Part 1
Sorry to hear that news,
@Buckeneye.
Sorry for your loss!
I’ll say again, I appreciate your breakdowns and analysis while the rest of us shitpost about how we hate the team. Adds value and hope it continues.
Thank you for that. I won't drone on, it is what it is. We all have to find a way to keep on living, some days it's just going to be more weird than others.
Looking back might be the worst thing we can all do. Because we find ourselves longing to make things as they were, as opposed to making them as good as they can be now. Anywho.
Before I start, I'm going to warn anyone who reads this - it's long winded as all hell. Going to break it into 3 posts for that very reason. If you stick with me to the end, that's outstanding.
If you don't? Well you took my warning and I can't blame you for it.
So now that I have everyone's attention, to quote from Halo
"Now I will talk, and you will listen"
Part 1
I have no issue with your opinions, but your opinion of your opinion is a little much. But yes, the interaction with Litl was on my mind, and if you don't like him singling you out, then maybe you should be aware of that too.
This is fair point and I went back after you posted this to further understand that little blow up. I had made mention that it would be concerning to watch a somewhat efficient offense with Keenum at the helm. Concerning for Baker, mostly. Obviously he's on the cusp of a "pay or not pay (yet?) type of off-season. I also followed up that post linking season stats as respective full time starters.
The response I received was...
I know that you are not a Baker fan but that statement is one of your funnier ones.
Funny? Oh like I amuse you? Like I'm a clown or something? (Had to toss that in, don't really mean it) But this post, the one I'm quoting here, was a not-so-thinly veiled insult.
I followed up by posting facts between Baker and Keenum showing their complete seasons are so close that it is within a percentile in every meaningful category. Even the one that isn't meaningful - rushing attempts/yards. Which was still within a single percent of each other. I also (at that point slightly sarcastically given the response to my reasoning) mentioned the similarities in offensive coaches and philosophy. Down to even saying I would link articles talking about the influence Stef has received from Shurmur and Kubiak. Both are better coordinators and offensive minds than actual head coaches. The only real difference(s) between that Vikings team and the Browns of last year was that the Vikes had superior receivers. The Browns had a superior Oline and running backs. Given the comparative weaknesses and strengths between Case and Baker, I'd favor the running game and Oline being improved over having the perimeter weapons for both of them.
I asked what further funny takes I could clear up? Genuinely meant that as well... didn't hear anything after that post. Which I put a decent amount of thought into I might add. Now that I think of it, the follow up, which came much later was that I am a "Baker Basher". That is the extent my thought-out rebuttal received. Peachy. I trust you can understand why anyone would be annoyed.
As for my perceived attitude? Here are my main issues with talking football as it boils down.
- Was there anything contributed to the conversation?
- Is your opinion of any originality or is this rehashed from a meme, site, etc etc? That you're simply tossing in the microwave and serving up?
- (The biggest) have you gone back to watch ANY of the film for yourself?
Getting ahead of myself on that 3rd part - football isn't a game played, coached or managed by geniuses (not my words, I'm just borrowing)
Barring someone holding something back in these threads for years, I'm going to assume that I'm the only person on this board who actually pays the money for the All-22 film on NFL game pass, along with subscribing to a handful of channels with further cutups and film available between the pro's and college. I would also venture that I'm likely the only one who puts a pretty respectable amount of time to go back and watch that film. Why? I'm passionate about football. More importantly, I make time for the topics I'm most passionate about because I really can't stand being a run-of-the-mill fan. I've sought to expand my understanding and improve my command of the game since the day I last walked off the field as a younger guy playing (2016). I think anyone who holds something in such a regard and wants to contribute to a board like this should do it. Football, as it is presented to the fans in broadcast, is in such a limited scope. The broadcast view is narrow, and the game itself so fast that not even the greatest football minds base their decisions without going back over and fine tooth combing that footage. So if you're not doing what I'm doing, then how much can one really offer outside of a lukewarm opinion without a whole hell of a lot backing it up. For example, I remarked the pass rush the first few weeks was underwhelming. Then I went back to watch and saw the pass rush was actually pretty damn good. The pressure rates were also outstanding and that the Dline was getting after it. It's just you played a stretch of QB's with the mobility to neutralize that pass rush, until the Bears planted poor Justin square in the pocket with one of the worst set of tackles in the NFL.
