyed innocent with everything to prove. He had very little exposure to the toxic culture our ownership has built with the constant turnover in the front office.

The more systems hes had to learn, the unstable coaching staffs (which were fighting themselves), increased pressure every year to perform, coupled with the drinking of his own kool aid, caused him to be where he is.

It's sort of what we did to Tim Couch except with more talent around him. Shit at least Couch only had two Head Coaches in his time here. Baker is already on number 4. If Baker flames out, I put it mostly on the front office/ownership which has been easily the worst in all sports imo. How is any player supposed to become the best player they can in an environment like this?

Exactly what Cowterd said would happen. Too many things stacked against him and his personality can’t handle that.

 

[bigfoot5415]

After looking at back at the Ravens game, some key takeaways I didnt realize at the time of this ass beating:

1. Only gave up 107 yards on the ground & 275 in the air
2. Costly turnovers and field position took away our run game. These three led to 17 points.
   1. 1 INT at the 47 yard line
   2. Punt fake on the 31
   3. Fumble on our 20
3. 99 yard drive...woof. That was a bad look.
4. Missed 4 points of FGs & failed to convert on a 3rd and two.

Ravens actually had 5 drives of 20 or less yards. That is something the scoreboard will not tell you. Field position and costly turnovers put us into such a big hole that we were forced to drop back the rest of the game. If we can avoid making some of these costly mistakes and capitalizing on our drives; maybe we could have not made the game look so bad. We all expected an L, but not like that. Gotta shrug it off because Cincy isnt going to light it up like the Ravens did. Now if we just cut down on the mistakes and run the ball, everything else should open up.

 

[Bob_The_Cat]

Ravens actually had 5 drives of 20 or less yards. That is something the scoreboard will not tell you. Field position and costly turnovers put us into such a big hole that we were forced to drop back the rest of the game. If we can avoid making some of these costly mistakes and capitalizing on our drives; maybe we could have not made the game look so bad. We all expected an L, but not like that. Gotta shrug it off because Cincy isnt going to light it up like the Ravens did. Now if we just cut down on the mistakes and run the ball, everything else should open up.

Not sure if you looked at those drives, but this is slightly misleading.

-One was the FG after the turnover
-One was a 3 & out

Then...
-A 14 yard drive. Punted at end of 3rd (Bal up 31-6)
-A 20 yd drive for a TD (Bal up 38-6)
-A -12 yd drive. Punted up 38-6 with 8:00 min left

Can you really count three drives when the game was already at hand? At that point, Baltimore shifted their play-calling.

I don’t think it’s wise to point to yardage numbers either. Had the Browns done anything at all on offense it would’ve looked a lot different. Baltimore was in cruise control from basically midway through the 2nd quarter. They didn’t need to force anything.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Look at this clip and look at OBJ's body language and ask yourself why he's upset

I thought that was what was going on....

So let me get this straight -- if a QB fails to see a wide-open WR in the very first game of the season, the proper response to that by the receiver is 1) shitty body language, 2) dropping a well thrown ball on a critical down, 3) committing a facemask penalty, and 4) failing to re-establish yourself inbounds and so negating another well-thrown pass by the QB?

It's a freaking team game. Some guys are going to play better and worse in each game, and have good and bad moments within games. A teammate screwing up is not a license to get upset, pout or screw up yourself. Instead, you want guys who maintain focus, keep playing the best game they can, and so help the rest of the team catch fire when they start doing things right. That's how teams are supposed to recover and come back within a game. One guy makes a big play, then someone else does, and all of a sudden the team as a whole may be lifted and start fighting back. The mentality of "I'm going to lose focus if you other guys don't play well" is what helps generate blowout losses like the one we just watched on Sunday.

How would OBJ like it if other players started displaying shitty body language and screwing up in response to him dropping passes or committing stupid penalties?

Guys who are mentally in the game and playing well only if everyone else is playing well are not guys I generally want on my teams.

 

[Bob_The_Cat]

I thought that was what was going on....

So let me get this straight -- if a QB fails to see a wide-open WR in the very first game of the season, the proper response to that by the receiver is 1) shitty body language, 2) dropping a well thrown ball on a critical down, 3) committing a facemask penalty, and 4) failing to re-establish yourself inbounds and so negating another well-thrown pass by the QB?

It's a freaking team game. Some guys are going to play better and worse in each game, and have good and bad moments within games. A teammate screwing up is not a license to get upset, pout or screw up yourself. Instead, you want guys who maintain focus, keep playing the best game they can, and so help the rest of the team catch fire when they start doing things right. That's how teams are supposed to recover and come back within a game. One guy makes a big play, then someone else does, and all of a sudden the team as a whole may be lifted and start fighting back. The mentality of "I'm going to lose focus if you other guys don't play well" is what helps generate blowout losses like the one we just watched on Sunday.

