Week 3 - Baltimore Ravens (1-1) at Cleveland Browns (1-1)

[jimmypowder]

I don't know. I think it's more like "now we're almost even."

nah he would have to do this for 5 seasons to be even

[PolishRifle]

I know there is a lot to address after this game because there was a lot of missed tackles and defensive concerns and Joe was not as accurate as I would have liked but is any one else concerned about Marlon Brown over the last three games? He is not getting open and I am a little concerned. 

 

He wasn't as sharp as last week, that's for sure. Alot of that had to do with a very good Browns D and Joe and his WR still need to get on the same page. It's just week 3 of our new offense and we're getting better. I can't complain too much.

[darklight1216]

nah he would have to do this for 5 seasons to be even

You're right. Maybe this year they can just not TP his house or leave the coal out of his Christmas stocking... just this one time.

[jimmypowder]

You're right. Maybe this year they can just not TP his house or leave the coal out of his Christmas stocking... just this one time.

lol well maybe

[BmoreBird22]

I can agree with that - point is that he needs to be used more efficiently for a while before being labelled a bust as some are doing here.

Yes, very much so. He's always good against the run with his ability to correctly read runs and force cutbacks into tacklers if he doesn't make the tackle, but he's not being given a fair shot at playing his game. 

[hn68wb4]

this browns team is giving teams fits

ill admit i didnt think we would win after Cleveland scored again, glad i was wrong, the defense stepped up at the end and finally stopped that Browns offense - big part of that is that our offense can hold on to the ball and give our D a rest, something we couldnt do last year. Also we are getting pressure still, even though we have 2 elite pass rushers in Doom and Suggs and Ngata, Upshaw, and McPhee can get there, getting to the QB shouldnt be a problem, but obviously it is and has been the past couple years. I'm not too worried about the secondary, Jimmy still played great and next week i think Webb should be back starting outside, i hope Will Hills suspension will be ended by next game and thatll help as well, Asa saved us from being down another FG but on D he really shouldnt be anything more than the #3 slot guy right now.

[cobrajet]

this browns team is giving teams fits

ill admit i didnt think we would win after Cleveland scored again, glad i was wrong, the defense stepped up at the end and finally stopped that Browns offense - big part of that is that our offense can hold on to the ball and give our D a rest, something we couldnt do last year. Also we are getting pressure still, even though we have 2 elite pass rushers in Doom and Suggs and Ngata, Upshaw, and McPhee can get there, getting to the QB shouldnt be a problem, but obviously it is and has been the past couple years. I'm not too worried about the secondary, Jimmy still played great and next week i think Webb should be back starting outside, i hope Will Hills suspension will be ended by next game and thatll help as well, Asa saved us from being down another FG but on D he really shouldnt be anything more than the #3 slot guy right now.

Will Hill could be a shot in the arm for our struggling secondary. I hope his suspension is reduced.

[K-Dog]

I think the Browns are the new steelers for us.

[H8R]

Man... That was a GIANT win! We overcame a lot of things. This team has grit , don't think anyone can say different

[The Mom Gene]

I am just brokenhearted over Dennis....  I love that guy.  He HAS to be OK.....  I can't believe this happened. 

[beanfigger]

The defense held up when it needed to didnt it? Wasn't that your complaint last year? Well they were "clutch" this game. Never said it was all on Flacco, but he's missed wide open guys in two games for TDs. Not a good look in a offense designed to make his reads EASY. I've accepted he'll never be that guy, all I ask is for him is to make smart decisions and stop locking onto guys.

He isn't the kind of QB that pours it on teams for a ton of huge wins, but he is the kind of QB that puts his team in position to win, consistently. That pass to Smith to set up the game winner was a lot more "clutch" than getting lucky that Hoyer missed a receiver for what would have been a first down and iced the game. Or watching Houer run into a "sack" on a busted handoff play. Or watching Cundiff miss a FG. The most clutch play they had was the FG block.

[redrum52]

He isn't the kind of QB that pours it on teams for a ton of huge wins, but he is the kind of QB that puts his team in position to win, consistently. That pass to Smith to set up the game winner was a lot more "clutch" than getting lucky that Hoyer missed a receiver for what would have been a first down and iced the game. Or watching Houer run into a "sack" on a busted handoff play. Or watching Cundiff miss a FG. The most clutch play they had was the FG block.

Im in no way saying the defense played well cause they didn't, but Flacco cost is 7 on a gimme play.

[FerrariFan87]

Is there a more clutch QB in the NFL with a chance to win the game and under 2 minutes left? Flacco is MONEY.

