Terrible Tuesdays: More from Shurmur and Weeden on fun Browns loss to Eagles

by Cleveland Frowns on September 11, 2012

Because this careening dumpster fire on wheels is too much to clean up after in just one day. So first from The Anointed One, Brandon Weeden, after turning in a performance as bad as only 0.05% of the quarterbacks in NFL history have ever managed, when asked if his NFL debut “felt different” from his college days and his days playing minor league baseball (at the 3:20 mark here):

“No, I mean I think anybody that’s a competitor that comes into this situation is gonna be amped up, want to make a play, and do a lot of good things. I mean, every game I had in college I was amped up and I’m gonna continue to be amped up going forward. I mean, um, obviously, you know, it was a lot of fun out there. I had a lot of fun, I didn’t really, I mean, the outcome wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but it didn’t overwhelm me.”

“Actually, strike that. I was overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by FUN. Obviously.”

Of course, multimillion dollar contract for playing a ballgame notwithstanding, we have a lot of empathy for Weeden and the position he’s been put in, for a lot of reasons, and look at this from Tom Reed in this morning’s PD:

The Eagles apparently had an easier time containing Trent Richardson than the Browns coaching staff. Shurmur admitted the rookie participated in 10 to 12 plays more than anticipated because Richardson kept running onto the field and joining the huddle.

Ten to twelve plays? I tried it in high school once and Coach horse-collared my ass to the ground before I got two feet off the sideline. Anyway, I was no Trent Richardson, I guess.

Moving on, if you were having a hard time keeping track of the magic worked by quarterback gurus Holmgren, Shurmur, Childress & Co., you’ll be especially glad to note that Cleveland.com has put together a fun new database tracking all Browns passes thrown this season. Here’s some of what Dennis Manoloff dug out for Week 1:

“[Weeden] went 3-of-18 for 49 yards and three interceptions when the Eagles applied moderate (2) or heavy (3) pressure.”
“Weeden’s 12 completions resulted from balls thrown a combined 30 yards from line of scrimmage.”
“He went 0-of-8 with three picks on throws that were in the air 10+ yards from line of scrimmage.”

And the quote of the day is from Pat Shurmur:

“Brandon Weeden is our starter, and he’s going to get better.”

Which is all for today, unless you missed the Browns on Monday Night Football last night.

Alright. Tomorrow will be better.

Ess Eh

Can’t wait to see what this team will be able to accomplish once they have a full off season and training camp!
Chris P.

I’ve seen that dull blank stare somewhere before…

can’t place it…

#americanhero #voteforme #mandelforpope
- ClevelandFrowns
  
  I would prefer dull and blank to screaming terror. I get the Weeden eyes myself when I think of that guy being voted into office.
  - Chris P.
    
    I wondered when Cleveland would join the party and vomit out a truly nakedly ambitious disaster to go along with Marc Dann out by me (although, it should be said, his naked ambition was a little more literal) and Kevin Coughlin out your way.
    
    Good job, Cleveland!
- ClevelandFrowns
  
  PS it is freezing in here.
  - Chris P.
    
    WHO BROUGHT THE MARSHMALLOWS?
  - Chris P.
    
    or even better
    - wiseoldredbeard
      
      4 million likes.
    - NeedsFoodBadly
      
      Congratulations, you just won.
    - ClevelandFrowns
      
      You even found one on wheels. Needs more careening and more raging flames but I’m not going to let the perfect be the enemy of the good here.
      - Chris P.
        
        Yeah, I really was looking for one tumbling downhill, but finding the place for Chilly to sit took precedence.
        
        Couldn’t find a good Jauron sitting pic for the other side.
        
        There is, of course, the great reclined in golf cart shot of Holmgren but when you crudely cut him out of the golf cart and set him on that wall…
        
        Well let’s just say it looks like this picture should be in the eSORN database.
        
        On a side note, I’m kind of embarrassed that I’m so late to the blingee party.
      - Beeej
        
        A white, brown, white stripe down the middle of the dumpster would add some flare as well.
      - wiseoldredbeard
        
        Too many chefs, etc., but any thoughts on giving Holmgren the crown, and him throwing some cash on the fire? Anyway, as mentioned above, awesome as is…
      - ClevelandFrowns
        
        Sheesh. Give this crew an inch.
        
        No good deed goes unpunished, Chris.
        
        NEEDS MORE SHURMUR. AND FLAMES. AND DAIQUIRIS.
      - wiseoldredbeard
        
        Actually, the dacquiri would keep him cool near the dumpster fire. I’m sure he’s warm with that ham-hock of a leg in a cast…
- p_forever
  
  yeah – without the combat boots the stare was hard to place for a second.
  - Chris P.
    
    tru dat.
    
    plus, you know, it’s only a picture so you can’t hear the coal miner Appalachia accent
GrandRapidsRustlers

The dumpster fire is raging but I LOVE the fact that Richardson just runs out to the huddle.

He knows the house is being cleaned soon.

I don’t know why this small detail made me feel better this morning but I just love this.
ChuckKoz

“and being caught under that flag was super fun, too. i wasn’t overwhelmed by the size of the flag and my inability to get out. i mean, nothing more american really.” – weeds
wiseoldredbeard

How is Weeden already dropping Shurmurisms? That is classic. (Classically gross.)

