Don't be alarmed, I just decided to give the last post in the trio a name. "The Final Word" sounded good enough to me.
I'm not sure if I've ever been this displeased with a Browns win. Ever. I mean usually even if we win ugly, I feel goo about it. But this? This was just terrible.
6-3 was the final score. I swear, the Indians beat the Mariners today, with Chris Perez getting the save.
You can say, "A win is a win, be happy about it," and on most occasions I'd really agree with you. But today? Not a chance.
The only reason the Browns won today is because Seahawks starting running back Marshawn Lynch hurt his back in pre-game warmups and couldn't play. If Lynch is in the game, I think the Seahawks win. But he didn't so I suppose that's a moot point.
Starting out with the positives, the Defense played extremely well today. They played way better than they should have needed to—it's totally unrealistic to ask your defense to hold the other team to 10 points or less in the NFL. But the guys really got after it, totaling three sacks, two tackles for loss, five passes defended and five QB hits. Those are all quality numbers, and I appreciate that. Combine that with the fact that Charlie Whitehurst was held to 12-30 for just 97 yards, an interception and an abysmal 35.0 QB rating and as a team Seattle was held to just 65 rushing yards, and it's easy to commend the defense for their effort. They are very much the reason why we won the game.
But there are so many more reasons as to why we should've lost. So many that I just can't really appreciate this game. I feel like we're regressing more and more each week, and this week was no exception. Colt McCoy looked like a freaking lost sheep out there on so many of the plays. The Seahawks line and linebackers had him running for his freaking life on some of the blitzes—another sign that Colt just isn't reading them correctly. I watched him miss a very easy throw to a wide open Ben Watson. I watched him make a horrendous decision which led to an interception. I watched him throw into double coverage and almost get intercepted again.
This crap has to stop.
We also have an offensive line problem. The right side was getting blown up all day long. But the problem is, Shurmur doesn't recognize how he needs to help them. Okay, tackle Tony Pashos is rusty, and then RG Shawn Lauvao got hurt, meaning backup guard John Greco had to take his place. These guys obviously didn't get much practice time together, which I saw in the fact that they couldn't get any holes for Montario Hardesty, and got Colt sacked five times, seven tackles for loss and eight QB hits. Disgusting.
But here's my problem with Shurmur. There were a good few plays where he wanted Hardesty to run the ball to the outside. But the thing was, the Seahawks had a defensive end—might've been that super-huge idiot, Red Bryant—outside of tight end Ben Watson. 300+ lbs vs tight end.
Who the hell do you think is going to win that matchup?!
That's what I call a scheme problem. Shurmur isn't putting his players in a position to be successful. If you're going to run outside that guy, you've got to get him reached. You're not going to reach that 300+ lb. lineman with Ben Watson. It's just not going to happen. Ever. You need someone to help out—whether that's another tight end or a pulling guard, it doesn't matter. But you're not going to be able to run the ball like that.
I'll finish with this gem on the offense: we didn't even reach the red zone until about 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Unacceptable.
And another thing, why do I have to complain about special teams again?! The Browns hadn't had a blocked field goal since 2007. 2007!! And they get not just the one from what I believe was about 48 yards, but a second from inside the freaking 20! I can't with that, I just cannot.
For goodness sake, get the special teams under control or I'm seriously going to have a hissy fit. (And you'll all have to read it, cause I'll post it here!)
So we won. And we're 3-3 for the first time since 2007, arguably the best season we've had since 1999.
Will I take the win? Yes.
But I'm still mad as hell, and we're not going to beat any team that doesn't have to completely scrap their game plan like Seattle did today unless Shurmur starts getting this team way better prepared.
I know this team has got a lot of problems, but right now Shurmur is one of them.
Try to enjoy this one more than I am, and I'll see you next week,
~MAS
Showing posts with label Seattle Seahawks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seattle Seahawks. Show all posts
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Browns Halftime Blurb - 10/23 vs Seahawks
Holy crap, the Browns offense is awful. If you didn't know we're playing football, you might say the Indians are playing the Mariners with a measly score like 3-0. The good thing is that the Browns are on top, right?
Yeah, I guess so. But take a look at the stats and...well at least on the offensive side of the ball there just isn't much to see. Colt McCoy has not looked good at all today. His decision making has not come quick enough, and I'm pretty sure there was at least one time where he didn't read a blitz and almost got himself killed before scrambling out of the pocket for a few positive yards. He's 9/18 for 87 yards, but maybe 10-15 of those came on the stupid pass to end the half to new running back Chris Ogbonnaya. But McCoy has got to be more accurate and on point with his throws. There was one third down play early in the game where TE Ben Watson was wide open and McCoy missed him high. That can't happen at this stage of the game.
