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***DIVISIONAL ROUND: Browns AT Chiefs Gameday Thread***

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  • I don’t think you can rule out any position on defense in the first round. 
     

    Another stud DE may be a great choice.  
     

    Our D. Coordinator who we are probably stuck with loves getting pressure with just his front 4. 
     

    Maybe a better pass rushing presence interior Dlineman.

     I know We need some LBs when you have Myles Garrett chasing down backs 40 yards downfield with no LB in sight - you got problems there too. 

  • I don’t think you can rule out any position on defense in the first round. 
     

    Another stud DE may be a great choice.  
     

    Our D. Coordinator who we are probably stuck with loves getting pressure with just his front 4. 
     

    Maybe a better pass rushing presence interior Dlineman.

     I know We need some LBs when you have Myles Garrett chasing down backs 40 yards downfield with no LB in sight - you got problems there too. 

    @sdbacker80 said:

    I don’t think you can rule out any position on defense in the first round. 
     

    Another stud DE may be a great choice.  
     

    Our D. Coordinator who we are probably stuck with loves getting pressure with just his front 4. 
     

    Maybe a better pass rushing presence interior Dlineman.

     I know We need some LBs when you have Myles Garrett chasing down backs 40 yards downfield with no LB in sight - you got problems there too. 

    That's called "literally any D cord ever".

    If I'm forcing the issue with the smallest amount of rushers, then why change and expose my LB's along with my secondary?    You should probably check the Browns pressure rates on the season against those from the previous few years when we blitzed 15-25% more.    You might find yourself surprised.

  • @sdbacker80 said:

    I don’t think you can rule out any position on defense in the first round. 
     

    Another stud DE may be a great choice.  
     

    Our D. Coordinator who we are probably stuck with loves getting pressure with just his front 4. 
     

    Maybe a better pass rushing presence interior Dlineman.

     I know We need some LBs when you have Myles Garrett chasing down backs 40 yards downfield with no LB in sight - you got problems there too. 

    That's called "literally any D cord ever".

    If I'm forcing the issue with the smallest amount of rushers, then why change and expose my LB's along with my secondary?    You should probably check the Browns pressure rates on the season against those from the previous few years when we blitzed 15-25% more.    You might find yourself surprised.

    @tiamat63 said:

    That's called "literally any D cord ever".

    If I'm forcing the issue with the smallest amount of rushers, then why change and expose my LB's along with my secondary?    You should probably check the Browns pressure rates on the season against those from the previous few years when we blitzed 15-25% more.    You might find yourself surprised.

    Absolutely but what’s the next move when your front 4 can’t get enough pressure?

    I found myself surprised throughout the year at different points when we let a guy like Mike Glennon sit in a pocket for 6 seconds each play for 60 minutes.  

    I see this sit back and have an extra guy vs blitz scenario a little differently...you think it’s exposing a secondary when you take a guy away from coverage.  I see bringing an extra blitzer as a way to force an errant throw or get a sack or a throwaway and force a punt...we know we don’t force many of those right?  Throughout the year our extra guy or two in coverage seemingly couldn’t find WRs or impact throwing lanes.  I’m not saying bring it every down.

    Guys like Jackson, MJ Stewart, etc bless their hearts they try....but I don’t want see them cover crossing routes for 6-7 seconds.  

    The other issue is a personnel issue...I like Joseph but aside from the fair catch INT he had I really don’t like him in a role of reading the field and playing coverage...so I’d prefer he attack the QB more.  it’s not Woods fault that Delpit went out but your job sometimes is to turn chicken $h!t into chicken salad or adapt just a tad outside your conservative nature...that’s coaching. 
     

    Woods with four Dudes upfront...probably amazing.  So why don’t we get those dudes?

  • @tiamat63 said:

    That's called "literally any D cord ever".

    If I'm forcing the issue with the smallest amount of rushers, then why change and expose my LB's along with my secondary?    You should probably check the Browns pressure rates on the season against those from the previous few years when we blitzed 15-25% more.    You might find yourself surprised.

    Absolutely but what’s the next move when your front 4 can’t get enough pressure?