"Opinion is the lowest form of human knowledge; it
requires no accountability,
no understanding." - George Elliot.
This commitment to seeking knowledge and understanding of what we see for 3 hours on Sunday has really helped shape what I post here. I put in the effort, the focus and most importantly the time.
While this stance of mind sounds slightly arrogant by saying "I put in the work", I will counter by saying this - if you haven't equally put in the work, but expect to be equal ground, whom is truly the more arrogant sounding then?
So forgive my "snark" but when I see things like....
I haven't reviewed the film
(received a like from
@LitlBuck, by the way)
I don't care who the opponent is. The Browns are built to run the ball.
Which is like saying "I don't care if we're playing Tom Brady, sit in base and don't mix up your looks because we're an "xx insert coverage team here"
And for as much as the Browns are built to run the ball, the Ravens have been equally as built and adept at stopping it.
They used to run it no matter what the other team was doing. And they were winning games when they did that.
Yes, no matter WHAT the other team was doing. Except for....
(2018)
HOU
LAC
Balt (both times)
NO
(2019)
In 2019
TEN
RAMS
Niners
NE
DEN
PIT
BALT
CIN
(2020)
BALT
PIT
LV
HOU (skin of our teeth W)
2021
Zona
NE
PIT
BALT
You'll have to forgive me for rolling my eyes just a little, because this is an incredibly short-sighted take that isn't based in fact nor reality. The Browns HAVE run the ball in previous years at teams and teams have limited that game. We've seen losses to better teams dating back to Baker's rookie season to prove that.
You see, friend, you acknowledge that this team is built to run the ball (they are), then you have to accept that there are defenses built and well coached enough to limit that running game. You can't have one exist and not the other, that isn't the chess match that football really is. For years we watched great running teams rush head first into a Silver Bullet wall... It was what we wanted them to do. Until along came Purdue, along came Philip Rivers, along came Vince Young, Juice Williams, Chad Henne, (one time was enough) Matt Flynn, Mark Sanchez, Deshaun Watson etc etc. You cannot lean so heavily on one aspect of your game and demand that aspect be dominant against other elite athletes and professionals who are well coached and determined to stop it. Vice versa, the Bucks leaned so heavily on our running game that we depended on our defense, turnover margin and Krenzel to pull a small handful of plays out of his ass to get wins. We would watch our offenses unable to take advantage of better matchups that were needed to keep them from bogging down.
This picture was about par the course that the Browns dealt with all damn game save for (by my count) 3 plays when they didn't get a +1 box count (2 high) It's something they'll have to contend with going forward as well. Because the one marginally explosive threat we had (OBJ) is gone. Toss in a QB like Baker who is about as up and down as it gets along with a porous RT situation now.
The Cincy game was fool's gold, which is exactly why I didn't post after that. I also texted a friend "Would like to see Baker without a positive game script now". I.E. when the running game isn't making life easy, I need to see your ability. A large, and I do mean LARGE contingent of Browns fans were convinced that once Odell was gone things would magically hum again.
It's like anything, people need simplicity. They need simple answers to complex questions - Who is the hero and who is the villain? (In a matter of speaking)
That's 10 bodies within 9 yards of the ball. That's a defense not giving a damn about your QB or receivers because even if you hit a couple throws, they still don't think you can do it all game.
I might sit down with a professional poker player and bullshit my way into winning a hand or two, but I ultimately know that pot is going to be his. Because he's the professional who has put the time into mastering his craft, he has seen my style of play before and he is adept enough to take advantage of my weaknesses by structuring his strength around it.
The Ravens have limited opposing rushing games the entire season. They've been doing it well for 20 years with the exception of a season here or there. The Browns do not have the tools necessary to punish this type of defensive play, the counter required in order to force Baltimore's hand. Though they're are adjustments that can be made. I'm going to detail those along with my issues with Baker in the next post.
