I know you use different names when you ask Tony Grossi questions, but I can always tell it's you. Only you could stick to your preconceptions, regardless of what happens in front of your eyes.
Your mind was made up about Brandon Weeden as soon as he displaced your Dreamboat Colt McCoy. Nothing he has done or will do will change your alleged thinking.
The offense sucked against the Eagles in game one, then was up and down for the next several games, and in the last two has started clicking on all cylinders. To you, it's the same as it was in game one.
Why else would you talk about Weeden under/overthrowing recievers "constantly"? And the not reacting well to pressure thing? That comes from an article you read before training camp even started. He's screwed up some, but the screw-ups usually weren't caused by pressure. Overall, he's performed well under pressure.
You fixate on buzzwords. Your word of the week is "identity". You ask Tony what is the offense's "identity". Is it Weeden throwing "ad infinitum", or is it TRich running?
For you, it just can't be both. But it is all of the above. The Browns offensive identity is a balanced attack. Extremely balanced, in fact. TRich runs inside and catches passes too. Not just dumpoffs, but downfield passes. Weeden hits every part of the field from sideline-to-sideline and from scrimmage to the goal line.
This sunday, the Colts defense has to decide who it's going to stop. Last week, the Jets ran all over them. The kneejerk plan from local commentators is that the Browns should run the ball. That's obvious. It's also obvious to the Colts.
Normally they'd try to kitchen-sink the backfield, trying to keep TRich in to pass block or to beat him to the handoff, but Freeney is out, and Mathis isn't 100%. They'll still be agressive and try for inside pressure.
They'll be aggressive and try to stop the run first. They'll expect the Browns to try to run them over like the Jets did.
ANY NFL defense can stop the run if they commit to it. They use more tacklers than there are blockers. They run-blitze, and submarine. That's why every week I hear people saying "these guys can't stop the run so this team should run", and more often than not the run gets stuffed if the opponent does the obvious.
One thing that will always work is play-action. Oh yeah: "RUUNN!!!" Ok hold the blocker back, raise head, look for the ball oh SHIT it's a pass and I'm stopped dead ok try to bat it down--
Massequoi and Benjamin are back, upgrading the recievers. MoMass has proven to objective observers that he is even more reliable than he was as a rookie. The tight ends seem to be semi-healthy all at once for a change. Gordon has emerged as a terrifying deep threat, as well as dangerous on crosses and slants.
Weeden should have time and has many weapons now. While Rich Gannon was sleeping (and Adam Schein was comatose), the Browns recieving corps has rapidly evolved into a very competitive crew (improving game-by-game).
Once the Colts see that the Browns aren't doing the obvious and pull the safeties back to stop Gordon from scoring another touchdown, THEN run. Hit them where they aint!
What about Andrew Luck? Well, he's doing a great job for a rookie with average/young recievers. The Browns have to be careful to contain him, because he can run like a fast tight end and do major damage scrambling.
Some clod asked "where would the Browns be if they'd signed Reggie Wayne"? Well, they might be 2-4 instead of 1-5, and your next question should be "where would Cooper or Norwood be?". Fortunately, the Browns have Joe Haden, and Wayne is just one guy.
But he's a mere mortal. Weeden, despite his week one debacle, has completed over 60% of his passes. He's thrown more picks (I think), but is starting to pile up touchdowns. Right now, he might even be the better QB of the two.
The Browns defense should be aggressive. Vs. the super-mobile Vick, Jauron blitzed corners and safeties from the edge a lot. That was cool, because it came with built-in containment. Vick was chased to the short side of the field, where it was too conjested for him to try to run it.
For Luck, the same blitzes from the strong side would chase him to his left, making it harder for the right-hander to throw.
With the Browns new rotation of defensive tackles, it's been hard for teams to maintain a pocket. Hughes bull-rushes and Winn sheds and penetrates, and the Colts offensive line has not performed very well.
This team was winless last season after being contenders with Peyton Manning, but if you think this is the same team from two seasons ago, come out of your cave. Peyton's wide recievers are gone, and so are a bunch of other guys. This is a rebuilding team, and it's behind even the Cleveland Browns.
Go position-by-position, and the Browns have better talent nearly everywhere. Go ahead-you'll see.
