The Browns defense sucked, but the offense did not. The makeshift offensive line, basicly Pryorless wide receivers, and Hogan couldn't keep up with the Bengals offense vs the Bengals defense, but it didn't suck.
I don't know what some fans seemed to expect. Cam Erving might or might not be a bust, but how can we even know that when he's clearly got serious health issues? How deep into the offensive line's depth chart are we going to have to get? Pryor was little more than a decoy as he heals.
Chris Hogan showed some promise, but he's not Kessler. I mean it: What did you expect?
The Browns defense had it's Green kryptonite watching in street clothes. Didn't you know Green would go crazy as soon as you heard that Haden wouldn't play?
Stop saying Dalton wasn't pressured. He got rid of the ball too fast. Stop ignoring the fact that the Browns defense is starting to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
No, that doesn't excuse the huge holes Hill and Bernard ran through, the broken tackles, the crappy coverage, etc, but don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.
There were, in fact, bright spots. One of which was the emergence of long overdue pressure on the opposing quarterback. Another was a partial return of the running game.
Another was Hogan, and his surprising mobility. Hogan can't throw on the move like Kessler; he needs his feet set like most other quarterbacks. Nor can he match Kessler's accuracy. But as you saw, he can play this game. He belongs, and has a future in the NFL. He may represent quality depth...or trade bait.
Interesting that Hue was using him in the Pryor role before Kessler was even injured. Hue will never admit it, but I believe he was taking another rookie quarterback out for a test drive. If it works out perfectly, Hogan could become the number two quarterback, and RG3 and McCown could be traded.
The Bengals have a losing record, but nobody with a brain thinks they're a bad team. And get this: A bad team would not have defeated this junior varsity, beat up Browns team, even with it's mostly atrocious defense.
Seriously, don't you get that?` First and second year players, third string starters, the FIFTH quarterback this season (a fifth round rookie), Pryor a decoy, no Haden, IN Cincinnati I mean get a grip! You too, Terry Pluto!
Lower the freaking bar! This is an expansion team still in it's cradle! It's crawling and stumbling. Tape over the outlets, block off the stairwell, keep it away from sharp objects!
Seriously. Look foreward to it's first steps. Wait for it to say "mom-mee". Don't shove a football in it's face and go out for a pass are you kidding me?
Corey Coleman will be back soon, and Pryor will be back. This team will win some games this season. The offense not only doesn't suck, but once a little healthier will become pretty good pretty fast.
The defense isn't a TOTAL disaster when Joe Haden plays. Well okay it still stinks, but more like bottom 25 than 32nd.
Don't tell Hue Jackson I said this, but this is really about 2017 and beyond. Accept this.
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