Tag Archives: game review

Browns v Ravens Monday Game Tape; It’s Over. It’s finally over.

December 29, 2014 Mike Leave a comment

It’s over. It’s finally over. You know in Call of Duty when you’re on your “Last Stand?” Just laying on the ground bleeding out, about to die, and blindly shooting at the other team hoping to do some damage? That’s what these last couple of games for the Browns felt like. Just laying there waiting to die and waiting for the season to end.

Honestly though, we need to give credit to this coaching staff and group (most of them) of players. With all the stupid bullshit distractions they’ve faced the past couple weeks, it’s refreshing to know that they never quit and never laid down. That’s a lot more than we could say about past teams. So kudos or something, even though you lost 5 in a row… you didn’t quit. So, uh, thanks for that? Let’s look at the game tape.

The teams traded field goals in the first half and went into halftime tied at 3-3.

—

Any other QB in the league this is penalty. Connor Shaw? Nope. I imagine the ref said “Buckle up your chinstrap son, this is the NFL.” Then gave him a pat on the ass and accepted a $20 from Terrell Suggs.

They would’ve had to call an ambulance for Tom Brady

That pass went for 49 yards BTW.

Terrance West scored after that.

Browns took the lead but in a later drive by the Ravens Joe Flacco threw 2 passes to Torrey Smith and Baltimore drove down the field in about 6 seconds, took the lead, and never looked back

And the Ravens added another TD to win 20-10 AND the Browns fell to 7-9 when they were once 7-4 AND ended the season on a 5 game losing streak AND are the only team in the AFC North that didn’t make the playoffs AND still don’t have a legit NFL quarterback at the moment AND…. AND…. sigh. Got all that?

Quick thoughts:

– How about Joe Haden, man? Has the flu, gets an IV just to play in this “meaningless” game with his 7-8 team and comes in and balls out (aside from the long Torrey Smith pass). He didn’t have to play today, he could have easily taken the day off to rest up for his 2nd straight Pro Bowl and no one would have blamed him. We need more guys like Joe who actually give a fuck about the name on the front of the jersey. If anyone cared about this team as much as Haden, we wouldn’t be 7-9 and losers of 5 in a row.

– You don’t tell Meder when the play starts, he tells you. Nice to see a NE Ohio kid getting some playing time.

– Really encouraged by Craig Robertson. The past few games I’ve seen him making plays all over the field. I don’t know what his actual defensive stats are in those games but every time I look up it seems like Craig is drilling some guy into the ground.

– Kudos to Connor Shaw. Undrafted rookie. Wasn’t even on the roster last week. Depleted receiving corps and O-Line. And has to make his first start on the road vs. a division opponent fighting for their playoff lives. Oh, and he has Terrell Suggs staring him in the face every play… I doubt he’s the answer to the Browns QB problems but he certainly earned my respect yesterday.

– Could this year have gone any worse for our two first round draft picks? Seriously, if you would have told me it’d be the “worst case scenario” for those 2 guys I wouldn’t have even thought it’d be this bad.

– We’re gonna need a punt returner next year.

– It’s taken A LOT but I’m almost at my breaking point with Johnny Manziel. Almost. I’m still not ready to write him off yet. He definitely needs to grow the fuck up though.

– I don’t think I could say anything about Josh Gordon, Johnny Manziel, or Justin Gilbert that hasn’t already been said… but holy shit I can’t want for Pettine’s press conference on Monday. I hope he brings it strong.

-This Alabama fan on Instagram sure doesn’t like Johnny Manziel

– Thank GOD Jimmy Haslam isn’t firing Pettine or Farmer. That’d set this franchise back about 5 years. Think about this though- if Harbaugh already wasn’t going to Michigan would Haslam back Pettine like he did? Something to ponder.

RIP Cleveland Browns 2014 Season. See you guys at a draft party somewhere. Let’s do some shots. Thanks for reading these every Monday.

PS- Amari Cooper looks pretty good in a Browns uniform, don’t you think?

Photoshop obviously done by our boy Zack from Center Field Smoke

Browns

Browns v Panthers Monday Game Tape; Make it Stop

December 22, 2014 Mike Leave a comment

(press play before reading, it really sets the mood)

I’m not mad. I’m not sad. I had no emotion watching that game. Just a complete 100% feeling of apathy towards this team and organization right now. Hey, at least it took until game 15 for the disinterest to set in, that usually happens around week 9. Someone needs to grab a rifle, take the 2014 Browns season out back and put it down Old Yeller style.

If you’re keeping track at home the Browns started 6-3, went to 7-5 and will now most likely finish the season 7-9. It’s false hope Groundhog Day all over again. Year after year. Sigh, Let’s look at the game tape.

Me watching the game

There was a lot of this

Andrew Hawkins died (along with my soul)

Johnny clapped

Then fell

Then he died too

Cam Newton did a lot of this

But then he did this. WTF?

Jordan Cameron had the longest play of the year for a TD (please re-sign Jordan Cameron. PLZ)

But nothing mattered because Cam came back and found Jonathan Stewart for a TD to take the lead for good… and the Browns lost 17-13… and have lost what feels like 15 in a row… and now have end of the year question marks regarding their quarterback, coach, and general manager for the 17th year in a row… Got all that?

Couple quick thoughts:

– Saw a lot of “If the Browns fire Mike Pettine next week I’m done with this team!” Um, no you’re not. You know that and I know that. You’ll be back mid January salivating over mock drafts and scouting free agents. Quit being dramatic and shut up.

