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Cleveland Browns (5 Viewers)

Happy for Browns fans, keep it up and hope you guys go deep in the playoffs. The RBs looked like Csonka, Kiick and Warfield last night.

And the D was fantastic.

 
I'm clearly getting ahead of myself, but let's look at our remaining schedule, to see where we can end up.

This will also take into account having Hawkins, Cameron and GORDON.

Hou - winnable

Atl - very winnable

Bills - winnable

Colts - unlikely win, but is at home

Bengals - at home and we just smacked them. Dalton. Very winnable

Panthers - away, but also very winnable. Hoyer pissing on Cam at QB, Gordon in gorgeous weather against a soft CAR DEF.

Ravens - away at BAL. winnable, but divisional and will be difficult.

Imo, there is only one definite loss on the remaining schedule, against the Colts. 10-6 or 11-5 is a VERY real possibility.

We really do deserve this. The playoffs. This fanbase needs this. We are playing so well, and so full of confidence.

RIDE THE LIGHTENING!!!

 
Oh no.

Bengals rookie RB Jeremy Hill says we're not that good. :sadbanana:

This changes everything. :kicksrock:

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2014/11/cincinnati_bengals_rookie_jere.html#incart_story_package

Cincinnati Bengals rookie Jeremy Hill contends Cleveland Browns 'are not that good'

CINCINNATI, Ohio – A week after rushing for 154 yards, it was the mouth of Bengals rookie Jeremy Hill that did most of the running Thursday night.

The LSU product was not impressed with the Browns despite a 24-3 victory for the visitors at Paul Brown Stadium.

Asked if thought the Browns (6-3) were better than he anticipated, Hill told ESPN.com: "Oh no, not at all. They're probably worse than I thought, to be honest with you."

Perhaps Hill's locker is a bit to close to Greg Little's.

The bruising halfback rushed for 55 yards on 12 carries and also lost a second-quarter fumbled forced by Tashaun Gipson and recovered by Joe Haden. The Browns limited the Bengals to a field goal, created four turnovers and allowed 165 yards total offense.

But that effort did little for Hill.



"Those guys, they're not that good," he told reporters. "It was on us. We gave them the game, in my opinion. They didn't do anything special. We just gave them the game. They just sat back with coverage the whole day . . .

"We'll play them again, and we'll see what happens."

The teams meet again Dec. 14 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Hill was equally blunt when asked to put the Bengals' effort into words.

"We're embarrassed," he said. "It's pathetic. I had a fumble and you can't do that . . . They didn't do anything special, we just couldn't get it done."
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:violin:

 
Love it.

The narrative from the media heading into last night's game was the Browns are terrible on the road and the Bengals were undefeated in the last 14 home games thus the Browns stood little to no chance.

The truth is the Browns dominated while the Bengals played like WKR-A-P in Cin-Cin-Atti.

Two things, the narrative that can be real or false but the truth which is always real.

Back in February when the media was going nutz because the Browns hadn't hired a head coach the narrative was that the Browns were terrible. The truth was the guy we hired knew how he wanted to build the team. Tough defense and run the ball on offense. He felt that later in the year it was important to run the ball.

We ran the ball 52 times last night. 52.

We scored 3 rushing TDs last night. The previous year we only scored 4 rushing TDs all season long.

Before center Alex Mack went down we averaged something like 142 rushing yards per game but after he went down over the last three games before last night we averaged almost the same amount of yards as we ran last night, 54 yards on the ground.

The loss of Mack was a huge blow but the run block could and did improve also the defense wasn't as bad as it looked earlier in the year.

The run blocking can work and the defense has some real grow-ed men like Karlos Dansby and Paul Kruger and Donte Whitner.

Looks like Pettine's vision of a hard nosed running game coupled with a solid defense is the truth.

We'll let the media play in the Johnny Manziel narrative sand box and they can keep doubting but I think this team is for real.

One stat to chew on.

After last night's win the Browns odds of making the playoffs with a 6-3 record shot up to 74%.