It's impressive that they came from behind and knocked off the Packers, for sure. Clay Matthews aside, the Packers defense isn't nearly as good as it's offense. In the real world, it might not be as good as the Browns' defense!
Oh, I hear that snickering. I can see the eye-rolling. You're prejudiced. You're not objective. OFFENSE took the Packers to the Superbowl two seasons ago. The Packers' defense is pretty average! Ask yourself why you reacted like that. Are YOU a Memorex Moron too?
The Browns should KILL the Colts! Even the Packers' OFFENSE can't run the ball as well as the Browns' can, and isn't as balanced! Quit the eye-rolling--it's a fact.
You and your hero-worship! Ray Lewis's backup is probably better than he is! Weeden is just as good as Luck right now! Polumalu has never been the same since he got injured the first time! Kosar DID have diminished skills ever since he got his elbow tore up! Take off the excrement-colored glasses!
YOU STAND CORRECTED.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Thursday, October 18, 2012
As the Stomach Turns
Adam Schein remains convinced that Joe Banner will fire everybody. Schein is no fan of Tom Heckert. He is unimpressed with his personnel moves, except for Richardson, Weeden, Cameron, Gordon, Taylor, Haden, Ward...well there are several more stipulations--but other than that, Adam says Heckert has done a terrible job.
He cites the w/l record. I mean, any good personnel guy would have had this team contending for the Superbowl by year three. No excuses like new coaches or no offseason with new offensive and defensive systems-it's all Heckert's fault!
Adam hears Clevelanders talk about how close they've come vs. elite teams and says "I don't even know what that means". Yes, this is a difficult concept. Adam, it means that they have the talent to match up with those teams, but not the experience to close out a game. Adam--were you born and then started walking right away? Didn't you crawl around til you were four or so? DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
I mean, Heckert has mostly skipped the veteran free agent market. If the Browns had had another vedderrunn wide reciever, they might even be 2-4 by now, and could have dumped some dead weight, like Josh Cooper or Norwood! And how much better would Josh Gordon be if he was able to sit on the bench for his first season, and learn how to run correct routes and catch from the venerable Plaxico Burress or somebody?
Can't you just see Plaxico on the sidelines with Little and Gordon: "See you put this hand here, and this hand here, and the ball goes here--"?
Shein and Rich Gannon agree that Heckert is gone, because they heard somewhere that he and Banner "don't get along". I don't know what happened, but it sounds really serious, like Heckert parking in Banner's parking space or something. Or perhaps he disagreed with him once.
Yeah, you've got to be buds with everybody, or it can't work. A guy can be the best at what he does, but if he's not your bud, you've got to fire him. That's business 101.
Fortunately, per Heckert and Banner both, they like eachother fine. That's why the title of this is "As the Stomach Turns". The press is always looking for something to write a soap opera about, whether it's true or not.
And Gannon still can't mention Weeden without also mentioning his young recievers. Just now he said he really likes Weeden. This time he was actually able to NAME a couple of the recievers! That's great progress for Rich! He tossed in Schwartze, who he likes too. Wow!
My guess is that in the real world Shurmer is on the hot seat, but Heckert is not. It's not just the high round picks, but the undrafteds and low ones. The Gordon move? Like I said, if he has first-round talent, then he's worth next year's second, even if he doesn't play as a rookie. As it is, look at what they got!
Cooper (2 critical 3rd down catches vs Bengals), Norwood (9 catches vs. the Giants): undrafted. Roberts: undrafted. Hughes and Winn--do they look like dumb picks now?
What round was Benjamin drafted in? Seems like a pretty good deal! Remember Hardesty? Well yeah ok I thought that was dumb myself, but look at what he did to the Bengals!
Marecic? Ok you got me there, but this season he got Smelley! And anyway, NOBODY bats a thousand! Ground control to Utopians: Heckert is as good as it gets.
Unlike many of you, I'm rooting for Shurmer. His playcalling has now started chafing on me, too, but this youngest team is making steady progress, getting better each week. I also like that along with trying to run people over, they go deep as often as they can.
They'd better beat the Colts. I don't want to read or hear anything coming out of Cleveland (or from Schein) if they don't.
Gannon and Schein picked the Colts. Skipping Schein's default pick, Gannon picks the team that he feels has more stability. He cited the new ownership. He also mentioned the Colts' defense, which was embarrassed last week-getting run over. I guess this means they will stop TRich and Hardesty cold? Because they just made up their mind? And that Weeden can't take advantage of a stacked box?
