browns52

3 hours ago, nickers said:

He plays too much Tampa 2... I HATE the Tampa 2 defense..... You have to have an extraordinary secondary to even run it half assed...

watched that henne scramble play again and it appears what really made that play sucessful was that our de filling in for vernon went for the sack and got blown out by the chefs lt...it wasn't even close....he should have played containment....counting on someone to come up and stop henne way shorter of the 1st down....instead he got creamed by the lt opening up the whole left side for the scramble.....ugly....simply ugly d....

2 minutes ago, nickers said:

Woods fucking blows

 

woods sucks.....steph made some bad time mgmt calls though....thats ok....he will be good.....i have to say how about that call by andy reid....wow....depressing but i never expected it...never.....but woods sucks.....we need some pass rushers and lb's but i don't want him coaching them.....half the time the d looked out of place and confused....no pressure....none at all.....could have won this one.....the play that keeps coming back to me, is the third and 14 and we let a fucking backup run for 13 and half to set up that call on 4th down......where the fuck were the lbs.....oh well....it was a great season never the less...

5 hours ago, Zombo said:

Let's do this, you PANCAKE-EATING MOTHERFUCKERS!!

Z

its on our d.....i am confident in the o......if our d can contain mahommes, we can win ....if he runs wild, we we lose.....if we can only play the way the bills d played last night against jackson.....lets go browns....

On 1/10/2021 at 1:41 PM, Tour2ma said:

I know we have a Pluto thread and many Baker threads, but I thought this deserved it's own thread,

It's that good of a read.

Since I could see it I copied entire article in case you can't, but please try the link first. Give Terry the clicks he deserves for this gem.

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2021/01/what-do-we-now-know-about-baker-mayfield-that-we-didnt-16-games-ago-terrys-talkin-browns.html

========================================================================================================================

What do we now know about Baker Mayfield that we didn’t 16 games ago? – Terry’s Talkin’ Browns

By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer - CLEVELAND, Ohio

 

At the start of the season, the questions about Baker Mayfield were constant.

Is he “the guy”?

Is he a franchise quarterback?

Is he overrated, too small and destined to be mediocre?

That was 16 games ago. So what can be said about Mayfield now?

Most quarterbacks are prisoners of their last game. No other position leads to wilder mood swings than the quarterback. So what have we learned?

 

A LOT OF BAD HABITS

The new Browns front office and coaching staff decided to challenge Mayfield to make some significant changes from losing weight to new footwork to a new mental approach to the game.

Knowing Kevin Stefanski was Mayfield’s fourth head coach in three years, the Andrew Berry front office and Stefanski preached patience. They also broke the season down into the first eight games and the last eight games as a way to measure progress.

A year ago, coach Freddie Kitchens owed his job to Mayfield. He knew it. The team knew it. Mayfield knew it. Kitchens set up a throw-first offense around Mayfield. Browns fans know the story. The team lacked discipline. The record was 6-10. Mayfield threw 21 interceptions, second-most in the NFL. He ranked near the bottom of most passing categories.

There were a lot of bad habits to break.

WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN

Stefanski and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt began preaching the gospel of the running game and don’t make turnovers.

Early in the season, running backs Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb were stars of the offense. Mayfield went from the fearless gunslinger looking to make big plays to the boring “game manager,” helping the rushing attack with a few passes. There were some rocky games. There were reasons to wonder if Mayfield was going to adapt.

In the past, Mayfield was told to just shake off an interception. Don’t sweat it. You’ll get the next one. This coaching staff had a different approach.

“We call them giveaways,” said Van Pelt. “We don’t want to give the defense anything. ... You get what you emphasize. We talk a lot about making great decisions and being OK with an incompletion.”

Then Van Pelt explained how “there’s always a guy open.” And who is that?

“The tuba player,” said Van Pelt. “If anything bad happens, the tuba player in the second row of the stands is always open. So we can just throw it away to him.”

Baker Mayfield celebrates after winning the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and clinching a playoff spot. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com

 

THE MIDSEASON REPORT

In his first eight games, Mayfield had completed 61.4 percent of his passes, 15 TDs vs. seven interceptions. His QB rating was 90.9. The Browns were pleased with his progress, but thought so much more was coming.

The team had a 5-3 record at the bye week. Only twice in those first eight games did the coaches ask Mayfield to throw more than 30 passes in a game.

First, the Browns were de-programming Mayfield from some of his less-disciplined passes and overall approach the game. The next step was turning him into a winning NFL quarterback, and that was built on a relationship between Stefanski, Van Pelt and Mayfield.

Baker Mayfield talks with head coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt in the second half of the season-opening loss to Baltimore.John Kuntz, cleveland.com

 

IT TAKES TRUST

After playing for Hue Jackson, Gregg Williams, Kitchens and finally Stefanski – it had to be overwhelming. His confidence had to be shaken at times.

