Rich Gannon pointed out that 90% of teams that are -3 in the turnover ratio in a game lose. That would make one assume that with the Jaguars on Sunday having a -6 mark in the turnover ratio they got completely trampled right? WRONG!! Somehow the Cleveland Browns were inept enough on offense in the second half that even five consecutive turnovers by the Jags wasn't enough for us to seal a win. That is absurd but, it is what happens to a young growing team. A lot of people were jumping on the playoff bandwagon after our run through New Orleans, New England, and the heart breaker against the New York Jets. Maybe if the were the New Jacksonville Jaguars we would have had a shot...lol! The Jags displayed our lack of options on offense when Peyton Hillis is finally corralled for a second half. He was once again huge for us in the first half but as a receiver rather than as a rusher. And that my friends highlighted our problem....no real deep threat from the wide receiver position or a serious possession receiver available for Colt McCoy to utilize on third and mid-range to third and long. 5 of 6 third down efficiency in the first half turned into a 2 for 10 ratio in the second half. I heard someone say, "But M. Massaqoui has stepped up recently." If stepping up is 107 yards over a three game span then yes there lies the problem. That kind of yardage over a three game span is paltry and we cannot depend upon Hillis to carry the load like he has thus far. Please do not let us destroy this kid before we get some help and allow us to get a solid receiving corps so our growth continues next season for a true playoff push! We have our stud QB, we have our stud RB, we have a solid defensive unit most games (minus a spot or two), and we have a big fat pimple of a receivers unit! I am glad we didn't go after Randy Moss when he was available because we've been there with a diva receiver (Braylon Edwards - Mr. Hopalot) and it didn't work. Start scanning the waiver wires and free agency lists or checking the collegiate ranks now for the stars of our future. One last note...Ben Watson and Evan Moore are no Wizard of Oz's but, they are dependable with their hands and can block so it is really dependant on the Holmgren and Heckart crews to find those WR's that take us over the top as serious AFC North contenders that make opposing teams quiver! Hope they get it right!
Just to pour salt in our wounds, even through all our offensive let downs, Colt McCoy did drive us down the field quickly with no timeouts to have the drive ended on a heartbreaking play at the Jags three yard line with about 10 seconds or so left. (here's the play that put the nail in our coffin)...
And here is a series of possessions that set up the need for that last minute drive:
- T.J. Ward interception, Browns start 48 yards away from the end zone. Three and out, punt.
- Joe Haden interception, Browns start 19 yards away from the end zone. Three and out, field goal.
- Chris Cogong fumble, Browns start 57 yards away from the end zone. Three and out, punt.
- T.J. Ward interception, Browns start 35 yards away from the end zone. Three and out, field goal miss.
GREAT BIG FAT OUCH!!!!
Granted, we may not have been able to have clocked the ball if Watson had caught that pass and didn't land in the end zone but, it would have been a lot nicer to see what would have or could have happened with a different result. Enough of the what-if's though. We are a team that plays to win and with a purpose of winning each game. We are not a guaranteed win for ANYone anymore and that's a good thing for us fans. Hopefully we continue to get better and have a say in who makes the playoffs from our division late in the season. It was nice being a spoiler to the Steelers in their fall from grace last year and hopefully we can split the series with them again this season in our season finale. I believe we have the capability to do just that.
GO BROWNS!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment