Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns: Week 1

• Commander of Awesome

  

  Oline looked horrible, HORRIBLE. Playcalling was up and down, some real bone head calls IMO. Doubts about McCoy have started to seep in for me. The pocket collapsing around him, if he couldnt roll right then it seemed his passes were batted down in his face. I can't get over how terrible the oline played, McCoy had no time.
• BR1986FB

  Commander of Awesome;892316 wrote:Oline looked horrible, HORRIBLE. Playcalling was up and down, some real bone head calls IMO. Doubts about McCoy have started to seep in for me. The pocket collapsing around him, if he couldnt roll right then it seemed his passes were batted down in his face. I can't get over how terrible the oline played, McCoy had no time.

  O-Line was my biggest fear prior to this game. Mack & Thomas are obviously solid but the other three positions are ?'s.
  
  It was Shurmur who took out the ref? He's also making excuses saying the TD catch/quick snap by Cincinnati was illegal? Face facts, Coach...your team is undisciplined and your second half offensive game plan was putrid.
• Laley23

  

  SportsAndLady;892217 wrote:As bad as we looked today...the Colts looked that much worse

  Against a MUCH better team though.
• swamisez

  

  Pleasant surprise. Don't think the Browns are a juggernaut, but think the Bengals have to play flawless ball possession football to win games.
  
  The recipe was seen today. Good running game (121 for Benson), penalty free (only 3?, 2 of which defensive), and ball control (won TOP by a minute) with fewer than 35 pass attempts. I would venture that in any game where Cincinnati throws more than 35 times, they will lose.
• zach24oz

  McCoy should not throw 40 passes...I know he had to throw some more the last couple possessions but they need to get Hillis and Hardesty more carries to help out the OL and the passing game...
• ts1227

  

  zach24oz;892329 wrote:McCoy should not throw 40 passes...I know he had to throw some more the last couple possessions but they need to get Hillis and Hardesty more carries to help out the OL and the passing game...

  35 of those passes were thrown less than 5 yards downfield, to add insult to injury.
• sportchampps

  Who Dey? Reality has set in for Browns fans. I can tell we wont see comments from a few certain posters after this game.
  
  Seriously though both of these teams will end up with between 5-8 wins b/c of their competition. The bengals have a formula to win games running with Benson and were disciplined today. Dalton looked like a serviceable QB (Not Great, Not Terriable). Groskowski came in and showed he was a veteran and ran the offense ok. The Bengals need to improve in the secondary and get a little more push up front.
• OhioStatePride2003

  Crappy first game of the year. The Browns still have a chance to build some confidence with the first half of their schedule against teams that are just as good, if not worse, than they are. I know the game was a bummer today, but the Shurmur & Co. need to clean-up the sloppiness on both sides of the ball. I give credit to the Bengals on their win, but the Browns really hurt themselves today with stupid mistakes.
  
  http://www.brownsgab.com/2011/09/11/browns-cant-maintain-lead-in-4th-lose-27-17-to-bengals/
• zach24oz

  Both teams didnt look that great today...the Browns played sloppy with double digit penalties and despite all that had the lead and looked to have the game in hand until the whole thing with the D still in the huddle happened...still cant wrap my mind around that...so Im not sure if the Bengals can rely on Benson the whole year. He got over 100 yds with that run that sealed it...but we'll see what happens from here. All I know is that Cleveland HAS to fix their OL problems and not crap down their leg when they are about to win.
• hoops23

  

  Browns suck. I thought 6-10 or 7-9, with a pipe dream of 8-8...
  
  I'm now thinking 3-13 or 4-12...
  
  Pathetic showing.
  
  I guess I can give them a "pass" due to the short offseason, but that's no excuse to me. This team sucks.
• BR1986FB

  BTW...did anyone see Brian Robiskie today? He was pretty much AWOL all game.
• rightfield

  Browns are horrible again. They are just plain cursed to be a sub .500 organization for eternity.
• BR1986FB

  Apparently Shurmur WAS right. The TD catch by AJ Green WAS illegal but the dumbass (Shurmur) should've challenged it or something. I thought he was just whining...
  
