DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Gameday vs Baltimore Postgame Thoughts

We need to get some studs at OL and secondary in the next draft

I only had radio for the game today.

Our announcers harped really hard on the defense that both Baltimore and Cinci were playing on us. Basically, until we can establish a run game, our offense is going to be solely dink-dunk-punt. I think the short game doing what little it has so far is actually somewhat impressive, but the long ball won't be there until we get teams to fear our run game again.

Still a ton of time in the season, but Tillman isn't doing what he needs to in order to solidify his hold on the #2 spot. He's gotta be a reliable pair of hands and figure out how to get more consistent separation. It was said a bunch of the broadcast that Flacco didn't have guys getting open. Jeudy didn't have a great game, either.

I'm surprised they had Judkins going today. I thought they'd give him a full week of practice before playing for real.

It's crazy (to me) how fast a position of strength can turn into a weakness. Schwartz has some work to do because not being able to handle Ward being out is a recipe for disaster. We already knew that the D would have to carry this team. I gotta tip my hat to the people harping on secondary depth... I see what you mean. Similarly, the O-line doesn't seem to be getting its shine back with the switch back to their preferred blocking scheme. Our tackle depth is very troubling.

Szmyt played a clean game. Good for him. For all the hype on getting Bubba Ventrone here, the overall performance of the ST unit has been mediocre at best.


Dillon Gabriel looked cool/competent again throwing against an NFL defense. I know it was garbage time and I am NOT advocating for him to take over, but I think it's positive that, aside from a couple obvious mistakes, the game doesn't look too big for him. If the next 4 games the way I think they will, I wouldn't mind seeing Gabriel in some extended action.

As positive as it is seeing the young guys (Schwesinger, Gabriel, Fannon, Sampson) playing well, the poor play of our Oline is VERY concerning.

so the draft watch begins ... NY and MIA probably will go QB. As will NO

It’s far too early to think about the draft

Love Bitonio and what he's done for us but unfortunately he is washed and so is the entire line.

Conklin, I'm so tired of him always missing games, just get rid of him please.

What used to be a strength with our OL quickness and power is a big liability

You know it's a new Browns season when everyone is calling for a QB change by Week 3.

Flacco looking like he's plodding through a knee deep pool of hummus doesn't help the OL either. The defense can just bring pressure all day knowing the geriatric QB can't move.

I'd like to the to petition the NFL that Flacco be allowed to use a Rascal scooter on those bootlegs.

What's the role of the "new" Offensive coordinator? Same role as the last one?

Like I have been saying we dont have any threats at wr. Noone that has to be game planned against and noone that can consistently get deep

Maybe not, but doing nothing doesn't change anything either.

And yet folks want to say Berry is doing a good job as GM and that this roster that he has built is good and only missing a QB. I just don't see how any Brown's fan doesn't look at this collection of talent and feel like we're short in too many places and chronically bad behind our starters. Nearly every pre-season article I read menetioned an aging and fragile OL ... and yet ...

Gabriel better NOT see much time vs GB - they have a very good D. They held Detroit, who just put up 52 to on CHI, to 13 points ... let's not ruin him just yet.

It was not fun to watch - Judkins with no preseason and Fannin really the lone bright spots other than the DL. I mentioned last week how slow Joe F is when a play doesn't go according to script - he was even more exposed today.

And I agree the O is struggling without the deep threat - it's hard to call a deep pass if the OL isn't that crash hot and the QB can't extend the play for even a moment or two ... and with a lack of mobility roll outs which could buy some time, are not an option.

My concern is we need to find a W - and Vikings, Dolphins and Patriots might be our best chance in the first 8 weeks - and none of those are games will be favourites for. It's not easy to be optimistic or even maintain a 'no expectations' perspective.

When a GM has no idea what’s he’s doing then this’s what you get.

See previous answer. Without a long term plan executed by competent leaders nothin will change. When will all his defenders realize that?


With an incompetent GM and a mediocre HC then this’s what you get. Results tells you the reality.

Trading Myles isn’t ideal but what’s the alternative?


This’s the result of several seasons of mismanagement.
Quick fixes instead of a long term strategy.

It started almost immediately after Baker got hurt. Lack of patience, not enough belief in trusting the process, inability of creating a honest and loyal environment. From hunting Baker out of town to discrediting Shedeur. There’s a visible and clear pattern in the lack of leadership, the incompetence and the behavior that create all the drama and why the organization doesn’t have the ability to evolve in a positive way. .

Berry is fighting for his job. Those who’re now trying to defend him are probably emotionally blocked from reality.
Stefanski is neither good or bad but isn’t it obvious that he doesn’t have the passion, the drive or the ability to turn this around right now.
It’s sad and it sucks.

