DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Gameday vs Detroit Can CLE Win?

Monday night, I banged out a shorty on the "Postgame Thoughts" that somehow didn't make it onto the board. In it, I said,

"Good news: it's always good to see the Ravens get beat.
Bad news: CLE must now play the team that just beat BAL."


What would/will it take for CLE to notch a 2-game win streak?

Yes they can win.

The defense gives them the chance to win

The Browns need an offense that can score points

An O-line that can block

Receivers that can get open

A QB that can keep drives alive

Without getting in to a long story, we will have to play good D and score more than 13 points. We all know the things that need to happen, this was my Cliffs Notes version.

With this defense playing the way it is, anything is possible.

As Judkins comes along, hopefully the overall run game will gel and be the glue that pulls this offense together.

Flacco facing the defense that sacked Lamar 7 times is a scary thought.

The Detroit offense didn't just beat the Ravens, they frustrated their offense and ran through their defense.

I hope you guys beat Detroit for us.

I am sure we will give it a go, but for whatever reason, our lifetime record against Det. Is poor. Even when we have been way better we have found ways to lose.

Yes

Many NFL pundits are saying the Browns have the best defense in the NFL. For those who say the Browns can't beat the Lions, that's what they said about the Packers game. GO BROWNS!

You guys have the defense to shut them down. I think your offense though against that Lions D line will be tough.

With what the Guardians are doing to the Tigers. If the Browns beat the Lions, Cleveland would own Detroit.

Right now you have bragging rights over us too.

It certainly "can" happen but just like last week the likelihood is slim.

The D will have to perform stellar. The run game will have to continue its progress.

When it comes to all of the talk about "Our WR's can't get open downfield" I'm not so sure I buy that. Thus far the OL hasn't been able to protect Flacco well enough to call plays that take a lot of time to run. I mean you have to protect your QB long enough for WR's to run their routes downfield and gain separation. I haven't seen where the Browns can count on that happening.

So in my estimation, as much as most fans hate to hear it would be count on the running game and short passing game to control the clock and the flow of the games. That keeps the ball out of Detroit's hands and may help them from gaining a rhythm and momentum.

Is it a long shot? Sure but it may be the Browns best and only shot.

Our lifetime record against Detroit IS awful 6-19. Also against the Ravens, Vikings, Chargers and Seahawks. At least we beat the Packers finally.

I agree. If the Browns can get to 2-3 after that beginning 5 games stretch it would be huge. While this team has the defense to beat some of the best teams in the NFL it has the offense to lose to some of the worst. I do think Judkins if he can stay healthy and out of any more trouble will get better and better each week and when teams start worrying about the Browns run game the passing game should open up more. I think the decision to trade Pickett will come back to haunt the Browns because if Flacco don't improve or gets injured I don't see either rook being able to lead this team to winning big games.

They have weapons all over the field on O and Goff is very smart. We need to be all over his grill, and luckily we have the DL to do it.

On O, we will need the run game to show further signs of life, just to get them thinking about it. It’d be nice if we could start pushing the ball downfield, get some chunk yards, but we haven’t done much of that.


Oh, but there’s more…. this might be a tougher test than GB, so we also need a break or three, a couple turnovers, good STs, to even have a shot.

Just like last week.

That is why you play the games.

I expect a breakout by the O. We might not be good on O but we can't be as bad as we seem. Well, that's what I keep telling myself.

I agree.

I will say that winning the takeovers is somewhat luck. The best you can plan on is to have a net neutral situation. Just don't have any turnovers. If the other team turns it over, wonderful.

He's backing up Geno Smith in LV. I would've liked to see more of him when he was here, but I'm not going to lose sleep over it.

No need to now. If this team somehow stays in contention and Joe gets hurt and the Rooks cannot win games the decision will come back to haunt the Browns and this FO.

The Packers beat the Lions pretty easily and we beat the Packers but I think this game will be much tougher. They’re at home and their O is really good with many weapons. Definitely a big challenge for us. Hope i’m wrong but I don’t see a win here.

I think our offense all comes down to our run game (shocking, I know). Detroit frustrated Henry and was able to rush Lamar.