But I respect an ex-Superbowl MVP, even if he avoids Browns game-tapes whenever possible. Unlike Adam, he at least thought about it for a few seconds.
He cites the w/l record. I mean, any good personnel guy would have had this team contending for the Superbowl by year three. No excuses like new coaches or no offseason with new offensive and defensive systems-it's all Heckert's fault!
Adam hears Clevelanders talk about how close they've come vs. elite teams and says "I don't even know what that means". Yes, this is a difficult concept. Adam, it means that they have the talent to match up with those teams, but not the experience to close out a game. Adam--were you born and then started walking right away? Didn't you crawl around til you were four or so? DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
I mean, Heckert has mostly skipped the veteran free agent market. If the Browns had had another vedderrunn wide reciever, they might even be 2-4 by now, and could have dumped some dead weight, like Josh Cooper or Norwood! And how much better would Josh Gordon be if he was able to sit on the bench for his first season, and learn how to run correct routes and catch from the venerable Plaxico Burress or somebody?
Can't you just see Plaxico on the sidelines with Little and Gordon: "See you put this hand here, and this hand here, and the ball goes here--"?
Shein and Rich Gannon agree that Heckert is gone, because they heard somewhere that he and Banner "don't get along". I don't know what happened, but it sounds really serious, like Heckert parking in Banner's parking space or something. Or perhaps he disagreed with him once.
Yeah, you've got to be buds with everybody, or it can't work. A guy can be the best at what he does, but if he's not your bud, you've got to fire him. That's business 101.
Fortunately, per Heckert and Banner both, they like eachother fine. That's why the title of this is "As the Stomach Turns". The press is always looking for something to write a soap opera about, whether it's true or not.
And Gannon still can't mention Weeden without also mentioning his young recievers. Just now he said he really likes Weeden. This time he was actually able to NAME a couple of the recievers! That's great progress for Rich! He tossed in Schwartze, who he likes too. Wow!
My guess is that in the real world Shurmer is on the hot seat, but Heckert is not. It's not just the high round picks, but the undrafteds and low ones. The Gordon move? Like I said, if he has first-round talent, then he's worth next year's second, even if he doesn't play as a rookie. As it is, look at what they got!
Cooper (2 critical 3rd down catches vs Bengals), Norwood (9 catches vs. the Giants): undrafted. Roberts: undrafted. Hughes and Winn--do they look like dumb picks now?
What round was Benjamin drafted in? Seems like a pretty good deal! Remember Hardesty? Well yeah ok I thought that was dumb myself, but look at what he did to the Bengals!
Marecic? Ok you got me there, but this season he got Smelley! And anyway, NOBODY bats a thousand! Ground control to Utopians: Heckert is as good as it gets.
Unlike many of you, I'm rooting for Shurmer. His playcalling has now started chafing on me, too, but this youngest team is making steady progress, getting better each week. I also like that along with trying to run people over, they go deep as often as they can.
They'd better beat the Colts. I don't want to read or hear anything coming out of Cleveland (or from Schein) if they don't.
Gannon and Schein picked the Colts. Skipping Schein's default pick, Gannon picks the team that he feels has more stability. He cited the new ownership. He also mentioned the Colts' defense, which was embarrassed last week-getting run over. I guess this means they will stop TRich and Hardesty cold? Because they just made up their mind? And that Weeden can't take advantage of a stacked box?
But I respect an ex-Superbowl MVP, even if he avoids Browns game-tapes whenever possible. Unlike Adam, he at least thought about it for a few seconds.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Thanks for Hardesty, Gordon, Cooper, and Weeden, Tom Heckert
Yeah we shoulda god a vedderrunn recievverr. Yeah that makes sense. Rent a geezer for a no-shot rebuilding season and kick Norwood or Cooper to the curb. Skip Gordon, right? Brilliant. Fire Heckert-genius!!!
Some of the posters I read either watched the wrong game, or else the wrong team in the right game. I think the majority of Weeden's passes came off play-fakes. It worked brilliantly, too! They were so scared of T-Rich, and then Hardesty, that the pass-rush froze, and some of the recievers were open by a mile.
