In the process of a team becoming
something special, things happen. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. Good things
recently happened for the Browns against the Steelers and Bengals, bad things
happened against the Jaguars and the Texans.
The Brows are getting better, but
they are not that good yet. Not good enough to be a perennial playoff team,
like the Patriots or the 49ers. I’m not even sure there is such a thing in the
NFL anymore. This years playoffs will be missing the Giants, one of those usual
perennial playoff teams. And last year the Steelers missed out on the playoffs.
The NFL is always filled with surprises as the season begins to end, look what
happened to the Broncos this week. Did anyone see that coming?
Let us not forget that Houston is a
good team. They are not the Jaguars. They are currently 5-5 and, like the
Browns, still playing for a playoff spot. They still have the core of players
from two years ago when many picked them to go to the Super Bowl. Things blew
up on them last year, but they seem to be coming together again under Coach
Bill O’Brien.
Sunday’s game against Houston
showed once again the things the Browns must improve upon if they want to get
deep in the playoffs next year. First, more depth at some obvious positions. Even the defensive line, considered the
deepest part of the team in preseason, could use another quality player or two.
Second, get healthy. To get deep in the playoffs next year they need a healthy
Phil Taylor, a healthy Cameron Jordan, and a mentally healthy Josh Gordon.
I’m not guaranteeing something
special in the near future is going to happen to the Browns, but it could. And
I am not one of those wait until next year fans. A team doesn’t go from where
the Browns were last year to the Super Bowl in one season. With all the hoopla
around the Browns being in the playoff hunt, remember what the expectations
were back in week one. I’m sticking with the hopes I had in August, at least an
8-8 record, 3-3 in the division, and fighting for a playoff spot. All of that is still possible entering
game #11.
One thing the team can work on
immediately and in the off-season is cleaning up their special teams. Every
week it is something, this week it was a missed chip shot field goal. They need
a full time punt returner who can get them some yardage, not just catch the
ball. The best teams have the best special teams.
The Houston game once again showed
Brian Hoyer at his worst. He has had a good season, and he does some things
most of the time very well. Play action, short to medium routes, the no huddle
offense. But you got to be able to attack the whole field, and that includes
throwing the deep ball. Houston gave the Browns the short stuff, but nothing
downfield. Sometimes that isn’t a problem when you score first and build up a
bit of a lead like the Browns did against the Steelers and Bengals. But when
you make field goals instead of touchdowns, and then give up a touchdown that
followed a turnover in the last minute of the half, and fall behind, you cant
always come back.
The Browns have to make a decision
at quarterback before next season. What will Brian Hoyer’s body of work look
like at the end of the season? Is the team going to see what Johnny Manziel can
do? Hoyer’s stock goes up and down each week. The Browns can be a talented
playoff proven team next year, ready to make a legitimate move for the big
prize. Things could really be that good. But they have to make a decision about
the man who is going to be the quarterback.
Even with the loss, there was lots
of excitement for those of us sitting in the original Dawg Pound in the east
bleachers. Most of the action and
scoring in the game, for good or bad, took place at our end. Two plays made by
Browns in front of us stood out to me. The first was Joe Haden’s interception
in the first quarter. The way he made the play, first denying a touchdown, then
tipping the ball in the air, and then making a catch for the interception, was
terrific. Not too many athletes in any sport can make that sort of play.
The other play showed why the
Browns are going in the right direction. On Andrew Hawkin’s touchdown catch, he
caught the ball with a couple of defenders between him and the goal line.
Instead of being run out of bounds short of the touchdown, Mike Austin came off
his route and made a terrific downfield block that sprung Hawkins for the
score. Just like solid special teams, the best teams have running backs and
receivers that consistently make downfield blocks. Austin’s was as good as it
gets.
One last note, if the Browns are
ever to get to where they want to go, and that seems to be a possibility, they
need stability in the front office and on the coaching staff. We need all of
this never ending Jimmy Haslem legal problems to finally disappear. Just when
we thought it was over, it reappeared this week. Not good.
I said last week to hold on tight
the rest of the season is going to be a heck of a ride. Last Sunday we went
back to the bottom turn of the roller coaster, hopefully next week at this time
we will be back on top.
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