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Week 8 (11/1): Cardinals (5-2) @ Browns (2-5) [1:00 PM EST, FOX]

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I understand what you're saying but Arizona also had two timeouts. The Browns had to make Arizona use both TO's, one way or another. I think more coaches would err on the side of caution in that situation. I agree that the better teams in the league would pass it.... No harm.
I just thought we should have at least tried to convert a first down, and control the clock. I am not saying this means Pettine sucks and he blew it. We got beat by the better team.
I just worried once we gave them life, a team that's good, that's it.
I am just sick of losing. I hate it.
 
Jesus. What an awful game.
Good:
1) Duke Johnson, Travis Benjamin, and Gary Barnidge. All three of these guys look like they could be part of a winning team's offense. And two of three of them are free agents... I hope we retain all three.
2) Teshaun Gipson. This dude is a monster. He changes the way the defense plays when he is in the game. And yet, he also may leave this summer...
3) Danny Shelton finally had an impactful game. I hope this is a trend.
4) Josh McCown had a mediocre game, even before the injury, but hell, the guy plays with a ton of heart. I've criticized the "play like a Brown" mantra Pettine keeps propagating. But if "play like a Brown" means play tough, smart, and with a lot of heart that is, by definition, Josh McCown. He looked like he was in a ton of pain and kept playing at his hardest.

Bad:
1) This team just sucks, guys. I keep saying this but there are under ten guys that I think could be starters on a winning team. Farmer needs to be fired.
2) The offensive playcalling was awful. On offense, we already struggle running the ball. So, as a solution, we decide to only throw short passes! I mean, what the fuck guys?!? Then, after Duke had a great first half catching passes out of the backfield (which are short pass plays that actually help the run), we decide to barely play him in the second half! I mean, you can't make this shit up. A few weeks ago I thought Flip was getting it. Now I just think he was lucky. Geez.
3) The defensive playcalling was awful. I don't know what to say, guys. We were blitzing on third and long after it was clear Palmer and his receivers can make plays fast. We played with three men at the line on first and ten. Just pathetic.
4) The defense, for being so highly paid, is embarrassingly bad. There were two players today, TWO, that I thought played well (Gipson and Shelton). Haden is a joke. Kruger is a joke. Mingo is jokes on jokes on jokes. I think our players are allergic to pass rushes. I did enjoy the number of turnovers but some were more luck than actual defensive plays. Nonetheless, I can't take that away from the unit, they got some stops and did change possession. Ultimately it didn't matter because most of the game they were awful.
5) The dropped passes. This hasn't been a big problem before today. But it was awful. Hartline dropped two. Gabriel dropped (or didn't get in good position) for one. And there were one or two more.
6) The line does a terrible job of run blocking. This gets to problem seven...
7) The running game is embarrassingly bad. Turbin was always a decent pass catcher and decent blocker. He's not a good runner. So why we needed to let him fumble it twice is idiotic. Crowell has talent, but it may be as more of a third down back. DJjr. is a legit pass-catcher, but he hasn't shown much as a runner. I'd like to see him get more carries per game.
8) Pettine and his decision to keep playing McCown. Let me be clear: I think McCown was playing well enough to continue playing, and if healthy, that he should continue to be the starter. BUT, he was clearly in a tremendous amount of pain. And Pettine blaming Josh (at the presser he said "well, Josh said he was healthy") is bullshit. You are the coach and you see Josh in serious pain. Why in the fucking hell do you let him play? We know Josh is a great leader and tough competitor. No way in hell he says he needs to come out unless he literally cannot play anymore. Pettine needs to take responsibility for that decision.

Honestly, we need to have this reported firesale. Mack clearly doesn't want to be here so we should definitely trade him. Mingo sucks and is in the wrong defensive system. He needs to go. I love Joe Thomas, and would be sad to see him leave, but he deserves to play for a winner. If someone offers us a first round pick, and they are a winning team, we need to let Joe go. Clearly the coaching staff doesn't trust Manziel, add him to the list. Either Haden is complacent or he forgot to play football, throw him on the block too. Kruger, Gilbert, Kirksey, and Hitner are all others I'd throw on that list. I'm as sick of the continuous rebuilding as everyone. But if you think this team has a core that can turn around the team you're blind. We need to rebuild that core, asap.
 
Pettine needs to take responsibility for that decision.
The next time Mike Pettine takes responsibility for anything will be the first.

He portrays himself as a stand up guy, but has more excuses and people to blame than the man on the moon.
 
I'm not even mad at Pettine anymore. It's clear that we are completely outmatched from a talent level. Ray Farmer gots to go. Let's just keep hoping for 2-14. Don't disappoint me by winning Browns...
 
He played against a prevent defense and almost got his TE murdered, threw a deep pass to Hartline that ended up in Parma and threw a jump ball to a 5'9" WR.

I'm still in disbelief that people complain about McCown after seeing the alternative.....