    I found myself surprised throughout the year at different points when we let a guy like Mike Glennon sit in a pocket for 6 seconds each play for 60 minutes.  

    I see this sit back and have an extra guy vs blitz scenario a little differently...you think it’s exposing a secondary when you take a guy away from coverage.  I see bringing an extra blitzer as a way to force an errant throw or get a sack or a throwaway and force a punt...we know we don’t force many of those right?  Throughout the year our extra guy or two in coverage seemingly couldn’t find WRs or impact throwing lanes.  I’m not saying bring it every down.

    Guys like Jackson, MJ Stewart, etc bless their hearts they try....but I don’t want see them cover crossing routes for 6-7 seconds.  

    The other issue is a personnel issue...I like Joseph but aside from the fair catch INT he had I really don’t like him in a role of reading the field and playing coverage...so I’d prefer he attack the QB more.  it’s not Woods fault that Delpit went out but your job sometimes is to turn chicken $h!t into chicken salad or adapt just a tad outside your conservative nature...that’s coaching. 
     

    Woods with four Dudes upfront...probably amazing.  So why don’t we get those dudes?

    @sdbacker80 said:

    Absolutely but what’s the next move when your front 4 can’t get enough pressure?

    I found myself surprised throughout the year at different points when we let a guy like Mike Glennon sit in a pocket for 6 seconds each play for 60 minutes.  

    I see this sit back and have an extra guy vs blitz scenario a little differently...you think it’s exposing a secondary when you take a guy away from coverage.  I see bringing an extra blitzer as a way to force an errant throw or get a sack or a throwaway and force a punt...we know we don’t force many of those right?  Throughout the year our extra guy or two in coverage seemingly couldn’t find WRs or impact throwing lanes. 

    The other issue is a personnel issue...I like Joseph but aside from the fair catch INT he had I really don’t like him in a role of reading the field and playing coverage...so I’d prefer he attack the QB more.  it’s not Woods fault that Delpit went out but your job sometimes is to turn chicken $h!t into chicken salad.

    The issue is when your explosive plays given up rises commensurately with the blitz rate.    When the Browns sent 5 men or more this year, the pressure rate increase was marginal at best.   So if my return on investment isn't worth it, then I'm kind of fucked... no?

    You'll notice a small shift in defensive philosophy over the second half of the season.   Remember all the single high looks Sendejo and Joesph were being burned on? Those started to not be so noticeable the last 8 weeks, huh?   That's because, in getting away from the C3 and C1 alignments Woods favored in Denver,  went went to more C2, C6 and quarters here hoping to limit....wait for it...  our DB's (not named Ward or Mitch) exposure as much as he possibly could.   So there is a self-awareness the man has of his own roster and what he was able to call reliably this season.   Hint - it wasn't much.

    I don't think sending a 5th or 6th immediately exposes a secondary.   But I think (know) it immediately exposes the Browns secondary.   Because outside of Ward and Mitch, they're really not starting quality.   Does it hurt a team like the Rams? No, they have starting quality DB's across the board.   We can't say the same here in CLE, sadly.  

    Personnel is your first and foremost concern with this defense.   Any conversation to changes beyond that without addressing the former is just spinning wheels. 

  • @sdbacker80 said:

    Absolutely but what’s the next move when your front 4 can’t get enough pressure?

    I found myself surprised throughout the year at different points when we let a guy like Mike Glennon sit in a pocket for 6 seconds each play for 60 minutes.  

    I see this sit back and have an extra guy vs blitz scenario a little differently...you think it’s exposing a secondary when you take a guy away from coverage.  I see bringing an extra blitzer as a way to force an errant throw or get a sack or a throwaway and force a punt...we know we don’t force many of those right?  Throughout the year our extra guy or two in coverage seemingly couldn’t find WRs or impact throwing lanes. 

    The other issue is a personnel issue...I like Joseph but aside from the fair catch INT he had I really don’t like him in a role of reading the field and playing coverage...so I’d prefer he attack the QB more.  it’s not Woods fault that Delpit went out but your job sometimes is to turn chicken $h!t into chicken salad.