“The relationship (between Mayfield and the coaches) takes time,” said Van Pelt. “The more open he is to coaching, the more we coaches are open to his ideas. ... If there is constant communication, (that produces) constant trust.”

Van Pelt discussed this point after 14 games. “Baker is really on the same page as the coaching staff,” he said. “He is performing at a high level.”

The coaches were allowing Mayfield to throw more often in the final eight games. He went from averaging 28 passes a game in the first games to 33 passes in the final eight.

“It’s trusting these guys around me,” said Mayfield. “It’s trusting the guys up front, going through my progressions and just delivering the ball and letting them make the plays.“

 

THE TOTAL GAME

Mayfield was learning to see the entire game, much like a coach. He worked hard to praise others. That was clear after the Browns beat the Giants 20-6 to raise their record to 10-4.

“Our guys are making a ton of plays,” Mayfield said. “Our protection continues to be great, and these guys continue to make plays for us. That is why the confidence is so high and I don’t have to do anything else. It is these guys doing their jobs.”

Then Mayfield said something very revealing: “I didn’t realize how hard it was to win in the league.”

In the second half of the season, the Browns were 6-2 to finish with an 11-5 record. That was their best record since 1994, earning their first trip to the playoffs since 2002. In those final eight games, Mayfield threw 11 TD passes compared to one interception. He completed 64 percent of his passes and had a rating of 100.1.

“We are a completely different team than we were early on – obviously, for the better,” Mayfield said. “We have learned a lot about ourselves scheme-wise, personnel-wise and what we need to do to have success.”

That goes for everyone in an orange helmet, especially the quarterback.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield calls a play in the huddle in the first half, December 20, 2020, at MetLife Stadium.John Kuntz, cleveland.com

 

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT MAYFIELD?

1. He is coachable. He was challenged by Stefanski and Van Pelt to make some major changes. He had to go through some rough early games where he wasn’t comfortable with the new system. But he stayed with it.

2. He is durable: Mayfield has made 45 consecutive starts and has never missed a game to injury.

3. He learned how to win games and not worry about his passing stats.

4. He learned to hate interceptions. He threw only eight this season, down from 21.

5. The Browns surrounded him with a stronger offensive line. They have a power running game and solid receivers. But the QB is the key to making it work, especially if he works within the system. He is willing to do it.

6. The Browns were 11-5 and made the playoffs with him as a quarterback. That becomes the floor for his future. He is a winning quarterback. A playoff-caliber quarterback. A durable quarterback.

7. Finally, he is maturing as a quarterback and a person. He should be even better in 2021, finally having the same coaching staff for more than a year. The Browns have him under contract control for two more seasons, and they can begin to think long-term. But for now, the easy decision will come in March when they can pick up his option for the 2022 season.

 

he is our guy no matter what happens in kc this weekend....he's a very good qb...it just took the right coaching staff to find out....

On 1/11/2021 at 10:23 AM, Orion said:

Who would you give game balls to?    

I'm gonna start with one:  Cody Parkey.   He's a guy that's kinda' been under the microscope...playing for a city that's absolutely crying for a playoff win...and he made ALL of his kicks.   There were a ton of kicks to make, and we needed them ALL.  Including the kick-offs.   Good job Cody Parkey!

i'm going with number 62.....backup guard....had to drive from ny to pitt on short notice....he was on the jets practice squad....he played a hell of a game at left guard...one hell of a game...so i'm going with an olime man....that is a story in itself....for him...wow...

18 hours ago, Vagitron said:

Im not going anywhere, like i said with gipper earlier if I'm right i expect you in here eating some crow.  I have never ever hid on this board and i'm not about to start.  I stand behind what i say no matter what I say. If i'm wrong i'm wrong but i'm currently not worried about the steelers.  The virus and injuries are the biggest factors. 

i agree...the crow is not the browns losing....because they will....covid got them....my point is the steelers are going nowhere after this round.....

23 hours ago, Vagitron said:

I guess you are gonna find out, aren't ya? Ben isn't done. I was almost there before the Colts game and he was unstoppable in the second half. He is limited by our offensive coordinator. If they play like they did second half of the Colts they are making a deep run. The defense is elite and even with a flawed run game (a lot of it is our terrible oc) we have a ton of weapons. 

ben is on his way out......face it....tooo beat up over the yrs......ehhhhhhh.....no running game.....this just in...you have shjit for a running game....and you will get you ass kicked because of it....can't wait to call your ass out on this.....you may beat the browns and you may even have somewhat of a running game because our lb's suck... but after that...you gunna git you ass hammered...