I get the Johnny hate, but it's kind of dumb to judge a guy by garbage time minutes. McCown has done all of those things listed above at various points in his playing time as well.
 
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I think McCown is the answer for the bridge QB position, but we really need to draft one of the potential franchise guys coming out this year even if it means trading up.
 
I think McCown is the answer for the bridge QB position, but we really need to draft one of the potential franchise guys coming out this year even if it means trading up.
I’m not on board. I would be if the offense was the main problem, or poor QB play was what was stopping us from winning games. It’s not. At this point we need a roster overhaul at too many positions to warrant giving up the draft picks necessary to do that.
 
I think McCown is the answer for the bridge QB position, but we really need to draft one of the potential franchise guys coming out this year even if it means trading up.

We don't need a freaking "bridge" QB if we take another QB in the first round.

We need to just play the freaking guy we draft from day 1 like the rest of hte NFL and he will either workout or he won't.

The "bridge" does nothing but ignite QB controversies and divide locker rooms unless the guy in front of the rookie is an All-Pro.

How many times do we need to ride that merry go round before people wake up and see it doesn't work putting a journeyman bum in front of your QB of the future?
 
How many times do we need to ride that merry go round before people wake up and see it doesn't work putting a journeyman bum in front of your QB of the future?

Have we ever ridden that merry go round before? I don't remember actually having a QB of the future to put a journeyman bum in front of.

I'm assuming we won't be able to get Goff due to winning too many games, so we'll have to take another guy that isn't as ready but might develop into a franchise QB. That's probably the most realistic way we can get one. I'd rather not Tim Couch him and let McCown keeps us respectable enough for a year or two so we can actually attract some talent for when the franchise QB is ready.

If we traded up and got Goff, totally fine with starting him right away because I think he's ready. I just don't see that as realistically possible.
 
Yeah those of you that want to pass on either Lynch or Goff in round one need to follow Ray Farmer wherever he ends up as a scout.
 
Seems


So far Nate nailed it..........

Welp. Had the right idea with the Cards being sloppy. A really bad sign when you cause 4 turnovers and still get shat on. Good thing I didn't watch this abomination. I saw that at one point we were up early, but apparently it went downhill fast.

The tank is strong. Baltimore won so they have 2 wins now too. Plenty of craptastic teams and plenty of season left, but as of now, there are only 2 teams with fewer wins: Tennessee (not going to draft a QB) and Detroit (probably would - sit him for a year behind Stafford then move on). Of the 2 win teams, don't sleep on San Fran: Their differential of -98 is the worst in the NFL. They will probably start selling Goff Jerseys in week 17 if their record is the worst.
 
Welp. Had the right idea with the Cards being sloppy. A really bad sign when you cause 4 turnovers and still get shat on. Good thing I didn't watch this abomination. I saw that at one point we were up early, but apparently it went downhill fast.

The tank is strong. Baltimore won so they have 2 wins now too. Plenty of craptastic teams and plenty of season left, but as of now, there are only 2 teams with fewer wins: Tennessee (not going to draft a QB) and Detroit (probably would - sit him for a year behind Stafford then move on). Of the 2 win teams, don't sleep on San Fran: Their differential of -98 is the worst in the NFL. They will probably start selling Goff Jerseys in week 17 if their record is the worst.
I really do think December 13th could be a franchise defining game for us. The likes of which we haven't seen since we 'beat' the Colts the year they sucked for Luck.

Results of that 'win':

  • We traded up for Trent Richardson which in effect led to the Weeden pick at 22(since we didn't take a QB)
  • After Weeden (very predictably) flamed out we waste another first rounder on Johnny (also a trade up)
  • The Colts took Andrew Luck and went to the AFC championship game last year with a team that is mostly just Andrew Luck.
  • We took a big step into establishing a winning culture! Just think about what a mess we would be if we had lost that Indy game!
Don't be stupid Browns. Make God damn sure you don't fuck up and beat the 9ers. I fear it is the type of win that could set us back 3 more years and I will have to make another bullet-ed list about how the 'winner' of the last time we were in tank situation actually lost in the long run.
 
@natedagg,

I doubt the Lions would abandon Stafford. He's only 27 and he's actually a pretty good QB.

Ravens will turn it around and finish with at least 7 wins.

The field is open for the Browns to get a top 3 pick. The question is how bad they want it.
 
@natedagg,

I doubt the Lions would abandon Stafford. He's only 27 and he's actually a pretty good QB.

Ravens will turn it around and finish with at least 7 wins.

The field is open for the Browns to get a top 3 pick. The question is how bad they want it.
The Ravens will not turn it around. Their defense is horrible.

I was pretty wrong about Stafford. I will happily concede the point. Being so awful, they have more pressing needs. HOWEVER, they must be discussed because whoever gets the pick can trade it to someone who wants Goff.
 

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