A week after the Browns won an emotional ballgame for Jim Donovan, sadly there was no such magic this week.
If you guys didn't step away from the TV this week, I feel bad for you. And for as much as we all love this team, I would advise you to do that in the future if games go south early. It's what I did.
I've had too great of a weekend for the Browns' ineptitude to ruin things. Ohio State scored a massive road win at Penn State yesterday, and my beloved Carey Blue Devils pulled off a shocking upset at Tinora on Friday night to advance in the Playoffs!
Even though we love the Browns, sometimes we need to turn to other things that bring us peace, or make us smile. Whether it's going for a walk outside, spending time with family, or watching something funny for a good laugh, it helps us all keep what little sanity we have left.
With that said, I'll try my best not to disturb anyone's peace, as we look at what went wrong for Cleveland today.
Secondary? What secondary?
It still just makes me shake my head at how incredibly bad the defense has been this season. I saw the NFL defensive rankings briefly flash on the screen, and couldn't believe my eyes. Overall, the Browns were supposedly ranked somewhere in the middle of the pack, like 14th or something. Who does these rankings? Sometimes the numbers DO lie.
They've just never put everything together this year. The fundamentals aren't there. Sometimes they get gashed on the ground, and other times, coverages get crossed and plays get busted before they can even develop on defense.
The Browns got burned badly at least twice today. And the first one was a bad omen for how things were going to go this week.
Let's take it back to a big sack by Shelby Harris and Co. After Harris, Zadarius Smith and other Browns defensive linemen swarmed Justin Herbert and brought him down, everyone was all smiles.
Smith, Harris and Garrett were all screaming and grinning. Even Browns DC Jim Schwartz had a smirk on his face. After all, they had just backed the Chargers up to a 3rd and 21, and pushed them out of field goal range. Even the guys who called the game were praising the defensive effort.
But a mere 30 seconds or so later, someone didn't stick with LA's wideout on the next play, and Herbert effortlessly tossed a 27-yard bomb into the corner of the endzone for a touchdown. Like something I'd even toss with friends in my backyard.
The celebratory atmosphere vanished in a microsecond. Schwartz was frowning, and Huntington Bank Field was silent. Things became more like a funeral than a Sunday afternoon party. That was the first indicator I had that something was wrong. Very wrong.
Not only did this happen once, it happened twice. And with the way this offense played today, those two Chargers touchdowns off busted coverages were enough to put the Browns into a hole they couldn't dig themselves out of, especially with this next key point...
Jameis Winston: Hero to Zero?
Just seven days after Jameis balled out, and earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors, he looked like the guy I was nervous about.
The Hulk reverted back to scrawny, geeky Bruce Banner. Superman stepped into a cave full of Kryptonite and was sapped of his power.
Jameis was night and day from where he was last week. Against the Ravens, we saw a competent field general directing this offense to its best day of the season. This time I don't even know what he was seeing.
The first massive interception shouldn't have been thrown at all. When you have second and goal inside the five-yard line, and Nick Chubb out there, not running him should be a crime. Or at least a smack upside the head for Browns OC Ken Dorsey!
I don't care what the rationale is. I don't care what the analytical, Harvard brain trust thinking is, it's wrong. Plain and simple. There's no common sense thinking behind passing in a situation like that.
When you have a weapon as dangerous as Nick Chubb in that situation, hand him the football. Always. And then scheme ways to open up a hole for him. If the defense stops you? So be it.
But I can sooner live with that, than an interception thrown into double or triple coverage in the corner of the endzone. Especially when you're not forced to throw the ball as an absolute last resort.
Winston's second pick was also like the first. I don't know what he was seeing when he tried to sling it downfield, but he obviously didn't see the defender. Maybe Superman not only lost his power too, but he also genuinely needed Clark Kent's glasses. Yikes!
The third pick I think was an unlucky bounce. And sometimes those happen. But it was just a microcosm, or a snapshot of how the day was going. Sometimes it's just one of those days.
But if we're discussing snapshots, you may want to cover your eyes rather than read the next part of this article...
Deeply Offensive O-Line Play
I will never claim to be an offensive line expert. There are many men smarter than me who know the mechanics of how to play center, guard, tackle and tight end.
But if these so-called professionals in Cleveland supposedly know the mechanics of how to play these positions, and they have a simple goal of protecting the quarterback, how hard is it for them to do it? Or at least do it well enough to allow him some time to throw during the game?
The Browns offensive line evidently doesn't know how to do anything consistently other than hold or false start. It's maddening when they make easily avoidable mistakes. And it drives me crazy knowing they gave up six (yes, six) sacks today, and nine quarterback hits.
You could go into some alternate reality, or back in time, grab prime Tom Brady, and put him behind this current offensive line, and the result would still be the same. He'd get creamed. I just don't know why this part of our team is our biggest weakness right along with the secondary. It drives me crazy!
For any current or former offensive linemen out there reading this article: Thank you. You guys matter. Offensive linemen who do their job are unsung heroes. But they deserve all the praise in the world.
When an offensive line is working like a well-oiled machine, an offense cannot, and will not, ever be stopped. And when an offensive line fails to do their job, a team goes absolutely nowhere.
Some people say QB is the most important position in football. I will always passionately disagree with them. The most important position is the offensive line. I will die on that hill.
Big Uglies. Hog Mollies. Buffet Busters. Slobs. Whatever you want to call them, they matter.
Without a big, strong, smart, cohesive group of them up front, a team goes absolutely nowhere. Kinda hard to start up and drive the Ferrari if you're missing the engine. The quarterback's just the guy behind the wheel. Linemen matter.
And YOU matter as well! Even though this has been a tough season to trudge through, just know that you're not alone. I'm with you guys and gals through the wins and the losses. Thank you for reading these! Hopefully even after tough days like this, these articles provide some kind of therapeutic release.
I truly appreciate you all!
Statistical Leaders
Jameis Winston: 26-46, 235 yards, TD, 3 INTs
Nick Chubb: 15 carries, 39 yards
Cedric Tillman, 6 catches, 75 yards, TD
Sources
ESPN, NFL YouTube channel
Picture Credit
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