After week 2, the Browns are at 1-1. Not bad for a team breaking in a lot of new pieces. We probably would rather take a win over Pittsburgh and a loss to Nawlins but no matter. While not exactly where some fans expected, the Browns are looking good so far this season.
Keep in mind that having a new coach, new system, and a lot of new players makes it hard, especially to begin the year, for a team to gel. And to make things harder, week 2 against the Saints saw the Browns without their top 2 targets in Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron and their starting RB in Ben Tate. Terrence West looks like he may beat Tate out or at least split carries with him. Isaiah Crowell will still need some carries as well. Once Gordon gets back in week 11, possibly week 10, and hopefully with Cameron healthy, they'll have 4 legitimate targets in Gordon, Cameron, Hawkins, and Austin.
Starting with week 11, the Browns will play versus Houston, at Atlanta, at Buffalo, versus Indy, versus Cincy, at Carolina, and at Baltimore. Over the next 7 games, I don't think 3-4 wins is out of the question. They have teams like Tennessee, Jacksonville, Oakland, and Tampa Bay on their schedule. Four of the next seven are at home as well. So if the Browns can enter week 11 with 4 or 5 wins, they can squeeze out another 3-4 wins with arguably the best WR in the NFL. That might be good enough for a wild card spot in the AFC.
What the first two games have taught is that the Browns are capable of a lot. If they hadn't had such an abysmal first half, even just denying a field goal, they'd be 2-0. It's still early and a lot of things can happen. But if the Browns are able to play with Pittsburgh and mount a comeback against the Saints, they can win a lot of games this year. They have a great defense, one that has a lot of pride and a lot of stars. They have some holes to fill still, yes, namely CB and LB. But overall, this is a top 10 defense. This defense can stop great offensive teams like the Saints.
On offense, it's only going to get better as the season goes UNLESS they decide to throw Manziel into the mix more often. Hoyer is one of those guys who plays better in the games that count. He engineered a comeback in the second half against Pittsburgh and, if the defense holds on that last drive, could've won the game in overtime. He then marches up the field completing passes on third and fourth down without his top two receiving targets. Hawkins and Austin are great 3rd and 4th options, but as 1st and 2nd? That's not easy.
This is why I think Hoyer deserves the starting spot this year, and especially when Gordon comes back. He's a good quarterback and he's better than Manziel. Manziel wins on picking up yards with his feet, but how has that gone for other running QB's at this level? RG3...hurt again this week. Michael Vick...not even starting for the Jets. Vince Young..couldn't beat out Hoyer for the starting job, out of the league. Tebow...gotta mention him. Where is he at? Newton's been beat up and he's built like a LB. Manziel is built like a modest kicker. He runs slower than opposing LB's who have 50 pounds on him. Despite all that, he just can't make the throws. He's had Mike Evans, arguably college football's best receiver, with some NFL linemen to cover his flaws. He doesn't run through progressions well and he can't hit guys on easy routes. He throws behind them. Hoyer can make the NFL throws. He studies, he focuses, he watches film.
Going into the season, I wasn't quite sure if Hoyer should last longer than the first few weeks. But in these two games, just as he did last season, he's shown that he is capable of doing great things. I think he's earned his starting spot past the bye week, which has been and possibly still is in question. As to how much these first two games have bought him, I don't know. I do know that Pettine doesn't want to throw another rookie QB out there, so Hoyer is probably a safe bet for the next few weeks at least.
I don't think anyone would have bet money on the Browns making it, unless someone gave you 10,000 to 1 odds. "If anyone gives you 10,000 to 1 on anything, you take it. If John Mellencamp ever wins an Oscar, I am going to be a very rich dude." (the Office) It's certainly possible this season. As long as the Browns can get some wins over their division rivals and beat the teams they're better than, they could find themselves in the playoffs this year. With a tough test in Baltimore next week, we'll see how close the Browns are to competing for the division title this year.
No comments:
Post a Comment