Browns Game Thoughts [Archive]

tapeANaspirin2it

09-15-2008, 02:06 AM

Overall, I was impressed with the Steelers performance. The wind obviously made passing very difficult. The Steelers WRs were open but Ben couldn't always get them the ball.

The OL was great. Ben had enough time on most pass plays. The running game was also very good and that was a tough accomplishment. The Browns do have a good run stopping DL, plus the wind allowed the Browns to take more chances against the pass and stuff the run. Despite that, Willie had some pretty good holes. The execution was much better this week, with all the pulling.

I still wish we had a real blocking FB instead of Carey Davis. A guy like Kreider could have paid big dividends in a game like this. I would have traded Davis' 1 carry for 2 yards for an extra blocker late in the game.

Ben had enough velocity on his throws to get through the wind. His shoulder may hurt, but it did not seem to affect his arm strength.

This game reminded us that the defense is much better with Polamalu. He's a playmaker against the run and pass. Ryan Clark's steady play allows Polamalu to be so versatile.

Willie Parker is a great running back. It's unbelievable how much better he's gotten over the years.

No carries for Mendenhall tells me Tomlin doesn't trust him.

Romeo Crennell is a bad game manager. By kicking the FG at the end, he's basically saying he thinks he WILL get the ball back. So, then why onside kick? By onside kicking, you're saying you don't think you'll get the ball back. If that's the case then you should have gone for the TD. In that sequence, Crennell basically said he does not trust his offense OR his defense. He didn't think his offense could convert the 4th down, so he kicked the FG. He didn't think his defense could stop the Steelers, so he elected to onside kick.

topseed

09-15-2008, 02:12 AM

Don't think that was truly an onside kick. If it actually was, it was ridiculously poor execution.

Calling the timeout when Crennel did really screwed the Browns, though.

Wig

09-15-2008, 02:13 AM

It was a high squib, not an onside. They were hoping the wind would mess up the middle-backs and that they'd make a mistake. Not altogether an awful guess given the previous kickoff.

tapeANaspirin2it

09-15-2008, 02:17 AM

it was some form of an onside kick, but not even balsy enough to be a true onside kick. It was just praying the Steelers screwed up and misplayed the ball. It was just one more indecision to go with his terrible use of time outs.

How can you call time out after the Steelers convert for a 1st down? That pretty much wasted a time out. If the browns used their TOs and the 2 minute warning properly, they may have gotten the ball back with some time to actually do something.

They also mismanaged the clock just before halftime. Crennell is no rookie coach, he should not be making such mistakes.

6RingStandby

09-15-2008, 02:22 AM

Watched the game at a Browns backer bar here in Colorado and I must say that Romeo is quite a pillow queen. He laid there, buried his face deep into it and just took what we gave him. HEHEHEHEHE!!

Big Fella

09-15-2008, 02:52 AM

I enjoyed the game from section 537, very last row. I love those seats because there are no douches behind me or no one to throw shit at me.

I think all of your points are dead on. There as a 3rd and 1 at one point and handed off out of the shotgun. Hated it. Wish we would have lined them up and punched them in the mouth.

All said though, I have few complaints. Beating the Browns doesn't get old. Seeing the 180 degree turn from pre-game to post-game Browns fan behavior is great too. Fuck 'em!

Spike

09-15-2008, 02:57 AM

Bryant McFadden had a great night taking Townsend's spot. His early pick scared them from throwing deep. He deserves some kudos.

http://d.yimg.com/ca.yimg.com/p/080914/reuters/mtfh39618cle03i21443460.jpg?

markymarc

09-15-2008, 08:16 AM

Good points Tape and you are dead on about Romeo. Also their total mismanagement of the clock at the end of the first half was very funny. It is very nice to have a healthy Troy back. That interception at the end of the first half was a thing of beauty.

Super Dave

09-15-2008, 08:28 AM

I enjoyed the game from section 537, very last row. I love those seats because there are no douches behind me or no one to throw shit at me.

!

Was it Windy up there Big Fella?

JohnnyO

09-15-2008, 09:44 AM

They also mismanaged the clock just before halftime. Crennell is no rookie coach, he should not be making such mistakes.
Worst clock management I've seen since Bill Cowher. Must be a Browns thing.
I say start the Romeo Crennel death watch. Best case, he ain't back next year if they don't fire him during the season.
Steelers looked good except for kick returns (as usual) but it could have been the wind messing with the ball and making them hard to judge. I was a little worried that the Brownies were driving pretty good at the end of the 3rd and beginning of the 4th.

DaSwitz

09-15-2008, 10:14 AM

Overall, I was impressed with the Steelers performance. The wind obviously made passing very difficult. The Steelers WRs were open but Ben couldn't always get them the ball.