That's the truth.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
Reaper said:
MAC_32 said:
Reaper said:
Congrats...

If I'm a CLE fan, I'm happy b/c in the end I have a team with talent and cap space / picks and a HC that I think is going to be real good...

Like my Jets, sometimes you need to tune out the media and all the drama... Bottom line is TALENT and CLE has it and an opportunity to add more. Don't even waste time with the soap opera BS.....
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Uhh...we fired Chud after one year for a 'proven winner.' Jimmy and Joe's words, not mine. 3 weeks later while others are getting ahead of us with their staff in place we have our eyes set on a defensive coordinator for teams that have sucked 3 years in a row and hasn't been a head coach above the high school level - 13 years ago...with no supporting staff in place.

Talent doesn't mean #### with poor leadership and we're probably going to lose two of our pro bowlers anyway. Pieces are there for a good coaching staff to be successful from a talent perspective if we get the QB figured out, but there is zero reason to believe the coaching staff being put in place is any good. Can't blame coaches for running away from the Jimmy and Joe show, I hoped I was wrong post Chud firing about how candidates would view this job, but - here we are.
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Little overboard on the Sucking teams part - We all know Buffalo finally started to look good on Defense with Pettine and Buffalo is crying right now... We also know the Jets sucked because of Sanchez / Offense and certainly not the D... Even when Revis went down, they held it together....

To me, Talent makes coaches.

That's why everyone associated with INDY / Peyton looked so smart... that's why Bellichik was a mumbling idiot 10 years past his 1st HC gig and another mediocre season away from another Hot Seat Before................. Brady.

But, I'm buying on Cleveland....
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This guy around still?.... Happy Now????

Still Love Pettine.

 
MAC_32 said:
Reaper said:
MAC_32 said:
I was dead wrong about him and couldn't be happier about it.
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Good stuff.... I really wish I could have bought stock in CLE b/c I would have.....
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I'd have been ahead of the curve but WAY behind you. He sold me in September, even before the Pittsburgh blowout. The way he handled those first three games showed me how great of a leader he is.
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Did you get to read Collision Low Crossers.....

Man, the guy is a tireless Cyborg....

That's just a great Football read IMO

 
If you think about it in the broad context. The Browns had a rookie head coach, rookie Def Cord, and a new Of Cord. emphasizing a new concept the ZBS.There was going to be growing pains adjusting to these concepts. Hence the inconsistencies in the 1st Steeler and Raven games,the Titans game (the big lead in the 1st half) and the Jacksonville debacle, I'm of the belief that it took a little time to get acclimated to every thing and am really looking forward to see how this team plays into the 2nd half of the season. Go Browns!!!!

 
Soulfly3 said:
I'm clearly getting ahead of myself, but let's look at our remaining schedule, to see where we can end up.

This will also take into account having Hawkins, Cameron and GORDON.

Hou - winnable

Atl - very winnable

Bills - winnable

Colts - unlikely win, but is at home

Bengals - at home and we just smacked them. Dalton. Very winnable

Panthers - away, but also very winnable. Hoyer pissing on Cam at QB, Gordon in gorgeous weather against a soft CAR DEF.

Ravens - away at BAL. winnable, but divisional and will be difficult.

Imo, there is only one definite loss on the remaining schedule, against the Colts. 10-6 or 11-5 is a VERY real possibility.

We really do deserve this. The playoffs. This fanbase needs this. We are playing so well, and so full of confidence.

RIDE THE LIGHTENING!!!
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Soulfly, as much as I contradict you, you are the consummate Browns fan. My thoughts are:

They can win against Houston, Atlanta,& Carolina

50/50 Buffalo

They will win 1 of 2 against Cinn. & Balt.

Lose against Indy.

Which will make them possibly 11-5 or 10-6 and honestly even if they miss the playoffs it's a helluva ride.

 
Cleveland fans have suffered for a long time, waiting for some good time to return. I'm happy for you all. From the outside looking in you guys have been great.

 
I'm classifying myself as "cautiously optimistic".