    The issue is when your explosive plays given up rises commensurately with the blitz rate.    When the Browns sent 5 men or more this year, the pressure rate increase was marginal at best.   So if my return on investment isn't worth it, then I'm kind of fucked... no?

    You'll notice a small shift in defensive philosophy over the second half of the season.   Remember all the single high looks Sendejo and Joesph were being burned on? Those started to not be so noticeable the last 8 weeks, huh?   That's because, in getting away from the C3 and C1 alignments Woods favored in Denver,  went went to more C2, C6 and quarters here hoping to limit....wait for it...  our DB's (not named Ward or Mitch) exposure as much as he possibly could.   So there is a self-awareness the man has of his own roster and what he was able to call reliably this season.   Hint - it wasn't much.

    I don't think sending a 5th or 6th immediately exposes a secondary.   But I think (know) it immediately exposes the Browns secondary.   Because outside of Ward and Mitch, they're really not starting quality.   Does it hurt a team like the Rams? No, they have starting quality DB's across the board.   We can't say the same here in CLE, sadly.  

    Personnel is your first and foremost concern with this defense.   Any conversation to changes beyond that without addressing the former is just spinning wheels. 

    @tiamat63 said:

    The issue is when your explosive plays given up rises commensurately with the blitz rate.    When the Browns sent 5 men or more this year, the pressure rate increase was marginal at best.

    I don't think sending a 5th or 6th immediately exposes a secondary.   But I think (know) it immediately exposes the Browns secondary.   Because outside of Ward and Mitch, they're really not starting quality.   Does it hurt a team like the Rams? No, they have starting quality DB's across the board.   We can't say the same here in CLE, sadly.  

    Personnel is your first and foremost concern with this defense.   Any conversation to changes beyond that without addressing the former is just spinning wheels. 

    We had some explosive plays our way when we pressured too.  One of the few plays we made on defense in week 17 was a pressure and a pick.  And we had some explosive plays the other way with 7 guys back and miscommunication- see the Jets game.  I lost count here but we seemingly had enough communication breakdowns in our secondary to fill a 2-3 seasons. 


    So we are better off watching a guy like Joseph try in coverage 90% of the time vs. 70% of the time- where he creeps up to the LOS more often and chasing down the QB? 
     

    When you communicate like we did in the back 7 I think you help a guy more the less time he has to spend trailing in coverage. 

    I know we have personnel issues but I’m talking myself more and more into hoping we land an impact front 4 player.  

  • @sdbacker80 said:

    Absolutely but what’s the next move when your front 4 can’t get enough pressure?

    I found myself surprised throughout the year at different points when we let a guy like Mike Glennon sit in a pocket for 6 seconds each play for 60 minutes.  

    I see this sit back and have an extra guy vs blitz scenario a little differently...you think it’s exposing a secondary when you take a guy away from coverage.  I see bringing an extra blitzer as a way to force an errant throw or get a sack or a throwaway and force a punt...we know we don’t force many of those right?  Throughout the year our extra guy or two in coverage seemingly couldn’t find WRs or impact throwing lanes. 

    The other issue is a personnel issue...I like Joseph but aside from the fair catch INT he had I really don’t like him in a role of reading the field and playing coverage...so I’d prefer he attack the QB more.  it’s not Woods fault that Delpit went out but your job sometimes is to turn chicken $h!t into chicken salad.

    The issue is when your explosive plays given up rises commensurately with the blitz rate.    When the Browns sent 5 men or more this year, the pressure rate increase was marginal at best.   So if my return on investment isn't worth it, then I'm kind of fucked... no?

    You'll notice a small shift in defensive philosophy over the second half of the season.   Remember all the single high looks Sendejo and Joesph were being burned on? Those started to not be so noticeable the last 8 weeks, huh?   That's because, in getting away from the C3 and C1 alignments Woods favored in Denver,  went went to more C2, C6 and quarters here hoping to limit....wait for it...  our DB's (not named Ward or Mitch) exposure as much as he possibly could.   So there is a self-awareness the man has of his own roster and what he was able to call reliably this season.   Hint - it wasn't much.

