Accuracy

1: Colt had a bad game, okay. But it amazes me that the BOBW's are tossing in his two touchdown passes, and a few others thrown into traffic.

Okay (sigh): There are these opposing players called defensive backs, see? They are trying to stay right with the reciever, and to intercept the ball, okay? When a quarterback can put the ball where his reciever can catch it and the defensive back can't, that is good. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

2: Once again, the armchair Sargeant Rocks are up in arms talking about Peyton Hillis being soft. At that time, Montario Hardesty was the Browns best running back by a significant margin. Had Hillis insisted on playing anyway, he would be a selfish moron. Had Shurmer allowed him to play, I would have lobbied for his summary execution.

Guy plays three games with broken ribs and now you question his toughness. Stay in your armchairs and zip it.

3: McCoy may have fled the pocket prematurely a time or two, but here come the BOTW's (Baby-out-with-the bathwater's) again, lumping in the controlled roll-outs. When the quarterback never stops his retreat and keeps going, looping back and to his right, it's a designed play. It helps the offensive line. which knows in advance that there will be no pocket, and where the defrense's moving target is going. It helps the wide recievers, who know where he can and can't see.

A SMART coach adapts his game-plan to his talent. The Browns are having trouble pass-protecting, especially at right tackle. McCoy is very mobile and effective throwing on the move.

More: Defenders attacking the right tackle's best moves are inside. Smith, the tight end, was used more (at Moore's expense unfortunately) to chip defenders on the outside, plus if they looped wide around behind the tackle, McCoy (or a back kept in to protect) would have a clear throwing or running lane between guard and tackle.

The roll-out eliminates the threat of the quick DE or linebacker crossing the right tackle's face and shooting between him and the right guard. McCoy leads his pursuit right back into the right tackle...who kinda waits for him haha.

Pashos isn't really much better than his replacements as a pass blocker, but does have better reach; can force the outside rusher to take a wider angle, or knock him off-balance inside, buying himself time. He's just barely enough better that he doesn't often need tight end help.

With Pashos, McCoy can stay in the pocket a little more, Evan Moore (or Josh Cribbs) can be on the field more, and Pashos is one of the best run-blockers in the league, so...

Anyway, please go see what you did to the baby this time. I don't know how much more it can take.

4: McCoy's last drive was a thing of beauty. Phil Simms, who as I've mentioned brushes off any nquarterback without a cannon, said "It gets you to the next game". Yeah? For an almost-rookie in a new system with a new coach?

No, it made a big difference, as this whole offense needs to prove things to itself as well as to opponents. They now know that they can do it, and remember how they did it. It will be easier the second time. McCoy himself rarely had to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat as the Texas QB--they murdered most of their opponents. Now he's done it at the highest level. I don't need to be an ex-quarterback to know that it means a lot.

5: On that last drive, Little showed up big-time, and Massequoi in the clutch. The WR's caught most of the passes. It was promising in several ways, as the plan all along is to attack every part of the field, using every weapon.

6: I agree with Grossi's idea of using the hurry-up earlier in the game.

7: Massequoi is the number one reciever. Predictably, it was the great Pluto who said it second. Soon, others will blink and rub their eyes and realize that he has the speed, the YAC, and the hands to beat single coverage almost every time. Third season. Is it sinking in yet?

8: Hasselback is scary, but so is the Browns rapidly-developing defensive line. He looks foreward to blitzes to burn, but a four man front that gets pressure without a blitze is his ideal nemisis.

I love the delayed blitzes by Jackson. I wasn't able to watch the last one, but I like to think that Gocong delayed as well. Delayed blitzes are really this: If it's a run, you're in position. If it's a pass, you react AFTER the recievers have made their reads and can no longer exploit the space you vacate, and after the offensive linemen are engaged. Maybe even after the running back has seen no leaks and gone into a pattern, leaving no protection.

Hasselback is not very mobile. This defense, expecially with Joe Haden on one wide reciever and Ward on Jonson or a tight end, has a chance to mess Hasselback and co. up.

9: Johnson terrifies me. I grew up in Cleveland. Don't we all just KNOW that this game will be his coming-out party?

10: With Pashos, the Browns can run the ball, even against these guys. And they should. I still can't wait to see a two-back. And a two-back, two-tight-end offense too, for that matter (with Moore and Watson). They can force some truly lopsided matchups here.

You don't just open holes by blocking. You can also open holes by splitting tight ends out and putting running backs in the slot. Base defense personel have to leave the box to get on them. Then they have to react out of coverage to close on a runner--with the guy they meant to cover in their grill.

Nickel and dime defenses are fast. Base defenses are not. USE THE GOONS, Pat!

Prediction: 15-1. Update to follow this game, when I get more info.