Thank you Cory Kinnon for defending Baker Mayfield's performance vs the Seahawks.
Cory correctly blames only one interception (the ball he forced to Landry in the end zone) as the only one that was his fault.
And cut the mealy-mouth sorta/maybe/enough to go around bullshit: The other two passes were on the money: you've gone and raised the bar again! If the ball is 6 inches this way or that...I mean good grief why is everybody trying to find ways to "divide up" the blame for each and every drop and deflection? Who the hell does that?
Cory also cites an expert who says that 5 of Mayfield's interceptions fit into that category (ie not his fault).
Joel Cade took Freddie Kitchens to the woodshed. He frankly made a really good case--even connecting Bob Wiley's description of who did what in the post Hue/Todd Browns' offense to the specific problems the 2019 Offense is having.
Zampese, Wiley, and Saunders have all been replaced now. Wiley said he ran the protections, Saunders ran the red zone, and Zampese "ran the offense".
Unlike more spastic 20/20 hindsight critics, Joel's specific Freddie-bashing for the Seahawks game came from real analysis, and he did a great job of using Freddie's own words (from his press conference) against him.
Joel zeroed in on that ill-fated pass to Landry from point blank range with 3 downs left.
...However, Brady Quinn told a furious Browns fan on NFL Radio that running at a 2019 Seahawks 8-man front is not a good bet, and that they had confidence in Baker Mayfield to get the TD.
...not the field goal.
So some of this is debatable, and some of Joel Cade's Freddie-bashing was wrong.
Hell, Joel suggests that handing the offense over to Todd Monken is a good solution!!!
Let's assume everything Bob Wiley said was on the money:
Ok so even if Bob is taking credit for the extra tight ends and running backs, we've seen those used in 2019 to good effect (just not often enough).
My readers get that the 11-personnel fixation is a Monken thing and not a Kitchens thing. I have been telling you that Monken is an air-raid guy and Freddie is not.
I'm not sure what Wiley meant by Saunders running the Red Zone offense, but guess he probably drew up the script...
...and I gotta tell ya, I think Joel nailed this one, because Mayfield and this Offense have taken a massive nose-dive in 2019.
Zampese might have designed better game plans than Todd Monken, but didn't call the plays in 2018. Freddie Kitchens did.
Joel joined in on the whole "lack of discipline"/penalties thing, and it's partly true:
False starts, lining up offsides, etc are on the coaches. But give me a break, Joel: Stop blaming Browns players for hallucinations by referees.
It's true that this team was much more disciplined under Interim Head Coach Gregg Williams, but you are getting all hyperbolic about the 2019 Browns turning into a pack of wolves.
It's unfortunate that the untrained think this way: We tend to generalize and lump things together.
The referees can make as many horrible bullshit calls as they want. Certainly, there are a few they actually get right.
But if they make 6 bullshit calls, and 6 valid calls...you're telling me the Browns are a pack of wolves because they caught 12 flags?
The Seattle game was especially horrific for both teams. It's like somebody put LSD in the referee's coffee (and got to the guys in New York too). Joel, how can you include this Twilight Zone episode into your case against Freddie Kitchens?
Did Landry blindside that guy? Was Hubbard illegally downfield? Was Landry in the end zone? Do you need the rest of them run down?
The bye week couldn't come at a better time.
Brady Quinn also said that when new systems are installed, it really is like learning a new language. Gregg Williams runs a much different scheme than Steve Wilks.
Quinn insists that even 6 games into 2019, the Browns' defense isn't "together" yet (let alone the offense).
The week off should get Ward, Williams et al back on the field, and (with all due respect to Joel Cade) give Freddie Kitchens a chance to salvage his job.
Joel: He should do this by ordering Todd Monken to use more 12 or 21 sets, 3-step drops, short routes, play-action, put Mayfield under center more, use more RPOS, play-fakes, and rollouts, and run hurry-ups.
Joel: Monken is the 11 personnel mad bomber guy. Vertical routes, empty backf...
The hell with it.
Anyway, up next are the Patriots in New England. The Browns will probably lose, and be 2-5...but they could pull the upset...but probably not...
Anyway after that the rest of their schedule is soft. They get to sweep the AFC North and knock off a couple more tomato cans as well.
Joel Cade might be right that Freddie Kitchens isn't ready to run a team yet, and will somehow manage to not make the playoffs in 2019, but he's wrong about the Haslams firing him midseason.
Freddie has all of 2019 to figure this out, and in my opinion, he will succeed, and keep his job.
Joel: Wiley or no, Freddie used 21 and 12 sets in 2019 (not Monken, ok?) He's run the ball a lot and used play-action (Freddie. Not Monken).
Freddie Kitchens IS still learning, Joel. But learning fast.
You might be right. Freddie might crap out. But I think you're wrong.
Brownss 56, Patriotss 3.
This just in from Casey Kinnamon:
The Browns' post-Pats schedule isn't as soft as it looks.
I agree that Hodge is for real and the Steelers are in it, and the Ravens too...
Well what was the last debate between Joel Cade and me?
If Baker and Nick and the 2019 Browns don't beat these less talented teams, then you fire Kitchens.
Nice wake-up article from Casey, but I personally expect the post-bye Browns to be more stable and consistent than the pre-bye version, and to remain more talented than everybody else, so...
Brownss 77, Patss minuss 17.
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