Where do I start? I got to write
about the game sooner or later, might as well get it over with. First quarter,
very ugly. Second quarter, got better but still pretty ugly. Third quarter,
ugly. Fourth quarter, ugly.
If anyone was still on the Brandon Weedon bandwagon, and I
admit to being one of those, they fell off somewhere in the first half. It
could have been as early as the first drive. His confidence is shot. He is
thinking too much. After last year’s disastrous opener against Philadelphia, he
really didn’t play that bad. I thought with a season under his belt, a more
suitable offense under Chudzinski, a receiver corp a year more mature, and the
whole offensive line returning, Brandon Weedon would be an asset this year. How
things fall apart soon.
How
many of you thought that Chud would do for Weedon what he did for Derek
Anderson in 2007?
But
I don’t put all the blame on the quarterback. The defense played its second
weak game in a row. Is it just me,
but do they look like they are taking steps backwards? Remember this, even the
most attacking defenses get figured out by the good quarterbacks. Sooner or
later, you have to play your base defense soundly.
You
can also throw a little blame to the coaching staff. There was another round of
unnecessary penalties. Why did they go for it on fourth and fifteen? Too many of the same mistakes happening
over and over.
Brandon
Weedon is regressing and deserves some of the blame being thrown his way. But I
hate to tell you this, who else is there? Hoyer is hurt and out for the
season. Yes, Jason Campbell is on
the bench, but remember he doesn’t fit into the team’s long-term plans either. There
is no Andrew Luck in this year’s draft. Yes, there are some good quarterbacks
with potential, I really like Teddy Bridgewater at Louisville, but there are no
for sure things. The best quarterback in college is still two drafts away,
Jameis Winston at Florida State. Half the NFL is going to try to maneuver and
draft him in 2015.
The
stat sheet was as ugly as the game. Let’s start with 17 out of 42 passing for
only 149 yards passing; only 83 yards rushing; 216 yards total offense compared
to 357 for the Packers; 12 penalties for 106 yards; and the defense gave up
three more touchdown passes. That’s seven passing TD’s in the last two games,
the Browns defense only gave up one during the first four games.
There
was a fair amount of Browns fans in the stands, and it was just a kick in the
stomach to fall behind so early and seem to be never really in the game. And
when it did seem that they might make a run at the beginning of the fourth
quarter, the Browns go for it on fourth and fifteen, only to see Josh Gordon
miss making a great catch on the goal line. Five plays later the Packers scored
and put the game out of reach.
On
the good side…Lambeau Field and everything Packers is good. I’ve been to many
stadiums that have been redone and enlarged over the years and Lambeau is
probably the best I have seen. A great entrance atrium, lots of exposed brick and
wide concourses. They do an outstanding job with the team colors, especially
with the dark green. But it’s not without its negatives, including tight seats
and in our section very long lines for the rest rooms.
The
tailgating and bars and restaurants around the stadium were very good. Green
Bay is considered by many as the yardstick for tailgating, I’ll put our Browns
Sundays and what happens in Columbus on Saturdays as its equals.
Some
observations… I don’t know what they do in Green Bay when it isn’t football season....Seeing
all the Matthews #52 uniforms seemed strange to someone use to seeing Matthews #57
jerseys…As usual, lots of Browns fans at the game…Cheese curds are really big
in Wisconsin. Over the weekend I was exposed to fried, baked, Buffalo, garlic,
homemade, white, yellow, and orange cheese curds…they sell cocktails at all the
beer stands in the stadium…the guys in my group all devoured the brats
sandwiches at the game…All the natives were very friendly and cordial.
I
spent the Friday and Saturday before the game with seven old college frat
brothers at a house on Maiden Lake, about 90 minutes from Green Bay. It was a
beautiful autumn weekend. We spent Saturday afternoon drifting around the lake
on a pontoon boat, surrounded by the colors of autumn, drinking beer and
telling stories and lies about the football games, escapades, and women of our
youth. Both nights we went to local supper clubs, eating prime ribs that
dripped over both ends of the plate, and drinking the region’s favorite
cocktail, Kessler’s Old Fashions sweet, with pickled mushrooms as the garnish.
In upper Wisconsin they drink Kessler’s like it’s Kool Aid. Thanks again to
Bruce Graham for hosting us, and to all the guys (Russ, Trout, Gordon, Kelly,
Pete, and BoBo) who made it a great weekend before the Browns screwed it up.
One last comment, I am not giving
up on the Browns this year because the quarterback play has been mediocre at
best. That is not an excuse to expect to lose each week. There is no excuse for
the weak defensive play in the Green Bay game. There is no excuse for the
inconsistent play by the wide receivers all season long. There is no excuse for
the inconsistent play by the talented offensive line. I am very tired of
excuses, but I remain hopeful and dedicated.
I fly back Sunday morning this week
from the Vanderbilt at Texas A&M game. Anyone have a good suggestion for a
local place to watch the Kansas City game? Maybe I need a new local spot to
bring some magic to the Browns.
Greg Cielec
Browns Season Ticket Holder
Section 120, Row B, seats 3-4.
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