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Through the first 5 weeks what would teams say about our offense? They cant throw, their WRs suck and their RB is their best player. Wouldnt you struggle to run the ball too if that was how the defenses played you?




If I was a defensive coordinator tasked with stopping the Browns, I would say.... Play them straight up, no need to do anything fancy. Rush the passer hard and play the safeties fairly deep and give them the underneath stuff. They can run the ball with Richardson but not enough to beat us consistently, they have big play capability some times so don't let it go over your head... force them to go 80 yards in 10 plays on the ground and underneath passing and between errant throws, dropped passes, penalties and turnovers, most of their drives will stall on their own if we let them... and I know they can't stop our offense so we will score some points.


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I agree now...that has become the new MO against our offense. Entering the year, thats what people would say.

We've shown that we can beat teams long (or are at least willing to try) so thats pulled the safeties back. We're one part in, but if you look at the LBs that we play against, they crash the LOS pretty hard every play that isnt an obvious passing down (or pass in our playbook).


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http://espncleveland.com/common/more.php?m=49&action=blog&r=17&post_id=6201

Pat Shurmur is losing games and daily battles with the media
Oct 09, 2012 -- 6:00am

By Tony Grossi

Manage the job: This can’t go on. Or Pat Shurmur won’t make it through the year. He will implode.

The losing? Well, of course, that can’t continue. Jimmy Haslam can’t possibly profess to “bring a winning team back to Cleveland” and then stand pat as his football team rewrites the franchise record for consecutive losses.

Come next Tuesday, when Haslam is approved by the NFL as owner of the Browns, the clock officially starts ticking for all of Mike Holmgren’s men. The curtain is falling on the Big Show and it’s every man for himself.

Besides the losses, Shurmur has to stop the battles with the media, which have become a daily occurrence. Like the games themselves, he can’t win those, either.

In the last week alone, Shurmur has confronted a former Browns coach for critical comments he made on a local radio show; tossed a few F-bombs after a reporter pressed him to go on the record about Trent Richardson’s excused absence at a Browns practice; and then over-reacted to legitimate and fair questions about a game-changing play-call in the 41-24 loss to the Giants.

This follows weeks of condescending answers and comments to questions posed at his daily press conferences by media members who are trying to explain to long-suffering Browns fans – Haslam’s future customers -- why the team continues to lose, while other floundering teams such as the St. Louis Rams and Minnesota Vikings appear to be turning it around.

Where's Holmgren?: The NFL head coach has enormous responsibilities – probably more so than any of his brethren in the other pro sports. He has to manage up to 61 players and 20 assistant coaches, answer to a general manager, a president and an owner and, on top of that, serve as the face and voice of the franchise in daily meetings with the media, through thick and thin.

Like most head coaches who have gotten their first big break in Cleveland, Shurmur is stumbling through this small but important part of his job.

In my 28 years of covering the Browns and the NFL, the two coaches I’ve come across who are best at dealing with media are Bill Parcells and Holmgren.

Parcells could be a bully, but he was most effective in using humor and sarcasm to disarm strong-armed media interrogation. I never covered Parcells on a daily basis, but the many times I was exposed to him on a national level left me in awe of the way he could joust with the media and leave them laughing. If a Parcells’ press conference were offered on pay-per-view, I would buy.

Holmgren had this ability, too, in his coaching days. His press briefings were not as entertaining as Parcells’, but they were generally informative and satisfying. Holmgren was a gifted communicator, stemming from his beginnings as a school teacher. Which makes it all the more baffling to me why he hasn’t schooled Shurmur on the art of dealing with the media.

Holmgren plucked Shurmur from his agent partner Bob LaMonte’s stable of clients as the first and last coach he hired as Browns surrogate owner. I know Holmgren didn’t want to put in the long hours to coach the Browns. The least he could do was give Shurmur a remedial course on how best to represent his team and himself in front of the media. He has failed badly in tutoring Shurmur on that count.

Stop it now: I hate the conclusion of these Browns coaching regimes. They usually end the same. Crazy things happen on the field, the losses mount, and the coaches react defensively and irrationally.

One of Sam Rutigliano’s favorite lines on his speaking circuit is “Quarterbacks are like teabags. You don’t know what you’ve got till they’re in hot water.” The same can be said about head coaches.

When the heat was applied to Rutigliano, he doubted he would be fired “because I’m good for Cleveland.” Besides, “eight hundred million Chinese don’t give a damn.”

Marty Schottenheimer’s epitaph was “Play-calling is over-rated.”

Bill Belichick’s mantra was “I can only go by what I see,” but he never saw Art Modell leaving him behind when the owner fled to Baltimore.

Chris Palmer, in his final days, said, “Sometimes I feel like I’m sitting in the front seat of a runaway train.”

Butch Davis had a panic attack during his last game.

