[the dude]

Goat Hue Jackson – kicked a field goal with a team that doesn’t have a win on the 2 with just enough time to give Eli the ball back and allow him to put 7 on the board.

Hue Jackson is a loser.

[Shooter]

If the browns had any semblance of a functional offense, the defense on this team would be solid. Good or great? Hell no, they’re secondary is abysmal, but up front these guys can actually play, and they make plays. If they weren’t constantly having to try and make up for the shortcomings of a putrid offense, and could cover some WR’s with at least a level of “trying” (shout out to Calhoun as well on this one, he’s developing), the defense could keep the Browns in games.

The offensive line of this team is, I just don’t have words for it. If they aren’t letting every defender into the backfield on just about every play, they’re getting hit for false starts, holding, etc. That line is absolutely crippling this team, and sucking the life away from some players that can actually get the job done. I’m sold on Pryor, and I can’t believe I’m saying that, but I am. Dude can play. Coleman is finally starting to get back in the groove after breaking the hand and missing all those games. He’s a playmaker. He torched that DB and snapped his ankles on his TD, that was sick. Crowell is hampered by that shit O-line. He can roll for 150 yards one week, and the next run for 36. Part of that I have to put on him, but most of it is the line. He’s constantly hit and harassed in the backfeild, I’d love to see how well Ezekiel Elliot or Demarco Murray would look running behind this O-line. I don’t think it would be pretty.

This team has GOT to fix that line. It’s just a joke what these guys are doing out there, and it’s destroying anything else this team can do. On either side of the ball.

[Dawgstyle]

While I don’t disagree that the line is a mess, a QB that can make quick reads and get the ball out quickly would make them look a LOT better too. I just don’t know that the QB we need is in this draft or FA market. Granted, the injury to Bitonio and the fact that Irving is healthy really aren’t helping our cause either (Irving has no business on an NFL offensive line, how did this kid have a first round grade???). My hope is that we address the line in FA and in the early and often in middle part of the draft (rounds 3-5).

If we do end up with the number one pick, my hope is that we take the BPA and not reach for a QB after an 0-16 season. However, if we do go 0-16, I fully expect us to reach. We knew it was going to be bad. Several pundits picked us to go 0-16 at the start of the season. We’ve been competitive, and if not for blatant interference by the refs and a fluke incident with a kicker, this team has 3 wins right now. That’s not what happened, of course, but if you watched the games, you know what I’m talking about. With the 49ers having an easier strength of schedule, a tie with San Francisco gets us the 2nd pick in the draft.

The good news is that I’m predicting we don’t lose this Sunday at home. Bye-schmye, at this point it feels great not to have my weekend wrecked with a loss.

Additionally, am I crazy or should Duke Johnson be getting the bulk of the snaps? The kid is a great blocker (as was already pointed out), he fights for (and normally gets) every yard he can, and that stiff arm…
Did I mention he’s an amazing receiver out of the backfield? Crow is a stronger North/South runner, but I think Duke is far and away the more complete back. Behind even an average offensive line (which I certainly understand we do NOT have), I think Johnson has the potential to be a top 10 back in this league between his rushing and receiving skills.

At this point, I’m just embracing the ending. I think the game against Cincinnati is winnable (given Cincy’s struggles, Joe Haden’s dominance of A.J. Green and the extra week to prepare), but I honestly can’t see us beating the Bills, Chargers or Steelers, who are all going to be playing for a playoff spot. I think the reality is that the 2016 Browns are an 0-16 team with 1-15 being the absolute best case scenario in terms of our record. Luckily, the 49ers are playing the Bears this week with the Jets, Falcons, Rams and Seahawks on their schedule. If the 49ers win this week (against the 2-9 Bears), Cleveland wining against Cincy will not hurt our draft stock at all.

Also, interestingly enough, the fading Eagles play the Bengals, Redskins, Ravens, Giants and Cowboys. As such, I suspect their record of 5-6 will be 6-10 by the season’s end, which means the Browns have a very real shot at owning 2 top 10 picks in the 2017 draft.

818 mph. 13,723 feet. 3 second burn.
https://youtu.be/hy-3bb1Nqy0

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