Speaking of the Ravens, are they paying to advertise on your webpage? Why does Ray Lewis keep haunting me?
- ClevelandFrowns
  
  The plan is to stack up these pennies from the Ray Lewis ads to buy back the Ravens and move them to Akron.
  - BIKI024
    
    not sure Ray Ray is welcome in Akron
    - nj0
      
      He is in Canton
  - GrandRapidsRustlers
    
    Nobody comes to the Rubber Bowl and pushes us around.
BIKI024

a lot of QBs looked bad this weekend, including fellow ginger, Andy Dalton. that Bengals OL looks pretty vulnerable, even though most do against the Ravens, but there’s blood in the water, lookin forward to seeing how our guys go after it.
- wiseoldredbeard
  
  OK, this ginger-ism needs to end. I’d hate to have another curse bestowed on a Cleveland team (yes, we do have magic and yes, we can curse).
- ClevelandFrowns
  
  We are not talking about “bad” we are talking about the worst possible game that a quarterback can have and one of the absolute worst in NFL history.
  
  Blood in the water LOLOLOL.
  - BIKI024
    
    it is what it is. on to the next. Bengals haven’t finished above .500 in back-to-back seasons in 30+ years, afterall they are the Bungles.
  - BIKI024
    
    he had the worst QB rating, not the worst game in NFL history. while it was definitely a bad game for Weeden, it could’ve been far worse games, in terms of contributing to the loss, like allowing more than 1 pick 6 a game, fumbles returned for TD’s, etc. as a matter of fact, none of Weeden’s turnovers resulted in points for Philly.
    
    but yeah, if he makes a couple more plays, we are sitting here calling it one of the ugliest/prettiest wins in Browns recent history.
    
    onward and upward!
wiseoldredbeard

Perhaps he was thinking about his future in the gas and oil business in Tulsa, where he apparently has a lot of connections (see MKC Sunday article re Weeden).
BIKI024

as suspected, the Browns line has opened at +7..
- bupalos
  
  Without Haden I’m not sure I’m going to touch it this week.
  - BIKI024
    
    i’m gonna keep riding the gravy train, as we’ve won 5 straight ATS and 7 of last 8, but it’s TBD on how many units I’m going to fire.
    
    but yeah, no Haden definitely hurts, but I’m not really scurred of the Bengals offense. I believe their talent level took a hit from last season’s team.
CleveLandThatILove

I think I prefer Colt’s look (and performance) running those plays that he doesn’t remember after the Harrison hit.
manc

Man, that comment about Richardson running back on the field when the coaches didn’t want him out there kinda says it all.
Beeej

I think someone got their first big time NFL sponsorship. http://fighterxfashion.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/amp-energy-logo.jpg It’s way better than Richardson’s subway sandwiches.
architectartvandelay

I cannot imagine a competitor at any level uttering the phrase; “it was a lot of fun out there” after such a disgusting display. I guess life is good if you are 29 and have been well paid to play both baseball & football.
- wiseoldredbeard
  
  Agree completely. Isn’t the appropriate sentimate that it might have well been the worst day of your life, that you felt like garbage for letting your team and the organization down, and that you will do everything in your power to never repeat it?
  
  Question: if Weeden stinks it up for the next three games, does Haslam intervene and require that they start Colt, if for nothing other than to please the fans?
  - technivore
    
    Personally I’d rather just bottom out with Weeden and go 2-14 or whatever than start Colt just to get to 5-6 wins.
    - ClevelandFrowns
      
      I hear you generally, but it was really hard to be in the Stadium and not badly want to see Chips McCoy run out there.
- NeedsFoodBadly
  
  At least Derek Anderson took this stuff seriously.
- BigDigg
  
  I dunno…I remember a time where I went out a bit too late with the boys, overslept for work the next day and then proceeded to walk into a client presentation with my fly down before I vomited on the conference table.
  
  Luckily for me, my boss is an idiot and he staked his whole reputation on me. Other than the screaming headache and having to dry clean my silk tie, it was a lot of fun out there.
p_forever

baltimore players looking good on the field, and saying the right things off the field too (with a little help from a pen-wielding friend):

http://deadspin.com/5941348/they-wont-magically-turn-you-into-a-lustful-cockmonster-chris-kluwe-explains-gay-marriage-to-the-politician-who-is-offended-by-an-nfl-player-supporting-it

paragraph 2, discussing the “preposterous statement” that “political views have no place in a sport” is likely to be of particular interest to frownie and our frownie community too.
- Beeej
  
  THAT…WAS…AWESOME!!!
  - p_forever
    
    i know, right? glad you liked it too.
    - Beeej
      
      I do have to admit, if gay marriage is legalized, I’ll probably be forced to leave my wife and kids to do some serious cockgobbling.
      - actovegin1armstrong
        
        I shall refrain from posting what absolutely begs for comment, because Frownie would make me write COOL IT! a thousand times, but that is a fantastic letter.
- nj0
  
  Fantastic. I’m not making fun of punters or the Minnesota Vikings for the rest of the season.
http://twitter.com/SadFactory Factory of Sadness

On the Richardson thing, Hillis did the exact same last year against Miami. You think one of Jauron’s guys on D would be running out there if he wasn’t supposed to be?
http://twitter.com/JRichTCF Jeff Rich

“[Weeden] went 3-of-18 for 49 yards and three interceptions when the Eagles applied moderate (2) or heavy (3) pressure.”
“Weeden’s 12 completions resulted from balls thrown a combined 30 yards from line of scrimmage.”
“He went 0-of-8 with three picks on throws that were in the air 10+ yards from line of scrimmage.”

Yet, he’s still an exponentially better option at the quarterback position than Colt McCoy. If you don’t have a Head Coach that can conceal a physically inadequate backup quarterback’s deficiencies well enough to achieve victory when it’s being handed to you, it forces you to roll the dice with a physically-able and mentally unprepared suitor. Results are tragic either way, but the repetition of watching #12 continue to fail is SERENITY NOW…insanity later.
- ClevelandFrowns
  
  Serenity never … insanity always.
nj0

“Shurmur admitted the rookie participated in 10 to 12 plays more than anticipated because Richardson kept running onto the field and joining the huddle.”