We've got to start winning the games we "should" win if we're even gonna get this monkey off of our backs.

 
dancingbones said:
I'm classifying myself as "cautiously optimistic".

We've got to start winning the games we "should" win if we're even gonna get this monkey off of our backs.
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agreed. the L vs. JAX was pitiful. imagine we're 7-2 vs. 6-3...

we'll see what hoyer really is in the 2nd half. he's gonna need to be better if we hope to make any noise in the post season (granted we keep it together for the next 7 games).

 
I get losing to Jax sucks, but we didn't pack it in after that. Distant memory imo. I like the way we gritted one out against TB (yes, much to be desired from that game) and we dominated the Bengals on the road. Everyone but Hill agrees with that.

 
Bills lose at home too! Week of football could only have gone better with a Ravens loss. But let's not get too greedy...

 
Our punt returns have been atrocious and have played roles in some losses and could have played roles if we had lost a few other games.

No question the punt return game is hurting the team and Tony Grossi makes a compelling case to sign KR/PR Josh Cribbs.

http://espncleveland.com/common/more.php?m=49&action=blog&r=17&post_id=39711

Ruling out Josh Cribbs, Browns ponder a Plan D to rescue their decaying punt return gameNov 11, 2014 -- 6:00am

The Morning Kickoff …

One to go: Putting out brushfires is in the job description of an NFL head coach. Here’s the lowdown on Mike Pettine’s rookie season through nine games:

Compensate for Josh Gordon 10-game suspension? Check.

Acclimate confused veteran-laden defense to a new system? Check.

Rejuvenate slumping long snapper? Check.

Recover from loss of Pro Bowl center? Check.

Now, about that punt return game -- the one averaging a league-low 3.2 yards per return. That is, when it’s not fumbling, muffing, fair-catching with running room ahead or trying in vain to catch punts inside the 5-yard line.

When Jim Leonhard fumbled in Cincinnati on Thursday night, he completed an ignominious trifecta. Each of the three players tried at punt returner – Travis Benjamin, Jordan Poyer, Leonhard – has fumbled.

Benjamin actually has a muff, a fumbled catch (erased by penalty) and a fumble on a return; Poyer had one bounce off his helmet visor; and now Leonhard, the dependable “punt catcher,” has lost one on a return, resulting in Cincinnati’s only points in the Browns’ 24-3 statement win.

“I almost don’t even watch special teams anymore,” sighed Josh Cribbs, who holds nine Browns franchise – and two NFL – return records.

Waiting for the call: Cribbs is the greatest special teams player in Browns history. Not just in expansion Browns history (since 1999), but in all of Browns history (since 1946).

Not only the franchise’s greatest returner with 11 punt and kickoff return touchdowns, but also its greatest gunner – a five-time special teams tackle leader in his eight seasons with the Browns. Cribbs “played like a Brown” before Pettine stole the phrase from Rex Ryan and substituted “Brown” for “Jet.”

Cribbs, 31, has remained in northeast Ohio since being released by the Browns after the 2012 season. He was released by Oakland in the 2013 training camp, then was signed by the Jets and, even at age 30, averaged 12.0 yards on punt returns in six games. Twelve-point-oh would almost equal the Browns’ longest punt return this year – 13 yards by Benjamin.

Cribbs said, “I want to play here. I’m almost … I’m going to turn down other teams because I want to stay in Cleveland. If I can’t play here, I’d probably rather retire. I really wish I could get a tryout and then I could retire as a Brown.

“They’re 32nd in the league. We have no place to go but up. Every year I was in top 10 in returns. Every year.

For two weeks, Cribbs’ name has brought tepid reaction from every person who could make it happen.

“Josh’s name hasn’t come up,” Pettine said on Oct. 27.

“I’m not in that decision-making process. I have to be concerned about the players that are here,” special teams coordinator Chris Tabor said on Oct. 30.

“I don’t think that I’m in that boat at this point in time,” said the Big Man, General Manager Ray Farmer, on Nov. 4.

Why not? I asked.