At least "stone hands" Hardesty came to play a little bit—he caught a nice third down pass for a first down. But he hasn't had much running room as he's gotten just 43 yards on 15 carries—a paltry 2.9 yards per carry.
Defensively, the Browns have played very well, and that's probably been aided by the fact that Marshawn Lynch injured his back in pregame warmups and was thus scratched from the game. Despite their bye week, Seattle came out looking very sloppy and has aided the Browns with their five penalties for 35 yards. That said, the Browns do have three sacks—one each from Chris Gocong and TJ Ward (who also created a fumble with his) and Athyba Rubin combined with Jabaal Sheard for one. The Browns have also gotten to Whitehurst for four other QB hits, a stat I appreciate because it shows we're getting at least some kind of pass rush.
But all that defense won't matter unless the Browns can find a way to score some more points. 3-0 is just not a score that wins a football game—I don't care how bad the teams are. And this Seahawks team really isn't as bad as they showed in the first half.
The Browns get the ball first in the second half, and it's very important that we go right down the field and score. This first drive is really going to be a statement for how the rest of the game is going to go. If the Seahawks force a 3-and-out, look for them to go right down the field and take command of this game.
Honestly, I don't see the Browns winning this one. Pat Shurmur has got some real scheme problems with the right side of the offensive line. They're getting completely overwhelmed and I don't know if he can correct them at halftime.
Hopefully, I'll be wrong. But even if I am, I'm going to have a lot to complain about after this game...
See you then,
~MAS
Yeah, I guess so. But take a look at the stats and...well at least on the offensive side of the ball there just isn't much to see. Colt McCoy has not looked good at all today. His decision making has not come quick enough, and I'm pretty sure there was at least one time where he didn't read a blitz and almost got himself killed before scrambling out of the pocket for a few positive yards. He's 9/18 for 87 yards, but maybe 10-15 of those came on the stupid pass to end the half to new running back Chris Ogbonnaya. But McCoy has got to be more accurate and on point with his throws. There was one third down play early in the game where TE Ben Watson was wide open and McCoy missed him high. That can't happen at this stage of the game.
At least "stone hands" Hardesty came to play a little bit—he caught a nice third down pass for a first down. But he hasn't had much running room as he's gotten just 43 yards on 15 carries—a paltry 2.9 yards per carry.
Defensively, the Browns have played very well, and that's probably been aided by the fact that Marshawn Lynch injured his back in pregame warmups and was thus scratched from the game. Despite their bye week, Seattle came out looking very sloppy and has aided the Browns with their five penalties for 35 yards. That said, the Browns do have three sacks—one each from Chris Gocong and TJ Ward (who also created a fumble with his) and Athyba Rubin combined with Jabaal Sheard for one. The Browns have also gotten to Whitehurst for four other QB hits, a stat I appreciate because it shows we're getting at least some kind of pass rush.
But all that defense won't matter unless the Browns can find a way to score some more points. 3-0 is just not a score that wins a football game—I don't care how bad the teams are. And this Seahawks team really isn't as bad as they showed in the first half.
The Browns get the ball first in the second half, and it's very important that we go right down the field and score. This first drive is really going to be a statement for how the rest of the game is going to go. If the Seahawks force a 3-and-out, look for them to go right down the field and take command of this game.
Honestly, I don't see the Browns winning this one. Pat Shurmur has got some real scheme problems with the right side of the offensive line. They're getting completely overwhelmed and I don't know if he can correct them at halftime.
Hopefully, I'll be wrong. But even if I am, I'm going to have a lot to complain about after this game...
See you then,
~MAS
Start Me Up - Browns vs. Seahawks
A couple of weeks ago, I would've chalked this one up as a game the Browns would win easily. Now? Not so much.
First off, it looks like we're going to be without Peyton Hillis after that hamstring injury PR fiasco that happened last week. Despite the fact that the Browns haven't been running the ball well, when you take away the only player that defenses might fear, it's clearly not a good thing. Montario Hardesty will get his second start of his young career, and the last time he started a game he played pretty well. But that was against the Dolphins—a team that still hasn't won a game. If the Browns are going to win today, they're going to need Hardesty to not only run the ball better, but catch the ball too. He was regarded as a good receiving back, and we need to see that in action since so far he's shown nothing but stone hands.