It will keep working, too, even when defenses expect it. They still don't know it won't be a handoff, and unless they gamble or have a clear view of the exchange or fake they simply can't over-commit to a pass-rush. More experienced DB's react better in coverage, but passrushers can't.
Gordon proved that the last game wasn't a fluke. The Browns now have a blue-chip deep threat/number one--who can catch the damn ball!!!
Dalton did get too much time at times, and did throw for a ton of yards. A big chunk of that came on a huge catch-and-run by that huge tight end, and then after they'd fallen behind and abandoned the (unsuccessful/stuffed) run.
TJ Ward is good, not great. Usama Young is fast and a hitter, but totally blew that tackle, and knocked another tackler off him. Kolonich says he takes bad angles. Maybe Hagg is ready to resume starting. HE can tackle!
Why are you surprised that the young linebackers are so good? I mean, I told you a long time ago, right? Now it's beginning to start to occur to others that maybe Fujita should back up. Welcome to Commonsenseville!
Unfortunately, Fujita's neck injury probably spells the end for him. He's too old to come back from that. And it is unfortunate, because he is a leader and a great teacher for the young guys. Fortunately for me, though, he's a marxist so I don't feel so bad.
Next up: the Colts. Another beatable team! Weeden will be jazzed to face Luck. He thrives on this stuff. I'm sure that secretly he's thinking about showing everybody he's as good or better.
I admit that I don't think so...I'd love to have Luck or RG3 here, but Weeden is for sure in their class. He's not as mobile, but has the arm, touch, and accuracy. He can beat either of them. He HAS beaten both.
How 'bout Hardesty? I told you that if he's healthy he's an excellent back. He just hasn't been able to stay healthy, and has fumbled too much in the past.
I've had TRich's injury. I can see why he was ineffective after it happened, and am impressed by his toughness trying to play with it because it HHUUURRRTTTS!!!
I really hope they don't let him rush back too soon. It absolutely won't be healed in a week and every tackler will target it. Flack jackets restrict movement and don't prevent the ribs from compressing anyway. Don't let him make it worse.
I love the play on which Cameron fell down on purpose in order to get Crocker off him. Ok ok maybe not, but maybe they should fall down on purpose once in awhile!
Anyway, that was great because it showed how quickly Weeden can improvise; how quickly he spotted and attacked the weakness.
The whole team now seems to be thinking a lot less. They've mastered the system and read automaticly.
This offense never hesitates to go for the marbles, either. It's balanced and tough.
They should beat the Colts.
Some of the posters I read either watched the wrong game, or else the wrong team in the right game. I think the majority of Weeden's passes came off play-fakes. It worked brilliantly, too! They were so scared of T-Rich, and then Hardesty, that the pass-rush froze, and some of the recievers were open by a mile.
It will keep working, too, even when defenses expect it. They still don't know it won't be a handoff, and unless they gamble or have a clear view of the exchange or fake they simply can't over-commit to a pass-rush. More experienced DB's react better in coverage, but passrushers can't.
Gordon proved that the last game wasn't a fluke. The Browns now have a blue-chip deep threat/number one--who can catch the damn ball!!!
Dalton did get too much time at times, and did throw for a ton of yards. A big chunk of that came on a huge catch-and-run by that huge tight end, and then after they'd fallen behind and abandoned the (unsuccessful/stuffed) run.
TJ Ward is good, not great. Usama Young is fast and a hitter, but totally blew that tackle, and knocked another tackler off him. Kolonich says he takes bad angles. Maybe Hagg is ready to resume starting. HE can tackle!
Why are you surprised that the young linebackers are so good? I mean, I told you a long time ago, right? Now it's beginning to start to occur to others that maybe Fujita should back up. Welcome to Commonsenseville!
Unfortunately, Fujita's neck injury probably spells the end for him. He's too old to come back from that. And it is unfortunate, because he is a leader and a great teacher for the young guys. Fortunately for me, though, he's a marxist so I don't feel so bad.
Next up: the Colts. Another beatable team! Weeden will be jazzed to face Luck. He thrives on this stuff. I'm sure that secretly he's thinking about showing everybody he's as good or better.
I admit that I don't think so...I'd love to have Luck or RG3 here, but Weeden is for sure in their class. He's not as mobile, but has the arm, touch, and accuracy. He can beat either of them. He HAS beaten both.
