DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Gameday vs Tampa Bay Post Game Thoughts

- Baker played like crap.
- Watson did not play like crap.
- Our defense vastly improved from last week.
- The weather delay was inconvenient.

Can we please stop with the "what ifs" about Baker? He is not a Super-Bowl franchise QB and the organization was right to let him go. I'm not saying Watson is any sort of an answer but the Browns were right in their determination that Mayfield wasn't worth a massive deal.....Tampa might be coming to that realization now that they're 0-2.

Baker is a little above average QB no more. If we kept him we would have won a few more games and been more competitive but we still wouldn’t have been in a Super Bowl.

Surprised PI wasn't called on Blackmon. Lucky TD was dropped. He almost cost us the game. Was he targeted on the last pass as well?

- Nice win.

- The way J-Dubs bear hugged Watson at the end of the game, Watson may get a contract extension!

- Baker was atrocious today.

- Big play from Boston.

Watson outplayed Baker straight up today. He earned the next couple home starts. That was more like the Watson I thought the Browns were getting back in 2022. We've only seen this twice in 2023 at Baltimore and today. Watson has not worked out so far and probably will still be considered one of the worst trades of all time, but the FO's assessment of Baker was spot on in 2022.

The rookie receivers are the real deal. With Fannon I think the Browns are set up nicely in the passing game for the future. Boston looks like a true #1. KC is going to break out a splash play soon.

The Oline is improved vs last year. It will be interesting to see how Fano grades out this week. He seemed to hold up really well today.

Need to get the run game and Judkins going. If Watson and the defense can play close to this level the remainder of the season this could be really fun if the run game improves.

Last week the most disappointing aspect of that game was the defensive performance. I expect the Browns defense to keep them in games like they did today. Without Garrett I do not see this defense dominating like last year, but they should be good enough to hold teams around 20 points a game and give the offense a chance to win.

Great to see last year's #1 Mason Graham with a sack in the first 2 games. Need more pressure from the Defensive Ends. I hope to see Jared Verse have a breakout game soon.

The special teams have looked improved vs last year so far.

it seems like Baker is missing high on a lot of his passes (especially after he had tweaked his shoulder) ... same story as what happened to him here after he was injured. His inaccuracy was a big reason why we won. But, give credit to our players too

I can admit when I'm wrong. I was wrong about this game. I thought the Browns would get embarrassed. Not only did that not happen, they actually won!
DW had a good game. Denzel Boston looks like a great draft pick. Don't know how many more games the Browns will win but at least they're not going 0-17!

Boston may turn into our new best player. Currently I think our best player is ward.

Baker missed some wide open receivers for big gains. What happened today is what I was afraid of. We're going to get 6 or so wins and miss out on a franchise qb in the draft.

We got lucky . Cant run the ball and cant stop the run. Baker overthrew what should have been the game winning TD

Progress, which is what I wrote and said I expected. Room for more - but definitely progress.

Baker played badly - that helped for sure, but the defense played better. Would have been nice to see the Jags crush Denver and say the week 1 debacle was against a top team but their loss to Denver puts the kibosh on that theory. Certainly the DL got penetration and pushed their OL back pretty consistently which was good, overage was better even with the over throws helping.

DW had one of his better games - if not his best game perhaps - as a Brown. I am surprised no-one has mentioned the weather. I do expect a regression (because that's exactly what we've seen over his time here) but I especially expect to see a regression in colder and wetter conditions which is something that had been raised at the time of the trade.

Honestly - if this is even remotely the sort of performance the Browns see in practice - then I think we understand the decision to start him and we can dispense with the conspiracy theories of Haslam forcing the issue. The question becomes if/when DW starts to play badly, especially with a potentially hostile crowd at home, how quickly does Monken make a change?

Boston and Concepcion both looked good. Boston looks like a bit of a steal - I hope that trajectory continues.

Monken seems to suffer the same play calling issue that Stefanski fell into - we can't run the more gimmicky misdirection type plays unless the other team respects your ability to simply execute some of the more basic plays. Thankfully after seeing plays get blown up or tackles for no gain or losses when trying too many of these plays in the 1st Q and into the 2nd Q - we limited them significantly after that.

Shout out to special teams - kick-off coverage, kick returns and kicking ... something we have simply been very bad at for years and years ... appears to be fixed and more than competent. I remember the game where Szmyt missed (maybe 3) FG's in his debut or 2nd game and there was mass outcry calling for his immediate release, I'd say we made the right call keeping him.

I just saw this from Monken:

“The Browns are gonna Browns,” Monken said, referencing a nationally televised jab former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin took at the Browns last week. “F— that, OK? The guys took that to heart.”

Obviously I hope Monken isn't Freddie Kitchens 2.0 .... but even if that's what he ends up being, this comment is why I will take him over Stefanski.

It's only one game - and Baker helped us out a lot - but we saw a lot of progress in many areas of the team/game this week. There's a little reason to hope this is different, notwithstanding I doubt anyone believes we have the 2027 QB on the team yet and we also expect DW to continue to be inconsistent.

I'm nervous about our inability to run the ball too. We have no ability to show explosiveness in that regard (I think we miss Sampson too because the other backs aren't the same dynamic)

People are saying Baker missed throws and I'm sure he did but how many times have our QB's missed throws and cost us games. Baker did that here too. All in all, a game well played by us and very unexpected. Hope we can build on it week to week. Very different from last week. Maybe all our new players and coaches just had first game jitters last week lol.