This makes me stabby. Is this sop anywhere? And Shurmur just admits that he has no control over his team? And how is this not a bigger story? How is the follow-up question not: “Seriously? You just let players put themselves in like that?”

The Hopeful will probably defend this as much ado about nothing, just like the six-thousand other tiny, seemingly innocuous foibles of Shurmur et al, but to me this epitomizes so much about what is wrong with this team. I can’t imagine Belichick or Tomlin or Coughlin allowing this.

I imagine Brandon Jackson standing next to Pat going-
Coach, I’m supposed to be in for this play…
*looks at play chart, shrugs*
But Coach… the rookie is going out there…
*puts down headset microphone*
You said, “Jackson get out there” and Richardson ran out instead…
*tries to take a drink of water*
I don’t want to run out there and get us called for too many guys in the huddle.
*puts up headset microphone*
Aren’t you going to say something, coach?
*takes sip of water*
- BIKI024
  
  did you watch the presser?? it seems to me it would behoove you to do so before spending all the time you must’ve spent to go out of your way to rip on Shurmur based on what a Cleveland sports reporter wrote.
  - nj0
    
    Nope.
    
    And it only took me a couple minutes to write that, much less time than it would take to watch a press conference.
    
    And I hardly would say I went out of my way to rip on Shurmur as it was exceedingly easy to do so.
    
    And yeah, I apparently got bite by the crappy sports media here.
    
    But what you gonna do when you can’t watch videos at work and have to rely on people you assume to be actual journalists?
    
    What I wrote still makes me chuckle so I’m okay with all that.
    - BIKI024
      
      so you don’t have “sell papers” as one of the duties of “actual journalists”?? what do you expect of these “actual journalists” when our own presidential candidates love to misrespresent the facts as well.
      - nj0
        
        nope not on my list. instead of “sell papers”, i’ve got “check facts”.
      - BIKI024
        
        LOL, well good luck with finding any “journalists” like that anymore.
nj0

Eagles guy Adam Caplan calls our run defense embarrassing. Thanks to Craig at WFNY for this.

http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/2012/09/adam-caplan-breaks-down-second-viewing-of-browns-vs-eagles/
- ClevelandFrowns
  
  Seems exactly right to me.
http://twitter.com/cpmack Chris M

We certainly can’t leave out the most positive thing that happened all game.

https://twitter.com/wmack/status/244859542519828480

Also, this is a perfect metaphor for SEC vs B1G football.
NeedsFoodBadly

Trent Richardson running out for plays he isn’t called for > Alex Smith being purposefully put in for a handoff.

This is called progress. Battling. I liked what I saw out there. Execute.
Bryan

Has anyone else seen Shumur’s discussion of the challenged Vick fumble? He discussed it in detail (and with a lot of anger) in both the presser on Sunday and yesterday. It is frightening the lack of nuance he implemented in making his decisions to challenge. He said repeatedly (paraphrasing) “Well, I saw our guy come out of the pile with the ball, so I know he fumbled.” WTF? That is your logic for challenging a call? This is a man with a very simple mind who is incapable of dealing with the complexities of being a coach

Does anyone have video of this fumble? I am curious if Shurmur is correct. My memory from the broadcast was that Vick recovered his own fumble, was clearly down, and then the Browns ripped the ball out after the play was dead.
- bupalos
  
  It’s not super clear if Vick actually possessed the ball or pinned it between his arm and I think it was Win’s arm. But there was no camera angle that could really solve it, so it wouldn’t be a good challenge anyway.
  
  Rubin had a crushing hit on that play, I’m amazed Vick had the wherewithal to get that ball back.
  - BIKI024
    
    it was not a reviewable play
  - BIKI024
    
    if the refs weren’t idiots, it should’ve been Browns ball
  - nj0
    
    Yeah, even if it was reviewable, I think the call on the field (whatever it was or would have been with legit refs) wouldn’t have been overturned.
    - BIKI024
      
      they showed the replay over and over and over on TV, Vick definitely fumbled that ball and no way did he ever regain possession. Billy Winn did.
      - nj0
        
        I saw the replay and didn’t think it clearly showed Winn gaining possession. Maybe I’m misremembering (I was drinking), but while I thought it did look like Winn most likely got the ball it also didn’t appear conclusive. It looked like it bounced up to him and it was then just a cluster.
        
        If there’s a video of it online I’ll happily watch it (when I get home).
      - bupalos
        
        It’s not clear. I’ve watched it several times, mostly because it’s fun to see vick’s lights go out. The hit wasn’t on the ball, he dropped it because he was going limp, I have no idea how he got his muscles to work again and got it back.
- BIKI024
  
  i think you’re missing the point, the play was not reviewable, due to gross negligence by the referee who blew his whistle and said Vick’s forward motion was stopped and the play was dead.
  
  who knows if the legit refs would’ve swallowed his whistle, but i’d like to believe that they would’ve and then it would’ve been reviewable and they would’ve awarded the ball to the Browns.
  - Bryan
    
    I understand that it was not reviewable, and thus Shurmur ultimately had no decision to make. BUT Shurmur made it very clear that he WANTED to challenge it because he “knew” there was a fumble on the play. His logic for “knowing” there was a fumble was that the Browns had the ball at the end of the play. This logic and the general caveman way that he discussed the episode was quite striking to me.
    
