We are sure most of the focus of today’s 17-14 loss by the Cleveland Browns to the New York Jets will be on Hue Jackson’s decision to remove DeShone Kizer at halftime.
However, that shouldn’t mask the terrible coaching decisions made during the game. Although the smile on fans’ faces after watching Myles Garrett, who recorded two sacks in his debut, shouldn’t be discounted.
Quite frankly, the Browns dominated this football game, particularly in the first half, which ended with Cleveland trailing 3-0.
In total, the Browns gained 419 yards offensively, compared to 212 by the Jets. And they still lost.
With this one-sided statistical edge, Jackson should have to answer for a case of trying to be too cute offensively when his team got into the red zone.
The first time the brown and orange got inside the Jets’ 20, Cleveland ran an option pitch on third down, the first time the play has been used all year.
The pitch went off of Isaiah Crowell’s hands and was recovered by New York, so instead of at least three points (more on that later), the Browns were kept off the scoreboard.
Later, on the Browns’ next possession, rookie kicker Zane Gonzalez missed a 52-yard field goal. More to come on that front.
The next time Cleveland got the ball close, on a 3rd down and three from the Jets’ four, Kizer threw an interception when it looked as if had he floated the ball over the safety, it would have been a TD pass to TE Seth DeValve.
Before the half ended, Gonzalez missed another field goal, this one much more makeable, from 39 yards. It’s tough to keep missing opportunities to score points.
So, instead of 20 points possible in the first half. Jackson’s team emerged with zero, a combination of crazy play calling, execution by the rookie QB, and poor special teams play, mostly by the kicker.
In the second half, Kevin Hogan, who completed 16 of his 19 throws for 194 yards and two touchdowns, seemed to have more rhythm with the attack, and also looked more amenable to getting the ball to the teams’ best offensive players: Crowell, Duke Johnson, and tight ends David Njoku and DeValve.
But another curious decision came in to play. Down 10-7 in the fourth quarter, the Browns had a 4th and 2 from the Jets’ three. A field goal ties the score, and even with Gonzalez’ issues, he has to be counted on to make a 20 yard attempt, right?
Instead, the coach wasted a timeout, and ran Crowell up the middle, and he wasn’t even close.
That the defense, who was dominant for most of the day allowed a 97 yard drive didn’t help matters, but why not keep the momentum and tie the contest?
Cleveland ran 33 times today, but a closer look at the numbers shows than 10 of those attempts were by the quarterbacks.
Johnson had just nine touches, and produced 83 yards, including a 41 yard run after catching a screen pass.
Njoku scored his third touchdown in five games. Why aren’t the Browns using him more?
Removing Kizer was the right decision in our opinion. He was hurting the team’s chances at a victory. He holds the ball to long and the inaccuracy he was plagued with in college is rearing its’ ugly head.
It’s time for the rookie to watch for awhile, and we would definitely start Hogan next week against the Texans.
He’s earned the gig.
Besides stubbornness, trying to show people how smart you are is our least favorite attribute in coaches. Sometimes the obvious move is the right one.
Jackson has showed each of those things in the last two weeks.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 