@mark-o said:

There's no way I'm buying the defense being tired excuse. I looked at the time of possession early in the 4th quarter and it was damn near even.....the Browns were about 1 minute less in TOP to the point prior to the defense being assraped for a 85 yard TD drive in a 3 point game that essentially ended the game.

They were not tired - they were out-adjusted - how many quick outs did Tannehil complete under pressure? Its called recognition and Weeden simply has no recognition where that is concerned - it also builds a qb's confidence as game continues knowing you have the sure-handed Hartline having his way with the worst starting corner in the NFL

@drfrankryan said:

It's not a train wreck. We are looking for a QB.

Maybe next season. Give Norv a shot with the kid.

Its not Norv and he is not a kid (hes 29) - Problem is no one can teach pocket presence really and if you dont have it you cant be a solid NFL starter. period

Here is the deal - quick as I can explain it - Yesterday told us so much...

Observation 1: Weeden will NEVER be more than a below average NFL qb - the answer is simple - after one full year as an NFL starter he still has ZERO pocket presence - same guy as last year, no growth. Yes the dolphins had an effective pass rush, but so did the Browns. Who responded better? well that was obvious. There are 2 ways a qb can deal with pressure:

1) Anticipate its source and check down/audible to attack the seams (Brady.Manning, Rodgers)

2) Sense where it is coming from and avoid it, then create (Wilson, Roethlesberger)

Our boy Weeden can do neither and has proven that over and over - the only rush he can avoid is the one that comes right at him that he can see and run from and then when flushed he has ZERO creativity on the run. 4 of his sacks/pressures yesterday could have been avoided if he just merely stepped up in the pocket but he never felt the outside and behind pressure - good qb's do this and do it early in their careers. The tease is that he is decent in the pocket when well protected and has an NFL arm - but now that teams know about his pocket presence they will continue to send the house on him from his blind spots.

Observation 2: Anyone notice that the pass rush yesterday was as good or better than it has EVER been since the Browns returned from Cleveland? Without Mingo? Sure could have used Milliner yesterday on Hartline as this average receiver torched Skrine while Wallace was silence by Hayden

Observation 3: From 1999 to today - 1 ROAD opener? that 14 years of home openers and a 1-13 record!! I see a trend! Please open on the road next week so we can enjoy 1 extra week of false hope without having to watch the train-wreck live! We all know its because they can count on the saps showing up for 2 games - the opener and the Steeler game....