DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Deshaun Watson today

Yes. We have an identity. It's called KISS (keep it simple, stupid). We're going to keep you off balance with play calling and were going to take advantage of Watson's strengths instead of trying to fit him into some rigid system that relies too heavily on progressions and complicated route trees.

Stefanski's "drop-back, read the field from left-to-right, timing is everything" b.s. was never going to work with Watson. He dropped back and stood there in analysis paralysis. Now things are built on spacing. WRs are given a framework, not a strict route tree.

It seems to me, the new approach with Watson is almost a narrow, quick-hit, see it and execute type of scheme with nothing that makes him stand back there and think.

And since we're letting Watson be himself, "act two" of each play is building a week-by-week rapport with WRs... they know what to do when they see Watson break script and move in the pocket. THAT is priceless. THAT is what made Big Ben and that offense deadly for so long. THAT is (surprise, surprise) what made the Ravens' offense terrifying at times.



Monken took things down to the studs when he arrived. I know it's easy to ignore the evidence because of terrible consistency... or your valid fact that sometimes it seems like it "stinks" for three quarters; but this is the most "identity" we've had since Baker looked like fQB in 2020.

And we're expanding on it weekly.

The luxury of healthy RBs paid great dividends this week. This opens so much of the playbook that has been closed to injury and inconsistent OL play.

Something else I noticed: The first time I clapped and said "good job"; by the third or fourth I said, "hmmm, is this by design?" I won't reframe every long pass, but most were well over the WRs head. One that wasn't was actually a perfect throw that should have been a TD.

Seems like it's been beat into Watson's head to not look for "hero" plays on deep balls. There is a simple two box flowchart. 1) if something is there, take it. 2) if not, throw that ball away. The act of keeping the defense honest is actually more important than finding that diamond in the rough.



This whole thing could all go up in flames. We're used to it. We expect it.

You know what else could happen? This could continue on the same trajectory as Watson gets more comfortable (yesterday's game was the absolute best we've seen in that regard) and as the young pups (second youngest offense in football) get more and more acclimated. When the "21s" and "22s" cross the line from wondering if they belong to imposing their will and athleticism with an expectation that they can win every snap?

I believe if the Browns can continue to have a productive running game like they had yesterday we will see more of the same. If the runnimng game collapses like it was before we will no longer see what we saw yesterday. I believe the two are connected at the hip.

Seriously, you think the fact they are winning is attributed to him WANTING TO BE IN CLEVELAND? He flat out said before the signing, he doesn't want to be in Cleveland...then a guaranteed contract changes the mind of the greedy. Then for FOUR seasons, injuries aside, when he was healthy, he looked like a guy that was going to collect his paycheck whether he tried on the field or not. It was talked about before the season, the Browns have a chance if Watson decides he wants to play for his next contract...Well, it happened and now you want to say it's because of his new found love for Cleveland?? We are not that far removed from him saying some pretty negative things about the fanbase.

Look, for 2026, it's a match made in heaven. The Browns fans just want to see the team win.. so they tolerate Watson. Watson wants to build a resume that gets him extra zeros and extra years on the next deal. IF he can continue this season the way it's going, he will be the hottest free agent on the market. He will be able to choose a city like Miami to play out what might be his last contract. His dream is coming true at the moment... they keep winning games, which keeps the boo birds at bay.

At what point do YOU think he started enjoying Cleveland? I am very curious.



Absolutely.. That is why I said the only way he is here next season is with a new contract which would kill the poison pill. There are no other paths, except a contract extension.

I wouldn't count on the talks being more than finding out how desperate and stupid the Browns front office can really be after the worst trade in the history of the NFL. Watson does need another option if the rest of the league isn't going to fall for the same BS Haslem and Co did.

I have never seen Watson "Love the game". His entire career is based on money and selfish self-centered issues. Any year there wasn't something to play for money wise.. he hasn't played well, because he frankly doesn't care. This is the penultimate year for play for pay and he is doing us a solid by earning some of that money. The end game is a contract... not a Browns extension.




Right now, I just want to ride the wave!! I am content with Watson helping the team win games in 2026. I am also content with who he is in the fact he will be chasing the contract elsewhere after this ride ends. I am also content with the roster that Berry has put in front of us and believe that Sanders could keep the team in winning order in 2027, but also believe in order to become a Super Bowl contender instead of a playoff contender, they will need to upgrade the QB position in the draft, which may take as much luck as skill to do so.

For now... GO Browns!! Let's get that signature division win on the road and open a new era of Browns football!

New olines take time to gel. If they keep getting better we should be fine.

New olines take time to gel. If they keep getting better we should be fine.

You can say that again.

Or it's an abberation. Titans have a pretty poor run defense.


I hate being a wet blanket, but I just can't shake this feeling that the other shoe is going to drop soon.

New olines take time to gel. If they keep getting better we should be fine.

I don't think you're being a wet blanket at all. It's easy for people to get excited over a single game. Before going into the game the Titans ranked 27th in rushing defense. So that could mean one of three things.

1. The Browns greatly improved in the running game.

2. The Browns were able to move the ball on the ground against a bad run defense.

3. A combination of both.

I'm hoping it's at the very least a combination of both but considering the Titans terrible run defense the question still remains.

The Browns are not a great team. They are a mediocre team that is just playing hard for 4 quarters and winning because they don't give up like they used to. Monken has given them the mindset of do your best the whole game and lets have some fun being real men. I just love it. I can honestly handle a loss here and there if they are fighting the entire game.

I just see that Watson is emotionally coming alive and that the joy of playing the game has infused him again. He is no longer just going through the motions like a happy prisoner. The more they win the more it builds his mental toughness up. It's very similar to when Derek Anderson had a great season because he wasn't expected to be great and didn't give a fug. The real question is whether Watson can still win when the pressure to win cranks up. Will he implode and freeze up with the pressure to win or will he rise to the occasion and play quick and decisive like he did today because if he plays like today in the playoffs then we are going to make some noise in the playoffs.

The Titans are one and six ,,, The stealers are 5 and 2 , big difference in talent .. Now if you can run on Pit you just might be legit ... I just am not sold on the OL at this point

I'm looking ahead at the draft .. This team might be good enough to take themselves out of a chance for a good QB .. After QB , as we stand right now; I want a Right Tackle and DE or DE then Right tackle .. Then a guard and a defensive tackle . Need to address pass rush AND stooping the run... Things might look different by the end of the season.

Amen, brother. Feels good, doesn't it?

We've been somehow juggling that other shoe to keep it from dropping for weeks, now.
I mean, perhaps it dropped against the Jets, because that is a team we should not have lost to, but by the same token we still look like a team that SHOULD lose every game, yet somehow we keep winning them.


IF - and it is a BIG IF - the OLine has started to get it together and we can figure out how to run on the Steelers, then we might be turning a corner. If not, I think we will need the defense to feed us the 'W' with turnovers.