“I would ask, ‘Why should I?’” Farmer said.

To which I answered, “You have the worst punt return team in the league. He’s a franchise record-holder. He’s only 31.”

“Interesting,” Farmer responded. “I would say that the question becomes who do I want to let go to sign Josh Cribbs? Because it’s a balancing act. Do you sign someone and let go of another guy to play a role or do you keep the guys that have multiple roles?”

“It’s unfortunate man,” Cribbs said. “They need to give me a chance. I’m kind of sad by it. I’ve been instrumental to the city and the team. Just give me a tryout. You don’t even need to pick me.”

The night before the Browns played the Bengals, Farmer dined with Peter Shaffer, Cribbs’ agent, at the upscale Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse in Cincinnati. It could have been to discuss other business. Shaffer also represents other Browns, notably Joe Thomas and Phil Taylor.

This week, Cribbs received calls from an AFC coach whose team is in the thick of the playoff hunt.

It wasn’t the Browns’ Pettine.

Where to go from here: The Browns insist they will fix the problem internally, without going outside for help. Possibilities include rookie receiver Taylor Gabriel, who returned punts at Abilene Christian University but was used only on kickoffs in the Browns’ preseason, and rookie first-round cornerback Justin Gilbert, who had six career kickoff return touchdowns at Oklahoma State but only eight punt returns his freshman year.

Cribbs would give the ball back to Benjamin, who set two Browns punt return records last year and owns two return TDs in his career.

Benjamin’s stunning decline as a returner (5 returns for 9 yards, plus the aforementioned three muffs or fumbles) is amazing when you consider he is having his best season as receiver (14 receptions for 246 yards, 17.6 average, and team-high three receiving TDs).

“I think he needs another chance,” Cribbs said. “I’ve muffed punts before. But the way this regime does it, apparently those turnovers, they hate that.

“His confidence is there. They just need to believe in him. Ball security is job security. If you can’t catch the ball, you won’t be back there. I think he may have done it one too many times. And they may have lost faith in him, not necessarily him losing faith. I think he should be back there. They need more help on offensive field position.”

For the longest time, special teams were the most exciting unit of Browns teams. Now they are the reason to cover your eyes. But the Browns are in first place, partly because Pettine has put out the fires everywhere else.
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That was yesterday, last night PFT reported Josh got a workout from the Colts.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/11/11/josh-cribbs-gets-a-tryout-in-indy/

Josh Cribbs gets a tryout in IndyPosted by Mike Florio on November 11, 2014, 9:39 PM EST
Free-agent receiver Josh Cribbs has been available for anyone to sign, ever since free agency opened in March. On Tuesday, he got a rare sniff from a team trying out players.

Per a league source, Cribbs had a workout for the Colts. Joining him was receiver Willie Snead and defensive tackle Ben Bass.

Cribbs played for the Jets in 2013, after being cut by the Raiders in August. The Browns had cut Cribbs in March of that same year.

Cleveland’s MVP in 2009, Cribbs in his prime served as a versatile weapon, returning punts and kicks, running the ball, catching the ball, and playing a little quarterback from time to time.

He hasn’t been signed by the Colts. As more and more players suffer injuries throughout the league, however, Cribbs name could keep floating to the top of the free-agent lists.
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Yesterday we made a cut and a signing on the waiver wire of FBs that reversed that transaction from a month ago but for a second I thought we cut FB Keiro Small to make room for Cribbs but last night we made ANOTHER cut and haven't picked up anyone yet, so..........

-------------------------

Browns | Jacobbi McDaniel released Tue Nov 11, 06:44 PM

The Cleveland Browns released DT Jacobbi McDaniel Tuesday, Nov. 11.

 
this is the same Cribbs that was dropped by Oakland, right?

i'm not holding my breath.

but they do have cap space, and at this point i can't believe Cribbs would cost more than the vet minimum.

 
He used to be a pretty damn good gunner too. Just put him out there on the suicide squad and see what happens. As long as he's catching the ball then not putting it on the turf he'd be an upgrade.

 
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