So, thankfully for me, I was able to do a lot of work after the game. Helped me calm down. So, as I write this, just know this is a calm jking.
The good:
1) Manziel improved!! He is no longer more painful than a root canal. I'd say he is all the way up to below average, which is better than abysmal. With that said, Joe Thomas was saying Johnny had no time to practice with the first team, and very little with the second. That is the way things go in the NFL, especially after an injury, so hopefully Manziel will get more first team reps if McCown can't play next week and will improve some more. I hated the pick when we made it, hated it last year, and still am cautiously pessimistic about it. I really, really, really hope he proves me wrong. I never thought he would be as good as he was today, though, so that's a good start.
2)Travis Benjamin. Damn, he looked really good to me today. He was running good routes and had great burst.
3) In general, the receiving core looked decent. Some big mistakes but I like what I saw out of Benjamin and Hartline.
The bad:
1) I can't see this team winning more than 5 games. Unfortunately, the talent just isn't there at the skill positions. I think Benjamin and Hardline are both good #2 receivers but we lack a true #1. Crowell looks like he regressed. Duke Johnson looks raw but was mildly impressive. And, the big one, we need a real QB.
Listen, I think we'll have a top-5 pick this year, and we have to get a QB. Whether that is Cook, Cardale, Jared Goff, Prescott, or someone else, we need a QB. I'm not saying we need to massively reach for someone, but we shouldn't wait either. If that means trading up to get the guy we really want I am fine with that, too. If this draft is loaded with talent, and a franchise QB will slip past the top-10, then trade down. I don't know what the class will transform into, but I think both Cook and Cardale look like they could be top-10 picks. Obviously Cardale needs to be consistently good and show improvement, and Cook needs to be more accurate, but they both have the tools to be top-10 picks. If they aren't, then that's fine, but we need to get someone. Unless this QB class is as bad as 2007 or 2013, and I really, really do not think it is, then we have no excuses.
2) Offensive line looked confused. I will attribute part of this to Johnny needing to come in for McCown. Different QBs can negatively effect a line. But even on running plays they just looked weak and confused. This will need to change.
3) Our supposed elite secondary was horrible. Haden had his worst game as a Brown, and the other guys were barely noticed.
4) Crowell has regressed. I noticed this in pre-season. But he looks nowhere near as strong as he did early last year. He also is struggling to find holes.
5) Listen, we were terrible today. If I were basing my predictions off today I would say we are going to go 0-16. I am standing by my original prediction of 4-12. I just think our high-end, which I originally pegged as seven wins, being no more than 5-11. I think the line and defense will look much better the rest of the season. I just don't think improvement there will outweigh our lack of talent in skill positions. Here's to hoping I am dead wrong.
Thank you for reading jking's thoughts.