I thought the WRs had a bit of the dropsies. The only pass I remember from Ben that was way off mark was the pass to Washington--which Nate ran an IN and from the looks of what Ben was yelling to him, he was supposed to run an OUT.

Romeo Crennell is a bad game manager. By kicking the FG at the end, he's basically saying he thinks he WILL get the ball back. So, then why onside kick?

I think they were hoping to get something they almost got on the previous kickoff--a mishandle by the Steelers of the ball. They gave the onsides look in order to force the Steelers up. Fortunately for us, Spaeth played the ball perfectly.

Smooth Criminal

09-15-2008, 10:18 AM

McFadden had a great game. He was matched up of Edwards alot and he covered him well.

I watched the game at a bar in Columbus and Browns fans were calling for Edwards to be cut and Romeo to be fired. They still love Anderson and Winslow though

TMC

09-15-2008, 10:24 AM

Spaeth calling for the fair catch was brilliant. They still have to give you a chance to catch it when you do that, so even if the Browns had closed, he would have gotten an opportunity to make the catch. I thought that was just smart play.

I was shocked that the wind was so strong. I honestly thought, from all the hurricanes I have saw here in SC, that the hurricane would either drop in strength by the time it reached that far north or that it would not make it that far that quickly (it seemed to hang around in Texas and weaken, moving really slowly). When hurricanes hang around land like that, they usually peter out pretty quickly, and this one dropped, but 30-50 MPH winds is pretty significant that far in. I think that coupled with that driving wind made passing the ball difficult.

I stated on the Browns message board if it was a heavy rain it favored us because we had a running game and defense.

I do think the Browns probably played the best football game of the year last night. It won't get any better for them. IMO, they are not that good. If their OL was not stellar, they would get their ass beaten.

steelberger1

09-15-2008, 10:28 AM

So when do we hear the first "It was only the Browns" rant?

THE flafan

09-15-2008, 10:39 AM

I think that the weather conditions actually helped the Browns...their secondary was seriously depleted and the weather made it difficult for Ben to take advantage of that. Plus, this enabled the Browns to cheat up closer to the LOS to handle the run...all in all, it's a W and it puts the Brownies in an early hole. I haven't seen anything from that team that tells me they are equipped to handle the adversity of 0-2.

DaSwitz

09-15-2008, 10:52 AM

I was shocked that the wind was so strong. I honestly thought, from all the hurricanes I have saw here in SC, that the hurricane would either drop in strength by the time it reached that far north or that it would not make it that far that quickly (it seemed to hang around in Texas and weaken, moving really slowly). When hurricanes hang around land like that, they usually peter out pretty quickly, and this one dropped, but 30-50 MPH winds is pretty significant that far in. I think that coupled with that driving wind made passing the ball difficult.

And Cleveland missed the brunt of the winds (they went east of Cleveland.) In Columbus (2 hours south) we had sustained 50-78mph winds for like 4-6 hours. There's power outages all over central Ohio, with almost a 1/2 million people missing power and we got no rain--it was all wind damage.

That's definitely the worst sustained winds I've ever seen in the middle of Ohio. It's not expected at all.

Steel Dino

09-15-2008, 10:59 AM

And Cleveland missed the brunt of the winds (they went east of Cleveland.) In Columbus (2 hours south) we had sustained 50-78mph winds for like 4-6 hours. There's power outages all over central Ohio, with almost a 1/2 million people missing power and we got no rain--it was all wind damage.

That's definitely the worst sustained winds I've ever seen in the middle of Ohio. It's not expected at all.

That is definetly very un-usual for Ohio DaSwitz.....

I was talking to a friend in Norwalk, Ohio last night and he said that the power was in and out and he lost a few shingles.....

Ike was a bad muther....

Hines57

09-15-2008, 11:15 AM

Had the weather been right, we would have put 50 on the board. Cleveland fucking sucks.

Steelerlyn1017

09-15-2008, 12:27 PM

First...we won. That is all that matters.

The weather definitely played a factor in things. I can't get too pissed at Mewelde Moore for misjudging that kick...given the circumstances.

I am amazed that we had Special Teams coverage. We didn't let Cribbs...or anyone get far. YAY!!

SOOOO glad to see Troy back. He was ALL over Winslow and Edwards...and that INT at the end of the first half was beautiful.

Derek Anderson is an overrated hack.

Winslow and Edwards are overrated hacks as well, especially Edwards.

You could tell that Ben was in pain, but he managed to play the game well. I was impressed. He got hit a few times by that Jabba the Hutt player and you could tell that each hit to his shoulder hurt more.

Willie Parker....wow. Enough said.

Romeo Crennel....um....nothing can be said here that hasn't already been said. WTF was up with that clock management? Even my 10 year old was asking why he was calling time out after time out.

