Did you see it? Big Ben lost his deep threat in the offseason. Cinci was able to stack the front and attack. Same as Flacco. Same as Weeden. None of them looked very good. None of them could run the ball DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
After listening to the guys discuss how gypsy curses, biorythms, and sunspots caused the awesomely great Steelers' loss to the so-so Bengals, they interviewed head Enabler Mike Tomlin.
The Steelers were unable to convert on third down. Because they were always in third and long. Because they kept trying to run the ball and getting stuffed on first and second downs are you paying attention?
Tomlin was asked if he would try passing on first and second down more and he said "Absolutely. Whatever works."
What ever WORKS DO YOU U N D E R S T A N D?
Now (this just in) the Browns traded TRich to the Colts for their first round draft choice. Before I go on, let us take a moment out for prayer:
Dear Lord, please take good care of TRich in the future after this season. Please protect all NFL players from injury. But if it be thy will that some players must miss the 2013 season, please let Andrew Luck be one of them. OK-ok I'm not praying for Andrew Luck to get injured or anything. It's just that every year you let a bunch of guys get hurt, so just sort of put Andrew at the top of that list, is all I'm sayin. And please put TRich on the list too. Anyway if he doesn't play he won't get wear and tear on him and can have a longer carreer, so really that's just for his own good, ya know? Just sayin. For thine is the kingdom and stuff amen.
Joe Banner said that the Browns couldn't realistically expect to contend in 2013. He was trying very hard to manage your expectations. For awhile, it seemed almost as if some of you comprehended that he was telling the truth.
But now that they've traded this guy they didn't draft for a first round draft pick, you've lost your damn minds again.
Bill Polian, former GM of the Bills and Colts, didn't like this move himself, but I have to give him a lot of credit for his objectivity in trying to explain it from the Browns' perspective:
Durability was one factor. Money was irrelevant. They don't seem to have their franchise quarterback. TRich was a major asset as a player, but for an offense to work you need 3.4-plus yards per carry, and Trent could certainly do that, but so could a couple other guys once Gordon is out there to open things up, and they get healthy on the offensive line.
Two first round picks now gives them the ammo they will need to move up in the draft for a quarterback if neccessary.
Polian points out that there's no guarantee they can get the ONE quarterback they want, but if they have two or three guys in mind, they could now make sure to get a quarterback in the 2014 draft, and it's even possible that one will slide to them, and they could use the extra pick on an elite running back (or whatever).
They said from the start that they want to build a perennial contender like the Ravens, Steelers, etc. That's why they haven't signed a bunch of overprirced senior citezens. That's why they're saving their money to re-sign guys like Alex Mack, and will look for another Kruger next off season.
That's why they've now traded somebody else's first round draft pick.
If McGahee is healthy, they'll rent him for one season. Not to carry the load; at this stage he's a journeyman. But they can run a committee with Rainey/Obgannaya/McGahee, and run the ball ok with Gordon and Cameron on the field. They're not tanking.
A lot of pundits overvalued TRich from the beginning, saying that without him the offense couldn't work. That was rediculous. Gordon is more important than any running back. Any average back can get 3.5 yards per carry with improved blocking. 3.5 YPC is sufficient for play action to work.
Now, it's Hoyer. I'm glad. They want to see what he can do, since they already know what Jason Campbell can do. Campbell is not as good a fit in this system as Hoyer is. Hoyer's deep ball is more accurate; Campbell is better on crossing routes.
Hoyer is younger, and they no doubt have their fingers crossed that he could be another Kelly Holcomb. Holcomb understudied Peyton Manning for years in Indianapolis. In very brief playing time, his stats were pretty bad.
Then he passes for over 400 yards vs. Pittsburgh, and remained a very good starter until injuries knocked him down. I have no idea whether Hoyer will do this, fall on his face, or just be a guy, but maybe, just maybe...
The sad thing is that the threat of Josh Gordon, not to mention any actual long bombs he hauls in, will make Hoyer look better than he would without him. If Hoyer does kick butt, the ignorant masses will decide that he is superior to Weeden.
The fact is that with Josh Gordon, the Browns are probably 2-0 right now, and whatever Hoyer does, Weeden might have done and more.
Fortunately, the Lombardi-haters (I'm not a fan myself) have already decided that Hoyer is a loser simply because Lombardi likes him, and nothing he does will change their minds. They're like Obama-care defenders.
That's a possiblility: Ugly duckling Hoyer emerges as a beautiful swan, and now they can use two first round picks on studs elsewhere. (I can dream, can't I?)
Another possibility is Cam Newton, who could get the boot. He started out great with Chud as his rookie offensive coordinator, then sputtered in his second season. He's not doing really well right now, either.
We see in Josh Freeman another guy going the same way. How can they start out so great, and then get worse?
I won't try to answer that. But Newton is younger, and his case isn't closed by any means. I haven't looked into it: Does he have a deep threat, a running game, an offensive line? Is it all him, or mostly him? Is Mike Shula really all that?
Who knows? But he might be an option, and we'll just see what Chud and the rest think of him.
The guys on NFL Radio all think that the Vikings will kill T-Richless, third string quarterbacked Browns.
I say that the Browns will be able to run the ball and pass the ball, because that one guy, Gordon, is back. He was the missing piece. I say the Browns defense hasn't been as good as it will be, and Peterson can't beat it by himself.
I say the Browns will win this one. Although I just checked out Teddy Bridgewater, and I won't whine much if they don't.
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