DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2021 NFL Season Looking Back: Browns 42 Chargers 47 Postgame Thoughts

I don't think there is much for the players to get together... I only see two things:

1) Trying to stay healthy
2) Stefanski getting over whatever mental hurdle he's dealing with. Seems like he's over thinking things. The talent is there. No need to over think it.

By 'getting it together' I was specifically referring to the Baker-OBJ connection. It was supposed to be a match made in heaven (Baker having a strong arm and a good long ball, and OBJ being the big-play guy).

OBJ, 2 receptions 20 yards on 3 targets. Are they trying to keep him healthy to increase his trade value or something?

I recall OBJ and Manning not being on the same page toward his end in NY. Thats why they didnt mind letting him go.
They didnt know if it was Mannings fault or OBJs. sound familiar?

At crucial points in the game including 4th down. Criminal. Should be investigated

Ok, I see now. Thanks for the clarification. I just don't think we (and by "we" I mean Stefanski, are in a big hurry to make that happen)

Our entire WR group, for the season, is averaging
12 targets
7.6 catches
108.6 yards per game
1 TD catch (total for the season)

Those aren't as good as some of the top INDIVIDUALS who play WR in the NFL and that's our entire WR room combined.

Maybe it's Stefanski, maybe it's Baker, but connecting with our WRs isn't a priority.

Post game thought? That was probaly the worst I've felt after a loss since the 2002 playoff loss or before the move. But that's a good thing. It means we expect to win against the best teams and it hurts when we don't. I haven't been in that place in many years.

And maybe you're not saying this but How would this little statistic be Bakers fault?

Anyone who is saying this loss is on Baker is wrong. The offense did plenty to win. The defense blew several plays and we were playing a top two QB.

I see. Our defense allows WAAAAY too many points.

https://youtu.be/txmRs3QMYSE
Rich Eisen gets it!

So, maybe 42 actually ISN'T the answer to life, the universe, and everything?

It is and you take that back....

So long and thanks for all the fish

Yes he does mod, as do most others. What is stunning to me is those who see our qb throw for 300+ yards, 23-32, 2 td, 0 Int. and a qb rating of 122 and then proclaim him not our guy. Shows an amazing lack of awareness, whether by ignorance or bias, or maybe both. The few folks on here who say that will be saying he is not “our guy” while he is raising the Lombardi trophy.

I found baker’s wife comments to be interesting when she referred to his affect on our culture. After all the years of losing we were a pretty bedraggled organization. Started a new season with two losses after going 1-31. For 10 quarters our offense was moribund. Then tyrod got hurt. The minute baker came in the field you could feel a change in the stands and sense a change in the players. The culture of expecting to win every game is pervasive now amongst the fans and the team and baker started that.

Good things ahead anybody anybody who things baker is getting dumped for another qb I just plain wrong.

I have my towel.

Agreed and I'll put my 2 cents in about Baker. Right now Baker is not an elite QB in the league. I feel he is in the 2nd tier and a good-very good QB. Top tier IMO, Mahomes, Brady, Rodgers, Hebert, Russel Wilson Allen and there might be 1 or 2 others. Baker is the best QB we've had since Bernie and it's not close. Derek Anderson had 1 good year and maybe Vinnie Testaverde but that's it. Doesn't anybody remember the atrocious QB play we've had over the last 30 years and how long it took to find a QB like Baker? He's a little hurt right now and does need to be a little better but he can do it and I for one am glad he's here and hope he stays. JMO

Just because we had terrible QBs doesn’t mean Baker is immune to criticism.

All QB's get critiqued and Baker should be treated the same. I did say he needs to be a little better and he does but I believe he can be. He has the desire coaching and the weapons on this team to do so

cfrs15<---Baker Hater

42 is the problem.

I don't think I agree about Stefanski not being a "play it safe" kind of guy. Yes, on its face going for it on 4th down is always a risk, but we haven't been going for it so many times just because he wants to show who has the bigger set of cajones. These are calculated risks, with the data (presumably) showing the odds are in our favor.

I would point out that "play it safe" and being "conservative" are not necessarily one in the same.

I will validate your second observation though. Ski's offense not having another high octane gear is a criticism/concern that I had last year that carried in to this season. By keeping Njoku I took that as a sign that we were going to see this offense stretch its legs. Maybe that is the goal. Schwartz not fully running his routes doesn't help. This may be an unpopular opinion and I'm not trying to bag on the guy, but I don't think OBJ is the deep threat he once was. I think he's still a massive mid-range threat, but it seems like the ball has to be placed in an ever shrinking window when we try to push it down field with him.

