Cleveland Browns (2011 season)

[jlb1705]

SI.com: Peter King

Revelation of the day, Cleveland division. There was something I liked about the Browns post-game Sunday, after escaping with a 17-16 win over the Dolphins. With the players screaming for a "Victory Monday,'' a day off that normally follows a win, which then is followed by the normal day off on Tuesday, coach Pat Shurmur told the players he'd get them in and out as quick as he could on Monday, but it wasn't going to be a full day off because next week is the bye, and a game with Tennessee awaited this week, and he wanted to do everything he could to make sure they prepared fully for this game against a non-division foe. And not a peep was heard from the players. "Multiple reasons why that's an important game,'' said receiver Muhammad Massaquoi. "You don't want to go into a bye with a loss, and you want to be sure you keep a good thing going. We still have work to do here.'' Of the three Rust Belters not accustomed to feeling so good on a Sunday, Shurmur's idea was not only the right one, but one his players embraced. And that's the kind of team that can grow into something.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/peter_king/09/26/Week3/index.html#ixzz1Z4mRCeHq
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You can tell how much this team wants to become good - from Haden's reaction to the snafu in week one to Cribbs' effort this week. It's slowly eroding my resistance to optimism.

 

[Buckeneye]

Sheard has been a steal. You have to take the weak opposition into account, but yesterday was the first time in a long time that I can remember expecting a Browns player to get pressure on every single snap.

The couple times he lined up on Jake Long's side impressed the hell out of me. Great variance of pass rushing moves he showed.

 

[jlb1705]

The couple times he lined up on Jake Long's side impressed the hell out of me. Great variance of pass rushing moves he showed.

Jake Long got his ass handed to him a couple times yesterday, which was fun.

Every time Henne dropped back to pass I was yelling, "KILL HIM, FUCKING KILL HIM!" I didn't mind the late hit Taylor had (or Sheard's personal foul either, for that matter) even though it was at a critical point in the game. That stupid bitch was running around all day and sliding late. He needed to be taught a lesson.

 

[Buckeneye]

Want to run and pick up yards like a big boy? Prepare to be smacked a couple times. That hit on Toothlessburger last night should have been Henne instead.


That said. I agree the defensive front needs to be consistently stronger against the run. '
However given our past performances, and the fact that Bush is always a threat on the edge and Daniel Thomas might be a great little RB - I think we fared quite well overall.

Sheard getting that late safety would have been tits though.

 

[NFBuck]

Jake Long got his ass handed to him a couple times yesterday, which was fun.

Every time Henne dropped back to pass I was yelling, "KILL HIM, [censored]ING KILL HIM!" I didn't mind the late hit Taylor had (or Sheard's personal foul either, for that matter) even though it was at a critical point in the game. That stupid bitch was running around all day and sliding late. He needed to be taught a lesson.

I heard Vern Gholston '07 flashbacks watching Long yesterday. Sheard reminds me a lot of Big Vern at tOSU.

 

[LitlBuck]

Very impressed with Haden, Sheard & Taylor. Some good young pieces to build a defense around. Sheldon is just too old to be effective anymore. Primo NFL defenses have 2 good CB's. We need a legit #2 man out there.

Offense started very slow again. I was pleasantly surprised by Hardesty though. If he stays healthy we could have a very solid rotation with him and Hillis. Great finish. That usually isn't the type of game that goes our way.

However I'm seeing Robo becoming more and more of an after-thought in this offense. MoMass is just making some good plays at this point.

let's not forget Greg Little who was pretty well bashed on when the Browns selected him in the draft. I have not seen him drop one this year and he is pretty physical after the catch. Probably, one of the reasons along with Mass, why he is seeing more time than Robo who I really like

Love the way Shurmur conducted the last 3 minutes of the game. So composed of like our other coaches who we have seen implode in prior seasons.

 

[Bucklion]

If anything gave me a sense of optimism besides the win, which is obvious, it was the 4th down play on the final drive. Not only was it a calm swing pass to pick up a first down, it was a clam swing pass by our 2nd year QB to our 2nd year RB who hadn't done diddle-dick until this week. Good hands, good demeanor, calm play with the game on the line. Loved it.