Stillers

09-15-2008, 12:34 PM

Did anyone catch the hit Silverback put on Cribbs in the 4th quarter. He completely destroyed him...and looked hurt. No word if he was or wasnt.

Avoid Lloyd1975

09-15-2008, 12:47 PM

I stopped reading right here..."The OL was great." Rogers and company were in our backfield the entire game. Willie should have gotten at least closer to 150 yds last night.

toledosteel7

09-15-2008, 02:21 PM

I stopped reading right here..."The OL was great." Rogers and company were in our backfield the entire game. Willie should have gotten at least closer to 150 yds last night.

the browns where sending 7 or 8 at times.

Scott T

09-15-2008, 02:36 PM

did we watch the same game ?

Illinistlrfan

09-15-2008, 02:49 PM

My game thoughts

Running game: very good, Willie runs hard and it seemed that he rarely got no yards or negative yards, good to see
Passing game: Ben seemed to have a lot of time about 75% of the time which compared to last year is good. Weather was an issue here
Defense: Would have liked to have seen more pressure from the pass rush. It just seemed we would go several plays before we got to the QB.
Special teams: I know the wind was a problem but the Browns seemed to be able to catch the ball on punt/kickoff returns. Why couldn't we? The coverage units were very good

Doc

09-15-2008, 03:02 PM

Nothing much to add...but this.

Al Michaels "Ohhh..we're scared of Steelers!...oohhhh.." was funny, yet very odd.

mallrat80

09-15-2008, 03:22 PM

markymarc

09-15-2008, 03:46 PM

I do think the Browns probably played the best football game of the year last night. It won't get any better for them. IMO, they are not that good. If their OL was not stellar, they would get their ass beaten.

That is the best part of the win last night. The Brownies played their best game and still came up short. With good weather though we would have destroyed them

rossi

09-15-2008, 04:29 PM

Nothing much to add...but this.

Al Michaels "Ohhh..we're scared of Steelers!...oohhhh.." was funny, yet very odd.

I was a little taken back by the fact our corners played so well yet Troy who also played terrific was getting all the praise. Ike and Mac were on big time and that I felt was simply not mentioned much unless I missed it.
Michaels and Madden may not have been at their best last night.

steelrazor

09-15-2008, 05:44 PM

Even though it wasn't the blow out we as Steeler fans wanted and expected I thought they played a terrific game considering the circumstances. The Brown had just got embarrased the week before at home, they wer playing a Sunday night game at home, against the team they hate and want to beat the most. The Dallas game was important but this was the game that was circled on the calandar.

People can bitch about the play calling, pass protection, pass defense, defensive pressure but...the Steelers made all the plays they needed to make when they needed to make them. End of story.

ninjaskrzypek

09-15-2008, 07:07 PM

My thoughts:

Little disappointed in the lack of sacks, but we did keep the Browns in check. Maybe we were saving our blitzes for the Eagles.

Holmes is money. Ward is too, but the drops gotta stop.

Troy is back. I LOVED the dive over the pile on the fast snap.

Willie looked great.

SOOOOOOO glad we have Hartwig.

Kemo is a monster.

Im tired of Nate doing nothing. Want to see Sweed and Nance in there.

Mendenhall seems to have the same mentality of Kordel Stewart. Please God no.

Harrison is a beast. I mean really. he is NOT human.

Next week will be real tough.

Did they even throw it to Ikes side once?

Steelerman

09-15-2008, 07:13 PM

Mendenhall seems to have the same mentality of Kordel Stewart. Please God no.

I'm sitting here trying to figure out what in the happy horse fuck this is supposed to mean.

ninjaskrzypek

09-15-2008, 10:59 PM

Meaning he seems to making mistakes and letting it bother him and repeating them. When he is in I hold my breath like when K used to throw.

STEELERDYNASTY

09-16-2008, 11:15 AM

just imagine what Big baby would have done to Mahan at center....

Wingrider

09-16-2008, 11:54 AM

Just have to say the Browns came to play and they did. The zebras gave them some breaks, Woodleys roughing call and the non call on the late hit on Ben from Lard ass. With all of that and some injuries and bad weather that seemed to be at its worst at the wrong times for us we still came away with a win. Our offensive line is playing better than last year, and unless we have injuries I think they continue to improve. Our new left guard is playing with a case of pure rage against the other guys and Hartwig is a huge upgrade at center.

Coryea

09-16-2008, 12:44 PM

Did anyone catch the hit Silverback put on Cribbs in the 4th quarter. He completely destroyed him...and looked hurt. No word if he was or wasnt.

That hit look so bad because Smith dove and took his feet out tripping him up right into Harrison.

I'm still a bit shaky with Oline, they've given up 5 sacks in in 33 drop backs, that's one sack every 6.5 drop backs, that's worse than last year. Cleveland got no pressure at all on Tony Homo, and the Eagles were getting decent pressure on Homo last night, we need to sure the Oline up or it could be along day next week.