I agree with you that I don't get why we run so many empty back fields. I also agree with what others have said in terms of the gun slinger being coached out of Baker. He knows this offense and I think his numbers show he has command of it. But he isn't playing loose. He plays like a guy who is staying within the confines of calculated risks.

Go back to the Chiefs game, specifically when Mahommes throws it up to Hill for the big TD. JJ3 had perfect coverage and if he would have looked for the ball 2 steps sooner, he would have INT'd it instead of over running it.

I'm not sure that Ski's offense allows for Baker to throw that ball. We know he can do it. We've seen that connection under previous offenses with Landry and certainly Perriman when he was here.

I don't know. I suppose the correct answer is its just a matter of matchups. I am curious as to why it seems like they've gone away from Baker takes the snap, drops back, plants his foot, throws the ball though.

Agreed - going for it on 4th down is analytics driven and nothing to do with how aggressive or otherwise plays at other points during the game.

Do you think the shot to OBJ to knockout the Vikings was aggressive or not?

Most reasonable fans don't have a problem with Baker getting fair and objective criticism when he deserves it.

I have a problem with the two extremes, the first being that we should just be happy that Baker is better than any QB we've had for 30 years. No, we should want to win a championship and the QB is a vital piece in that and Baker is the QB... can he lead a team to a championship?

The other extreme being that Baker should singlehandedly overcome all obstacles, that if our defense gives up 58 points, Baker should score 60 or he's not good enough. That it doesn't matter if our punter drops the ball, we have fumbles, defensive blown coverages, poor officiating, questionable play calling, that Baker should overcome all of that or he's not good enough.

Ravens D looked like crap. Indy gashed them all night via run and pass.
Browns O, if healthy, should ground and pound them into oblivion.

On D, Indy dominated them in the 1st half. Once they lost some of their secondary to injuries (Rhodes, etc.), their D was exposed. They went zone and soft due to that and it opened things up for Blomar and company the last 10 minutes of the game.

Why should any or this matter if you have the ball last and still control your own destiny whether you win or not?

I am convinced people do not watch other NFL games besides the Browns. I think the majority of this board looks at the Browns in a vacuum and has no idea how the NFL works.

After this loss, I think it's important to remember;

Don't panic.

You're superiority complex is showing.

I checked Arizona's D stats. We should be able to run on them the way we did the Chargers.

I’m worried about our defense stopping them. They’re dynamite like LA

Kyler Murray got a little banged up last week.

j/c...

Malcolm Smith wore the green dot previously after Anthony Walker went on IR.

Jake Burns
@jake_burns18
Well, that solves it. Maybe this was already known. Not sure. But with the uncommon issues we saw in the back half with the communication I do have some questions. #Browns



https://twitter.com/jake_burns18/status/1447939663319158800

John Johnson was the green dot for the Rams all of last season.

Correct.

We did score 42 points.

Overall I don't think play calling is the issue except possibly situational issues. Those can be corrected fairly easily.

Plus, hindsight always allows you to make a better call. I mean it's only a bad call if it doesn't work, but I don't disagree in spirit. I think Stefanski might be in a play calling rut and other teams have the tape.

You serious or is this sarcasm?

j/c...

Good breakdown from Jake Burns.

7 coverage busts resulting in 20 points. Not good.

https://247sports.com/nfl/cleveland-brow...55/#172953955_4

Just thinking about this game after a couple days. Went back and watched some of it again. What I saw was a team with the ability to go toe to toe with a great team. I think many are overlooking the how good the offense played without both starting tackles. On the flip side I think people are not taking into account the injuries that the defense sustained. We ended the game with AJ Green and Troy Hill playing outside against a very good duo of WRs and a very good QB.
Rewatching I tried to watch Garret, and I noticed, just as in other games, he is getting held very often with no call. That has got to suck for him. I also noticed how much San Diego's CB and safeties were grabbing holding and shoving our recievers, again with no calls.
I am reading this thread and all the people blaming Baker for not being able to get the win. What I saw was a guy playing at a high level. I don't get it. The defense lost this game, no doubt, but the injuries that came about during the game hurt the chemistry of the defensive backfield. If Clowney was on the field, Herbert doesn't get those runs he had.
My hope is that the CBs can get healthy, and Clowney, Wills, and Conklin return. Baker is being bashed unfairly IMO, and I look for him to have another very good game.
This is the best team we have put on the field in decades. Instead of criticizing them constantly, I think we all need to sit back and look at the big picture. The season is young, stay positive.

It's an answer to a question we do not want to ask.