– With that said the Browns BETTER NOT fire Pettine

– I met Ray Farmer yesterday and he’s a lot bigger in person than people realize

– How about Pierre Desir? Doesn’t play a lick all season, comes in and throttles one of the better young receivers in football. I was very impressed with him.

– Charlotte was cold and their drumline makes ours look like a 3rd grade elementary school band

– Sooooo…. what do we do at quarterback next year?

-I stick with Johnny, give him a whole offseason to work in Berea, work with receivers, study the playbook, watch film, and get in the weight room. Hopefully this season teaches him what the NFL game is all about.

– Did he look that bad on TV? I was at the game and it seemed like he wasn’t playing THAT poorly.

-The only good thing I can say about yesterday’s game was that the players didn’t quit. We haven’t seen that in previous years.

– Hey Garrett Hartley mad a field goal. Kickers that make field goals are like, so cool.

– I really like Karlos Dansby.

– Pretty sure that Billy Winn Int and return should’ve never been blown dead. But what do I know.

– Gilbert, Manziel, and West were non factors yesterday. Bitonio, Crowell, Kirksey, and Desir played well. 15 games is way too early to tell for rookies but it’d be nice if our first round picks could contribute and/or play.

– I’m excited for the new jerseys.

See you in Baltimore

Browns

Browns v Bengals Monday Game Tape: I’m Only Human

December 15, 2014 Mike Leave a comment

Oh, the Browns played yesterday? I’m sorry I was too busy focused on this puppy

And this NBA team

And this Buckeyes team playing in the CFB Playoff January 1st vs Nick Saban and Alabama

It was a good run, boys. At 7-7 the Browns the door has all but mathematically been closed on the 2014 season

(gif choice: A++)

There are 2 games left in this Browns season. A team that was at one point 6-3 has a very real chance to finish the season at 7-9. Woof. Cue the music and let’s look at the game tape:

Alright, that was fun

Here is a highlight that didn’t have anything to do with the game:

Annnndddd… that’s it. Sweet game tape, huh?

Thoughts:

-HE’S A BUST!! A BUST I TELL YOU! CUT HIM! HE’S A BUST!!! Good God I hope no one listens to the callers on Cleveland sports talk radio today.

Alright, hear me out. I want you to temper your emotions and expectations for a sec and remove the name off the back of the jersey… You’re left with a barely 22 year old kid making his first NFL start as a rookie vs. a division leading team who’s fighting for their playoff lives. You mean to tell me that 22 year old kid struggled and didn’t play well? I’M SHOCKED!!!!!

Now I’m not going to sugarcoat it; Johnny played awful. It was a very underwhelming performance for a game with so much hype. But people already writing him off after ONE GAME saying he doesn’t have what it takes to make it in the NFL? Get the fuck out of here. It’s laughable really. I saw so many Twitter quarterback gurus yesterday my head almost exploded. If you took joy in seeing him struggle yesterday go take a good long hard look in the mirror.

– This team has so many flaws you can’t pin this loss on just the quarterback. When you can’t run, block, catch, throw, tackle… you can’t win.

– Josh Gordon. Where you at, man? Your first game back you showed flashes of dominance and looked like you hadn’t missed a beat. The past 3 games you’ve been a compete non-factor. Someone with those physical gifts shouldn’t disappear in games like he has. I don’t know if it’s on Josh, on the OC, or on the quarterbacks. Something isn’t right there.

– Jeremy Hill is a chump. A talented runner but an asshole. I also put him on the bench for my fantasy team. Should’ve swallowed my pride, his 27 points would’ve propelled me to the championship game. Oh well I suck again.

– When are kick returner tryouts? I think me and my 4.85 speed could make some things happen (probably more like 5.4 after 3 months of a sedentary lifestyle trying to get Bottlegate off the ground)

– Manziel, Hoyer, Montana, Favre… I don’t think any QB yesterday wins that game. The QB had the deck stacked against him from the beginning and all 21 other players did nothing to help that position out.

– That first drive was an absolute soul crusher. With the way that stadium was buzzing beforehand and all the pregame hype, Coach Pettine HAS to take the ball first.

– On the first drive the Bengals had those penalties were game changers. Especially the Mingo late hit.

– I expected to see way more rollouts from Manziel and designed QB runs. I thought they’d try to run most of their passing plays outside of the pocket. I was wrong. I wasn’t thrilled with the game Shanahan called either.

– There were 2 QBs on the field yesterday. One was the rookie Johnny Manziel. The other one was veteran Andy Dalton who just signed a six year $115 million contract. I honestly don’t know which team has a worse QB situation.

– This one hurt. A lot. I was in the Muni Lot before the game and one of my old high school teammate’s mom gave me a wad of fake money to throw after Johnny threw or ran a touchdown. The money was never thrown… The money was never thrown. (Yeah I’m a tool w/e)

– Run defense, run defense, run defense. Woof.

– Guys, Johnny was never going to come in and rescue this franchise overnight. It’s going to take time whether you want to hear it or not. He’s only one player. He’s only one man.

– I still care, Johnny. I still care.

-HE’S OOONNLLYYY HUUMMAANNN!!

-MUSIC PLAY ME OUT!!

PS- If you think this game changed my stance about whether I think Johnny is going to be a good quarterback you’re out of your god damn mind. Maybe it’s me being stubborn or an idiot, but I have all the confidence in the world in Johnny Manziel. I’m living or dying with him. I’m not flip flopping like every other person in Cleveland sports media. I truly believe he’s going to be a successful pro once he gets everything figured out. It may not be pretty at times but you knew that when you drafted him. If you’re jumping off the ship after his first start, good. We don’t want you.