How wasn't that a personal foul on Rogers for hitting Ben in the shoulder? Woodley hit Anderson right after he let go of the ball, the ball was long gone when Rogers hit Ben.

Troy is the best S in the game when healthy.

IMO Parker doesn't get nearly the credit he deserves, pretty much every run was between the tackles, very tough yards he grinded out.

What's with all the damn WR screens, I'd much rather see us sneak in the occasional RB screen and hit the WR's on a quick pass when the DB is 10 yards off.

DaSwitz

09-16-2008, 01:33 PM

I'm still a bit shaky with Oline, they've given up 5 sacks in in 33 drop backs, that's one sack every 6.5 drop backs, that's worse than last year.

I'd say 2 of those 5 sacks are on Ben. On the Rogers sack, he had plenty of time to get rid of the ball or scramble. He even started to scramble, then stopped--which is when Rogers got to him.

They can still get better, but I haven't seen the jailhouse breaks that I was seeing last year, where Ben couldn't even make his drop without having people on top of him. The only one like that, was when Mario came untouched. Last year, we saw a number of times when Ben would just take his 5 step drop and be met by multiple defenders.

Like I said, ton of room for growth, but I do think they're better than last year. Not good enough yet, but better.

Coryea

09-16-2008, 01:41 PM

I'd say 2 of those 5 sacks are on Ben. On the Rogers sack, he had plenty of time to get rid of the ball or scramble. He even started to scramble, then stopped--which is when Rogers got to him.

They can still get better, but I haven't seen the jailhouse breaks that I was seeing last year, where Ben couldn't even make his drop without having people on top of him. The only one like that, was when Mario came untouched. Last year, we saw a number of times when Ben would just take his 5 step drop and be met by multiple defenders.

Like I said, ton of room for growth, but I do think they're better than last year. Not good enough yet, but better.

I agree, but they haven't really faced an elite Dline, Houston has one guy, Williams pretty much came untouched on both sacks and in the Browns game, the sack where Sorenson and Williams split, sorenson ran right around Colon and Williams went right by Simmons. So that's 3 of the 5 sacks they've given up where guys went right by their man and were hitting Ben.

Vader

09-16-2008, 01:47 PM

I'd say 2 of those 5 sacks are on Ben. On the Rogers sack, he had plenty of time to get rid of the ball or scramble. He even started to scramble, then stopped--which is when Rogers got to him.

They can still get better, but I haven't seen the jailhouse breaks that I was seeing last year, where Ben couldn't even make his drop without having people on top of him. The only one like that, was when Mario came untouched. Last year, we saw a number of times when Ben would just take his 5 step drop and be met by multiple defenders.

Like I said, ton of room for growth, but I do think they're better than last year. Not good enough yet, but better.

Why does everybody talk about the sacks that were Ben's fault but never talk about the sacks he avoided? If they even out then the OL still is giving up too many sacks.

GRBman

09-16-2008, 02:03 PM

Weather... The winds were incredibly strong for an inland hurricane because once that joker landed it picked up steam FAST and moved right through the plains in less than 24 hours. That was the fastest moving storm I've ever seen once it landed in Texas...just wow...

I thought Ben showed his frustration with Nate very early. That missed route by Nate had Ben screaming at him down the field. I don't think I've ever seen Ben do that to one of his receivers either. Hines dropped a pass in the end zone and Ben grimaced, but didn't show him up at all... This leads me to believe that Nate isn't getting it done on the practice field either. Maybe the coaching staff is just trying to give him every opportunity to succeed given his physical talents... mentally the kid just isn't there..

Spike

09-16-2008, 02:08 PM

I thought Ben showed his frustration with Nate very early. That missed route by Nate had Ben screaming at him down the field. I don't think I've ever seen Ben do that to one of his receivers either...

I saw that too - Ben was pissed as all hell.

Bench Nate and put Sweed in there - he can't do any worse.

GRBman

09-16-2008, 02:14 PM

I saw that too - Ben was pissed as all hell.

Bench Nate and put Sweed in there - he can't do any worse.

Glad I'm not alone on that. I commented to my wife that I thought it was a little early for frustration. That maybe there's something else going on. Ben raves about Dallas Baker's route-running and Limus Sweed's potential...I wonder if we'll see Washington in there less this week and more of Sweed and Baker...

Ickster

09-16-2008, 02:36 PM

I just wished Parker would've caught that ball Ben threw in the endzone. Went right Through Willies hands before he got clocked by the safety. Great throw in those conditions though. If it was to Ward or Holmes it is a TD. I'll forgive him if he continues to put up 100+ rushing each game.

Also, did any of you guys know that Cleveland uses an unbalanced line??? If not, Madden made sure you knew that every time the Browns made an offensive play...