Tag: josh dobbs

The Weird Ways Of The Cleveland Browns

From time to time, we have discussed the management philosophy of the Cleveland Browns and have found fault with it. The head coach and general manager, and the owner when he is available talk about the “collaborative effort” the team uses.

We don’t believe a committee is ever a good way to run anything and feel the Browns need to make someone, preferably with a football background, the ultimate hammer.

This comes up again because of the quarterback situation. There was a lot of conversation about the four QBs all during camp, and as we have pointed out before, that whole situation was created by the brass.

Coming off a 3-14 season and drafting a quarterback in the third round, someone should have said “no” when the subject of Shedeur Sanders came up in round five. That’s not a rap at Sanders, who we think has potential as an NFL QB. It’s more of why you want to create a situation where you bring four passers to training camp.

If Kenny Pickett didn’t get hurt, it is difficult to see how you could have picked up a read on either of the two rookies.

Then, the Browns traded Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders last week, leaving a rookie that they picked in the third round, Dillon Gabriel, as the primary back up.

Did they not learn a lesson just three years ago when they traded Josh Dobbs at the end of camp, leaving rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson as the back up? And when Deshaun Watson was injured prior to a game against the Baltimore Ravens, they had to put him on the field, pretty much sacrificing that contest?

Listen, we understood taking a chance on Pickett, a former first round pick, why not see if you can salvage something there, but they decided on Joe Flacco, presumably because he gives them the best chance to win.

But what if Flacco gets hurt early in the season?

Obviously, the Browns have to see what they have in Gabriel and Sanders at some point this season, but is it wise to put either on the field prior to say, the 11th game of this season? Why not give both the time to settle into the NFL and watch and learn before playing them?

That plan is out the window. So, the mode for the Browns changes instantly from trying to win games early with a veteran QB to a rebuilding mode with two rookies at the controls?

Why not get another veteran on the roster, unless that’s the plan with Bailey Zappe.

This is an organization that doesn’t seem to value character and/or leadership. They brought in Dionte Johnson, a player who has quit on teams because he once produced. It was a waste of time and other reps for other wide receivers because Johnson was cut.

How many players have been signed to one-year deals and were made captain? Maybe Carson Schwesinger is the answer there, but haven’t we all wondered who is the team leader?

Remember, just last season, the spokesperson for the offense seemed to be the BACKUP quarterback.

No Chubb, No Watson, No Offense, No Surprise?

When the Cleveland Browns lost Nick Chubb a couple of weeks ago, we said Deshaun Watson had to take more of the offensive burden for the team.

With Watson out last Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, the offense was without both of their foundations, and the result was a 28-3 loss at home to their division rivals, dropping them to 2-2 on the season.

When GM Andrew Berry traded Josh Dobbs to Arizona before the regular season started, it left the Browns without an experienced back up. It was a gamble, and one that many people would have made, but it came back to bite them against the Ravens.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson is a rookie fifth-round draft pick, and he played like a…rookie fifth round draft pick, hitting 19 of 36 passes for just 121 yards.

The rook hit a couple of throws early, and then started missing targets resulting in an interception which set the Ravens up for their first touchdown. And with Cleveland in Baltimore territory, tried an ill-advised lateral that went out of bounds and was ruled an illegal forward pass.

We would have considered going to P.J. Walker in the second half had the score remained 14-3 after the second quarter. Someone who has played in the NFL before.

The Kevin Stefanski play calling critics are out again and strangely they only come out when the Browns lose. Weird how that works out, isn’t it?

Here’s what we think happened. The Ravens, knowing Cleveland was starting a QB who hadn’t completed a pass in an NFL game, loaded the box to shut down the run. Stefanski saw this and tried to give Thompson-Robinson some easy throw to keep him out of third and long situations.

The coach tried to do the same thing when Baker Mayfield was at the helm. He doesn’t want to be in third and long. By the way, do you know any coaches who like to be in that situation?

Besides the first offensive play, a 25-yard run by Jerome Ford canceled because of a dubious holding call on Amari Cooper, the Browns couldn’t run the ball before Pierre Strong Jr. ripped off a decent run in garbage time.

Ford had 9 carries for 26 yards, gaining 10 on one carry. Kareem Hunt? Five carries for 12 yards.

And we are pretty sure the coach didn’t tell Elijah Moore to run 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage on a jet sweep.

Perhaps the offensive line isn’t as good as advertised. The Browns have played two games without Chubb and have had trouble running in both games. And you know what happens if you can’t run the ball and stop the run.

You don’t win.

The defense sprung a leak for one quarter in the loss, allowing Baltimore to gain 206 of their 296 yards in the second quarter, resulting in two touchdowns. The good news? They adjusted in the second half, allowing just 42 yards after halftime.

They are entitled to have a bad quarter every once in a while.

If Watson is healthy enough to play the rest of the season, this is just a blip on the radar.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t things the coaching staff and front office need to figure out. Should they bring in another quarterback? The offensive line has to get better.

The defense is just fine though.

Another tough test comes after the bye week when San Francisco comes to town. If Watson is back, it will serve as a measuring stick to see how good this Browns team is.

We remain optimistic.