Romeo Crennel tried to save his job by proclaiming injured quarterback Brady Quinn as his starter next year, which never came.

To his credit, Eric Mangini never let the media see him sweat. He was unfailingly respectful right to the very end.

What will be Shurmur’s epitaph? He uses the line “I get it” a lot. His problem is he really doesn’t.

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Who cares what the media thinks about Shurmurs responses.. They try to find a hook and then dig and dig into an already bad sore. Then they complain he's not a "nice guy" As far as Parcells goes.... He may have told jokes but he was arrogent as heck at the same time.

Go ask Belichek about why he did something in a game and see what kind of response u get. Reporter : Hey coach... are u concerned about what people are saying about your decision to go for it on 4th down on your own side of the field ??? Uh ? Uh ? How bout it ?
Coach : I made a call and it didn't work. The only thing on my mind now is getting ready for next weeks game. Next question .

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Talking to the media is NOT an important part of a coach's job - it's an unfortunate and necessary evil. Kinda like the side-effect of eating is that you, unfortuantely, will have to take a dump.


Browns is the Browns

... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.

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Of all the skills I could list for an NFL HC, the last- the VERY last one I care about is how well they interact with the media.

Why?

Because it only really matters when your team is losing.

You can be a sarcastic bully like Parcells and get away with it as long as the wins pile up. The media will lob you softballs all day long, take any abuse you heap on them, and laugh at your zingers, because they are like a pack of wolves- they won't attack until they perceive weakness... then, they're all over you. Losing is tantamount to weakness, in their eyes.


I can only speak for myself (and maybe Daman...), but I couldn't care less what Grossi, Caboth Doerschuk and the others think of ANY of our HC's... because they can't and don't influence my opinions.

As for the list:

Prepare the team well.
Delegate authority, then hold folks accountable.
CALL A GOOD GAME
Support your players, but hold them to high standards
Take advice, but make strong decisions

I could go on, but I'm sure you see where this list is truly pointed-

.02


"too many notes, not enough music-"

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Talking to the media is NOT an important part of a coach's job - it's an unfortunate and necessary evil. Kinda like the side-effect of eating is that you, unfortuantely, will have to take a dump.



Talking to the media (and by default your fans) is a more important and no doubt more frustrating part of your job when you are losing.

Win a couple games and watch how it is magically easier to talk to the media.


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I think the point was that Pat should focus more on trying to win ball games than he should on making angry emails and phone calls, or pulling reporters aside off the record and insulting or cursing at them. Guy's got a really thin skin, no question.

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It's not something I feel should be overused at any time. However, there are "perfect oppertunities" to use it



Like 3rd and 1 on their 25? I have zero problem with throwing the ball in that situation, what I have a big problem with is emptying the backfield and having 3 guys run 2 yard routes and rolling out my immobile QB who hasn't been under pressure anyway.

You line up in a normal 1-back, 3 WR set... then run the PA and you can hit a big play there or hit a dump off for the first down. I guess that one just sticks with me and I would need somebody to explain what, if anything, we were thinking there.




I have ro agree with you DC.

All we needed was a short pass over the middle and PA would have been the perfect sell on that type of play.

I've seen times it makes no sense to use it, and we use it.

I've seen perfect oppertunities to use it, and we refuse to use it.

Color me confused.



I did like the fact that we seemed to run the ball better but that would only make PA work better in cases where we really could have used it.


Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.

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Who cares what the media thinks about Shurmurs responses.. They try to find a hook and then dig and dig into an already bad sore. Then they complain he's not a "nice guy"




According to Haslam, marketing means a lot. Part of being the HC in the NFL is dealing with the press and as such, the press relaying what that message is to the fan base.

I'm not saying you have to kiss their backside by any means, but if you can't remain calm and send a strong message, it may cause you problems.

The truth is, dealing with the media is a part of the job, like it or not.


Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.

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I'm not saying you have to kiss their backside by any means, but if you can't remain calm and send a strong message, it may cause you problems.

The truth is, dealing with the media is a part of the job, like it or not.



Exactly. He's a public figure, he's one of the faces of the franchise and we, as fans, rely on his interaction with the media to get information.

Plus, every coach is going to have rough times, some more than others... the way the media treats you through those rough times will depend a lot on how you treat them... so if he wants the media to focus more on the positive, he might want to show some respect for the media. It's their job to ask tough questions, its their job to ask the obvious questions, sometimes its their job to ask stupid questions... and no matter how upset or frustrated he is, he has to answer them.


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If it works, never do it again. If it doesn't work, do it repeatedly. Case in point: Deep balls to Gordon score TD's see it once, short passes to Marecic are continually dropped, do it over and over.

Haslam's first act (after firing Holmgren) should be to fire this fool. His coaching is truly offensive.


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Yep.