    From others’ comments it sounds like, even if it was reviewable, we wouldn’t have learned much. Which begs the question: How does Shurmur “know” there was a fumble?
    - BIKI024
      
      he must’ve seen the ball fall from Vick’s hand’s, as many others did as well, except for the Ref.
      - bupalos
        
        Not sure what you mean there Bik, they did rule it a fumble, just one that he recovered himself. That may really have been what happened, he did get it back at least partially and it’s just a judgement on whether he’s controlling it or not.
      - BIKI024
        
        yeah, well it was another one of those things that didn’t go the Browns way. yes, while we certainly had other things go our way in other parts of the game, but it doesn’t make it less frustrating when it was due to a judgement call by the ref, when by reviews I saw Vick never regained possession.
      - Bryan
        
        Again, my point here is that Shurmur’s passion about that play, and his detailed explanation of his thinking about it at the last two pressers, offers a window into his strategic mind. What it revealed was not comforting.
        
        I don’t care about the details of the play. I care about what it teaches us about Shurmur. Shurmur has a track record of challenging the wrong plays and burning timeouts. He had already done it once earlier in the game on the punt play, and he was eager to do it again on this play because he “knew” it was a fumble. That is a major problem.
CleveLandThatILove

Jeez, PML.

http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/19506963/foul-smell-reported-across-southern-california
- http://twitter.com/cpmack Chris M
  
  If that smell reached Santa Ana from the Salton Sea, I can’t even fathom how bad it is. That would be equivalent to the stench from Pittsburgh reaching Cleveland.
- Beeej
  
  Lay off the kimchi.
- http://www.autismspeaks.org/ PML
  
  The Salton Sea is one of the most depressing things I have ever seen. Anthony Bourdain had a segment on it on No Reservations. It feels like a different world out there.
  
  Or, it may have been that I went a little overboard with the balut to drown my sorrows during Sunday’s game. Eggs make me gassy. Deliciously gassy.
  - http://twitter.com/JRichTCF Jeff Rich
    
    If anyone has the $9 billion it’s reportedly going to take to make it right, I happily volunteer 1,000 hours of my own sweat equity in a non-HazMat zone.
    - http://www.autismspeaks.org/ PML
      
      Are we taking about the smell or the Browns' Offense?
Bryan

To be fair to Shurmur on the Richardson thing, I watched the presser in full and the quote that Tom Reed pulled was a bit out of context and overly-interpreted by Reed. What he meant was something like: “This guy is a warrior. He wanted to be on the field and you can’t keep a warrior like that on the sideline. I love his fearlessness.” Shurmur is just such a caveman-like speaker that he butchered the sentiment and made it sound like T-Rich was just running in there unchecked.

#ReinstallMangini
dubbythe1

Cant wait for X’s and O’s to start rolling in…

I spoke my peace on this horrible game, and I dont fault the players, most of them too young to know any better than to spew the vitriol they are coached. This fault (Americans love blame!!) lies on the coaches and front office, and to be honest it matters not where we start, they are all pretty much horrible.
- BIKI024
  
  we were winning the game with a minute to go for christ’s sakes you people are unbelieveable.
  - ClevelandFrowns
    
    OH. AND. SIXTEEN.
    
    DUMPSTER FIRE.
  - https://twitter.com/jimkanicki jimkanicki
    
    beak: it’s not acceptable to lose games that should be won. i think we do the browns no favors by holding them to lower standards. they’re not the special needs children of the nfl.
    - ClevelandFrowns
      
      “[T]hey’re not the special needs children of the nfl.” … … … UMMMMMMMMMMMMM …
    - Beeej
      
      “They are not the special needs children of the NFL.” Unfortunately, they are.
    - BIKI024
      
      yeah not sure the Browns are following my social media footprint on my thoughts on the Browns, so I’m not really concerned about what favors I may or may not be doing them. the bottom line for me is that we fought hard and gave ourselves a chance to win, having the lead for nearly 13 minutes of the final period. that’s all you can really ask for out of a team as young as this. of course there will be growing pains, and it was frustrating we didn’t take advantage of the opportunity, but it’s a process and we move on to the next game. the youngs guys now have seen for themselves is that if they take it play by play and bring that sort of pressure to the QB on each and every play that you give your chance to beat even the great 10 point favorite (and Super Bowl favorite) Eagles.
      - https://twitter.com/jimkanicki jimkanicki
        
        should we just pass out participation trophies to the offense?
        
        because i can think of no amount of growing pains (two years of growing pains mind you) to excuse three goals when given five turnovers.
        
        and of course: perhaps the growing pains would be mitigated if any starters would have played in the 4th pre-season game. durr. injury prevention. lol.
      - BIKI024
        
        yeah so since we sucked in game 1 we might as well just not expect them to improve. it’s just impossible that they can improve, IMPOSSIBLE!!!
        
        you play to win the game, i realize that, but it is what it is, at this stage of their development we have to take it for what it is, a terrible performance by the offense, and we’ll see how they respond.
      - Beeej
        
        You forgot to mention that they battled, but otherwise I nominate you to do Shumur’s pressers.
      - http://www.autismspeaks.org/ PML
        
        As much as I enjoy Biki’s neverending optimism, Baghdad Bob’s got nothing on him.
      - BIKI024
        
        neverending optimism?? we almost won the game!?!?!?!?! !
      - Chris P.
        
        Cripe. All “almost wins” are not the same.
        
        We looked good in ONE aspect of the game, pass defense, when the circumstances of looking good on pass defense were aided by the fact that we didn’t have to spend any time dealing with the prospect of running. On top of that, one of the main things that would wear you down over allowing 450 yards of offense – the run – was largely non-existant, allowing us to have decent stamina late int he game.
        
        The run defense was putrid. All aspects of offense were putrid, and you can legitimately put a giant asterisk on the one part of the game that wasn’t putrid.
        
        The Eagles played poor in almost all the same ways, with superior run defense.
        
