DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Cleveland Browns have Terry Talkin' about winning 7 games ... really? -- Terry Pluto

For Cody he probably held on to the ball too long because the game was too fast for him. RG111 and JM. had a habit of doing it. We have the makings of a good running game with an improved O-line and the RB's that we have but if we can't stretch the field with our QB and our WR's are not that good like it appears right now I agree with Vers our O will not be very good. Somebody in our WR corps has to step up. More like 2 or 3 have to step up. Let's hope they do.

I'm just advancing the idea that a weak OL, below average WRs, and a brand new offense will contribute to a QBs shortcomings. The only debate is to what degree.

#1 - Kessler did not have a history of holding on to the ball "too long" in college. All three Browns QBs were awful in the held ball stat. Why was that? I know that RG3 and McCown had a penchant for that...but all 3 of them on the same team in the same year?

j/c

Very good article by Pluto. Two things stood out to me.

#1 - Kessler did not have a history of holding on to the ball "too long" in college. All three Browns QBs were awful in the held ball stat. Why was that? I know that RG3 and McCown had a penchant for that...but all 3 of them on the same team in the same year? Can you say wide receiver issues in a brand new offense?

I have no confidence in him "leading" us to victories or in helping other parts of our offense improve.

Is this a warning for: Be careful who you get to "mentor" your rookies?

I think this is just a problem of our line being too good. None of our QBs have the sense of urgency like Rodgers, Brady or Big Ben. I think our line gives the QB the full 3 secs and those three QBs act like they have half that time to throw.

No, I think they knew they had 3 secs to throw. They just had no sense of urgency to get it out at all. When you have no sense of urgency you hold onto the ball for longer than 3 secs. That's why they get sacked. It's surprising they actually do this because our QBs are so weak armed, that by 3 secs most of our WRs have outran their arm. Besides RG3 who was too injured to count.

I think running the football will make it easier to pass.

Even if we don't gain many yards, the fact we will run the ball will freeze the rush, backers, and DB's who want to play run support.

I think you can say that about a lot of teams. Some things don't change. You run to set up the pass. You don't pass to set up the run.

I think you can say that about a lot of teams. Some things don't change. You run to set up the pass. You don't pass to set up the run.

You run to set up the pass. You don't pass to set up the run.

IMO you have to do both. In todays NFL I think most defenses can take away one or the other. What has to be done is to keep the defense off guard and honest, They have to have no clue what the offense is going to do next, for the offense to succeed.

Two things, peen:

1. You can pass to set up the run.

2. Did you forget that we were leading the league in rushing after 4 games? Blaming Hue for us not running is wrong. It was about Cody's inability to challenge defenses.

We stopped ourselves in the run game more than most any defense did.

I don't recall where it was posted on here, but if you can find it, look at Crowell's numbers for running against a stacked box. He was blowing it UP with nearly 5.0 ypc. Running it when we wanted to, even if they stacked against us, was NOT the problem folks might think it was.

IMO, one of the most beautiful offensive displays to watch is when an offense challenges the defense by running the ball, every time. I've seen the Patriots do that as well as the Cowboys.

...#1 - Kessler did not have a history of holding on to the ball "too long" in college. All three Browns QBs were awful in the held ball stat. Why was that? I know that RG3 and McCown had a penchant for that...but all 3 of them on the same team in the same year? Can you say wide receiver issues in a brand new offense?...

I actually feel like (IMO) it was an idea of trying "too hard" for a "big play"

I think both McCown and RG3 wanted the big play so bad. They held the ball waiting for it. And it either never came or it was far too late.

Griffin had something to prove obviously. And I think McCown felt he did as well. Which is why things like the "helicopter" dive happened.

Sometimes you've just gotta take what you can get and move on.

PFT preseason power rankings No. 31: Cleveland Browns

--Josh Alper


The Browns have taken the bottom rung in plenty of preseason, in-season and postseason power rankings in recent years, but that’s not where they find themselves in PFT’s rankings this summer.

They are No. 31, which isn’t where you’d want to be but it’s still a nice change for the Browns to have someone to look down on. Their chances of shooting higher up in the rankings will hinge on finally answering their eternal quarterback question.

Cody Kessler, Brock Osweiler and second-round pick DeShone Kizer are this year’s options under center, which offers some intriguing possibilities but little certainty that the search is ending this year. The good news for the Browns is that their stockpiling of draft picks, including three first-round selections this year, has led to more talent around the quarterbacks.

Biggest positive change: That increase in talent should be noticeable on both the offensive and defensive lines this year. First overall pick Myles Garrett gives the Browns a major piece to build around at defensive end and the team drafted two other defensive linemen to go with four others drafted in 2015 and 2016. On the other side of the ball, adding right guard Kevin Zeitler and center JC Tretter in free agency and extending left guard Joel Bitonio give the Browns a stronger group to go with left tackle Joe Thomas.

Biggest negative change: It’s fair to wonder how much negative change a 1-15 team can experience, but Cleveland spent a lot of time working with Terrelle Pryor as he transitioned to wide receiver over the last two years and his 77 catches for 1,007 yards were a bright spot last season. They won’t reap any other rewards, however, as Pryor jumped to Washington as a free agent and the Browns will lean on Corey Coleman and Kenny Britt at wideout instead.

Coaching thermometer: The Browns have not shown much patience with their coaches of late, but Hue Jackson starts his second year without much heat under his seat. That won’t remain the case if the team’s search for a long-term answer at quarterback continues to be a fruitless one, but the Browns have embraced a longer view than they have in some time and Jackson is central to it.

We’d like to crack a beer with … Joe Thomas. Thomas has been through 10 seasons of losing with the Browns while playing for six head coaches and blocking for myriad quarterbacks. That’s a lot of fodder for stories and Thomas has the kind of personality that suggests they’d be good ones.

How they can prove us wrong: If the offensive line gels as hoped, the Browns should be able to run the ball and take some pressure off that quarterback group. Put that with a defense that follows new coordinator Gregg Williams’ history by improving in his first season with a team and the Browns could be playing a lot of close games in 2017. Get a few to break their way and the Browns would be looking a lot better in the final set of power rankings.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/pft-preseason-power-rankings-no-190043318.html

We stopped ourselves in the run game more than most any defense did.

I don't recall where it was posted on here, but if you can find it, look at Crowell's numbers for running against a stacked box. He was blowing it UP with nearly 5.0 ypc. Running it when we wanted to, even if they stacked against us, was NOT the problem folks might think it was.

Which really is my concern. In the cases you mentioned, they have Brees, Rogers and Rivers. That have the ability at QB to accomplish that.

I'm not sure we have the ammunition to make that happen.

That's why to this point our opponents have focused on stopping the run and force us to beat them through the air. If and when we can move the ball through the air, it will force them to respect the passing game and loosen up the run. We haven't been able to do that. I certainly hope this year is different but I'm going to need to see some evidence to convince me.

“ …..teams started playing us different after NE figured him out and other teams started using a similar strategy.”