If we can get Judkins going then they won't look anything like they did vs the Ravens.

Hope you’re right. Our O-line isn’t exactly a strength.

Of course it's always possible, but I fear you are asking for too much. I just don't see it happening especially in Detroit...

Agreed especially against a team we've historically had problems with even when they weren't as talented as they are now.

IMHO: It all rests on Schwartz/D.

CLE must find a way to smother Goff and their running attack- no small task.

Until CLE's O finds a way to take hold, our best chance is to win low-scoring games with D... and hoping for enough D-based turnovers/ST play to keep the game close... then let the chips fall as they may. At this point, I'm afraid that's the best we CLE fans can hope for.

I wish that CLE had shown us a better 3-stage attack in our 1st 3 games, but we am what we is. Dance with the one that you got, until you have the luxury of dancing with others.


I wish I had more confidence for this game.

Hey Brown fans will you be cheering for us when we play Pittsburgh?

I hope we can.

The Browns have the talent to win against anyone.
We have a top 3 defense that will keep you in games.

- Offensively, the offense has to keep improving

The OL needs to:
1. Gel, give Flacco time to throw, and be better with communication issues and assignments. These are correctable throughout a season

- Flacco needs to
1. Make the correct reads, there were 3-4 missed last game
2. Trust his OL/slow his internal clock down (not 100% his fault)

RBs

1. Keep learning/growing
2. The three rookies (including Sanders) get better in pass protection

WR/TE
1. Better route running
2. Outside of Jeudy/Njoku keep learning - to find the open spots on the field, know your routes

Passing plays
Add more bunch sets with mesh/crossing routes. We have athletic and fast receivers, use their speed to their advantage. We are over-saturating with dig and curl routes.

Which IMO is why they haven't been pushing the ball downfield. It's hard to call plays that take time to develop when the OL isn't giving you the time to execute those plays. Loosening up their D by throwing short passes may help give you that time but you have to succeed at that first before you try to call plays that take more time to develop.

Of course we are! I'm an NFL fan in general. While the Browns are certainly my favorite team the Packers are another team I really like. I generally always root for the Packers unless they are playing the Browns. And considering you're playing one of our division rivals I'm certainly rooting for you this week.

Yep, like I said. It’s been a mixture of the OL getting beat, Flacco missing the read or the OL actually giving him time, however Flacco preemptively throws early due not to trusting them to hold the blocks from previous plays.

Often times experienced QB's throw passes before the WR even breaks to the ball. There is a spot the WR is supposed to be and a time in which he is supposed to be there. It's called throwing with anticipation. Most consider that as being an asset.

lol, not what I meant. I’m aware of throwing with anticipation.

To clarify, he’s not going through his full progressions.

Example: 1st Q, they run a pass play to their right. The outside receiver runs a medium out, slot runs a 5-7 yard stop route, Judkins from the backfield goes to the flat.
The LB has a choice of covering the stop or flow to the RB. LB stops, Flacco dumps the ball to the RB.

Browns run the same formation/play the 3rd quarter. This time, the outside receiver runs a dig and gets behind the LB in zone. Flacco, whose internal clock is sped up and doesn’t go through the full read and assumes the LB will move to the Rb. The issue, Flacco throws to the stop route. The LB baits Flacco and almost picks the ball.
The main issue; he had time, if he let the route develop. A second later the dig was breaking behind the LB for a major gain. The middle of the field was wide open.

When do you seen any NFL QB's go through "his full progressions? I can tell you when. When they are either very mobile or have an OL that can protect him long enough to go through all of those progressions. Neither of those variables is true in this case. As a whole this OL has not done that and Flacco is a statue. I think the idea is to get the ball out quick and after looking at the time this OL has given Flacco protection that sounds like the best plan. If Flacco had taken the time to go through his full progressions this season he would currently be in traction.

Sigh.
Take out the damn word “Full”. My bad for adding one word. This conversation shouldn’t be that hard. I’m literally giving examples of real plays that happened to paint the picture. That play isn’t reading a whole field. It’s see the safety’s position, hike, read the LB, and throw.