Perfect End to a 13 Hour Work Day

[Flugel]

There's probably sooooo many ways to process the close win yesterday. The 5th of the month where I'm employed is always month end and yesterday was the longest one we've ever had. I came home not knowing any scores for the day; but was expecting a CLOSE competitive battle worried Jake Delhomme would shoot himself in the foot. I didn't begin watching the game I Tivoed until 9:30 PM Central Time here in Nashville.

Obviously, we know I'm not born to be a sports psychic. Here's my post game thoughts for anyone interested in reading them:

After losing 3 different QBs to bad ankles, 1 new starter on the right side of the oline virtually every week, Scott Fujita (arguably an x-factor), Robaire Smith, and the highest paid punter (Zastudil) to make 3 consecutive IRs - we're not a point in transition to care about pretty wins. Talented teams know the Browns are strong at RB and the strength of our passing game is the TE position. Miami didn't cover the TE for some reason. The Daboll critics seem to think we've got terrific WRs our OC doesn't know about. Then again, aren't Peyton Hillis and Ben Watson having career years? That's 2 less pawns to attack with and when we deep 6 a couple more pawns in lieu of more legit attack pieces - it's gonna be a fun team to play chess with on Sundays. To be honest, Cribbs has 4 dislocated toes so he's not really the playmaker we've been accustomed to seeing on game days either.

As far as the passing game goes, Daboll isn't exactly choosing between Jerry Rice, Roger Craig, Tom Rathman, John Taylor, Brent Jones with Joe Montana behind center. You don't have to get tricky or deceptive or remain patient when you have those kinds of pass game choices every play. With the Browns, the OC does have stay within WHAT the offense is especially in close games. Remember the 14 point swings of pic 6s vrs KC (loss by 2 points), vrs Atlanta (close game) vrs TB (Barber got tackled on the Cleve 2 yard = pic 6 IMO). Sometimes it's GOOD to stay within yourself and win field position. When we get a series of good drafts in succession, then we can be like the NY Jets. This didn't just happen overnight for them. Last year they were all about the RBs and TE. Now they added Holmes so they have something reliable deep and wide, which puts the opponent's 2nd best corner on Edwards.

If we're searching for things that are pretty right now how about these?

1) No pic 6s from our starting QB or turnovers from our ofense in a close ballgame
2) Joe Haden was everywhere; and he notched another INT
3) The defense had some clutch turnovers
4) Another Michigan QB was rendered miserable by an Ohio Team
5) Eric Wright didn't play enough to look like Santa Claus for the opponent
6) Tackling was much improved
7) The minimum waged Punter (Hodges) - continued to show why he leads the league with punts inside the 10 yard line. Quiet, clutch and happy to be needed is refreshingly right for us.
8) The much maligned Abe Elam has continued to make plays (recently) ever since causing that fumble at the 1 yard line vrs NE. We'll take that INT yesterday - won't we?
9) The little things like not starting drives with 1st and 15 or 1st and 20 or stupid penalties on defense that converted 3rd downs to first downs for the opponent. Those add up in 60 minutes.

Honorable Mention:
I'd like to thank the starting WRs for showing up and making some plays we needed. Not ready to be called pretty until they establish more consistency. At least the well covered Robiskie is learning to catch the ball with uninvited company.

Game balls go to Jake Delhomme, Joe Haden, Reggie Hodges and whoever broke Roethlisberger's nose.

Dirty Jock Straps go to Eric Barton for his dumb hit and ME. Your buddy Flugel thought he was Nostradamus last week and predicted we'd lose by 3 TDs if Jake Delhomme started again this week.
- Tom F.

[Greythan]

Good post.

One note on our WR's: Isn't MoMass incredibly frustrating?

I almost smashed my flatscreen on the perfect back shoulder throw he butchered. The coaches will now best, but this kid remains chockfull of mental mistakes. He later zigged when Delhomme threw a zag on a blitz package.

However, he caught a number of very important balls Sunday.

Grrr.

[Danamal]

Great post Tom and to go along with your number 7 Hodges was clutch on the game winning field goal when the snap went high and he snatched it and got it down and the game was over.
While I agree the receiver thing is getting old but the play you were talking about Grey is pure timing and instinct and very hard to establish when your QB position has been a turnstile all season long not defending him but he is still learning to run routes in the NFL and the timing is a killer without stability.
Momass I think can settle down into a solid number two but Robiskie is a bust,and where the hell was Stuckey yesterday?
Moore at wideout is a failed experiment and should be stopped.

[DaBrowns41]

I mean, I wouldn't give Jake Delhomme a game ball for continuously working hard to record 3 and outs.

It's rather sad that we're high fiving our QB's just because they didn't turn the ball over for once.

Back in 2007 with Derek Anderson, we were all pissed off about how many 3 and outs he would get, as well as turnovers. Now, apparently, it's acceptable.

Browns fans need to make up their minds.

[Danamal]

I don't think anyone is high fiving shitty play at any position.
The overall picture is damn well worth praise,we are seeing a team begin to form here that with a few more pieces this off season can do good things every season rather than a one off fluke.
I look at the QB situation as JD is a good number two to keep and sub and mentor McCoy who has the potential to be our franchise,he looks good enough that I am not looking at QB as our number one need this off season so that's huge.
Hillis and a healthy Hardesty with Watson Momass at number two we grab a vet to hold down the number one and draft a receiver shore up and stabilize the right side of the line and watch the FA line and linebacker positions for the defense and were going to be very hard to beat.
I guarantee you both Baltimore and the stools don't want to play us right now with the playoffs on the line,we are a very physical team that brings the pain(not saying we will win but you will know you were in a fight).
Everyone is entitled to there opinion but Im lovin this team right now and it's only going to get better.