    I don't think sending a 5th or 6th immediately exposes a secondary.   But I think (know) it immediately exposes the Browns secondary.   Because outside of Ward and Mitch, they're really not starting quality.   Does it hurt a team like the Rams? No, they have starting quality DB's across the board.   We can't say the same here in CLE, sadly.  

    Personnel is your first and foremost concern with this defense.   Any conversation to changes beyond that without addressing the former is just spinning wheels. 

    @tiamat63 said:

    The issue is when your explosive plays given up rises commensurately with the blitz rate.    When the Browns sent 5 men or more this year, the pressure rate increase was marginal at best.   So if my return on investment isn't worth it, then I'm kind of fucked... no?

    You'll notice a small shift in defensive philosophy over the second half of the season.   Remember all the single high looks Sendejo and Joesph were being burned on? Those started to not be so noticeable the last 8 weeks, huh?   That's because, in getting away from the C3 and C1 alignments Woods favored in Denver,  went went to more C2, C6 and quarters here hoping to limit....wait for it...  our DB's (not named Ward or Mitch) exposure as much as he possibly could.   So there is a self-awareness the man has of his own roster and what he was able to call reliably this season.   Hint - it wasn't much.

    I don't think sending a 5th or 6th immediately exposes a secondary.   But I think (know) it immediately exposes the Browns secondary.   Because outside of Ward and Mitch, they're really not starting quality.   Does it hurt a team like the Rams? No, they have starting quality DB's across the board.   We can't say the same here in CLE, sadly.  

    Personnel is your first and foremost concern with this defense.   Any conversation to changes beyond that without addressing the former is just spinning wheels. 

    The Change from C1 to C2 (the most noticeable one for me) is huge. The safeties have way less field to cover. It also changed from the "big play to Sendejo and TD" approach to shorter passes of 5-10 yards, and I think that helped the team. 

    I feel like Woods has been all season long juggling in order to hide the personnel problems of the defense. We have had games where they got really few points and other ones where they were exposed, and the only consistent pattern I see is the defenders executing or not. 

    The ammount of INTs the secondary has dropped tells you a lot about the quality of the group. 

  • I have to say i have never in my life seen the middle of the field open like we’ve had all year and just 4 guys after the passer. 
     

    anyone with me here? 
     

  • @tiamat63 said:

    The issue is when your explosive plays given up rises commensurately with the blitz rate.    When the Browns sent 5 men or more this year, the pressure rate increase was marginal at best.

    I don't think sending a 5th or 6th immediately exposes a secondary.   But I think (know) it immediately exposes the Browns secondary.   Because outside of Ward and Mitch, they're really not starting quality.   Does it hurt a team like the Rams? No, they have starting quality DB's across the board.   We can't say the same here in CLE, sadly.  

    Personnel is your first and foremost concern with this defense.   Any conversation to changes beyond that without addressing the former is just spinning wheels. 

    We had some explosive plays our way when we pressured too.  One of the few plays we made on defense in week 17 was a pressure and a pick.  And we had some explosive plays the other way with 7 guys back and miscommunication- see the Jets game.  I lost count here but we seemingly had enough communication breakdowns in our secondary to fill a 2-3 seasons. 


    So we are better off watching a guy like Joseph try in coverage 90% of the time vs. 70% of the time- where he creeps up to the LOS more often and chasing down the QB? 
     

    When you communicate like we did in the back 7 I think you help a guy more the less time he has to spend trailing in coverage. 

    I know we have personnel issues but I’m talking myself more and more into hoping we land an impact front 4 player.  

    @sdbacker80 said:

    We had some explosive plays our way when we pressured too.  One of the few plays we made on defense in week 17 was a pressure and a pick.  And we had some explosive plays the other way with 7 guys back and miscommunication- see the Jets game.  I lost count here but we seemingly had enough communication breakdowns in our secondary to fill a 2-3 seasons. 


    So we are better off watching a guy like Joseph try in coverage 90% of the time vs. 70% of the time- where he creeps up to the LOS more often and chasing down the QB? 
     

    When you communicate like we did in the back 7 I think you help a guy more the less time he has to spend trailing in coverage. 

    I know we have personnel issues but I’m talking myself more and more into hoping we land an impact front 4 player.  