The game went about as expected. Browns just can't stop a team with this much offensive power. Our special teams made some bad mistakes. The Ravens defense kept getting to Flacco way too easy and that caused some bad plays but that wasn't really unexpected when you look at the age of our OL. I felt the game was enjoyable enough to watch for the first 3 quarters but then everything collapsed.

This game shows to me we need a true number 1 WR who is big and physical. We also need to draft a stud CB because we are getting old and broken at this position. We also need some young studs of offensive line. I honestly think we need to take care of those before we draft a QB with a high 1st round draft pick. Let our rookies this year fight it out next year.

On the plus side Fannon looks like a legit monster out there! Judkins looks legit too. It was nice to see him break away like a freight train and that big run. Our D-line was making some hellacious pass rush pressure but what can you do when the QB can throw crazy passes and they have stud wrs who can come up with it anyways. Baltimore has some hellacious WRs. We shut Derrick Henry DOWN!!! In fact, we shut their running game down period but they had lamar so they just didn't need to run it much but still find the good where you can.

Yet again, Lamar is just unstoppable. I expected it so it doesn't frustrate me that much. I was glad DG got to play some at the end when the game fell out of reach. I love that Joe was trying to tackle when he threw that interception. Poor guy wanted to win so bad.

from my perspective about the WRs, Jeudy is a solid #2 guy, Tillman seems to be too inconsistent and we are forcing Bond/Thrash when they are not ready or capable of being reliable guys. We can't push the ball down the field at all and can't manipulate the pocket because of Flacco's lack of mobility. That's a bad recipe

Yuk!

Right now Bond should be running a go on every play.

Takes a Cb out of the play on Runs, pulls a safety on passing down to open things up in the mid-range which is where Jeudy thrives.
That seems to be all Bond has to offer right now

Bond has to turn into a mini version of DeSean Jackson for us

Team needs for next season

#1 - Quarterback - Someone big and strong and can run like Drew Allar
#2 - Left Tackle - Move Dawand Jones back to Right tackle
#3 - Wide Receiver - A threat that has good hands opposite Jerry Jeudy
#4 - Cornerback - A nickel corner that can cover slot receivers
#5 - Free Safety - A centerfielder that can cover tight ends down the field and make plays on down the field throws. This team has to create more turnovers.

And (3) OL...in the 6th (?) year of this regime...this is where we are.

A thought... please correct/expand if you see fit.
A true centerfielder at safety with a shift in scheme in our secondary would probably mitigate a lot of the issue we're seeing at CB. We like to run a lot of man coverages, but if Ward has to check out we're suddenly VERY understaffed to do so. Lack of suitable depth is still an issue, but on the radio broadcast they made it out to be more of a coaching/adjustment issue.

Jeudy may have just had a bad game. I'm more worried about Tillman and the #2 spot.

Tackle was a glaring issue that really didn't get addressed this off-season. We are going to have a LOT of work to do, and that's even if Jones doesn't continue with his durability issues.

In other words, the only areas where I feel "OK" about are DL and TE. Outside of that, I think every area is a concern

Ballpeen, isn’t it sad that we have had a generational talent on the o line, Joe, and a generational talent on the d line, Myles, and our leadership has not even gotten close to putting a team around them that would allow them to compete for a championship.

I just cannot understand how people continue to support the Stefanski/berry team. They have only continued the misery.

It's tough for me to know how much KS/AB had to do with the Watson decision or if it was forced onto them, which is a big crux of our whole current situation

Drew Aller is going to have to show a lot more I would use a first rounder on him. Look at his stats on a game-by-game basis. He plays well or very well against the weakest teams, but very pedestrian against quality teams. Look at his stats against Villanova this past weekend. Pretty weak. Look at his stats last year. He had big numbers against weak teams.

While Judkins didn't exactly light it up, for his first game after only a couple of days of practice he looked good and showed promise.

While it was garbage time it was nice to see Gabriel put a quick, efficient scoring drive together.

Yet at the same time there's no reason to start him before week 7 even if Flacco throws 3 int's a game. In the grand scheme of things he is a smart kid who keeps his cool under pressure. He has some skills. But you don't want to throw him into the fire against tough teams right out of the gate. At some point you have to think about things from a moving forward aspect and not in the moment. I don't want to see the kid get ruined before he has an opportunity to get acclimated to the NFL.

Unless Flacco gets injured to the point he can't make it onto the field, keep him as the starter though game six.

Posters have been busy in this thread pointing out all of the reasons this team won't make it to the playoffs his year and rightfully so, so why ruin this kid early to accomplish nothing more than adding insult to injury?

As for all of the negatives people have posted about, for the most part I agree so there's really not much need in me repeating it all.

Flacco has to stay in there AT LEAST for the next 2 games. Ideally, he stays in until the bye or until we can establish some sort of identity on O (whichever comes first, most likely).