        There’s a certain truth to “a crappy win is better than a good loss” but that doesn’t extend to “a close loss where you play bad is better than a loss where you play well and lose by more”
        
        I don’t care to gloss over the bad just because we lost by 1. We get annihaliated by about 25 NFL teams yesterday. We lose close to about 4. We were lucky we drew one of the other two.
        
        I’m reminded by the old John Lucas quote when we beat the Grizz one time, which I’m sure I’m butchering a hair, but who cares –
        “Good game today, coach”
        “Good game? Really? We’re lucky we played Vancouver tonight because we lose to the other 27 teams.”
      - dubbythe1
        
        Let me paraphrase this for good ole Biki…
        
        “they battled..”
    - NeedsFoodBadly
      
      what on earth are you talking about, JK? You play to beat the spread! Who cares about actual wins???
      - BIKI024
        
        well if you can’t beat them SU, you might as well cover, it’s the 2nd best thing!
  - Shadow_play
    
    The question is, if we keep the opposing team points low and we barely lose (by only one score) wouldn’t we then become known as a “tough out”, and then shouldn’t we reevaluate the quality of the coach and team, as we have for certain other coaches and teams?
    - BIKI024
      
      yes, but we need about 10 more losses like we had on sunday, with at least 5 wins..
      - ClevelandFrowns
        
        No it’s not because it means that you suck so bad that everybody thinks you suck more than you actually do, even though you suck a ton.
      - BIKI024
        
        exactly, they think you suck, when in fact, they’re right, you do suck, but then they play down to your suckiness and make it a close game. seen that before
  - http://www.autismspeaks.org/ PML
    
    You People????
    - BIKI024
      
      actually, just south asians
    - actovegin1armstrong
      
      “You People????”
      You sir, are a racist.
      - http://www.autismspeaks.org/ PML
        
        What?? I was pointing out blatant racism.
      - actovegin1armstrong
        
        Oh…. My apologies, I thought that we were pointing out rampant racism, or perhaps unmitigated racism.
        I forgot it was Tuesday.
      - http://www.autismspeaks.org/ PML
        
        Tuesdays are when the racists come out, believe you me.
bupalos

Ick. If Weeden is going to get PatTheBunny’s Nathan Thurm disease, it’s over.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc2o8ywKqos
BIKI024

Def hope there’s more for Travis Benjamin in the next game. they executed that reverse pretty well, a quick 35 yarder, which actually i though maybe he could’ve stretched even longer if he didn’t cut in towards the defender. if only he pulled a braxton miller stutter-step, maybe it would’ve been 6. baby steps.
- actovegin1armstrong
  
  “if only he pulled a braxton miller stutter-step, maybe it would’ve been 6. baby steps.”
  Biki, I think you may be mistaken with regard to stutter-steps and babies.
  You must mean Braxton Hicks.
BIKI024

FWIW, there were 4 teams who allowed a higher yard per rush average than the Clownies: Bungles, Giants, Packers and J-E-T-S (allowd 7.5 per rush)
- rodofdisaster
  
  I would qualify the Jets by saying they gave up two huge runs to CJ Spiller and not much else. Buffalo had a very hard time establishing the run. I saw it myself.
BIKI024

The Hillis Watch

10 touches for 24 yards. (7 rushes for 16 yards)

DABOLL!
- CleveLandThatILove
  
  Oh no you di’int!
  
  His ypc is much higher with 20-ish touches per game, historically. May not see it with Charles back there too.
  - actovegin1armstrong
    
    When his ypc goes up then he will get more carries.
bupalos

DQ may have set the record for snaps played in 1 game by a linebacker in the modern era.

95 snaps.

Anyone bagging on the defense (cough cough) should probably stop and consider that they played fully a game and a half on Sunday and barely let in 17 points. Against one of the more talented teams in the league.

It’s 1/2 of a dumpster fire. The Browns defense is, simply, good. Watch it again.
- Defenestration
  
  I’m so torn here. I can’t decide whether I should trust your take on this the most because you watched it again, or question your judgement and sanity because you actually decided to watch it again.
  - bupalos
    
    Half of it was fun to watch again. Guess which half. Guys on the D were crushing people. The Iggles held significantly more than they got called for, and it was because they had to. Rubin caused pain. Sheard caused panic. Frostee caused concern. Parker did what he was supposed to, and is about half of the problem with the running stat. Ward played the football. The linebackers.weren’t embarrassing for once. Hayden played 95(!) effective snaps, shut down one of the best WR’s in the NFL, and made a nifty pick.
    The first TD is definitely confusion, something is way wrong there, and the ball before to get them in position for that was simply perfectly thrown. Ward was off the field on both those plays. The the 2nd td is fairly well defensed and perfectly thrown again.
    
    The defense was good. Not good for the Browns, GOOD. I predict a little defensive lull for Oh say exactly 4 games, and then a steady progression to legit top 5- 10 status by the end of the year.
    
    Offense is a total abject dumpster fire. Worse than it looked in real time.
- ClevelandFrowns
  
  Did you see this? http://networkedblogs.com/BZQ0X …. “Browns run defense was embarrassing. I mean, total lack of gap discipline. … Vick needs to take checkdowns. Passed them up quite a bit in this game. … McCoy was open underneath quite a bit in this game. … I thought the Eagles OL gave Vick, for the most part, plenty of time to throw vs. Browns.”
  - wiseoldredbeard
    
    Important to remember that Caplan is pissed at the Eagles for sucking, and thus the entire article focuses on how they sucked (as opposed to noting that Browns were beating the shit out of Vick all day).
    
