Are any of us really that surprised? All the preseason hype, only to drop Week 1 with a thud.
I've been hopeful going into several seasons in a row since before 2020 began. But I have not considered the Browns a serious Super Bowl contender in my lifetime. Not once in my 33 years on this planet. And they proved me right again today.
They do not deserve to be crowned an elite team before they do anything to earn it. I don't even know where to begin with this one. But I'm going to try.
Zero intensity. No intensity anywhere!
Football by nature is a passionate, violent, emotional game. And if you don't come out of the tunnel on gameday knowing that, you'll end up in the nearest hospital really quick!
Or in the case of the Browns, you'll just get embarrassed on national TV, and have the entire football world laughing at you. But they may as well be the same thing. Does it really matter after today?
Aside from the opening three and out forced by the Browns defense, I saw no energy whatsoever. Guys were missing tackles, not being physical with Dallas receivers when they made catches, and not rallying to the football and putting the smackdown on anybody.
And offensively, Cleveland was just timid. I know Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin are out (again). I know Nick Chubb is out for a few more weeks. And I know Andy Dickerson is the now offensive line coach.
But this team didn't play with any energy or intensity at all. And most of the time, when you come out flat and uninspired, you're destined to lose. And low energy screws up everything else. Starting with the defense...
Missing Person's Report: Entire Browns Defense
Even though it's officially a new season, I've heard a few people still refer to the Browns' defense as "top-ranked." That needs to stop. They've lost the right to have that label. They lost it when they got smoked in the playoffs by Houston last year. And it's especially gone after today.
Last year's defense, and the posers in their place today, couldn't be more different from one another.
One group of Browns players played like a bunch of cornered Pit Bulls. They rallied to the football, and they covered the field and opposing wideouts extremely tight. And if you were either brave or stupid enough to go right at them, they'd hit you so hard you'd see stars, and hear the voices of your ancestors!
But the group that "played" the Cowboys today would get smoked by Ohio State's offense. I'd put money on it.
There were so many defensive mistakes, and Dallas exploited every single one like a great football team is supposed to do. No one was defending the flats, which meant Dak Prescott could play pitch and catch all day long with his wideouts. He just picked the Browns apart.
No one wrapped up on tackles which led to several explosive plays for a Dallas offense that was already considered dangerous coming in. And our corners were routinely burnt on pass plays. They were rarely in position to actually make a play on the ball. And for the rare times Dak did miss? The Browns' DBs simply lucked out. They never stopped Dallas.
I don't know where the actual Browns defense was, but Jim Schwartz should be ashamed of his unit, and himself. He had all offseason to prepare them to get after it, and this was the best he could do? I'm not buying it. Not for a second. C'mon Jim. Do better.
Where is Watson?
I want to know where all Watson's defenders are at. The same people who crapped on Baker Mayfield while he was still here, were all too happy to defend Watson for the last couple seasons. Even though everyone with a brain knows the defense won most of his starts for him last year.
Where are you all at? Got any excuses for your $230 Million man after this clunker?
It's okay to admit the Browns made a mistake trading for Watson. It's okay to admit it might've been better trading up to draft Stroud, or sticking with Mayfield since he's lighting it up down there in Tampa as a Buccaneer.
But it's clear that Watson is not the answer for the Browns. There have been no signs of it ever since Houston traded him here after we let them rob us.
My condolences are with Watson for losing his dad a couple days ago. I don't wish that on anyone. But he's never been the guy the Browns have expected him to be. Not even remotely. He hasn't been worth $20 Million, let alone $230 Million.
Today he just looked out of whack. He overthrew his receivers several times, chucked the ball up at least three times instead of taking a potential sack, and threw a pair of picks while going 24-45 for just 169 yards.
Watson looked like a guy who was struggling to get used to an offensive system in his rookie year. Not a three-time Pro Bowler expected to be the man for a supposed Super Bowl contender. This was embarrassing.
I know Dallas is good. I know their pass rush is nasty. I know the Browns have a new offensive line coach in Andy Dickerson. But where do the excuses end for Watson? He's not it. And I'll still probably think that even if he bounces back. He just doesn't have it. Whatever "it" is.
He's had two years to get up to speed and do what he's expected to do. And he's just not doing it.
It must be nice having guaranteed money, instead of an incentive-driven contract like everybody else. I'm starting to wonder if the money has made him soft and comfortable.
He certainly doesn't LOOK hungry to win. Heck, I saw him laughing when the Browns were down 20+ points late in the game. That made my blood boil! True competitors would be furious after a game like this!
The time is winding down on the Deshaun Watson experiment. It'll end sooner rather than later. And unless an act of God occurs, and there's a Lombardi Trophy somewhere at the end of all this, the experiment will be an abject failure.
Missing Nick Chubb and Bill Callahan
I know two guys don't make all the difference in a team sport like football. But if Bill Callahan, our former offensive line coach, and Nick Chubb were both here, things might have been a little different today.
I don't know if the Browns would have beaten Dallas if the Cowboys had still played as well as they did today. But I know it would've been a lot more competitive.
When the Browns' offensive line was coached by Bill Callahan, they were a cohesive unit. They were rarely manhandled in the trenches. And Bill would have figured out a way to slow down Micah Parsons enough for this offense to actually get rolling. He was a wizard at figuring out the right schemes and adjustments.
Coach Callahan is an O-Line mastermind. He drilled Browns linemen on the little things like proper footwork, positioning, pulling on blocks, and the right angles for leverage. And while I'm happy for him that he got a chance to be on his son's coaching staff in Tennessee, I'd be lying if I said the Browns didn't sorely miss him today. Andy Dickerson is going to struggle trying to even remotely fill Coach Callahan's shoes.
And Week 5 cannot come soon enough. That's when Nick Chubb returns. I don't yet know if he'll be the same guy he was before he went down last season. But just having him out there forces defense to stay honest. It forces them to account for the run, and takes pressure off Watson and the passing game.
Nick Chubb sometimes does the same thing Myles Garrett does. Both are such impact players, that just their presence alone is enough to make an opposing unit think twice about pinning their ears back and coming after people. If they do, and both guys are playing well? They get punished for it.
But big number 24 can't come back soon enough. And if he's anywhere close to what he used to be? I can't wait to hear the crowd in Cleveland explode, or see him put up big numbers!
But for now, the Browns will have to manage without him for at least three more games. And next week it doesn't get any easier. Jacksonville is always tough, and the Browns will have their hands full for sure.
But they need to at least come out and compete much harder than they did today. Or it'll be one of the ugliest starts to a season in recent memory. And we've seen ugly as Browns fans, so that's saying something!
Hang in there, Dawg Pound. Decompress. Breathe deep. And if you haven't already, don't destroy anything in your house. Keep the faith.
Statistical Leaders
Watson: 24-45, 169 yards, TD, 2 INTs.
Ford: 12 carries, 44 yards, TD
Njoku, 4 receptions, 44 yards
Source: ESPN
Picture Credit: northcoastharbor.org
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