Browns Were the More Talented Team

The guys on NFL Radio haven't been as bad as usual with the Squealer-worship, and it's even beginning to dawn on some of them that the Browns have some talent.

Adam Schein, of course, blames the Big Benless Steelers.

I sat next to a group of Steeler fans during most of the game (before finally locating a chapter of Browns Backers in the same place).

First of all, they were pretty nice people and really knew football.  Having said that, I was just plain disoriented to hear--during a Browns/Steelers game--these guys complaining about the officiating.  No need to elaborate, right?

I wanted to tell this guy: "The reason for all the holding calls is that the Browns defensive line overmatches the Stoolers' offensive line and they ARE holding."

And it's true.  In fact, the Browns offensive and defensive lines both dominated, and the reason they dominated was because they are more talented.  Certainly Mike Adams will get better, and Castillo will help a lot when he returns, but all this will do is make it closer.

With the return of the Rubin/Taylor tandem (and the ability to keep at least one of them on the field for most downs), the defensive line is suddenly one of the best in the NFL.  While there is no superstar passrusher, they bring pressure evenly from both sides and the middle, and everybody gets sacks.

It extends to the front seven.  Everybody (except one moron) loves D'Qwell Jackson, but the young undrafted outside 'backers that Heckert dug up are really becoming excellent players in all downs.

The broken-record MM's repeat that the Browns need linebackers, but they don't. If you are saying a "passrushing" linebacker, please stop.  This is a 4-3, and needs REAL linebackers.

Sure, nothing is ever perfect, so a real QB-killing weakside starting DE or a super-fast linebacker would help, but these are "wants", not "needs".

TJ Ward has really become a force at safety, too.

And the turnovers?  No, it wasn't the Steelers' just giving it up.  It was the Browns' taking it.  Schein and Tomlin can't seem to get this, but Rich Gannon (who has finally watched a couple games) is talking about an up-and-coming team that is finally putting it together.  He said they physicly beat up the Steelers and took the ball with hard, jarring hits.

I was personally frustrated by Weeden holding the ball forever, and then throwing it away.  Terry Pluto seems to have seen something different, as he credits Weeden with getting rid of the ball quickly.  I think I'm right and Terry is wrong this time.

Tony Grossi blames the coaches for turning a gunslinger into Captain Checkdown. That might have merit, too.  For whatever reason, he seems afraid to go deep.  I hope it's just a phase.

Gannon and Miller defended him strongly, pointing out the specific defenses he has faced.  Others have compared his stats to those of highly regarded quarterbacks vs. the same defenses, and made me think that my expectations for any rookie quarterback have been unreasonable.

The overall offense is now balanced.  The wide recievers, including Little, have stopped dropping passes.  Weeden is hitting all of them, spreading the ball around.

I still wish that Shurmer wasn't oblivious to the fact that TRich is a rookie accustomed to much shorter seasons, and that if he's not given some rest here and there his legs will die and he'll indeed be ordinary for the last few games--if he isn't HURT again.

I know that Hardesty has put the ball on the ground in the past, but repeat that he never had this issue in college, and should be given a shot to take some reps off TRich.

But I've now gone from negative to neutral on Shurmer overall.  Continuity is important, so you've got to grade on a curve here.

A few things about playing in the mud that I don't think people get:

1: It's much harder on cornerbacks and safeties than on big recievers like Little and Gordon.  The big reciever's weight gives them better traction so that they can cut without slipping.  The smaller defender trying to react to the cut has to tippy-toe around to keep from falling down.  They also can't be bumping or getting in the way because they can more easily get decked.

2: Bigger is better in the trenches.

3: It's harder to bring pressure on the quarterback, except with inside blitzes.

The Browns should throw the ball!

They're 1.5 point dogs.  I don't get it.