Following the ####-kicking of a pretty good team in their own house, and a few drinks, it occurred to me that the Cleveland Browns have the ability to be as good as, if not better on offense than the still-undefeated Indianapolis Colts.
Because I'm a girl, I'm never really sure I know what I'm talking about when I make declarations about football strategy because I've never actually played it. The occasions when I grow some balls and say something I know I am 100% right about are rare. This is one of them.
It seems to me that there are only two major elements missing from the Cleveland Browns that the Colts have that make all the difference in the world.
And no, one of them is not Peyton Manning....
1. PROTECTION IN THE POCKET
I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but it cannot be restated enough. The guys you hear the least about are one of the most critical yet subtle differences between winning and losing. Charlie has good skill, he can fire the ball into tight spots, he can throw it long and do it quite accurately......when he's not under pressure. Could Charlie throw as well as Peyton if he wasn't spending so much time running for his life? Sure he could! In fact, we know he runs better than Peyton Manning now.... The problem is that when Charlie's running, he's not thinking. A young, inexperienced quarterback needs a few extra seconds to run through his reads and make a decision. A few extra seconds are tough to buy in the NFL, but it has to be done if these guys are going to learn anything. It is the job of the offensive line to buy those few extra seconds....the difference between winning and losing, the difference between the Browns and the still-undefeated Colts.
2. OPEN THE PLAYBOOK AND THE FIELD So I think I see a pattern, here. This Davidson-guy nobody knows that's now calling our plays? Yeah, that guy. He did this AMAZING thing....he turned the page in the playbook and found open air. The pattern being if Charlie gets the time he needs to throw the ball accurately and where the defense can't get it, his receivers will catch it. We have arguably one of the most talented receiver-sets in the NFL, so why do they seem so under-utilized? We should be throwing the ball at least ten yards damn near every down. I know a lot of folks are going to roll their eyes at the idea of the Cleveland Browns being an "air-offense" but that is exactly what it appears our strength is.
Feel free to agree with me in the comments section....
Well you put up a good argument. A realist knows there isn't a handful of GOOD offensive lines out there.
Well, there is, it's just that defenses are getting faster and smarter. If you don't have a smart play caller, a smart QB, and at least one really good o-lineman to protect one side, then it's a long boring day for your score keeper.
Good piece, good writing. enjoyed.
Last edited by TheFormer88Fan on November 14th at 12:22 AM.
Good piece, well written. Yeah Olines are critical thoughout the league, the problem is that they have to defend attacks by extremely quick defenses. Except for running games, the oline is like a fort trying to protect the soldiers inside from the indians/it seldom works as well as one thinks it should.
Its a well written arguement. The only problem is that you can't look back in retrospect on a football season. It does no good at all except to #### us off and make us wonder why we are rooting for that particular team. So just know that for future games, if they fail, its because they aren't playing up to their potential.
I'm not sure they should be 9-0, but with a season's worth of maturation they should improve next season.
As for your female perspective, if you watch the games you watch the games. Therefore, I couldn't care less what sex is offering the perspective as long as it's not based on Nintendo.
Whatever system a team has, success starts at the line of scrimmage. The offensive line must do their job consistently, whether it's in the running game...or the passing attack.
I don't think that it would make the Browns a 9-0 team, but a more productive O-line would allow this team to be more competitive.
As for Frye being as good as Manning with a good offensive line, have to disagree with that one. Manning is the best for several reasons, one of which is how he has command of his offense and knows his options. If he's pressured or blitzed, you can bet that he knows who his hot route receiver is...and he can deliver the ball to them perfectly, even under pressure.
dovine, thank you, and I've never owned a Nintendo so I'll take the credit for having come up the right way with the sport...
shooter
The most important result o####ood OL for this team in particular is giving the QB time to think and learn how to play the game at the NFL level. Charlie isn't as good as Peyton, but a good OL would give Charlie the time he needed to learn how to be that good.
Umm...okay.
I'm a girl.
If it's not football, I don't care...unless it's "football."
Teams: Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Reading FC, Manchester United, USA National Soccer Team, England National Soccer Team, Poland National Soccer Team
Players: Favre, Payton, Freeman, Golic, Slaughter, Convey, Beckham.
So I think I see a pattern, here. This Davidson-guy nobody knows that's now calling our plays? Yeah, that guy. He did this AMAZING thing....he turned the page in the playbook and found open air. The pattern being if Charlie gets the time he needs to throw the ball accurately and where the defense can't get it, his receivers will catch it. We have arguably one of the most talented receiver-sets in the NFL, so why do they seem so under-utilized? We should be throwing the ball at least ten yards damn near every down. I know a lot of folks are going to roll their eyes at the idea of the Cleveland Browns being an "air-offense" but that is exactly what it appears our strength is.