And there you have it.

Amen. I was yelling that at the TV (for five years). The playbook opens up when you demonstrate the ability to execute the basics. Not vice-versa.

Great post altogether. I can just co-sign yours because you said everything I wanted to. 🫵

I think Jeudy is checked out here and is collecting checks at this point. I don't think a team would trade for him though unfortunately

(We're going to get 6 or so wins and miss out on a franchise qb in the draft.)

Obviously someone appears to be looking at only one or two (1 or 2) particular QB's while so far this year there are a few upcoming QB's that IMO should be watched. The NCAAF season has just gotten under way

Even if we win 6 games, we have the draft capitol to move up. Secondly, as was already stated, the NCAAF season is young and there could be as many as 6 QB's or more that will be able to play in the NFL. We won't know until January most likely.

Baker Mayfield is able to play in the NFL and at least at an average level. Is that really what you think they should be shooting for? And a lot of QB's that are "able to play in the NFL" are backups.

Can you tell me any draft in NFL history when there were 6 quality staring QB's in one draft class? Not just six starters most of which some were marginal but six long term answers at the starting QB position be the teams that drafted them?

He's saying the field will be large. The field has an obvious impact on how much draft capital you need to get "your guy". That was the whole premise of his statement.

He's not saying they'll all be successful, or great picks; you made that up.

Exactly Fate thank you. If we win 6 games most likely we will be picking no lower than 10th. Let's say there are 3 really good QB's available that will be considered FQB's. We should have the draft capitol to get one of them. With 5 wins last year we picked 6th I believe. We will have to use our 2#1's and possibly a #1 in "28 to move up and get our guy depending on the situation. Maybe if we only have to move up 3 slots a #2 in "28 will be enough. All speculation at this point.

He said that "there could be as many as 6 QB's or more that will be able to play in the NFL."

My reply;


That would set a historically new precedent.

You do comprehend the difference in questions and statements don't you?


Yes, I used what he posted to made up relevant questions to address his statements.

My point after reading that is, are all we're looking for just someone who is good enough to play in the NFL or much more? There in all likelihood won't be any more than three franchise QB's out of this draft class if that. We aren't the only team in need of a QB or the only team with the resources to move up in the draft.

I hope you keep doing this all day. It will be fun. Bull took his ball and went home.

Did you have anything to actually add to the discussion that concerns the topic and not me?

It is all speculation. If a team at the top of the draft is in serious need of a QB they won't be trading that pick. The Jets have three first round picks going into the draft.

The further down in the draft you are the bigger the crap shoot. Maybe the third or fourth QB drafted will be enough. It's happened before.

Thanks.

So on the 2027 draft... Or any draft, having the top pick doesn't guarantee the right pick is made. Ty Shough looks pretty good, he was #40. Post performance is not a guarantee of future performance... At college/NFL or regards to Berry's hits and misses with players. If rather see a competitive team and some winning, than tanking. We have the draft capital, the QB class looks good.... The culture of Losing is a bigger cancer and risk to our success in 2027 (and beyond) than not having a top 5 pick (without trades).

Yes, that's definitely a big problem so far. Regardless, it was great to win. P.S. I missed the last two minutes of the game because of the delay. Had to go to work.

I'm hopeful that allowing the line a little more time to gel should help, but I also think that our work probably won't be complete in terms of significant Oline investments. We replaced all 5 starters, and if they all turn in competent performances that should be considered a win but by no means should signal an end to aggressively upgrading talent.

What? No

I am still waiting to see the full all-22 on both sides of the ball. I landed in Tampa yesterday for some military training, so I saw the game at the local bdubs…and the browns backers were there!

Anyways, there were two basic issues last week regarding the defense.
1. Communication
2. The Dline was very spread out, our DTs overall had a bad game. You can have such a wide spacing and get smashed into each other. Why that is an issue:it makes the line easy to block, the LBs have a very hard time because the DTs are are smashed together and the O-line can get to the second level (Our backers) easier. When your backers are fighting off guards and tackles, it makes the game harder. Hence, Jax had fun running the ball.

Like I said, I only saw game time action at this time…but at least for a few reps, I saw our DTs keeping their spacing.

From last weeks game there were so many options available passing. I am was really encouraged by this. I wanted to say last week that we really need to get our TEs involved. Fannin is awesome. The TEs are easy money please use them. It will open up our offense. I want to add more to this, but I’ll wait till I visually see it.

Watson had a plus game. If he stands in the pocket and uses his reads he will succeed. When he pre-determined his reads or pre-determines run first his success percentage will go down significantly

I agree on Sampson. Honestly, I think Sampson is a better back than Judkins. Or, lets say as good. Just a different type of back. I'd look to even up their carries which would make both better.

Who was better, Mack or Byner? I don't know, I was equally confident when either one got the ball.

Does anyone know how long Sampson is out for?

I was a fan of both men. Two things: 1) Whoever got the rock would run hard; 2) you knew the other back would would block and help out. I really saw it with Csonka and Kiick along with Mercury Morris. They define offense.

I think Sampson's "dynamic" enhances Judkin's game more than the reverse. Really, the same thing Byner meant for Mack, imo.

Sampson is sorely missed and we won't see him until October 18.

I hadn't heard when Sampson's return was expected and was curious about that. Thanks for the info.