@reality said:

I don't really disagree.   Only that when talking a look at a given play the missing piece is what is to be the QBs read sequence for that play call.  Seemed like Flacco read order started on the left, felt the pressure, and let it rip.  He was pretty much loading up to throw when the safety flipped his hips, leaving the slot guy open.  Now, I'd certainly agree Flacco did have a pocket to step up in to, reset, and get to another read.

What was the down on this play?

Fully agree lack of run game is no Bueno, same with Flacco having to throw as many times as he did.  If he has to throw that much each week there are going to be a lot of INT which are on him, instead of bad luck off the receivers hands in to DBs hands

 This would have been a triangle read as Tillman adjusts his route post snap off the safety rotation.  

 The backside X is solo the whole way. The corner is inside eye  JJ really tried hard to create seperation by just immediately releasing outside and trying to threaten vertical.  

 He just doesn't have those kind of wheels so the corner rides out the squeeze to the sideline and feels JJ throttle down past the chains, sitting all over it.  

 Flacco can start his eyes to either side depending on intitial pre-snap looks vs action.  He opted for what he thought would have been the easiest read without double checking the motion side. 

 Brownies are fortunate this was a flag. 

@tiamat63 said:

 Went off the matchup -  JJ in single.  But the corners for CIN were aggressive early and all day, especially to the boundary.   Flacco got a bit anxious working his best receiver quickly to get a needed 1st down. 

 I think this offense is still adjusting to the amount of motions they've built in. They went from bottom 1/3rd to top 1/3 in the span of one off-season.  With those motions, the coaching staff also needs to improve play call rhythm and window dressing.  When the Browns showed that WR split motion, they passed the ball a lot. I don't have the numbers yet, but enough to be a tell.  A tell that you can overplay when you don't run the ball effectively enough on top of it. 

 Also means QBs need to capitalize on the biggest thing motion stresses - defensive eye discipline and recognition.  

I don't really disagree.   Only that when talking a look at a given play the missing piece is what is to be the QBs read sequence for that play call.  Seemed like Flacco read order started on the left, felt the pressure, and let it rip.  He was pretty much loading up to throw when the safety flipped his hips, leaving the slot guy open.  Now, I'd certainly agree Flacco did have a pocket to step up in to, reset, and get to another read.

What was the down on this play?

Fully agree lack of run game is no Bueno, same with Flacco having to throw as many times as he did.  If he has to throw that much each week there are going to be a lot of INT which are on him, instead of bad luck off the receivers hands in to DBs hands

@reality said:

Of course the unknown is what was to be his read progression on the play call.  He seems to be reading starting at the left side.  Ball is also out before the open guy is as open as he looks.

 Went off the matchup -  JJ in single.  But the corners for CIN were aggressive early and all day, especially to the boundary.   Flacco got a bit anxious working his best receiver quickly to get a needed 1st down. 

 I think this offense is still adjusting to the amount of motions they've built in. They went from bottom 1/3rd to top 1/3 in the span of one off-season.  With those motions, the coaching staff also needs to improve play call rhythm and window dressing.  When the Browns showed that WR split motion, they passed the ball a lot. I don't have the numbers yet, but enough to be a tell.  A tell that you can overplay when you don't run the ball effectively enough on top of it. 

 Also means QBs need to capitalize on the biggest thing motion stresses - defensive eye discipline and recognition.  

@tiamat63 said:

 Not blaming the loss on Joe.  But misses like this in the future can be the difference between winning and losing the game. 

 I'm just hoping this isn't a trend. 

Of course the unknown is what was to be his read progression on the play call.  He seems to be reading starting at the left side.  Ball is also out before the open guy is as open as he looks.

 I'm just hoping this isn't a trend. 

@texasag1969 said:

"We don't need those dime a dozen fatasses anyway."-Ghoulie

FYP

@ap1 said:

This is why I can't live in the moment. It's inexcusable that a FO would let things get to that point.

"We don't need those dime a dozen fatties anyway."-Ghoulie

@dutch-oven said:

Four of the five starters are on their last year of their current contracts. There might be one reserve today that could slide into a starting job to replace them (Luke Wypler to replace Ethan Pocic). Yikes. 

This is why I can't live in the moment. It's inexcusable that a FO would let things get to that point.

@bbedward said:

The only problem with hopkins is that we was still missing PATs in pre season - which looked reminiscent of last year.

Szmyt had a solid pre season, but then got the yips big time in the real game.

They should hire me. Still have very strong legs from almost 50 years of several times a week racquetball and I could make my misses look just as shitty. And I'll find Lucy to be my holder. I know she's been with the Browns since 1999.?

@texasag1969 said:

He would have cost 5mil + per year and moneyball brainiacs run the team. Yeah, last year was off after a very good 2023. But he signed that 3 year contract after the 2023 season.

The only problem with hopkins is that we was still missing PATs in pre season - which looked reminiscent of last year.

Szmyt had a solid pre season, but then got the yips big time in the real game.

This was a game where there were 4/5 big miscues we get any one of them to not bite us (just one) we probably win. 
 

Before the game I thought our offense should feast but this Cincy D…Wilson and the Dline is formidable. We are looking at a double digit loss this Sunday and then the Packers and then maybe a pissed off Lions team.  Hang on 
 

Rookies looked great. I do not recall a week 1 where at least 3 rookies were making big plays.
Sampson looks like a defenses nightmare with his receiving ability, Fannon(1 drop, tough but catchable) is a great athlete to pair with Njoku, and Schwesinger stood out stuffing a quick pass slant and delivering a big hit. 

After last years terrible start, this is nothing.

@syd said:

i bet atl and balt fans want new kickers also

I’d take Koo.  But Anyone that kicks here should sit down with Phil Dawson and discuss the stadium flags and wind 

@texasag1969 said:

Ah, throw in the cheaper kicker with the two game losing missed XP's. F'n moneyballers need to disappear.

i bet atl and balt fans want new kickers also

@dutch-oven said:

Average over two yards a carry more than Chubb did last year.

Which is impressive considering the fact that according to the consensus of this board Jerome Ford is the worst running back in the history of football. 

ford got me .5 in FF

@nickers said:

Ahh yeah tell us oh wise one... What has Jerome Ford done?.... Yeah... Absolute SHIT!

Average over two yards a carry more than Chubb did last year.

Which is impressive considering the fact that according to the consensus of this board Jerome Ford is the worst running back in the history of football. 

@texasag1969 said:

He would have cost 5mil + per year and moneyball brainiacs run the team. Yeah, last year was off after a very good 2023. But he signed that 3 year contract after the 2023 season.

And after his misses, fans would have bitched had he still been shanking kicks. 

Damned if you do....

@texasag1969 said:

He would have cost 5mil + per year and moneyball brainiacs run the team. Yeah, last year was off after a very good 2023. But he signed that 3 year contract after the 2023 season.

Hopkins sucked even in the preseason. We would've crucified the FO if they brought him back this season.

@ibleedbrown said:

I was surprised they didn’t let Hopkins at least get the chance to lose his job during the regular season. Maybe he kicks well in odd numbered years? 

He would have cost 5mil + per year and moneyball brainiacs run the team. Yeah, last year was off after a very good 2023. But he signed that 3 year contract after the 2023 season.

@dutch-oven said:

Funny how no one seemed upset at the time Hopkins was cut... 

I was surprised they didn’t let Hopkins at least get the chance to lose his job during the regular season. Maybe he kicks well in odd numbered years?