Play action to Richardson after Cribbs big return would have been the right play.

What a jackass.


LOL - The Rish will be upset with this news as well. KS just doesn't prioritize winning...
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If it works, never do it again. If it doesn't work, do it repeatedly. Case in point: Deep balls to Gordon score TD's see it once, short passes to Marecic are continually dropped, do it over and over.

Haslam's first act (after firing Holmgren) should be to fire this fool. His coaching is truly offensive.




I know, right?!!
WHY aren't we throwing 71-yard TD's on every play???


Browns is the Browns

... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.

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Quote:

Quote:

If it works, never do it again. If it doesn't work, do it repeatedly. Case in point: Deep balls to Gordon score TD's see it once, short passes to Marecic are continually dropped, do it over and over.

Haslam's first act (after firing Holmgren) should be to fire this fool. His coaching is truly offensive.




I know, right?!!
WHY aren't we throwing 71-yard TD's on every play???




We don't want to run up the score on people?


Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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If it works, never do it again. If it doesn't work, do it repeatedly. Case in point: Deep balls to Gordon score TD's see it once, short passes to Marecic are continually dropped, do it over and over.

Haslam's first act (after firing Holmgren) should be to fire this fool. His coaching is truly offensive.




I agree. We see the same issues week in and out with Shurmur's mistakes. Even if we are lucky enough to compile the same record as last year against a tougher schedule, the Browns would be better in the long haul without Shurmur.

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I really hate to break it to browns fans that want Shurmur fired but the AFC has sucked so bad, we are in the wild card hunt and our schedule has eased up.

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Wouldn't it be something if we went on a little bit of a run?


LOL - The Rish will be upset with this news as well. KS just doesn't prioritize winning...
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11-5 starts today, baby....


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In terms of our own players (we have some talent on this team), schedule, the decline of the Steelers, and the now very injured Ravens ...why not?

Stranger things have happened.

Hell, my excitement level is pretty high for next week.


LOL - The Rish will be upset with this news as well. KS just doesn't prioritize winning...
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This team is making strides every week and that is what I want to see. There is no quit in these Dawgs and it takes a hell of a coach to keep a team that has lost 11 straight fighting week in and week out. There is a process to building a sustainable franchise. You add talent to fit your system and establish your core, you struggle through growing pains, you begin to compete and then you begin to win. The final step is winning consistently while you continue to add to your roster.

Our problem is that we were very competitive without the talent level and instead of praising this coaching staff for having them ready to do battle each week, most want it blown up for not winning with a roster that was half rookies and 2nd year players. The real world doesn't work that way.

I hope this group is allowed the opportunity to finish what they have been working towards. I have enjoyed the Hell out of this season and sadly I still havent gotten to see them win, thanks to no power today.

Remember folks, there were a lot of fire Jimmy Johnson signs in Dallas during his first 2 years as well.

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This team is making strides every week and that is what I want to see. There is no quit in these Dawgs and it takes a hell of a coach to keep a team that has lost 11 straight fighting week in and week out. There is a process to building a sustainable franchise. You add talent to fit your system and establish your core, you struggle through growing pains, you begin to compete and then you begin to win. The final step is winning consistently while you continue to add to your roster.

Our problem is that we were very competitive without the talent level and instead of praising this coaching staff for having them ready to do battle each week, most want it blown up for not winning with a roster that was half rookies and 2nd year players. The real world doesn't work that way.

I hope this group is allowed the opportunity to finish what they have been working towards. I have enjoyed the Hell out of this season and sadly I still havent gotten to see them win, thanks to no power today.

Remember folks, there were a lot of fire Jimmy Johnson signs in Dallas during his first 2 years as well.




im down with what you are saying because much as you I have been actually enjoying this year even given the results so far. Im willing to give the HC a bit more rope but he's at the end of my length though and must start to take some back.
I really think the players felt they won the game themselves and the coach was secondary to the victory. This of course was just IMHO.
I dont think they really took to Shurmur tossing Weeden under the bus last week.


If you need 3 years to be a winner you got here 2 years to early. Get it done Browns.
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j/c

The biggest problem I have with Shumur right now is that he takes things to the extreme.

Passing down? 5 Wide. Running down? 2 TEs, FB, and Greg Little at WR.

We aren't good enough to run these plays straight up and win with no deceit. No team in the NFL is that good. It's not a coincidence that we moved the ball better when we had two Wrs and Cameron or 3 WRs on the field. Especially when Weeden shows he can beat a team down field.

That being said, hopefully it is something we see more of. The playcalling today was extremely hot and cold. The end of the third and most of the fourth were simply amazing as far as strategy goes. If Shumur makes strides here, I could see him staying because I do think the team is looking a lot better.