    I’m with Bup here. D was opportunistic, and took advantage of Vick being rusty. If they get roasted by the Bengals, I’ll reevaluate. But, until then, I feel ok thinking that they’re only half bad.
    - ClevelandFrowns
      
      Important to remember that Caplan is pissed at the Eagles for sucking because the Eagles sucked.
  - bupalos
    
    OK I’ll watch it again and see what he’s talking about. Here’s the 1st quarter. Nothing he says evidenced on a single play yet:
    
    14:10 pass complete to celek +5
    13:30 illegal pick +24 called back.
    13:14 vick scramble +15 distorts run yardage.
    12:32 vick rollout perfect pass mccoy covered well.
    12:00 desean end around +5
    11:18 mccoy offtackle, backfield caved in entirely -6 fumble. also evan mathews holds here.
    
    9:07 bad snap -5
    8:31 McCoy +9 nice run around the end he’s really fast, on 2nd and 15 we were in nickel.
    8:06 tight pass +5 no one else open. (sheared offsides gives another down)
    >>>announcer: Vick looking incredibly sharp
    7:47 dump to McCoy +8
    7:22 McCoy handoff left, +4 bad hold against winn
    7:06 McCoy nice bounce out for +4 (on 1st and 20)
    6:30 Vick hit by parker, great 1 handed grab for +5
    5:42 vick crushed but gets off perfect pass, suffocating coverage by hayden ruled PI (wrong) but D.Jackson caught it anyway. Anyone who wants to say the Eagles were just inept look at this play.
    5:10, Vick flushed run out for -1 sack.
    4:48: Nasty hold on Frostee’s neck, good coverage incomplete, -10
    4:41: EStephens held, no call, vick flushed, overthrows McCoy or underthrows McCoy for int.
    2:05: Vick Blitzed and crushed by Patterson but completes a good quick out to Macclin +9 GOOD QB play.
    1:43 Worst run d so far on 2nd and 1 McCoy runs free and easy for 11 Brown goes out.
    1:14 Vick CRUSHED again great pass to an open jackson Haden bad tackle. Haden’s worst play all day. Very good QB play.
    :42 McCoy runs for 1
    :09 good pressure Frostee and Sheard, vick flushed rolls throws it awaygood coverage.
    :01 Vick throws OB to maclin with Browns all over his legs.
    FG
    - ClevelandFrowns
      
      Only someone on bath salts could have written that up so quickly. I warned you about that Mary Kay, bup. I warned you.
      - actovegin1armstrong
        
        Where may I get these vaunted “bath salts”?
        I want to “Always look on the bright side of life” like Bupa and Biki.
      - bupalos
        
        Don’t see me short, I look on the bright side of death, too, acto.
      - Beeej
        
        This should cheer you up.
        
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJUhlRoBL8M
      - actovegin1armstrong
        
        Thank you Beeej,
        You knew where I was going with that, Bupa is Eric Idle and I am certain that is Biki a couple of guys to his left.
      - CleveLandThatILove
        
        I think we’ve identified Haden’s mixed salts dealer here.
    - bupalos
      
      OK done with the 1st half not 1 single play that I can find that fits his description.
      
      second
      12:11 (from their 7 after Little dropped 3 or 7 points) short swing to Maclin for 5
      11:46 good coverage vick flushed throws it away McCoy not open
      11:38 short cross to maclin patterson blasts him to deny 1st down. McCoy not open
      Punt
      >>>Richardson blasts guy’s helmet 10 yards off his head>>PUNT
      9:27: Well covered. Vick scrambles for 11 (distorting rushing stats.) McCoy is not open.
      8:47 Vick blitzed by Skrine disrupts screen attempt is to McCoy he’s 5 yards behind the line in a pack
      8:43 McCoy busts a run called back holding at the attack — close call 2nd and 20
      8:21 Vick underneath to Celek +9 McCoy in protection
      7:37 Dump to McCoy incomplete too short anyway
      
      6:28: Vick crushed by Ward could have been a hold too. McCoy at the line of scrimage well covered by DQ
      6:01 designed flip to McCoy +7
      5:32 underneath +9 4th down.
      
      2:37 McCoy brilliant run +10 called back on hold downfield, 1st and 10
      2:29 quick flip well covered to Maclin +4
      2:00 draw play well blocked mccoy gets 17 most guys get 8.
      1:54 Long pass to Jackson incomplete overthrown well covered strong rush.
      1:47 out route to Maclin incomplete, great throw would have had a 1st.
      1:42 pass defensed by Haden.
      
      >>Browns O shocks the world by burning off all of 49 seconds.>>
      
      :49 Beautiful defense of the screen to McCoy not open at all.
      :40 short out to Maclin +10 Browns giving it.
      :34 colapsing pocket intended for McCoy not open incomplete
      :30 Vick up top perfect ball, Hagg late, otherwise decent coverage
      :20 Maclin TD total confusion 6 Browns on the screen not seeming to cover anyone total breakdown. ach Haden totally blew this they left him 1 on 1 (not sure why here) but he guessed and guessed wrong.
      - bupalos
        
        Enh, we’ll keep going.
        
        12:01 incomplete quick out to harbor McCoy still behind the line in the middle on release.
        11:54 McCoy run left line colapse totally stuffed -3 great discipline on the backside.
        11:11 Pass defensed by DQ GOT DEEP ENOUGH BEAUTIFUL!! Clear hold right on the goal line maybe a safety depending on whether it’s determined by where the d or o player is relative to the line, you’d have to own the rulebook. McCoy never left the backfield.
        
        BROWNS POSSESS BALL for FOR 5 SECONDS!!
        
