What’s wrong with the Browns?

[AFlaccoSeagulls]

Just now, DawgX said:

The one single game where Freddie called a good game and that we were schematically prepared was vs. Baltimore, and guess what - that's the only game where our offense was in rhythm and played well for the majority of the game.

To also be fair, our defense is hot trash and has made every QB look good this year. You just saw Mason Rudolph tearing us apart until he got KO'd by Earl Thomas, then a guy whose never thrown a pass or taken a snap in an NFL game comes in and continues to make plays against our defense. The Browns game was literally marred with broken coverages and terrible run defense.

[Mega Ron]

1 minute ago, AFlaccoSeagulls said:

So what you're telling me is that he's basically a RB, right?

He's not even a running back at the moment

[AFlaccoSeagulls]

4 minutes ago, Mega Ron said:

He's not even a running back at the moment

He's Johnny Manziel at the moment, tbh

[Mega Ron]

Perhaps he's just been waking up feeling tired and dopey

[JBURGE]

I didn't understand the Kitchens hire really at all, but it's a little early to call him a bust of a coach. I don't know what a ton of people expected with a 2nd year QB and a 1st year coach who skipped the NFL co-ordinator step. I don't get that hire with the Browns competitive roster.... but anyway.

Like others have said, the OL and offensive scheme don't match. Too many 5-7 step and long developing plays. Why didn't Robinson have more help last night? He got destroyed. 

[BrownLeader]

11 hours ago, patriotsheatyan said:

What do you think?

Both the QB and HC/OC are having sophomore slumps.

Baker's 1st and often 2nd read is almost always covered and he's not doing a good enough job anticipating the def schemes and/or managing the pocket.

The defense was built to protect a lead, since Dorsey figured they'd score a lot of points, and isn't equipped to be stout and physical.

[minutemancl]

I think I've said it a few times, but the Kitchens hire really reminds of the Mcadoo hiring. Both guys were hired because ownership didn't want a big offensive change for their QBs, both had limited coaching experience, both weren't ready to be head coaches. Besides the offense sputtering, the penalties are a huge issue in Cleveland. It will be interesting to see if any noise comes out of the locker room in the coming days. Mcadoo had 3 different cornerbacks walk out at 3 separate times in the weeks before he was fired. We know Baker and OBJ are very vocal.

[Art_Vandalay]

1. Kitchens
2. O-line
3. Immaturity

[JaguarCrazy2832]

11 hours ago, ET80 said:

They are who we thought they were - a team on the rise, a team building up talent, but a team that still had to learn how to win consistently.

The crowning was about two seasons too early. This might benefit them, as some egos needed to be humbled a bit.

You just have to hope those egos dont implode on the sidelines either 

[Ray Reed]

Imagine being a fan base that criticized another fan base's quarterback all offseason after starting 7 games in an offensive system not tailored to his strengths......only for your quarterback to start the year with 4 TDs, 9 turnovers, and then subsequently blame the coaching staff for not putting an offensive system around him tailored to his strengths.

 

Imagine.

[sryan66611]

23 minutes ago, minutemancl said:

I think I've said it a few times, but the Kitchens hire really reminds of the Mcadoo hiring. Both guys were hired because ownership didn't want a big offensive change for their QBs, both had limited coaching experience, both weren't ready to be head coaches. Besides the offense sputtering, the penalties are a huge issue in Cleveland. It will be interesting to see if any noise comes out of the locker room in the coming days. Mcadoo had 3 different cornerbacks walk out at 3 separate times in the weeks before he was fired. We know Baker and OBJ are very vocal.

Same exact thing happened in Tampa with Dirk Koetter...    He was OC and after Lovie was fired they saw improvement in Jameis and felt that keeping the same offensive philosophy for him would help him develop.   

[MWil23]

45 minutes ago, AFlaccoSeagulls said:

He's Johnny Manziel at the moment, tbh

When he does cocaine, while wearing a wig at a gambling casino in Vegas, while missing practice, while turning and handing the ball off to ghost RBs, while consuming inordinate amounts of alcohol...then yes. TBH, you have no idea how far that wormhole goes with JFF.

[AFlaccoSeagulls]

Just now, MWil23 said:

When he does cocaine, while wearing a wig at a gambling casino in Vegas, while missing practice, while turning and handing the ball off to ghost RBs, while consuming inordinate amounts of alcohol...then yes. TBH, you have no idea how far that wormhole goes with JFF.

TBH all of that sounds like something Baker would reasonably do during the season

[Nozizaki]

They went on the road and played one of the best defenses in the NFC. If they didn't have that awful second half against the Titans, the Browns are 3-2 with a 1-0 record in the AFC North. At this point they've only lost one game that they were "supposed to win".

They're a young team that's still learning how to win and I always thought they would take time to get it together. It also helps that they're front half of their schedule was loaded with playoff contending teams and the back half is loaded with Tua contending teams. Look at the back half of this schedule:

vs Buffalo

vs Pittsburgh

vs Miami

@ Pittsburgh

vs Cincinnati

@ Arizona

vs Baltimore

@ Cincinnati

I would still be shocked to not see them go at least 10-6 and make the playoffs as a wildcard,  if not win the AFC North. I'm not hitting the panic button for at least a month.

TL;DR: Unrealistic expectations considering their schedule. Plus their O-Line is bad, they'll be fine.

[MWil23]

3 minutes ago, AFlaccoSeagulls said:

TBH all of that sounds like something Baker would reasonably do during the season

TBH, I'm trying my best not to fly off the handle and overreact about the Browns/Baker right now and feel Charlie Brown'd.

@LETSGOBROWNIES and 90% of our forum can confirm my sheer disdain for Baker Mayfield and his attitude coming out (The Kansas crotch grab, the altercation with law enforcement, his chippy attitude, etc.),  not to mention his physical (height/weight) limitations, feeling pocket ghosts, performing horribly under pressure at OU (see: OSU as a junior and the second half of the Georgia game as a senior to name two), etc. Last year, he proved me wrong and showed tremendous leadership skills, helped right a horrific franchise and get us some hope for the first time in over a decade. I'm going to give him this year and hope to get back the guy we thought we had a few weeks ago, but right now, there's a lot of meat left on the bone.