Only the Cleveland Browns can overshadow another defeat in Pittsburgh on the last game of the season with the surprising rumor that they are firing their head coach after one year on the job.
But that’s what happened as the Browns finished the season with a six game losing streak finishing the campaign at 4-12 and securing the fourth overall pick in next May’s draft.
So, the team did improve in one area, they have a higher pick in the draft, going from sixth to fourth.
Today, the yardage was virtually the same (293 vs. 292), the turnovers were the same (two apiece), but still the Browns lost by 13 points, mostly because they decided to go for it three times in Steeler territory when they would’ve attempted field goals.
Still, that decision isn’t sufficient enough to fire a coach after one season when the front office basically punted the draft, trading picks this year for more next year, traded their starting running back after two games and then not replacing him, and played the first few games of the season without a pro level right guard.
There will be more discussion of that if and when the news becomes official.
As for today’s game, the Browns first offensive series summarized the philosophy for the season. Edwin Baker, who gained 69 yards on 18 carries, gained five yards on first down. They passed on the next two plays.
The Browns averaged four yards per carry again today, but ran it only 20 times on a rainy and windy day. Pittsburgh trusted the run game with 29 attempts.
They also went most of the first half ignoring Pro Bowl wide receiver Josh Gordon as well. We realized the Steelers were trying to stop Gordon, but it doesn’t seem to make other teams stop going to their best player.
Gordon did wind up grabbing seven passes for 82 yards.
The other bright spots were S Tashuan Gipson, who had an interception of Steelers’ QB Ben Roethlisberger, his fifth of the season, a team high.
Another Pro Bowler, TE Jordan Cameron, has a solid game with five catches for 69 yards, and ILB Craig Robertson, who has struggled in the second half of the year in pass coverage, also had an interception.
However, the discussion during most of the game locally, was the news about a possible change in the coaching staff.
We have said previously that the ownership and front office must stress to everyone that losing is not acceptable. They didn’t exactly send that message with the trade of Trent Richardson, no matter how well it worked out.
When the Browns won going into the bye week, sitting at 4-5 after a win over Baltimore. We implored the organization to improve the team by adding a running back and getting another quarterback in case Jason Campbell got hurt. They needed to get one because it was clear Brandon Weeden couldn’t do the job.
On the other hand, the Steelers started the year at 0-4, and rebounded to finish at 8-8, and a possible playoff spot. Why? Because they are used to winning. The organization wanted to win.
They didn’t sit at 0-4 and think, we could get a good draft pick. They worry about each season as it unfolds.
The Browns continue to be like the sign in the bar: We’ll be good next year!
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 