On 1/4/2021 at 11:45 PM, Vagitron said:

Any given sunday but our back ups even with the browns missing guys giving you all a run doesn't bode well.  Highsmith is very advanced for a rookie, incredibly so and Watt and Heyward will be back in the line up.  It's going to be pretty tough sledding just for a pressure stand point alone.  Unfortunately we aren't going to have Haden back but you all lost vernon so that's kind of a wash despite the difference in positions.  I also believe a lack of playoff experience will play a role and of course playing on the road even with minimized fan numbers.  We are going to find out and again any given sunday bangs like a giant gong but if i were to remove bias I don't like the Browns chances either.  No matter what the Browns are headed in the right direction and really thats all that matters because they IMO don't have what it takes to win a Super Bowl this season. 

they ain't going to the sb....this is a building yr and they still went 11-5....not a rebuild but a building block....they don't need any offensive draft picks....now the building block is on the defensive side....so look out....that is all we need....then we will be talking sb...and as far as the steelers go....they have no running game and that will haunt them in the playoffs...dey ain't goin to the sb either.....big ben is juuuuuuust about finished with his career....

18 hours ago, The Gipper said:

Mustang Shelby GT 350   vs. 

Ferrari Testarossa

??

my wife has a 2000 gt350 we bought brand new ...only has 59k miles on it....that car still rocks......it's not a shelby though.....

8 hours ago, SdBacker80 said:

Send a couple guys outside your front four on a blitz?  

 

he hardly does that but i think we are in a situation where he is going to have to do it.....its all or nothing mode now....

1 hour ago, The Gipper said:

That's what I said....Bubble Up.   See the thread on that.  A 2 week delay to implement it?   Sure. And actually a 2 week delay would take them only to like President's Day, not St. Patty's for the Super Bowl. 

1 hour ago, The Gipper said:

That's what I said....Bubble Up.   See the thread on that.  A 2 week delay to implement it?   Sure. And actually a 2 week delay would take them only to like President's Day, not St. Patty's for the Super Bowl. 

i was really looking foward to this game.....cmon nfl....just a 2 week or maybe even 1 week break....it would be worth it.....i'll probably watch the browns first posession...if it looks anything like their first posession of the jets game, i'll turn it off...that might have been the worse posession in browns history....all the players just looked stunned...inchoherent....all because they could not practice and missing players....cmon nfl....give us a break for once...

Just now, nickers said:

If the NFL had brains (GOD-ell)... They would push the plays back 2 weeks and let teams get healthy instead of thinking about their schedule and pocket books...

no shjit....who cares if the sb gets pushed up a week or two....give the teams a fair chance....is bitonio and teller out for sure or do all these players and coaches still have a shot at a negative test before sunday....its so fucked up....

Just now, browns52 said:

its to the point that i don't even know if i'd play baker with all these ol out.....running game is done.....baker will be running for his life at some point in this game....dangerous dangerous dangerous.....what a way to end the season.....oh well....look on the bright side...we won eleven games and made the playoffs with adverse conditions....pretty remarkable....if it was only another team we were playing...thought we may have had a good chance to knock them out.....

the steelers that is..

1 hour ago, The Gipper said:

So much for this fucking game.

The last game should have been postponed.   They all got it because they were forced to all be together for that game.

Fucking NFL.  I suspect their attitude is "it's just the Browns...no big deal".    But what if it now becomes  the Chiefs or the Packers...or someone the league cares about?

What did I say about the NFL  needing to  "Bubble".  

Of course, you also have to ask:  WTF is going on over there. They have seemed to have had more trouble than anyone else. 

its to the point that i don't even know if i'd play baker with all these ol out.....running game is done.....baker will be running for his life at some point in this game....dangerous dangerous dangerous.....what a way to end the season.....oh well....look on the bright side...we won eleven games and made the playoffs with adverse conditions....pretty remarkable....if it was only another team we were playing...thought we may have had a good chance to knock them out.....

21 hours ago, SdBacker80 said:

No.

I don’t trust his health and there are too many other guys on that side of the ball in the same boat.  

I would clean house. I’d take a hard look at our coordinator too.  

i agree...don't care for woods either....who is vernons' backup.....maybe he is a diamond in the rough....this is going to be a tough weekend....our qb pressure d  is not all that great...at least vernon has been showing up lately.....lb's are not good and the db's are a mess with all the injuries and covid.....woods is going to have to come up with some kind of plan....good luck with that...

On 12/29/2020 at 11:42 PM, Orion said:

Early on, Stef told the team that the team that keeps the COVID situation under control could have an advantage.  And he was, of course right.  Apparently though, he should have told the team that, "If you all go off and get COVID, then we're fucked!"  

stupid is as stupid does......

