Expectations Downgraded to "Nothing" for Browns' Offense Against Lions
by Chris Pokorny on Nov 21, 2009 10:51 PM EST
in General News
Email
PrintEvery week, I try to reach as far as I can into the bag of optimism for the Cleveland Browns. The result usually predicts the Browns to still lose by two possessions every week. Where does the level of optimism come in? It comes in the fact that for some reason, I keep on picking the Browns to break out on offense with at least 17 points. The facts indicate I should be projecting otherwise. Out of the nine games the Browns have played this season, the team has scored six points or less in six of those games. Over the last three games, the Browns have a combined nine points.
I guess the problem is that I just can't imagine an NFL offensive coordinator topping himself week after week with a more putrid gameplan. I also can't imagine that after having drafted two wide receivers in the second round that neither of them has developed very well this season. I also can't imagine that our top two quarterbacks are considered jokes in the league after we had seriously thought a year or two ago that either one of them could've been dealt for first- to second-round draft picks.
Last week, I had three keys that the Browns needed to follow on offense to see more efficiency from Quinn at the quarterback position. Let's see how those keys worked out:
- Trust the Protection (FAIL): Quinn was sacked four times against the Ravens. Granted, the game plan was bad, but the same issues that plagued Quinn earlier in the season -- not looking very comfortable in the pocket when he did have time, continued against the Ravens. Although the playcalling didn't seem to call for downfield routes, there were a few instances in which Quinn certainly could have taken some shots on third down. Instead, he ducked at the sign of pressure and took the sack.
- First Down Passing (FAIL): This is unofficial, but I have the Browns down with having 13 runs and 10 pass attempts in first down situations. A good percentage of those passes came late in the fourth quarter though and don't reflect our focus on running the ball. There did seem to be a few more mixing up of the playcalling (minimally though) on which downs to call pass or run plays. Since we were so inept in execution though, this category gets a big "fail" as well.
- The Screen Play (FAIL): I hope Brian Daboll and Brady Quinn didn't read DBN and think "gotcha, throw it high at the line of scrimmage to Mike Furrey." I believe we tried to run the screen play twice, both times leading to poor results.
If we can't accomplish anything different over our bye week, how can I have faith in our offense against any NFL franchise? Some might argue that the Detroit Lions haven't been much of a franchise as of late, but there's a reason that 84% of users are picking them to win against the Browns this week -- it's because although they might still be "a joke" in terms of competition, they aren't playing some of the most pathetic football you'll ever witness at this level.
So, will I say "GO BROWNS!!!" at the conclusion of tomorrow's game thread still? Of course. But with how Daboll (FAIL) and the offense (FAIL) has played, predicting success against the Lions is bound to end up with fans seeing the same product they've seen all season: nothing.
50 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Over the last three games, the Browns have a combined nine points.
i threw up a little bit after reading that.
Having never watched a single Lions game I’ve heard that their offense is bad (citing example of Stafford’s pick-fests). But what about their defense?
The way I see it, if both offenses suck, and our defense is better… then we win right? Unless of course, our offense is so much worse that that cancels out. Forgive my optimism.
The Lions offense is not that bad this year they are scoring points and their running back Kevin Smith can run with the ball. Like you said our defense is good, but when our offense gives up more points then our defense it doesn’t matter.
by The Brown Note on Nov 22, 2009 12:00 AM EST up reply actions
its the lions line the sucks the rest the O is desent
i put big babey at 4 sacks
Just Remember matt... what would Daunte do??
i like your optimism. that would probably be some kind of NFL record, a defense scoring 37 points in one game…
by Dawg Nuts on Nov 22, 2009 12:33 AM EST up reply actions 6 recs
Isn’t that close to doubling the total points scored this year? Nevermind, there is absolutely no way we have scored 37 points this season.
by Chief WaDrew on Nov 22, 2009 3:06 AM EST up reply actions
ahem
I’m going to assume that I’m the only person in the world who got the Browns’ points right this week.
Barf
Please-
the abundance of FAIL references everywhere is making me nauseous. There are better ways to describe our Brownies’ ineptitude than using a teenage internet troller idiom. It was funny 3 years ago in the picture of that idiot miking up a guitar amp instead of the cab. That’s all, other than- Go Browns! Lose by 1 so we can edge out those pesky Lions for the #1 draft pick. We need some type of strategy at least.
Please-
the abundance of FAIL references everywhere is making me nauseous. There are better ways to describe our Brownies’ ineptitude than using a teenage internet troller idiom. It was funny 3 years ago in the picture of that idiot miking up a guitar amp instead of the cab. That’s all, other than- Go Browns! Lose by 1 so we can edge out those pesky Lions for the #1 draft pick. We need some type of strategy at least.
FAIL.
http://www.nba.com/media/cavaliers/come_on_cavs.mp3
by johnnyphoenix on Nov 22, 2009 12:31 PM EST up reply actions
6-3 is relistic i would not be shoked at 2-0 hell 0-0 could happon
Just Remember matt... what would Daunte do??
If Jerrome Harrison gets 10 + touches, I think we can score against this D. Did anyone hear his radio interview on WKNR? The host asked him why he wasn’t getting the ball, Harrison’s response was about a 5 second pause, followed by “I have no idea man…” Maybe Daboll will give him a chance this week.
If only it was '95 again...let's go Tribe!
Don't hate on D.A., you would suck too if your only target had brick hands.
LeBron the time is now, get hungry and get goin.
Also, Munch is BA.
Guiltless advertisement for a site I make money with, don't hate! Just try it out if you are interested.
http://www.neobux.com/?r=adilisio
Wishing Brady Quinn the best of luck in looking good against the Lions. He can improve his chances of negotiating a good deal with a new franchise with a good showing.