I do like the trio of Judkins, Sampson and Fannin. Thats the bright spot IMO

I agree about Allar. Brady Quinn had the same trait. He played well against bad teams and very average against good ones. It's early but I like the kid from South Carolina LaNorris Sellers.

Since Baker, I've gone from cautiously optimistic, to shaking-my-head, to this is embarrassing and finally I've considered witness protection. I can't even align myself with this team while Stefanski and Berry, The Stats-ling brothers and Jethro Bodean...er Haslam are running this team like a Benny Hill episode.

Glad I don't have tickets to the stadium or NFL Sunday Ticket, otherwise, I'd feel obligated to watch this giant poop to show up every week.

I'd say, I'm a bit discouraged.

I think we have some gems from this draft class.

Mason Graham (making an impact)
Carson Schwesinger (making an impact)
Quinshon Judkins (making an impact)
Harold Fannin Jr. (making an impact)


Dylan Sampson (in between) has had some nice plays and could make an impact after he learns how to block.

Trading for Watson really hurt us...

Imagine having baker and those draft picks that we squandered. This team would be much different

Not "doing nothing"... doing as much as you can in any given offseason. We currently have 11 draft picks in 2026, including (2) first rounders. Use those picks to replace people like Jack Conklin and Cedric Tillman, instead of trading Myles Garrett for a 2026 and 2027 first round pick, in which you need to use one of them on a replacement for Myles Garrett. Do you know the odds of getting another player like Myles Garrett in the first round? It's pretty damn low.

This past offseason, they filled interior defense, LB, TE, RB... ALL seem to be working out pretty well so far. We didn't trade existing pieces for draft picks for them to fill, we just filled existing holes. Trading a player, especially the caliber of Garrett and to a lower extent Njoku, creates holes. Draft picks don't fill holes, a prayer that the draft pick will be as good as a replacement only goes so far. MOST draft picks fail. There is something like 255 draft picks per year and almost all of them fail on some level. Some don't make a roster, others never live up to expectations and either fall out of the league in 2-4 years or stay in the league, but never live up to a first round draft grade. Any way you look at it, Myles Garrett type talent is rare.. that is the reason they don't let 50 players into the HOF per year... Myles is going to get one of those coveted spots and he is at the peak of his career.

Njoku isn't as extreme unless you look at the situation. For him, you are talking about a 4th, possibly 3rd, but more likely 4th round draft pick. These mid to late round picks almost always fail to be with their original team through their rookie contract. Very low success rate.

So, while Njoku is in the last year of his deal, another 6-15 games with him is still more likely worth more than a 4th round rookie. The odds are higher for success in those games, than a replacement for the next 4 years. Plus, financially it would make more sense to sign him to a new contract rather than let him go into free agency and pay his void years.

"Doing nothing" is sometimes worth a lot more than just doing something to say you did...

I'm kind of wondering if Joe hurt himself early in the game. He had been moving pretty well (considering) during camp and OTAs. There was a play where he started to step up to avoid pressure and it looked like something gave or caught midstep. He looked increasingly statuesque and some of his throws were pretty off the rest of the game. Hopefully he can make it to the bye.

Imagine if we they had drafted Josh Allen. They drafted Baker #1 overall with Josh Allen on the board. I mean if we're going to imagine we may as well go big, right?

I don't think we are confident enough in the rest of our Oline to trade someone like Garrett. Similarly, the Stefanski offense benefits from having more than one starter-caliber TE.

The only reason you trade a guy like Garrett purely for picks is to stock up draft ammo to get a major piece (ie. QB) or if the contract is coming up, you're up against a deadline and know for a fact the guy isn't re-signing with you.


As for the "doing nothing" part... it's week 2 of a season where we had Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and two later-round draft picks in an open competition for the starter job.

First off, the Berry/Stefanski team started two years after Joe Thomas retired.
- I agree it is sad that Thomas never was able to experience success as a team.

Second, Myles has already experienced two playoff appearances and 3 playoff games in 7 years... more than any other player since the Browns returned in 1999. I know that isn't NEARLY enough, but this team was handcuffed with the Watson situation that set the franchise back 5 years. He got paid to understand that situation very well.


Of the Stefanski/Berry era, they had Baker Mayfield for 2 years and have had DeSean Watson for the other 3.... With Baker, they made the playoffs and won a game.. Post Baker they made the playoffs despite Watson, but lost.

The pieces need to be put back in order to crawl up from the situation. This is the first year they have had pieces to start that climb. It won't happen overnight. Despite all the issues and lack of playoffs, they Browns are 15-15 against the division since they arrived. I know you don't win Super Bowls just by beating your division, but it has been one of the toughest divisions during that time period and they have been very competitive. They have the one 3 win scar, which is recent, I know. Otherwise, they have been right there to the end competing for the playoffs.

You are acting like this duo has been in place since Haslem got here.. It's only been 5 seasons.