Now that I've had some time to really reflect on yesterday's disaster, I'm ready to get out the old grade book and put down just how I thought the Browns performed yesterday.
Here are my grades for Week 1:
Offense
- Offensive Line - Hard to believe this is the same line from last season. Just like the preseason, Anderson seemed to always have pressure coming at him. These guys had better improve in a hurry with the dominate Steelers defense coming town. Grade: C-
- Tight Ends - Winslow caught the lone Browns touchdown of the game, finishing with 47 yards on 4 receptions. Heiden also had one catch for 9 yards. Grade: B-
- Wide Receivers - With Stallworth, Jurevicius and Cribbs riding the injury bench, the door was wide open for Braylon to take control. Instead, he had two catches for 14 yards as well as some HUGE drops. Grade: D
- Running Backs - Jamal played decent, considering the line wasn't blocking very well and he was a game-time decision thanks to an injury suffered in preseason. If he can get 62 yards under those circumstances, I'm confident he'll only get better as the season goes on. Grade: B+
- Quarterbacks - It's no secret I'm a Brady Quinn fan. But, I root for the Browns first and was hoping D.A. would prove me wrong. He hasn't yet. He did suffer some from dropped passes that were right on the money, but he was also way off the mark on others. His numbers, 11-of-24 for 114 yards and a TD just doesn't cut the mustard. Grade: D
- Summary - They had one good, 16-play drive that resulted in a TD. Other than that, they did nothing. They looked nothing like the "high-powered" offense from last season; instead they looked a lot like the lackluster offense that finished the season last December. Overall Grade: C-
Defense
- Defensive Line - We paid some big money during the offseason to improve this area of the defense. Yesterday, it didn't show. I'm not ready to give up on them yet, but like the O-Line, they'd better improve in a hurry. Grade: D
- Linebackers - D'Qwell Jackson led the team with 11 tackles, and McGinest did have a big hit on Romo (too little, too late if you ask me), but overall the LBs just weren't the playmakers we need them to be. Grade: D+
- Safeties & Corners - With the exception of Eric Wright's interception in the end zone, I couldn't even tell if there were any safeties or corners playing yesterday. Romo had a field day, throwing for 320 yards. What do you think Roesthlisberger is going to do to them? Grade: D
- Summary - What can I say. When all positions are averaging a D, what other grade can you give the defense as a whole? They gave up 28 points, and they're lucky it wasn't more. Overall Grade: D
Special Teams and Coaches
- Special Teams - Phil Dawson made an easy-for-him field goal in the fourth quarter ... too bad he was booed by the touchdown-hungry fans for being out on the field. As for the kickoff returns, well Steptoe is no Josh Cribbs. Grade: C
- Coaches - Chud's play-calling was boring, Tucker's defense was like Swiss cheese and Romeo did nothing in terms of making adjustments. These three had better come together this week and decide on a different game plan for Pittsburgh, and the rest of the season. Grade: D
What do you think? Am I being to hard on the Browns? After all, Dallas is a good team. Am I not being hard enough on the Browns? After all, this is our season, right?
I think Anderson's getting a bum rap on his play. Imagine his numbers had Braylon hauled in those four passes that he dropped. Not only would he have a higher completion percentage and more yards, but he'd likely have more TDs because of the drives being kept alive longer. Eleven of 24 is just not representative of how he played.
ReplyDeleteThe Browns just need to tighten up a few things and get a little healthier and they'll be alright. It's a long season and they can make the necessary adjustments.
One last thing, why don't the beat reporters push back on Crennel in the press conferences when he gives that bogus answer about why he kicked the field goal? Come on, make him answer why he kept his team still three scores behind with only 10 minutes to play.
It may be a little too early to look at off-seasons moves, but here are my suggestions.
ReplyDelete1. Fire Romeo and hire a new coach(Cowher or Marty).
2. Fire Mel Tucker.
3. Get a free agent Inside LB that can tackle. (for a loss not down field after 6 yds like Andre Davis).
4. Choose Anderson or Quinn.
5. Draft Stud LB and CB.
I'm right with Jim. You give the wide receivers and offensive line poor plays, and then give Anderson a D?
ReplyDeleteShould he block, pass and catch all by himself?
Edwards' play was an abomination. The receivers were an F, and the defense was an F.
Yet all Browns fans can do is boo Anderson. Makes a lot of sense to me.