Just now, Orion said:

Noooo!

we are so fucked....even with rudolf in there....thank god big ben is not playing...game would be over at halftime....jeeeeeeez....

On 12/29/2020 at 10:35 PM, nickers said:

Ba-Dot-dahhh!!

yeah and the way things are going with this virus,    it looks like we may be in the same situation next season.....the distribution of the vaccine has broken down at this time...we are now way behind schedule....we need a miracle....well 2 miracles....a browns win and a chg in the distribution of the vaccine for the good...

1 hour ago, SdBacker80 said:

They don’t care about the 2 seed as much as they care about resting guys that are dinged up. 

thank you....your comment is correct.....they basically did not have a bye week because of the reshuffling of the schedule....i think they are out of gas more or less....they came alive in the second half against indy but they have to be tired more than anything....and who is to say they cannot beat the clowns with backups....it is not out of the question...they can....

3 hours ago, Icecube said:

Mason their starting QB? This is an automatic win. Mark it down. 

heh heh heh....these are the browns....we still have to contend with their d......they stuff the run, we are in trouble....with fumbleiitis baker.....

8 hours ago, Bob806 said:

Thanks for the positive posts guys. Exactly how I feel, although deep down I'm worried. The Steelers aren't just going to hand it to the Browns, I seriously doubt Tomlin "doesn't want it."

It's so important for this team to make the playoffs IMHO. If not a feeling of negativity will linger, especially with the Cle media and national media. 

its a crqpshoot this sunday.....even if we get our wr's  back....the d is not a playoff d....injuries play a part but its no excuse...they still have the same dl playing...goodson until yesterday has played enough to make some kind of difference...ward is playing...sendejo is playing....they don't seem to be a takeaway d...except for garrett, no one else contributes...no int's...no fumble recoveries....nothing....i agree with bellick in what he said this morning on espn...its the d...they can't get turnovers....it would be nice to force a fumble or 2 deep inside the opponents territory....it seems baker is mostly put in the position of having to drive the team 80 70 yds...it would be nice to recover a fumble on the steelers 25 yd line this week....but don't hold your breath...i think the d gives it up this week and we are out unless something changes....i particularly do not care much for our dc.....he's probably gone after this yr.anyway...

5 hours ago, Dawg in MD said:

The game has opened up with Cleveland as an early 7 point favorite which tells me one thing, Vegas expects the Steelers to sit their key starters. Vegas is usually pretty accurate. 

still not a guarantee w.........these are the browns....until proven otherwise, what can go wrong will go wrong......hope we can break that label....

21 hours ago, Bob806 said:

Something about the Casper Rule?

I don't know much. I'm fuckin drunk and sick and tired of NFL refs. 1988 Wildcard game vs Houston, 1986 Karlis was wide left, etc. 

Beat the dreaded Steelers, somehow, some way. Exorcise the demons. Won't be easy of course.

I hate the "woe is me" stuff but today I felt it & hated it. Reality is if you're down 5 or 6 starters, you're most likely doomed. Fuuuuuuuu

 

don't fumble the ball on a qb sneak...and it was a fumble and the holy roller rule then applied as they say.....bakers fumbled the ball....end of story....the one call you really should be upset was the garrett strip and the asshole refs blew an early whistle...they were supposed to have changed that early whistle thing to let the down play out....it was a fumble and td for us...thats where we got fucked...not the baker fumble...

10 hours ago, hoorta said:

Regarding turnovers- we had one that Darnold's arm was moving 1\2 inch forward before the ball came out...  Game changer that wasn't. 

My feeling? It's not over until the Fat Lady sings....  Get most of the guys off of covid protocol, tell Teller to get his ass out there for the biggest Browns game in forever- and we have a chance. Rothlisbooger was having a pretty terrible game, I saw a bunch of it when we were channel flipping during commercials. My bet is there will be a replay on NFLN if you want to do some scouting. 

The Jags already have the #1 sewed up- thanks to the Jets win... different question entirely if they will have the bags packed to get out of town after the game.... 

yeah, i am trying to get that ain't over til the fat lady sings attitude....but it is the steelers....in our favor is they can't run the ball well,  but we cannot put consistant pressure on the qb either...that is in there favor....and its big ben...he kills the browns....their d is pretty damn good even without bush and dupree....their favor.....if we can run the ball against them, it might be a close game...if baker has to throw 53 times, our season is over.....i like what you said about teller....tell him to get his ass out there...i would add fat ass.....

3 hours ago, Browns149 said:

The Browns are in with a win or Indy loss next week. 
Stoolers might rest players. Not sure if the 2 or 3 seed really matters with only 1 bye 

indy ain't losing next week.....they play jax.....jax probably should play all their second and third string players to make it even worse.....so they can sow up that all important first round pick....for trevor....