The Browns host one win Carolina next week in a matchup that the team has to win considering the Panthers' record and injury situation.
Brownie Bits
1) I'll get to Mr.Vanilla and his play calling shortly, but the top reason for this loss goes to the offensive line, specifically the right side of the line and their inability to protect Colt McCoy.Jacksonville entered the game with just 14 sacks but yet dumped McCoy six times.
Shawn Lauvao was pretty bad at guard, but he is a rookie and after missed time due to injury, a less experienced than a normal rookie.
The main player to blame is the consistently terrible John St.Clair, who was unable to do anything against a Jaguar d-line that doesn't remind anyone of the Purple People Eaters.
If St.Clair is on this team next season, I have to wonder what is going on in talent evaluation...
2) Brian Daboll and his play calling just drive me up the wall.
After the wins over the Saints, Patriots, and the near-miss against the Jets, Daboll seemed to grasp that taking chances to catch teams off guard was the Browns' best chance to win and he was right.
Yesterday, Daboll must have had little respect for Jacksonville as the vanilla calls were back and Daboll never had any answers for the Jacksonville front that knew that controlling Peyton Hillis was the key to victory and used the run blitz with impunity.
3) If you didn't believe that the Browns had the worst receivers in the league before, you must do so now. None of the receivers have the type of speed to separate from cornerbacks and cannot get open fast enough to help Colt McCoy (or anyone else) get the ball off from a rusher that is being blocked by John St.Clair.
The Browns HAVE to address this need with both attention in the draft and free agency next season.
4) The defense does get plenty of credit for forcing six turnovers and scoring a touchdown and I wouldn't stretch to blame them for the loss, but the Maurice Jones-Drew 75 yard screen pass that sent the Browns to their doom featured poor tackling at the end of the game for the second straight week.
Part of that is that they were on the field so much at the end of the game, but basic fundamentals can win or lose a game -for the second straight week they lost one...
5) I complain every week about not getting the ball to Evan Moore enough, so this week I'll try a new tack-what about putting him outside as a wideout instead of a tight end?Moore's hands and size mismatch just might give the quarterback a check-down receiver that has a shot at being open when the rusher against John St.Clair comes barreling at the passer.
6) Colt McCoy played most of the second half with an injured ankle and the injury might give Eric Mangini the easy way to do what he has wanted to do all along and play veteran Jake Delhomme or Seneca Wallace.
I am not saying play McCoy through an injury that could damage his career, but this seems like Mangini might not be disappointed in getting a veteran back in the lineup.
Wallace played the better of the two, but Delhomme against his old team might be too good for the Browns to pass up...
7) Josh Cribbs was missed on special teams as the Jaguars weren't afraid to kick to Clifton Smith and as a result, the good field position that the Browns often get from the short kicks did not take place.
Cribbs's place in the offense is often overrated, but his special teams' presence is not as he makes a difference even when he never touches the football...
8) Eric Wright was injured early in the game, Joe Haden replaced him and had a great game.
I especially liked the hustle of Haden coming from the other side of the field to run down Maurice Jones-Drew at the one-yard line.
No one can fault the effort of Haden, that is for sure...
9) T.J. Ward picked off two passes yesterday, but he was involved in the missed tackle fiasco for the second week in a row.
I like Ward a lot, but he needs to wrap up and not go for the strip of the ball in these situations- part of gaining experience I hope...
10) Phil Dawson missed two fifty-plus yard field goals that meant the difference in the game.
Now I am not going to hammer Dawson for missing two long kicks, but it does show that the veteran is losing a bit of leg strength with age and might come into play with Dawson becoming a free agent at season's end.
Dawson is going to want a big raise and considering that this team needs him to nail all opportunities with an offense like this-it might be more cost-efficient to allow him to leave for a cheaper option...
11) I am working out and despite my age, I think I can do what John St.Clair does every week at a far cheaper cost-The Browns can give me a call at BR-549......
Photo Credits=Joshua Gunter-Cleveland Plain Dealer
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