We'll see. I'm not as staunch a "Pat must go" guy as I was before, but he's still not doing enough in my eyes to prove he should be the HC moving forward.


you had a good run Hank.
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Good summary of the concerns with Shurmur. I would add some more, but I want to enjoy this win.

I would like him to give up the playcalling altogether. Just focus on being the head coach. We have an experienced playcaller on the staff. Let him do it.


LOL - The Rish will be upset with this news as well. KS just doesn't prioritize winning...
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Wouldn't it be something if we went on a little bit of a run?



It's possible. The Colts are as inconsistent as we are... anything could happen there. The Chargers have feasted on some bad teams, beating the Raiders, Titans and Chiefs and losing to the Saints and getting pounded by the Falcons... and the Ravens have struggled and lost a lot today...

could we go into the bye at 4-5? It's possible (it seems a lot more possible than it did a week ago) but one game at a time... we could beat any of these teams... we could also lose to any (or all) of them.


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Wouldn't it be something if we went on a little bit of a run?



It's possible. The Colts are as inconsistent as we are... anything could happen there. The Chargers have feasted on some bad teams, beating the Raiders, Titans and Chiefs and losing to the Saints and getting pounded by the Falcons... and the Ravens have struggled and lost a lot today...

could we go into the bye at 4-5? It's possible (it seems a lot more possible than it did a week ago) but one game at a time... we could beat any of these teams... we could also lose to any (or all) of them.





I just looked at the schedule and came to the same - somewhat frightening - conclusion. In fact, looking ahead at the rest of the schedule, I do not see a single game that we couldn't/shouldn't go into expecting to win. The Steelers don't scare me this year; the only two teams that even give me pause at this point is Denver & San Diego.

How's that for being over-confident at 1-5??


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Love the confidence, but I fully expect to lose in Indy...the NFL has returned to being a parity league and things like gameday setup, motivation and home field etc are big to determine the winner of a game...that said, Colts got spanked yesterday on the road and we finally won our first game at home...as a betting man it's the Colts or stay away. The only positive thing is that Vegas opened the line at -3 and keeping it there despite heavy money pouring in on the Colts....somehow that makes me think we have a shot

Just don't be too shocked if we lose next sunday, Colts won at home vs GB, remember? and will come in VERY motivated and prepared after yesterday...we can win every game, but won't win every game...I'd happily take 5-5 from here on out

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Oh, we could easily lose every one of the games.... but, I don't feel that it is a foregone conclusion as I used to.

What Vegas thinks means nothing to me, and the fact that they squeaked one out against Green Bay doesn't mean too much to me, either. They are susceptible to the run, and if we have Mr. Haden take away Reggie Wayne, that will limit their passing game. We are still young and making mistakes, but we're actually playing respectable football right now. We've got more than a shot at this one.


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Just don't be too shocked if we lose next sunday,



We had a pretty solid all around team effort yesterday, very few mistakes, made plays to close out a game, won a division game... nothing will shock me.

This week is a winnable game, that doesn't mean we will win it.


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Just don't be too shocked if we lose next sunday,



We had a pretty solid all around team effort yesterday, very few mistakes, made plays to close out a game, won a division game... nothing will shock me.

This week is a winnable game, that doesn't mean we will win it.




2 ways of looking at next week:


Optimistic Side:

We just put together a complete team effort, our QB is looking good the past 5 straight weeks, and we are finally getting some pieces back healthy (with others stepping up too).

Indy just saw their QB regress (and their team destroyed) against a team that had been bad leading up to this week in the Jets.

Negative Side:

We are 1-5. Sure, we have been close, but we still haven't proven that we can get past any type of adversity as we were fortunate enough to get a lead and cling to it in the 2nd half. We still have a very young team, lots of injuries, and play pretty uneven overall.

The Colts just beat the Green Bay Packers last week. Yeah, the same team we saw annihilate the previously unbeaten Houston Texans last night.

================

The truth is somewhere in the middle, but where is the fun in that?


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The Colts just beat the Green Bay Packers last week. Yeah, the same team we saw annihilate the previously unbeaten Houston Texans last night.



They also beat the 4-2 Vikings... but they lost to Jacksonville... but they beat the Packers... but they got crushed by the Jets....

Yea, this game could go any which way.


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Quote:

The Colts just beat the Green Bay Packers last week. Yeah, the same team we saw annihilate the previously unbeaten Houston Texans last night.



They also beat the 4-2 Vikings... but they lost to Jacksonville... but they beat the Packers... but they got crushed by the Jets....

Yea, this game could go any which way.




wait, I see a pattern. they only beat NFC teams (dangit Chicago - ok, that was a fluke). or they only beat "good" teams (don't think many will argue that the Jets are better than the Packers).

if either of those hold, then we are money


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I kinda look at their packers win as a result of an emotional uptick from the Pagano thing.

Home cooking does help...but i think theyre coming back to earth. W here.


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