  From the NFL.com Digest of Rules
  
  " "With the exception of the last two minutes of either half, the offensive team, while in the process of substitution or simulated substitution, is prohibited from rushing quickly to the line and snapping the ball with the obvious attempt to cause a defensive foul; i.e., too many men on the field. "
• Mulva

  

  BR1986FB;892360 wrote:BTW...did anyone see Brian Robiskie today? He was pretty much AWOL all game.

  All of the receivers not named Massaqoui were. Combined for 3 catches (1 each for Little, Cribbs, and Norwood) and 31 yards.
  
  But I honestly don't think I noticed Robo on the field once. I was surprised when he was listed in the starting lineup on the game broadcast.
• Azubuike24

  

  Two observations. The Bengals defense is better than the Browns. The Bengals have more weapons than the Browns. Outside of QB play, I don't see anything the Browns do the Bengals can't do as good or better. The result of this game is not at all a surprise...neither team is going to be over .500.
• sportchampps

  Browns might have a better secondary
• hoops23

  

  sportchampps;892383 wrote:Browns might have a better secondary

  We do have a better secondary, but our LB's and most of our DL suck.
• Al Bundy

  BR1986FB;892370 wrote:Apparently Shurmur WAS right. The TD catch by AJ Green WAS illegal but the dumbass (Shurmur) should've challenged it or something. I thought he was just whining...
  
  From the NFL.com Digest of Rules
  
  " "With the exception of the last two minutes of either half, the offensive team, while in the process of substitution or simulated substitution, is prohibited from rushing quickly to the line and snapping the ball with the obvious attempt to cause a defensive foul; i.e., too many men on the field. "

  Even if it is illegal, you still have to be ready. I still view it is a mental mistake.
• ts1227

  

  BR1986FB;892370 wrote:Apparently Shurmur WAS right. The TD catch by AJ Green WAS illegal but the dumbass (Shurmur) should've challenged it or something. I thought he was just whining...
  
  From the NFL.com Digest of Rules
  
  " "With the exception of the last two minutes of either half, the offensive team, while in the process of substitution or simulated substitution, is prohibited from rushing quickly to the line and snapping the ball with the obvious attempt to cause a defensive foul; i.e., too many men on the field. "

  There was no obvious attempt to cause a defensive foul, it was just to capitalize on their retarded asses being slow as fuck to break the defensive huddle.
• BR1986FB

  Al Bundy;892390 wrote:Even if it is illegal, you still have to be ready. I still view it is a mental mistake.

  Preaching to the choir. Shurmur's assertion was that the Browns didn't get a chance to make a substitution which WOULD have been illegal. Haden refuted that by saying "we weren't ready." Either way, bullshit excuses...
• OhioStatePride2003

  hoops23;892385 wrote:We do have a better secondary, but our LB's and most of our DL suck.

  I disagree, I thought our defense played pretty well despite the 27 points. It's hard for any defense to be put in the position the Browns were in and be successful. Our young d-line really stepped it up in the 2nd Half I thought. Sheard played above the level I expected him too, Rubin played well and and Taylor and Mitchell were able to get some pressure. D'Qwell Jackson is an asbsolute beast. I really hope he can stay healthy all year.
• BR1986FB

  Well...my somewhat optimistic "7-9" has now been scaled back to the usual "5-11." Shurmur has work to do because he looks like he's in over his head. I know, I know "it was his first game as a coach" but getting a 15 yard FLAGRANT penalty for running over a ref on the sideline and that clusterfuck TD to Green is inexcusable.
• Footwedge

  Turning point of that game was when Cribbs loafed in trying to down the beautiful punt at the one. Not only did Cribbs dog it, he grabbed the ball instead of batting it back. At that point the Browns were up 4 and Cincy had not moved the ball in about a quarter and a half. After the touchback, Cincy dominated the next series and the rest of the game.
• just_a_swimmer

  

  Hillis needs more then 57 yards too. I was disappointed in the play calling after we took the lead. Too many penalties and that lapse on defense is unacceptable. I was disappointed.
• BR1986FB

  just_a_swimmer;892443 wrote:Hillis needs more then 57 yards too. I was disappointed in the play calling after we took the lead. Too many penalties and that lapse on defense is unacceptable. I was disappointed.

  The play calling was as if they thought a 1 and then 4 point lead would stand and they went into "prevent" offense. VERY disappointing from a HC that is supposed to be a WCO "guru."