[hiwaygal]

Just for grins and giggles, I think we all need to go a take a look at the boards of teams that we think are doing oh-so-well.

Read what their fans say and realize that THERE IS NO PERFECT TEAM!

There's always going to be one player who the fans feel isn't stepping up the right way or always does something wrong.

Reminds me when I was a kid playing softball. I could catch damn near ANYTHING that got to me during practice. And I hit a few home runs. In practice. In game time, I'm not sure if it was nerves or excitement or what, but when it mattered I sometimes choked. I'll bet that happens to these guys too.

Overall this team has improved so significantly that we are all seriously thinking we just might be 7-7 in a few weeks. Hell, we could actually end the season at 9-7. And that's a REAL possibility, not just homerism. It may not be likely, but it COULD happen.

Sometimes we fans only see what we want to see. Sometimes we key on a player and watch how many mistakes he makes. To be honest, I don't know how you guys do that and not pay attention to all the other action going on. I have a hard enough time keeping track of who has the football to be watching what Bob Whoever on the line did or didn't do.

The Browns are a better team. Anyone who denies it is NOT a Browns fan. How we get even better is still up for discussion. As long as we all realize perfection isn't ever going to happen.

[grumpy_dinosaur]

Originally Posted by hiwaygal

Just for grins and giggles, I think we all need to go a take a look at the boards of teams that we think are doing oh-so-well.

Read what their fans say and realize that THERE IS NO PERFECT TEAM!

There's always going to be one player who the fans feel isn't stepping up the right way or always does something wrong.

Reminds me when I was a kid playing softball. I could catch damn near ANYTHING that got to me during practice. And I hit a few home runs. In practice. In game time, I'm not sure if it was nerves or excitement or what, but when it mattered I sometimes choked. I'll bet that happens to these guys too.

Overall this team has improved so significantly that we are all seriously thinking we just might be 7-7 in a few weeks. Hell, we could actually end the season at 9-7. And that's a REAL possibility, not just homerism. It may not be likely, but it COULD happen.

Sometimes we fans only see what we want to see. Sometimes we key on a player and watch how many mistakes he makes. To be honest, I don't know how you guys do that and not pay attention to all the other action going on. I have a hard enough time keeping track of who has the football to be watching what Bob Whoever on the line did or didn't do.

The Browns are a better team. Anyone who denies it is NOT a Browns fan. How we get even better is still up for discussion. As long as we all realize perfection isn't ever going to happen.

+1 well said!

So many people want and expect perfection when in reality even the best players make errors. If you can't see the improvement on this team you are blind.

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

Originally Posted by DaBrowns41

I mean, I wouldn't give Jake Delhomme a game ball for continuously working hard to record 3 and outs. It's rather sad that we're high fiving our QB's just because they didn't turn the ball over for once. Back in 2007 with Derek Anderson, we were all pissed off about how many 3 and outs he would get, as well as turnovers. Now, apparently, it's acceptable. Browns fans need to make up their minds.

I know you hate every bone in Jakes body, and I'm sorry it irritates you that he had a good game ...but come on now. Jake went up against a tough defense, and a really good secondary, and managed the game well for us.

When DA had perpetual 3 & outs, he actually had play makers. Who are Jake's play makers again? Oh yeah, Hillis. The fact that this team continues to put W's on the board with the lack of talent, depth, and play makers is pretty impressive.

The fact that MoMass doesn't know the playbook yet is a little disconcerting. I think giving MoMass the job as a #2 WR is jumping the gun at this point. Perhaps he will look much better when we get a legit #1, I certainly hope so. Sometimes it's hard to judge certain pieces without having other pieces already in place.

Agree with your game balls Tom.

[Greythan]

I mean, I wouldn't give Jake Delhomme a game ball for continuously working hard to record 3 and outs.

It's rather sad that we're high fiving our QB's just because they didn't turn the ball over for once.

Back in 2007 with Derek Anderson, we were all pissed off about how many 3 and outs he would get, as well as turnovers. Now, apparently, it's acceptable.

Browns fans need to make up their minds.

Back in 2007 people were talking about DA as the long term solution. In 2010 we're talking about McCoy as "potentially" the long term solution. Apple, meet orange.

No one is hailing Sunday as an offensive masterpiece. However, the second half numbers for Delhomme were damn good. And, little detail here, we won.

[Danamal]

DA was shit and I said it to whoever would listen,many people I guess were in the same camp but then it all blew up into Quinn fags and on and on but DA just doesn't have a brain,insane arm and a belief that he can do anything he wants but a Forrest Gump IQ,and no heart.

JD is and still is a good stop gap or bridge to ease what hopefully will become Colt McCoys team,certainly not for 7 mil but thats all up to the FO for next year to decide.

[Greythan]

The best part is that most of the "pro" Quinn camp, wasn't pro Quinn. They were pro-alternative to DA.

Still amazes me that there was ever a debate about it. Oh, DA was benched for poor performance..... again.... this past Sunday.

[Danamal]

Originally Posted by Greythan

The best part is that most of the "pro" Quinn camp, wasn't pro Quinn. They were pro-alternative to DA.

Still amazes me that there was ever a debate about it. Oh, DA was benched for poor performance..... again.... this past Sunday.

Stan did everything he could to fuel that debate.
I wonder if he still believes in DA and Lummy?,after all he did take Shep back AGAIN so anything is possible.