        10:46 McCoy run right, -1 Frostee rips his arm off and eats it showing what a dumpster fire this run defense is.
        10:13 Vick Rollout nothing there, McCoy pinned on the sideline at the LOS, short pass incomplete totally smothered.
        10:06 quick slant PERFECT PASS bad spot gives the iggles a bogus 1st.
        9:37 off tackle to mcCoy +6 HOLD Refs pick it up it was a hold but maybe too far behind the play to care.
        9:01 McCoy off tackle left, this is one of the bad ones, but it’s only +3
        8:14 McCoy off tackle left, eaten up but rolls on top of defender and gets lucky spot. +1.
        7:30 Vick throws into a smother. McCoy absolutely not an option as he is smothered too. INT!
        
        4:57 Vick 3 step Blitz TJ smashes him on the release incomplete great blitz good coverage. McCoy not an option in any way.
        4:54 TE middle screen to Harbor, VERY nicely played, +2 McCoy blocking in the screen
        4:10 Vick drops it to McCoy for 6, not close to a 1st. You guys bagging on this D are nucking futs. This marks the point at which they’ve played a full game of downs.
        
        2:57 welcome to 2011. Celek runs away from the LB’s (Stephenson) for 28 THIS AND NOTHING ELSE IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE D.
        2:15: corner blitz was a good guess and results in a throw away. McCoy not an option.
        2:09: Sheard and others collapse line quickly and bat the ball down, Maclin not open anyway. McCoy not an option.
        2:04: Haden INT. GREAT pressure on 3 man rush from Sheard despite hold this is why the throw is 6 inches off. Great snag best hands I’ve seen Joe show.
        
        Weeden misses WIDE open Alex smith for TD because a defender breathed on him from 6 feet away.
        
        14:10 false start
        14:10 EStephens runs a great stunt, splits defenders (probably held) and comes through up the middle, gets up in Vick’s face, int to DQ for TD. McCoy 2 yards behind the line Fort is shadowing with good discipline.
        
        13:59
        McCoy for 15 bad D + nice run.
        13:18 McCoy for 5 around the end.
        13:02 McCoy for 7 so far this drive is the poster child for Frowns argument that we suck. Note we’ve already played a full game of downs.
        12:21 Brown for 3
        11:50 Skrine beautiful challenge incomplete short out.
        11:46 Short pass for 1st down, almost defensed.
        11:05 McCoy for 12 defense is sucking wind
        10:20 McCoy screen pass for -1 nicely played
        9:51 McCoy for 2
        9:13 great coverage, dancing vick retreats and throws it away after 7 seconds.
        45 yard shank kick PLEASE NOTE THIS WOULD HAVE MADE IT A 2 POINT GAME IF SHURMUR HAD GONE FOR 2 AND MISSED.
        9:01
        
        Here comes the last drive. So far, not a single play with McCoy underneath a better option. Hard pressed to find more than 3 passes where Vick has good time.
      - wiseoldredbeard
        
        Very strong effort Bup. I’m glad I supported you earlier in this thread.
        
        Now, as a reward for your efforts, go read Frowns following the Saints game in 2010 — you’ll note that we had 4 ints, while giving up almost 400 yards in the air, and nowhere does the article mention how the 4 ints aside, giving up 400 yards shows they suck and that it is all because Brees was bad. In fact, there might even be a photo of a certain linebacker jumping into the endzone after a pick six (a picture notably missing from this weeks’s account). Point is, whether your right (which you are) or wrong (which you are not), I have a feeling that until Mangini is coaching again there aren’t gonna be a lot of compliments tossed around…
      - ClevelandFrowns
        
        The difference is that we scored 30 points in that game.
        
        And yes our defense was much less talented then than it is now.
        
        And yes, Brees and those Saints are at least twice as good as Vick and these Eagles.
        
        Seriously with the idiocy.
      - wiseoldredbeard
        
        The 30 points are only relevant in that it demonstrtates that the D in the philly game was on the field ten times longer, and thus was even more impressive. Also nice to see you compliment the talent level. I agree wholeheartedly.
  - bupalos
    
    >>>The difference is that we scored 30 points in that game.>>>
    
    Hit the two wide open TD’s and pick up the Little drop/int and we score at least 30 in this one.
    - ClevelandFrowns
      
      The point is that it’s much more forgivable to give up 5+ ypc when you beat the piss out of a team 30-13, which is much unlike anything the Browns were doing last Sunday.
      - bupalos
        
        OK point taken there. Although in fairness the Eagles O constantly plays like they are behind 30-13, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with us running extra DB’s basically the entire game because of it. Or is it wrong to gear your defense to your opponent?
        
        And after a complete play by play viewing of the 95 defensive snaps, I can say that this:
        
        >>>”Browns run defense was embarrassing. I mean, total lack of gap discipline. … Vick needs to take checkdowns. Passed them up quite a bit in this game. … McCoy was open underneath quite a bit in this game. … I thought the Eagles OL gave Vick, for the most part, plenty of time to throw vs. Browns.”>>>
        
        …is as wrong a take on this game as anything I have seen. Totally made up out of thin air. None of the long runs are “gap discipline” issues, they are mostly just running around the defense. There is not 1 single play (out of 95!!) where a McCoy dump is a stronger option, and Vick absolutely and objectively did not have a lot of time to throw, he got crushed repeatedly, and the pressure had a great deal to do with the ints.
        
        Maybe the whole thing is a fluke, or maybe the Eagles are the worst team in the NFL and we just don’t know it, but I’ll be really interested to see how the Eagles next 95 offensive snaps go.
http://www.redright88.com/ Tom_RedRight88

Should be one heck of a game come Sunday.

Marvin Lewis matching wits with Pat Shurmur.

And if the Browns defense is horrible after giving up 5.0 yards per carry, then the Bengals defense must be downright putrid for giving up 5.3 yards per carry to the Ravens last night.

Sunday at 1 p.m. can’t get here fast enough!
- ClevelandFrowns
  
  The Ravens were firing on all cylinders last night. They look frightening.
  - http://www.redright88.com/ Tom_RedRight88
    
    I know. If they can finally get their offense to run consistently with that defense … oof.
    