[balfan23]

Balfan, I am curious as to reaction, just as you say...  I may have to Work on a few good comeback lines if they get raucous

Glad to report - only one person even mentioned our plight and it was more in line of saying, "it's too bad about Rice" and asking if I think he'll ever play again. No judgement passed on our team. Of course - none of these people I'm talking about were Steelers fans! 

 

Most others I think felt it was best to not even mention it, because it is either a touchy subject or was not worth mentioning. They mainly talked about the game and how the Browns - although improved - still can't get out of their own way. They had that game and let it get away. 

[balfan23]

Is there a more clutch QB in the NFL with a chance to win the game and under 2 minutes left? Flacco is MONEY.

That ball to Smith Sr. was sick ... Even when that dude gets behind the defense, he's so short, Flacco has to drop that ball right on the money. And boy, did he do that. 

 

Of course, he'll get no credit. It will be all about how the Browns blew it.

[balfan23]

Well it is always nice when the difference in a game is Tucker outplaying Cundiff. 

 

It is crazy how Cundiff is completely unable to hit from 50+. I think he was like 1 of 9 from that distance his fateful last season with us. That kick he banged off the upright was exactly 50. Had it been 49 ... it would likely have been good. 

[The Mom Gene]

Glad to report - only one person even mentioned our plight and it was more in line of saying, "it's too bad about Rice" and asking if I think he'll ever play again. No judgement passed on our team. Of course - none of these people I'm talking about were Steelers fans! 

 

Most others I think felt it was best to not even mention it, because it is either a touchy subject or was not worth mentioning. They mainly talked about the game and how the Browns - although improved - still can't get out of their own way. They had that game and let it get away. 

Yup...  all was good with us too.  Even some Dallas guys thought he was dealt a bad deal....  So, I think it's not as devastating as the media has made it out to be.

[PerpetuallyBored74]

Matt Elam is 5' 10".

Jordan Cameron is 6' 5"

Miles Austin is 6' 2".

 

You need someone taller to cover both of them.

Coverage is never going to be Elam's strong suit.

 

And Kubiak nearly blew it when he had Joe QB sneak on 3rd and 1, while trying to run it with Taliaferro on 4th and inches.

He got it backwards, should've run it on 3rd and short, QB sneak on 4th and inches.

Overall though, I loved what I saw from Kubiak as a playcaller.

[balfan23]

Yup...  all was good with us too.  Even some Dallas guys thought he was dealt a bad deal....  So, I think it's not as devastating as the media has made it out to be.

And we have to remember, if we go out on sites such as ESPN to see what the commentary is, we have to remember that the majority of the muck is being raked by Steelers fans (who of course have had no problem with their team advocating for a reduction in suspension for a player arrested twice for rape charges) and sometimes Pats fans (and other rivals) ... or from others who are hardly sports fans but just want to rant about the decline of western civilization. 

 

Boy, what a win does for your outlook on things. Much like the win vs. Steelers. 

[TDubbs]

Matt Elam is 5' 10".

Jordan Cameron is 6' 5"

Miles Austin is 6' 2".

 

You need someone taller to cover both of them.

Coverage is never going to be Elam's strong suit.

 

I agree, you may need someone taller to cover guys like that. But Elam is a Safety, and if coverage is never going to be his strong suit then what is? Tackled poorly today and wasn't smart enough to tag a guy on that deep pass. Ive tried to defend Elam but that was bad on all fronts. 

[The Mom Gene]

And we have to remember, if we go out on sites such as ESPN to see what the commentary is, we have to remember that the majority of the muck is being raked by Steelers fans (who of course have had no problem with their team advocating for a reduction in suspension for a player arrested twice for rape charges) and sometimes Pats fans (and other rivals) ... or from others who are hardly sports fans but just want to rant about the decline of western civilization. 

 

Boy, what a win does for your outlook on things. Much like the win vs. Steelers. 

The win was huge...  I don't care much for the cost though...  Will we use Crockett?  Or maybe Looks like Juice will get a good chance to make his mark... and we might see more Marlon.  Glad we have a little depth.  I don't know if we have ever seen the offense "carry" the defense.  Our secondary looked awful. 

[ravensdfan]

Im in no way saying the defense played well cause they didn't, but Flacco cost is 7 on a gimme play.

And the defense cost us 21, which should have been more. The only really clutch play the defense had was a blocked FG.

[The Mom Gene]

I agree, you may need someone taller to cover guys like that. But Elam is a Safety, and if coverage is never going to be his strong suit then what is? Tackled poorly today and wasn't smart enough to tag a guy on that deep pass. Ive tried to defend Elam but that was bad on all fronts. 

