Dolphins at Browns(-2.5)

[jlb1705]

Before this game kicked off, I had been thinking that this was a game the Browns were supposed to win. The Dolphins are destined for last place in the AFC East and personnel-wise, they didn't seem to have anybody that I thought the Browns couldn't handle. That's the kind of team the Browns have to take care of if they plan on improving on the last decade at all.

Having read some of the recaps after the game though, I came to the conclusion that this was a game that they shouldn't have won - yet in a fashion atypical of the Browns they found a way to do it.

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.

Speaking of toughness, Phil Taylor is earning my respect. He apparently sprained his MCL and was back out on the field three plays later. Ended up on the field for a lot of snaps, which can be tough for a rookie DT under any circumstances. The more I see of him, the more I'm liking the pick. Overall the defensive front is still getting pushed around too much, but I think he could be part of the answer rather than the problem.

Speaking of injuries, I guess I didn't realize the extent to which Cribbs was dinged up. In reading the PD after the game, it seems that the Browns were begging him to find a way to make himself available for the game, knowing they were already going to be without Hillis. It certainly explains why he wasn't returning kicks, and it makes his contributions at WR even more impressive.

Massaquoi was hurt too. Add that in with Cribbs & Hillis, was it really reasonable to expect the Browns to win this game? Was it reasonable to expect it after they lost time of possession 2:1? Instead of finding a way to lose, they found a way to win. I'm not going to fool myself into thinking this really means something for the future - I've been a Browns fan long enough to know that they never really turn the corner - but for once and for a change it was nice to see.

 

[AKAK]

Before this game kicked off, I had been thinking that this was a game the Browns were supposed to win. The Dolphins are destined for last place in the AFC East and personnel-wise, they didn't seem to have anybody that I thought the Browns couldn't handle. That's the kind of team the Browns have to take care of if they plan on improving on the last decade at all.

Having read some of the recaps after the game though, I came to the conclusion that this was a game that they shouldn't have won - yet in a fashion atypical of the Browns they found a way to do it.

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.

Speaking of toughness, Phil Taylor is earning my respect. He apparently sprained his MCL and was back out on the field three plays later. Ended up on the field for a lot of snaps, which can be tough for a rookie DT under any circumstances. The more I see of him, the more I'm liking the pick. Overall the defensive front is still getting pushed around too much, but I think he could be part of the answer rather than the problem.

Speaking of injuries, I guess I didn't realize the extent to which Cribbs was dinged up. In reading the PD after the game, it seems that the Browns were begging him to find a way to make himself available for the game, knowing they were already going to be without Hillis. It certainly explains why he wasn't returning kicks, and it makes his contributions at WR even more impressive.

Massaquoi was hurt too. Add that in with Cribbs & Hillis, was it really reasonable to expect the Browns to win this game? Was it reasonable to expect it after they lost time of possession 2:1? Instead of finding a way to lose, they found a way to win. I'm not going to fool myself into thinking this really means something for the future - I've been a Browns fan long enough to know that they never really turn the corner - but for once and for a change it was nice to see.

GPIA.

Was just thinking that it's pretty good, I think to be 2-1 after 3.

When the schedule came out I thought at the time it was really going to be interesting to see what happens. You've got a new coaching staff obviously a team that's young at QB, WR, and not particularly deep at a lot of others. So, there's some adjustment to the WCO and even to what Jauron is trying to do. (I think Taylor Rubin have been awfully good and Sheard show up a bunch, I mean, they're all coming along... I really liked the blitz packages yesterday) And you never know with injuries just how much thinner you'll be at any point in the season, the Steinbach thing really was one of things that I though would (and might still) cost them 2 or 3 games. I know some of you aren't a fan but, an argument could be made that he's the second best player on the Offense after Thomas. (Regardless, the thing we needed to be able to hang our hat on was Hillis running left)

But, you know you get a relatively weak first 10 games, and it's hard to know how ready these guys are going to be to implement the system especially with no mini camps to speak of. It wasn't particularly pretty yesterday, but, no one is going to remember that later. And anytime a young team wins without their best offensive skill player it's a big deal.

Anyway, young team, 2 and 1 is good. Need to keep improving and getting guys in the system. I like the play calling by the coaches so far. I think if the players give them some more confidence in what they can do, it will snowball on itself. (and at least Hillis is just some antibiotics away from coming back and not actually dinged, that we won and gave him a week off in the process is a big deal)

I think these guys have 7 wins in them if reasonably healthy. Unfortunately, like the tribe's season, we might be 7-4 with 5 games to play and we might find out that we really weren't all that good after all. We'll see.

 

[BigJim]

The Browns just so happened to have three of the worst teams in the league on the schedule to start the season. They beat two of them, which is great, but I still don't think they're headed toward any more than 6 wins. My best guess is 5 at this point. There's a reason they're like 29th in the league in the computer ratings. I'd love to be wrong of course.

 

[Mike80]

The Browns just so happened to have three of the worst teams in the league on the schedule to start the season. They beat two of them, which is great, but I still don't think they're headed toward any more than 6 wins. My best guess is 5 at this point. There's a reason they're like 29th in the league in the computer ratings. I'd love to be wrong of course.

With a team that is as young as kinda important positions, they have to learn how to win on the NFL level.

We'll see if they'll do it or not, but I'd say at least they are 2-1. About half of the league would kill to be 2-1 right now.