    That Thursday night game in a few weeks could be unpleasant, to say the least.
  - actovegin1armstrong
    
    They were missing Suggs and then Reed, perhaps their two best players and they still looked good.
  - http://www.autismspeaks.org/ PML
    
    Doesn’t it give you some measure of satisfaction that deep down, that is the team we should be rooting for instead of this festering sore of a team?
    - Chris P.
      
      Shut
    - actovegin1armstrong
      
      PML,
      If someone swiped your car would you want to make sure it ran well and went fast?
      
      When I watch the Grackles play your favorite team, your beloved Black and Gold, I wish there was a way for both teams to lose.
      
      I shall keep my heart with the festering sore in brown and orange.
      - http://www.autismspeaks.org/ PML
        
        I would want to make sure that it was well taken care of so I could sleep soundly knowing that someone else was enjoying it as much as I did.
        
        I pray that a runaway bus enters the Ketchup Bowl whenever that situation occurs.
  - Jim
    
    The Bengals are also not a very good football team. AJ Green is a stud but there is not another player on the offense that could be considered elite. Maybe Whitworth at tackle. Defensively, the Bengals have gaping holes in the secondary and an unspectacular group of linebackers. They do have a legit defensive line. Nice win for the Ravens and all, but it wasn’t like San Fran. walking into Lambeau and dominating.
Usurper

any x’s and o’s coming up? that’s got to be my favorite segment.

keep up the good work, Frowns!
- actovegin1armstrong
  
  They may have saved an X or two, but I am fairly certain that I can see all of the O’s burning in that dumpster fire pic.
Atdietz80

Haven’t we all had a bad first day at a new job? Maybe the boss got his job through who he knows rather than what he knows. He drones on with the company line, but lacks any understanding of what the company is trying to do…win games. Weeds did not get to apprentice for a few weeks. He actually has an understudy before ever being a pro, which is silly. Then right before the game starts (before getting captured BY the flag) the coach/boss says “we’re all counting on you. You blow this and we’re all goners. Oh, and try to have some fun out there. Oh, and respect the flag at all times or it’ll trap you and choke you out if you let it. Sounds crazy, but that kind of stuff happens.”

If his next game is any worse than the first one, he may make another run at baseball. I’m sure the Lake Erie Crushers could find a roster spot for him.
- Hopwin
  
  I guess my question is about ceilings and floors. If you hire a guy to show up and sweep you floors and the guy comes in on his first day and spills his lunch all over the place four times you have to ask yourself just how well this dude can clean floors.
  
  Assuming Weeden is not THIS terrible ever again; how good can he be when a game such as this exists in his realm of possible outcomes? Would a “Franchise Quarterback ™” EVER turn in a performance like this?
  - wiseoldredbeard
    
    I think if you hire a guy to sweep floors and he spills his lunch four times, you think: no wonder this guy is so fucking good at sweeping.
    - Defenestration
      
      That makes Weeden’s press conference comments all the more concerning. No wonder this guy has so much fucking fun while turning in one of the worst QB performances imaginable.
http://www.autismspeaks.org/ PML

Excellent article about the Ginger Cringer:

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/36728/the-ginger-cringer-brandon-weedens-glorious-arrival-to-the-bqbl
Partybuddha

It’s group think, same agent, same church, Holmgren and Shurmur think they are smarter than everyone else and do not need to listen to anyone. It seems as if their goal is to prove that Weeden can be a decent QB before winning games.
bossman09

There is no where to hid after that game. As much as I want to say be patient etc, It was what it was and it wasn’t good. A couple things that can’t be denied in any way – Weeden is not the QB that gave us the best chance to win and neither was Richardson the best RB. Only conclusion is that either Shurmur isn’t trying to win or he is not competant.

As far as the defense goes, you can say whatever you want about 5.5 yards per carry, but it was what it was. 5 turn overs, 17 points. saying the defense sucked because they gave up 5.5 but only 17 points is bad is like claiming that 30 points scored in a loss is a moral victory or that winning 5 games this year will be “significant improvement”. regardless of how it happened, 17 points and 5 turnovers is 17 points and 5 turnovers. Only the worst QB performance I have ever seen kept us from winning that game.

And when the hell are we going to get a coach that schemes to the players skills instead of hoping we can find players that can play to our scheme? WTF is that crap. Reading how RGIII was prepped for NO made me sick. “we looked at the plays he ran in Baylor and designed a scheme around them that made him comfortable” HOLY JESUS MOTHER LEG HUMPING SNOTS. I’m begining to believe shurmur is calling plays for some imaginary team he wishes he had and then is somehow surprised when they don’t work.
- https://twitter.com/jimkanicki jimkanicki
  
  correction: 5 turnovers, 9 points. (7 points were from the defense.)
  
  >>>shurmur is calling plays for some imaginary team he wishes he had …>>>
  hahahahaha. yes. and it appears he wishes he had the 94 cowboys.
actovegin1armstrong

I would like to take South Florida -7.5 over Rutgers

Previous post: Bad Day for Vick in Dawg Pound: Eagles Still Can’t Give Game to Browns

Next post: Notes on Eric Mangini’s 2012 Hartford Football Camp for High Schoolers

Terrible Tuesdays: More from Shurmur and Weeden on fun Browns loss to Eagles

Cleveland Frowns

Testimonials

Cleveland Frowns at Scene Magazine

The Curse of Chief Wahoo

Read These Before Using

Over 3 Million Served

"Put it on Art Brosef's tab, please."

Advanced Auto Glass

Categories

Archives

Tweet Tweet

Tweet Tweet