How would OBJ like it if other players started displaying shitty body language and screwing up in response to him dropping passes or committing stupid penalties?

Guys who are mentally in the game and playing well only if everyone else is playing well are not guys I generally want on my teams.

In talking about this play in isolation:

1. OBJ is the #1 read
2. OBJ is wide open
3. Baker sees him
4. Baker has time, room to step up, and open throwing lane
5. Baker tucks ball and scrambles for minimal gain

I get all the other things you said about OBJ, team game, etc., but I’d bet you a majority of WR would have the exact same reaction on this play, they just don’t get scrutinized or criticized as much as OBJ.

I also don’t think OBJ reacts the same if Baker throws it to someone open downfield. The fact that the route is there and he just doesn’t throw the ball is what pissed him off more than anything.

Also, I can guarantee with 100% certainly there is always someone on the field reacting to every negative play with some form of poor body language. It’s unconscious for most people. Watch during penalties or drops and you’ll see.

Not excusing OBJs mistakes, but the body language thing isn’t something that only he does.

 

[Los216]

I thought that was what was going on....

So let me get this straight -- if a QB fails to see a wide-open WR in the very first game of the season, the proper response to that by the receiver is 1) shitty body language, 2) dropping a well thrown ball on a critical down, 3) committing a facemask penalty, and 4) failing to re-establish yourself inbounds and so negating another well-thrown pass by the QB?

It's a freaking team game. Some guys are going to play better and worse in each game, and have good and bad moments within games. A teammate screwing up is not a license to get upset, pout or screw up yourself. Instead, you want guys who maintain focus, keep playing the best game they can, and so help the rest of the team catch fire when they start doing things right. That's how teams are supposed to recover and come back within a game. One guy makes a big play, then someone else does, and all of a sudden the team as a whole may be lifted and start fighting back. The mentality of "I'm going to lose focus if you other guys don't play well" is what helps generate blowout losses like the one we just watched on Sunday.

How would OBJ like it if other players started displaying shitty body language and screwing up in response to him dropping passes or committing stupid penalties?

Guys who are mentally in the game and playing well only if everyone else is playing well are not guys I generally want on my teams.

 

[Triplethreat]

Orange pants tonight.... are we back?

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

In talking about this play in isolation:

1. OBJ is the #1 read
2. OBJ is wide open
3. Baker sees him
4. Baker has time, room to step up, and open throwing lane

Honestly, I didn't see wide open and a great throwing lane. I thought Baker had a split second where OBJ was open and where Baker had a throwing lane for a 6 yard out. He might have had to throw it over Conklin, though. He probably should have thrown it, but it's not like OBJ was wide open in the middle field streaking for a TD. Short pass with some risk, and certainly not something a WR should use as an excuse to show up his QB with poor body language. I mean, if this was week 15, maybe. But crap, to show that little patience for a young QB week 1 is just rank immaturity/unprofessionalism.

I get all the other things you said about OBJ, team game, etc., but I’d bet you a majority of WR would have the exact same reaction on this play, they just don’t get scrutinized or criticized as much as OBJ.

I don't agree with that. Plenty of guys would just jog it back to the huddle under the same overall circumstances of it being the first game, new offense, Covid, etc.. I've seen poor body language from Landry, for example, but that's only been well into a season that is already circling the drain. Otherwise, he's generally always been a huge positive in terms of attitude and leadership even if things aren't going well.

Not excusing OBJs mistakes, but the body language thing isn’t something that only he does.

I'd say that most players aren't nearly as blatant about it as is OBJ. And the whole "well, he's just an emotional guy" argument doesn't cut it.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Nobody is arguing that Baker doesn't need to play better, or blaming OBJ for Baker himself playing poorly. Baker had his own issues during the game that cannot possibly be blamed on OBJ.

The separate issue is OBJ's own issue in terms of losing focus/poor execution on routine plays that likewise cannot possibly be blamed on Baker. Again, unless the argument is that OBJ loses focus or goes into a funk if he thinks his QB isn't playing well. If that's true, then that's a big problem.

 

[WellYouNeednt]

Yes, I just saw the Browns posted a picture of the uniforms tonight and they will be wearing orange pants and brown jerseys.

 

[MikeOC33]

Good stuff which most of us don't see live, but makes perfect sense when pointed out.
Timing is EVERYTHING in football, and unfortunately, Covid killed any time the Browns had to even START working on timing this off season. It could easily be 8-10 weeks before the passing offense starts to look even a little bit like it should.

 

[MikeOC33]

Orange pants tonight.... are we back?

Love it! That time frame is when I started to become a Browns fan (moved into Ohio from another state- GO Pack GO!), and without a doubt, my favorite Brown's era with my all time favorite Browns (Sipe, the Pruitts, Diek, Clay, Ozzie, Dino, Robert Jackson...etc.).

 

[MirORich]

Not what you want to read lol