    Then you have to take into consideration game dependent plans as well.  Scheming additonal pressure against Mason Rudolph here and there sound gravy.

    Doing that against Mahomes? Last I checked, on the 2020 season against the blitz he's 13TD, 0INT's for a 138.8 rating.    Sending additional bodies against that man is football suicide.   

    Lost in all of this is that it was the offense, not the defense, who really shipped away yesterdays game.  

    @nero said:

    The Change from C1 to C2 (the most noticeable one for me) is huge. The safeties have way less field to cover. It also changed from the "big play to Sendejo and TD" approach to shorter passes of 5-10 yards, and I think that helped the team. 

    I feel like Woods has been all season long juggling in order to hide the personnel problems of the defense. We have had games where they got really few points and other ones where they were exposed, and the only consistent pattern I see is the defenders executing or not. 

    The ammount of INTs the secondary has dropped tells you a lot about the quality of the group. 

    I wouldn't go that far.   My experience is that if you cant get off the hashes, playing a lot of 2man MOTO can be just as shitty an idea.     So if you have 2 questionable players on the backend, the problem can be magnified in different ways.     So you can play some form of 2 shell and scheme up different spot drop depths when you go zone. Maybe I'm able to carry receivers up the seam or up the perimeter a bit farther to help my safeties out.  But when you run into a team like KC who was finally willing to work the underneath game....    Well, then that becomes the trade off.  

  • @sdbacker80

    Wanted to say I appreciate the exhange.  Even if we end up disagreeing, I'm good hearing rational opposing viewpoints.

  • @sdbacker80

    Wanted to say I appreciate the exhange.  Even if we end up disagreeing, I'm good hearing rational opposing viewpoints.

    @tiamat63 said:

    @sdbacker80

    Wanted to say I appreciate the exhange.  Even if we end up disagreeing, I'm good hearing rational opposing viewpoints.

    Me too.  The Browns are headed in the right direction I think we all can agree there.  
     

    Im happy we aren’t all arguing over HC, GM, QB options as we normally are during this time. 
     

    Issues we have now are not insurmountable 

  • I have to say i have never in my life seen the middle of the field open like we’ve had all year and just 4 guys after the passer. 
     

    anyone with me here? 
     

    @sdbacker80 said:

    I have to say i have never in my life seen the middle of the field open like we’ve had all year and just 4 guys after the passer. 
     

    anyone with me here? 
     

    our dc sucks......

  • Some thoughts:   

    We shoulda' won that game.  We squandered a golden opportunity with their star QB knocked out of the game.  Going down the stretch, both sides of the ball let the team down, collectively.

    Wills went out, Lamm promptly went out, a guy named Blake wearing #62 was our left tackle.  Nice!  Conklin was no doubt not at 100% with the hamstring, but he HAD to play.  

    Myles Garret was playing injured.  

    Yet with all that, the game was there for the taking.  A Championship Game appearance, stumbled away over the final 5 minutes.

  • @sdbacker80 said:

    I have to say i have never in my life seen the middle of the field open like we’ve had all year and just 4 guys after the passer. 
     

    anyone with me here? 
     

    our dc sucks......

    @browns52 said:

    our dc sucks......

    Not saying he is great, but he was severely hamstrung this year. Brand new, not a lot of prep time because of covid, and then add on the injuries/covid, and even then those guys just might not be starting caliber guys.

    Sure, the Chiefs probably score over 30 with Mahomes, but they are the defending Champs and I think are still the favorite to repeat. You don't think that Woods and his gameplan had a thing to do with that? Especially when considering that there are 2 positions on the D that aren't looked at as major needs? Garrett and Ward.

    There is nobody individually in the league that can hold Hill, the closest would be Ramsey. But if you double him, they also have the best TE in the league. They are a GREAT offense of talent and a great mind at HC and OC. How Bieniemy doesn't have a HC job is crazy.

    Running a zone defense is what you do predominantly when you are overmatched. And don't forget, that even if he isn't brought back (I wouldn't with his price tag and having other guys to prioritize resigning and extensions) that Vernon was playing a big part, especially when you factor in Myles just wasn't the same guy after Covid. 