 

[LitlBuck]

From the games thread

First of all, it was clear just how much this team missed Peyton Hillis. While Hardesty filled in admirably, he's not the same kind of threat either running the ball or catching it in the flat. It was kind of disappointing to hear it was strep throat of all things the kept him from playing. It seems like the kind of thing that would typically keep a Browns player out and make you question their toughness. Who would dare question the toughness of Peyton Hillis though? I sure won't.

from what I have on Cleveland.com and some twitters before the game, I think Peyton had more than your average strep throat. I heard there was some upchucking involved. I will agree with you that Hardesty and Hillis are not the same type of running back but I don't expect them to be when one outweighs the other by 20+ pounds. I don't know if you watched the game yesterday or just went by what you read but Hardesty played a pretty good ballgame for a rookie RB and that included picking up some blitzes. I think given the chance and if he avoids the injury nemesis he could be a pretty good running back in this league. Regarding Hillis, not many people have called him out regarding the number of playing/games he has missed over the past couple years. I will admit that when he is at full steam with the ball it is a very good runner but I am not one to anoint him as one of the best running backs to ever put on a Cleveland Browns uniform not to mention the entire NFL right now. He has a lot to prove IMO

 

[jlb1705]

From the games thread

from what I have on Cleveland.com and some twitters before the game, I think Peyton had more than your average strep throat. I heard there was some upchucking involved. I will agree with you that Hardesty and Hillis are not the same type of running back but I don't expect them to be when one outweighs the other by 20+ pounds. I don't know if you watched the game yesterday or just went by what you read but Hardesty played a pretty good ballgame for a rookie RB and that included picking up some blitzes. I think given the chance and if he avoids the injury nemesis he could be a pretty good running back in this league. Regarding Hillis, not many people have called him out regarding the number of playing/games he has missed over the past couple years. I will admit that when he is at full steam with the ball it is a very good runner but I am not one to anoint him as one of the best running backs to ever put on a Cleveland Browns uniform not to mention the entire NFL right now. He has a lot to prove IMO

I did watch the game (or at least the parts that WKRC didn't fuck up with technical difficulties).

First of all, I wasn't comparing Hillis & Hardesty in terms of style. Of course they are different types of players. I was comparing them in terms of the amount of respect opposing defenses have to give them right now. Hillis commands the attention of opposing defenses, and draws some of it away from the young QB. Hardesty does not. I do agree that Hardesty played well in all phases of the starting RB job yesterday though.

 

[jlb1705]

If anything gave me a sense of optimism besides the win, which is obvious, it was the 4th down play on the final drive because it wasn't a fucking toss sweep to the fullback.

FIFY.

 

[NFBuck]

FIFY.

I miss Lawrence Vickers.

 

[Bucklion]

I miss Lawrence Vickers.

But not Maurice Carthon.

 

[y0yoyoin]

From the games thread

from what I have on Cleveland.com and some twitters before the game, I think Peyton had more than your average strep throat. I heard there was some upchucking involved. I will agree with you that Hardesty and Hillis are not the same type of running back but I don't expect them to be when one outweighs the other by 20+ pounds. I don't know if you watched the game yesterday or just went by what you read but Hardesty played a pretty good ballgame for a rookie RB and that included picking up some blitzes. I think given the chance and if he avoids the injury nemesis he could be a pretty good running back in this league. Regarding Hillis, not many people have called him out regarding the number of playing/games he has missed over the past couple years. I will admit that when he is at full steam with the ball it is a very good runner but I am not one to anoint him as one of the best running backs to ever put on a Cleveland Browns uniform not to mention the entire NFL right now. He has a lot to prove IMO

hillis was puking his brains out and they sent him home...combine that with strep throat and he shouldnt be playing...note that the browns sent him home...not hillis being a pussy and wanting to go home...i understand players play sick all the time, like percy harvin did yesterday as he was seen on tv cameras puking on the sideline...but hillis's condition was different...he should be fine for this weekend but i was very happy with what i saw out of hardesty...hillis wore down completely at the end of last year and he needs a timeshare at RB if he wants to stay healthy and successful

 

[tsteele316]

I miss Lawrence Vickers.

i don't. he's riding the pine in houston because they realized that he's a one trick pony, whose trick is going the way of the dodo in today's nfl.

 

[Buckeneye]

let's not forget Greg Little who was pretty well bashed on when the Browns selected him in the draft.

Of some of the good things I saw yesterday, I had forgotten Little. That catch he had on the final drive, and the subsequent YAC to pick up the 1st down were just freaking awesome.

Great strength & balance.