Week 9: Buccaneers @ Browns: 1:00 P.M. on FOX

[Soda]

Good to see them get by again. I had problems with the offensive line play this week, but another game in the books for this unit...

What I'm most worried about going into next week (outside the backs) is how McDonald/Bitonio/Greco will fare against Atkins and Peko. You know that Marvin is going to put one of those two on McDonald for a good portion of the snaps. I just hope that the reps against McCoy serve as good prep. This gameplan of throwing to win will eventually fail. Shanny has got to find a way, as vague as it sounds.

We take 5-3 for certain. I'm not confident that Chud/Shurmur/Mangini holds on for that win. Even though Pettine made a couple of head-scratching decisions himself.

 

[Jack Brickman]

Hoyer looked kind of crappy yesterday, but I think we can all agree that at least we're not stuck watching Brandon Weeden any more.

 

[Cavsfan1985]

Hoyer looked kind of crappy yesterday, but I think we can all agree that at least we're not stuck watching Brandon Weeden any more.

I could not agree more. I think some people on this board get a little misguided on how hard they are on Hoyer. He is by far the best QB we have had since we came back. While he is not a Pro Bowl QB, he is serviceable.

IMO playing Hoyer now is better for this team in the present, and keeping Mazel on the bench to learn is good for the future. What Hoyer gives us is chance to be in every game right now.

 

[davedugan43]

The AFC North is nasty.

1 Cincinnati 5-2-1
2 Pittsburgh 6-3
3 Cleveland 5-3
4 Baltimore 5-4

 

[Randolphkeys]

You've mentioned the poor OL play and the lack of talent with the WR's a number of times while excusing Hoyer's inconsistencies.

I didn't see this post until now, sorry for the late response.

While fans are turning on Hoyer, I see that it is mostly because of the lack of red zone success. The other stuff - pure yardage per game, turnovers - are actually in the good half of the league. It's still over 2,000 yards passing with only 5 total turnovers after half a season. Those are pretty damn good, Browns legacy or not.

I've mentioned the lack of traditional outside receivers and clear weakness with interior offensive line because it becomes most glaring in the red zone. Do I think the receivers have produced well in between the 20s? Yes, absolutely. Do I think the line is hopeless? Absolutely not, the guys who were starting in the beginning of the year are still doing well, for the most part. But, when there is one weak point in an offensive line, a good defense attacks that one weak point with multiple blitz packages and double teams. Before Mack went down, the running backs were getting into the end zone. The problems with receiver height were so well hidden, little Travis Benjamin was breaking open in the red zone. Now that the running attack is no longer gaining yards, the red zone becomes a bigger issue for the passing attack.


Oh, and you left out the fact I hate our special teams this year and the run defense is a huge concern. I say those things too.

I've spent the last few weeks reading the Hoyer thread get sidetracked into what's wrong with unquestioned top 10 quarterbacks. I think a lot of Browns fans have a fine wine pallet when they consider Hoyer this flawed in yet another close win. That doesn't mean he is without mistakes. I see the balls that aren't thrown in the right spots too. I just think we have to recognize a few glaring problems outside of the QB that barely get mentioned throughout the week.

 

[Mr. Orange]

^Great post Keys. Very well laid out. The QB is always the lighting rod, but it really has been the loss of Mack that has been the domino effect. Hoyer is still doing his best and I think the coaches see that. I think his job is safe until December at least.

 

[bob2the2nd]

^Great post Keys. Very well laid out. The QB is always the lighting rod, but it really has been the loss of Mack that has been the domino effect. Hoyer is still doing his best and I think the coaches see that. I think his job is safe until December at least.

his job is safe as long as the browns are competitive. if the browns were to lose their next 4 games i think you would probably get a lot of people jump on the manziel bandwagon.

2 things stood out to me yesterday.

the first manziel never even took his damn coat off, hell in the 3rd or 4th quarter they kept showing him and he was laughing it up. it was absolutely clear no one was even considering putting him in the game.

2. the sideline report that said he coaches basically realize he only sees half the field, and he doesnt look past his 1st or 2nd read, then takes off with the ball.