The win however, should be out of reach. The Lions are much improved, and the only reason they´re losing, is because they had the guts to hand the keys to a rookie QB.
The real Browns QB since before last week´s game is Brett Ratliff, even from the sidelines.
Once again, my challenge is to Rob Ryan to make his personnel function within a 3-4 alignment. He has not been able to do this.
In a dream I had last night, Quinn continued to throw erratically, even some passes were reaching the upper deck of the stadium as he tried to prove he could throw the deep ball. By the time of the third quarter it was Ratliff in the game. But in my dream Ratliff was an attractive woman with long blond hair. Her first play from scrimmage was a pass to Robo on a go-pattern. Not a pretty throw as it went into heavy coverage, but I was happy to see a pass go more than 5 yards downfield and still be in the field of play.
"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge..." C. Darwin
by Spidey on Nov 22, 2009 10:24 AM EST via mobile up reply actions 3 recs
So here’s my reason for optimism:
Lion’s defense much worse + our offensive players not this bad + Daboll’s/Mangini’s putrid gameplan was shoved in their face by the national media last week.
Quinn and DA epically suck. Thank you Phil Savage. There is good reason no teams gave up any picks for either of them; they knew what Savage didn’t know.
We are paying for Savage’s ineptitude on this. At least Lerner is smart enough to know this.
"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge..." C. Darwin
by Spidey on Nov 22, 2009 10:16 AM EST via mobile reply actions
I disagree. Are either of them sure-fire franchise QBs? Probably not. However, I think both of them can be successful in the right system. The problem is that there is no running game here, nobody to throw the ball to, not a lot of time to make decisions behind a bad line, and inept playcalling to put it all together.
by Fundamentals on Nov 22, 2009 11:29 AM EST up reply actions
With all of those problems, I go back to blaming Savage for not putting the right pieces in place and establishing a system.
"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge..." C. Darwin
by Spidey on Nov 22, 2009 12:27 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Lions by 10
I’m a bit of an enigma. I have a passion for two NFL teams. I was born in Michigan and love my Lions, but I’m also a Michigan football fan (no apologies necessary) and my favorite childhood player, Derrick Alexander, was a first round pick of the Browns in ’94… so I jumped on the Browns bandwagon and have been holding the reins (in Michigan) ever since.
So, my sappy life story aside, I know both teams well and I’m certain of two things; the Browns will score a touchdown and the Lions will win by two scores. These Browns are THAT bad.
"Order your soul; reduce your wants; live in charity; associate in Christian community; obey the laws; trust in Providence."
-Augustine
i live over here just south of youngstown and the youngstown tv stations are broadcasting the steelers game today. this is the first time this year they are not showing the browns. the browns have been trumped by the kc chiefs.
No, I get Youngstown tv stations, the first game that was overlapped for the Steelers was the Browns v. Packers game.
But are you serious? Cux that just ruins my whole day.
Author of the segment "A Brownie For Your Thoughts," on DBN. Check it out.
by SpecialBrownie on Nov 22, 2009 11:26 AM EST up reply actions
Every football preview program that even touched on the Browns/Lions game this morning used the Browns as the obvious example of crapitude. Among the quotes:
“The Ravens defense isn’t as good as their numbers would indicate as they have played the Browns twice…”
“Josh Cribbs is good to go giving the Browns their ONLY playmaker…”
I’m going against all these negative vibes and I’m sticking with my prediction of Browns 9 Lions 6. I think the Browns ability to harass Stafford and contain the Lions running attack is the key to this game. A skittish Stafford means passing miscues (he has 12 INTs and 6 TDs this year) and that will result in some good field position for the Browns which plays into the scoring juggernaut which is the Browns kicking game. GO BROWNS!
Brownsyup
I’m not pinning my hopes on our D rattling Stafford. I’m not saying our defense isn’t getting better – they looked really good vs. Baltimore. But when they went up against Green Bay, a team that had given up tons of sacks, the defensive game plan was changed to allow Rodgers to stay on his feet. So for this week I expect that Mangini has pulled Ryan aside and told him to focus strictly on covering Calvin Johnson and stopping the run. Expect the rest of the field to be wide open and plenty of time for Stafford to use it.
The only player we need to game plan for is Brandon McDonald. If we can minimize the chance that he has to make a tackle, we can shut down the Lions offense.
by golanbatrac on Nov 22, 2009 12:01 PM EST up reply actions
A skittish Stafford
you havent seen any lions games have you??all of his int have came from 3rd and long some the WR falt some his… stadfford is far from skittsh he is a risktaker
Just Remember matt... what would Daunte do??
if you saw the vikings game last week
you wouldnt be saying his skittish eather… any one the get hit something like 40 time isent a pussy
Just Remember matt... what would Daunte do??
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Non-stop coverage of the team with the best fans in the NFL, the Cleveland Browns.
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recommended FanShots
Recent FanShots
Follow DBN on Twitter
Browns Links
Local Media Sources
Official Browns Site
Orange and Brown Report
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Akron Beacon Journal
Browns Communities/Blogs
The Watercooler
Waiting for Next Year
Dawg Scooper
Dawg Talkers
Dawg Bones
The Browns Board
In Association With
Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
- Smarter Stats: Super Bowl Edition — New England’s offense vs. New York’s defense
- Puppy Bowl VIII: The Scouting Report
- Giants get ahead of themselves with ‘Super Bowl Champions’ home page … on Saturday
- Smarter Stats: Super Bowl Edition — Giants’ offense vs. Patriots’ defense
- Curtis Martin’s mother helped drive him to the Hall of Fame
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