How 'bout Hardesty? I told you that if he's healthy he's an excellent back. He just hasn't been able to stay healthy, and has fumbled too much in the past.
I've had TRich's injury. I can see why he was ineffective after it happened, and am impressed by his toughness trying to play with it because it HHUUURRRTTTS!!!
I really hope they don't let him rush back too soon. It absolutely won't be healed in a week and every tackler will target it. Flack jackets restrict movement and don't prevent the ribs from compressing anyway. Don't let him make it worse.
I love the play on which Cameron fell down on purpose in order to get Crocker off him. Ok ok maybe not, but maybe they should fall down on purpose once in awhile!
Anyway, that was great because it showed how quickly Weeden can improvise; how quickly he spotted and attacked the weakness.
The whole team now seems to be thinking a lot less. They've mastered the system and read automaticly.
This offense never hesitates to go for the marbles, either. It's balanced and tough.
They should beat the Colts.
Friday, October 12, 2012
I Saw Good Stuff
The biggest difference between the Superbowl champs and the youngest team in the NFL was experience. Not talent. The upstart put the champ on his heels early, but he clinched and survived. He waited for the upstart to make mistakes. And he did.
This is why boxing managers don't put talented rookies in with contenders out of the gate. Too bad there aren't any tomato cans in the NFL.
It really hurt the Browns a lot to lose both Jackson and Patterson, too.
Anyway, what I saw was Weeden connecting with Gordon for huge plays, and with Norwood for nine completions. Shurmer/Childress now have some elbow room if Braylon Little keeps dropping a third of his passes (like the one that went right through his hands. I'm starting to wonder if he doesn't have a neurological or vision issue).
The blocking on Richardson's 15-yard TD was textbook. That's exactly how it's supposed to work. Richardson was never touched. Any back on the roster could have scored.
Weeden's picks were inexcusable, as he admitted. But comparisons of him to D. Anderson are laughable. DA had a history of interceptions in college, whereas Weeden was fairly efficient. DA was a veteran backup before he ever got to Cleveland. Weeden is still an unschooled rookie. DA had trouble with accuracy and touch on short passes. Weeden is a complete passer.
They have a real shot against the Bengals. Jackson has returned, and so has Haden. Too bad Patterson won't. But at least with Haden on Green, the safeties will have more flexibility in coverage, so they might be able to reduce the damage the other recievers do, and slow down the run a little more.
The Bengals defense isn't as strong as other defenses they've faced, and the offense should be able to move the ball. I think of Schwartze now with some games under his belt, fresh off neutralizing two awesome passrushers, Gordon already looking like the scary guy I thought it would take another offseason to see, Cameron emerging, and what Weeden did to them last time.
Updated W/L prediction: 11-5.
This is why boxing managers don't put talented rookies in with contenders out of the gate. Too bad there aren't any tomato cans in the NFL.
It really hurt the Browns a lot to lose both Jackson and Patterson, too.
Anyway, what I saw was Weeden connecting with Gordon for huge plays, and with Norwood for nine completions. Shurmer/Childress now have some elbow room if Braylon Little keeps dropping a third of his passes (like the one that went right through his hands. I'm starting to wonder if he doesn't have a neurological or vision issue).
The blocking on Richardson's 15-yard TD was textbook. That's exactly how it's supposed to work. Richardson was never touched. Any back on the roster could have scored.
Weeden's picks were inexcusable, as he admitted. But comparisons of him to D. Anderson are laughable. DA had a history of interceptions in college, whereas Weeden was fairly efficient. DA was a veteran backup before he ever got to Cleveland. Weeden is still an unschooled rookie. DA had trouble with accuracy and touch on short passes. Weeden is a complete passer.
They have a real shot against the Bengals. Jackson has returned, and so has Haden. Too bad Patterson won't. But at least with Haden on Green, the safeties will have more flexibility in coverage, so they might be able to reduce the damage the other recievers do, and slow down the run a little more.
The Bengals defense isn't as strong as other defenses they've faced, and the offense should be able to move the ball. I think of Schwartze now with some games under his belt, fresh off neutralizing two awesome passrushers, Gordon already looking like the scary guy I thought it would take another offseason to see, Cameron emerging, and what Weeden did to them last time.
Updated W/L prediction: 11-5.
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