DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Trends

Over the last 3-5 weeks, I have noticed several hopeful trends.

First, we are winning more often!

4-5 weeks ago, I saw a blurb that we were Tied for the NFL lead in dropped passes. Not so great, but we have had sole and exclusive possession of this stat for a year and a half. A couple weeks ago, it was 2nd in the AFC. Don't think I've seen a dropped pass for two games now.

Rush defense has been steadily climbing the charts, 203 yards in the last three games. We are almost NFL average in this stat, #17, I think.

Scoring defense was a mirage last year, we didn't put pressure on anyone to score. #16 right now.

Most offensive stats have climbed out of the bottom 5, almost out of the bottom 10. Rushing YPA is only 3.8, but much better than last years 3.4. Seems like we are running it more often, actually converting a short-yardage down!

Only two penalties last week. Last few weeks, one unit or another has done well, though the other seemed to try and make up for it.

Two weeks in a row now, we have won TOP. First time this season was the pittsburgh game. Last several weeks, the gap has been getting closer.

Our offense has scored only 2-3 times less than our opponents, though 4-5 times we are matching TDs with FGs.

We are on pace to get close to 40 sacks, while giving up less than 30. We have only done each of these a few times in the last decade or so, not sure we have done both in the same season. Top 10 or close in both.

More INTs and fumbles already than all of last year.

All across the board, we are Becoming. The D is already mostly their, as the O is better able to possess and score, the D will get even better.

It is a good time to be a Browns fan, Wait Till Next Year actually means something!

The trend that really matters is beating good teams. Let's see how we're trending after the Skins, Donks & squealers.

I agree. We're trending the right direction for sure.

If we can add a stud RDE in the draft and get a free safety worth his salt I think our defense could be quite good.

If we could add a top flight WR free agent (there are plenty this coming year) to man the Z that would move Little to the slot and scrap the FB as our base set.

We're trending in the right direction...all of our top players are young and growing into their positions.

This team could look real good next year if the right moves are made.

With where we are in the draft, that Werner kid out of FSU is looking pretty good.

Also, if Heckert is still around, I wouldn't mind our third rounder used to give that Mathieu kid out of LSU a shot at being a FS. Heckert has a trend of taking guys with a few character issues and getting them to shine.

Before the season started I figured we'd start slow, show signs of growth and be better in the 2nd half.
For once, I was right.

I like where we are going and to be honest, I don't want shurmur fired cuz I feel like we're getting better and I don't wanna upset the apple cart.

Guys will play harder and be more focused when they truly feel they have a chance to win.

Thats why teams with great QBs always seem to get the most out of their players. Thats why they "appear" to have more talent.

Of course, Weeden isn't great yet but the players sense something is being built here.

If they beat KC this week, confidence will be sky high.

This late season winning feels much different than '09 too.

Rish, didn't I tell you a couple of weeks ago that fan perception is ALL about the record?

We win 2 straight games and all of a sudden people think about retaining Shurmur, Heckert gets petitions and Weeds gets some nods too now despite being very much the same player with his strengths and weaknesses but making a 4th Qtr play more here and there....that's the normal progress speed guys like Mourg, Clem, Purp, YTown etc and I have been preaching on here

That's why I didn't care about the W-L yet....I saw what I saw, the wins are just a consequence and byproduct