  • @jiggins7919 said:

    Goodbye Joe Woods. Not sorry to see you go. 

    This needs movement.  Somewhat unpopular opinion around here though. 

    @sdbacker80 said:

    This needs movement.  Somewhat unpopular opinion around here though. 

    It's funny because he does some good things but he chokes too often in critical scenarios. I can't get over the 4th down numbers, the 3rd and 10 against McSorely, and the 3rd and longs with Henne. I'm not sure he has what it takes. 

  • @sdbacker80 said:

    This needs movement.  Somewhat unpopular opinion around here though. 

    It's funny because he does some good things but he chokes too often in critical scenarios. I can't get over the 4th down numbers, the 3rd and 10 against McSorely, and the 3rd and longs with Henne. I'm not sure he has what it takes. 

    @jiggins7919 said:

    It's funny because he does some good things but he chokes too often in critical scenarios. I can't get over the 4th down numbers, the 3rd and 10 against McSorely, and the 3rd and longs with Henne. I'm not sure he has what it takes. 

    Teams were 27 for 32 on 4th down this year against the Browns...that’s bad. 

    and I saw Lots of finger pointing on blown coverages all year.  
     

  • So apparently mahomes doesn't have a concussion, a surgeon who also covers the steelers tweeted today that his uneasiness could be attributed to a vasogal response and his blood pressure dropped.  The chiefs are saying pinched nerve.  I was hoping to watch them flounder with Henne under center. 

  • Browns' Myles Garrett denies teammates were 'headhunting' amid Patrick Mahomes injury

    https://www.foxnews.com/sports/browns-myles-garrett-denies-teammates-headhunting-patrick-mahomes-injury

    Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce made the claim after the win, telling reporters he heard Browns players yelling, "That’s what we do. That’s what we do."

    Sam McDowell@SamMcDowell11
    Travis Kelce said after the initial hit on Mahomes, Browns players were yelling, "That's what we do. That's what we do."

    "I want to say that nobody on our team is headhunting, going after guys or trying to hurt a guy, no matter how good he is," Garrett said, via 92.3 The Fan. "We are praying for [Mahomes’] recovery and praying for his success. He has always been a quality guy and the way he does stuff for the community. He is a leader on and off the field that you appreciate seeing, especially from a guy of that caliber and just always trying to be a positive force everywhere he goes."

  • What if Chiefs punted on 4th down?  Browns have around 1 minute and no T'O's to go 80 to maybe 98 yards. Chances of scoring a td are what?  Maybe 5% at best...  

  • What if Chiefs punted on 4th down?  Browns have around 1 minute and no T'O's to go 80 to maybe 98 yards. Chances of scoring a td are what?  Maybe 5% at best...  

    @falcon7 said:

    What if Chiefs punted on 4th down?  Browns have around 1 minute and no T'O's to go 80 to maybe 98 yards. Chances of scoring a td are what?  Maybe 5% at best...  

    There was actually almost 2 mins left.  And We saw some big chunk pass plays.  
     

    I’m going to say 20%-25%

  • @ibleedbrown said:

    The throw too. Talk about game of inches. He had to fully extend  to have a chance with his DB jacket on. I think the ball grazed the defender’s hand or came really really close. 
     

    Some props to Njoku too who seemed to play the part of TE 1 today.

    For sure! I have never been so happy to be so wrong regarding Baker. He's our dude for the next 7-10 years and he is good enough to win a Super Bowl if we can put a defense around him. 

    @d-bone said:

    For sure! I have never been so happy to be so wrong regarding Baker. He's our dude for the next 7-10 years and he is good enough to win a Super Bowl if we can put a defense around him. 

    Pretty sure that would constitute "too many men on the field."

    @d-bone said:

    my 53 years of life

    No wonder those 30-something riders get pissed.

    @poeticg said:

    You're right, he was down. Went and watched it again... Mack knocked the ball out just after he hit the ground, that's what I saw.

    Knee was down... ground knocked the ball loose momentarily and Mahommes reflexively pulled it back to him.

    Last part was actually quite impressive considering the stars he was seeing at that moment.