He wasn't the only one back there that allowed those guys to get open...  WIDE OPEN...  Our corners looked bad today....  Not sayin... but just sayin...  Elam can be really good.  He just wasn't today.  I don't know how much Ed Reed covered receivers.  I don't think that was his job.  He was back there playing what got by... and he played the QB...  He played the ball....  That's what made him great.  That's how he got so many INT's.  All THAT said?????  We need someone to teach these guys how to tackle...  before the catch... after the catch... Today???  We got YAC'ed

[TDubbs]

He wasn't the only one back there that allowed those guys to get open...  WIDE OPEN...  Our corners looked bad today....  Not sayin... but just sayin...  Elam can be really good.  He just wasn't today.  I don't know how much Ed Reed covered receivers.  I don't think that was his job.  He was back there playing what got by... and he played the QB...  He played the ball....  That's what made him great.  That's how he got so many INT's.  All THAT said?????  We need someone to teach these guys how to tackle...  before the catch... after the catch... Today???  We got YAC'ed

 

Elam is far from a bust, the potential is still there. He couldn't of looked worse today and maybe that will motivate him to study some serious film. What your saying in Ed Reed is really more about the aura around him right? He didn't necessarily cover receivers all the time, but QB's didn't dare throw it near that side for much of his career. QB's now aren't fearful of our Safeties, thats for sure. I do agree ... we got YAC'ed. Those tiny WR's really burned us and so did Miles austin. 

[balfan23]

The win was huge...  I don't care much for the cost though...  Will we use Crockett?  Or maybe Looks like Juice will get a good chance to make his mark... and we might see more Marlon.  Glad we have a little depth.  I don't know if we have ever seen the offense "carry" the defense.  Our secondary looked awful. 

Yes, noticed that Juice lined up at TE on a couple occasions. I didn't see if Crocket got on the field (I don't even know if he was active). Brown needs to see more action, particularly since Jacoby seems to have got a touch of the drops going on. The loss of Pitta is very painful. Man it was hard to see him on that stretcher. I just can't imagine how hard these guys work to come back from season long injury - and to just have it happen again, has to be psychologically devastating. 

[balfan23]

Elam is far from a bust, the potential is still there. He couldn't of looked worse today and maybe that will motivate him to study some serious film. What your saying in Ed Reed is really more about the aura around him right? He didn't necessarily cover receivers all the time, but QB's didn't dare throw it near that side for much of his career. QB's now aren't fearful of our Safeties, thats for sure. I do agree ... we got YAC'ed. Those tiny WR's really burned us and so did Miles austin. 

What I can't tell is if Elam was being used as FS for some of these plays, particularly on the play where he came up and then failed to touch the receiver on the ground. As bad as Elam looked there, Stewart has been equally tragic. I just can't tell if we decided we'd seen enough of Stewart and threw Elam back at FS where we know he is not suited to play. 

[Inqui]

Yes, noticed that Juice lined up at TE on a couple occasions. I didn't see if Crocket got on the field (I don't even know if he was active). Brown needs to see more action, particularly since Jacoby seems to have got a touch of the drops going on. The loss of Pitta is very painful. Man it was hard to see him on that stretcher. I just can't imagine how hard these guys work to come back from season long injury - and to just have it happen again, has to be psychologically devastating. 

Crockett had a few snaps that I saw, didn't do much but at least we have the chance to plan to inject him now.

 

Hopefully Daniels doesn't get hurt now. That'd be brutal.

[The Mom Gene]

Elam is far from a bust, the potential is still there. He couldn't of looked worse today and maybe that will motivate him to study some serious film. What your saying in Ed Reed is really more about the aura around him right? He didn't necessarily cover receivers all the time, but QB's didn't dare throw it near that side for much of his career. QB's now aren't fearful of our Safeties, thats for sure. I do agree ... we got YAC'ed. Those tiny WR's really burned us and so did Miles austin. 

LOL...  I loved the fear other teams had for our Defense...  I posted in the 3rd qtr...  "This is not your Father's Ravens D."...  Our Offense is definitely going to have to put points on the board to compensate for our D.

[The Mom Gene]

What I can't tell is if Elam was being used as FS for some of these plays, particularly on the play where he came up and then failed to touch the receiver on the ground. As bad as Elam looked there, Stewart has been equally tragic. I just can't tell if we decided we'd seen enough of Stewart and threw Elam back at FS where we know he is not suited to play. 

I was confused there too..  We need a safety...  not a WR.

[TDubbs]

What I can't tell is if Elam was being used as FS for some of these plays, particularly on the play where he came up and then failed to touch the receiver on the ground. As bad as Elam looked there, Stewart has been equally tragic. I just can't tell if we decided we'd seen enough of Stewart and threw Elam back at FS where we know he is not suited to play. 

 

I can't tell either, and thats the problem with not having a true FS. Its funny how situations like this make you appreciate having had a HOFer in Reed for a decade, when we may have took it for granted for so long.