Speaking of offense, we really need to buck this trend of only starting to play it in the second quarter. The Browns have scored a grand total of 3—yes three—points in five first quarters sof ar this season. That's ridiculous. To me, it speaks volumes about the way head coach Pat Shurmur just hasn't had his team prepared to start the game. I know he's a young, first-time head coach, but there's no excuse for the way the Browns have driven the struggle bus in the first quarter.
Other than that, we'll have to look out for Seattle's no huddle offense. Charlie Whitehurst will probably get the start with Tavaris Jackson out with an injury, and Whiethurst proved to be pretty effective with that offense in Seattle's last game against the Giants. Yes, the Giants struggled in that game and Eli Manning may have thrown it away with his three interceptions, but they won that game.
One thing that plays in the Browns favor with the no-huddle element is that they don't substitute much on defense. I read from Terry Pluto that by and large Dick Jauron stays in his base defense, with the linebackers D'Qwell Jaackson and Scott Fujita playing 90% or more of the snaps, with TJ Ward, Sheldon Brown, Jayme Mitchell, Jabaal Sheard and Athyba Rubin also rarely being out of the game. If Joe Haden is healthy enough to play today, he'll be in there the whole time too. So the point is that even if they go no huddle, it shouldn't mess us up too much. That being said, it'll largely depend on Jackson to make sure the defense gets lined up correctly in those cases, especially with Fujita out this week after suffering a concussion.
Alright, so what's the bottom line today? Well...I just don't have a good feeling about it. No Peyton Hillis. No Scott Fujita. Seahawks coming off of a bye week, and off a great win against the Giants. All those elements seem to spell "Browns will lose" to me...
The Prediction: SEA 24 - CLE 17
It might be a late touchdown that seals it, or Seattle will run Marshawn Lynch all over the field and we'll score in garbage time to make the score look better than it really is, but when it comes down to it, I just don't think the Browns will have the personnel available to win today. It's not even that Seattle is that good, I just think we're that bad.
I hope I'm wrong.
See you at the half,
~MAS
First off, it looks like we're going to be without Peyton Hillis after that hamstring injury PR fiasco that happened last week. Despite the fact that the Browns haven't been running the ball well, when you take away the only player that defenses might fear, it's clearly not a good thing. Montario Hardesty will get his second start of his young career, and the last time he started a game he played pretty well. But that was against the Dolphins—a team that still hasn't won a game. If the Browns are going to win today, they're going to need Hardesty to not only run the ball better, but catch the ball too. He was regarded as a good receiving back, and we need to see that in action since so far he's shown nothing but stone hands.
Speaking of offense, we really need to buck this trend of only starting to play it in the second quarter. The Browns have scored a grand total of 3—yes three—points in five first quarters sof ar this season. That's ridiculous. To me, it speaks volumes about the way head coach Pat Shurmur just hasn't had his team prepared to start the game. I know he's a young, first-time head coach, but there's no excuse for the way the Browns have driven the struggle bus in the first quarter.
Other than that, we'll have to look out for Seattle's no huddle offense. Charlie Whitehurst will probably get the start with Tavaris Jackson out with an injury, and Whiethurst proved to be pretty effective with that offense in Seattle's last game against the Giants. Yes, the Giants struggled in that game and Eli Manning may have thrown it away with his three interceptions, but they won that game.
One thing that plays in the Browns favor with the no-huddle element is that they don't substitute much on defense. I read from Terry Pluto that by and large Dick Jauron stays in his base defense, with the linebackers D'Qwell Jaackson and Scott Fujita playing 90% or more of the snaps, with TJ Ward, Sheldon Brown, Jayme Mitchell, Jabaal Sheard and Athyba Rubin also rarely being out of the game. If Joe Haden is healthy enough to play today, he'll be in there the whole time too. So the point is that even if they go no huddle, it shouldn't mess us up too much. That being said, it'll largely depend on Jackson to make sure the defense gets lined up correctly in those cases, especially with Fujita out this week after suffering a concussion.
Alright, so what's the bottom line today? Well...I just don't have a good feeling about it. No Peyton Hillis. No Scott Fujita. Seahawks coming off of a bye week, and off a great win against the Giants. All those elements seem to spell "Browns will lose" to me...
The Prediction: SEA 24 - CLE 17
It might be a late touchdown that seals it, or Seattle will run Marshawn Lynch all over the field and we'll score in garbage time to make the score look better than it really is, but when it comes down to it, I just don't think the Browns will have the personnel available to win today. It's not even that Seattle is that good, I just think we're that bad.
I hope I'm wrong.
See you at the half,
~MAS
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