Category Archives: Cleveland

By Adam Bennett, @HFSCleveland

So I decided to use the bye week to decompress from one of the most depressing Browns seasons in recent memory. I was going to cool down, enjoy the fact that we can’t lose this weekend, and take a break.

The “decompression period” lasted for a few days, before I stumbled upon the Mike Pettine Coach’s Show on WEWS. I figured I’d give Pettine a chance, now that everyone’s mind is clear, to hear what he has to say away from the immediate emotion of a loss.

Mike Pettine (Ohio.com photo)

I really tried to give Pettine every benefit of the doubt, but the more I listened to what he had to say, the more I realized that he’s lost. This team has serious problems, and he doesn’t know how to fix them. Here are some examples:

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So I threw this question out on twitter this morning: Has anyone who played for Mike Pettine last year and is still playing for the Browns this year made an improvement from year one to year two?

Have players improved under Mike Pettine’s leadership? (AP Photo)

The obvious answer is yes, there’s some player that’s improved somewhere. Travis Benjamin and Gary Barnidge are two examples of that. But if we dive deep into the roster, and look at every player who was in Cleveland last year and still playing for the Browns this year, which ones improved and which ones have regressed? Well, let’s find out:

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By Adam Bennett, @HFSCleveland

Josh McCown winces in pain during the Browns’ 34-20 loss to the Cardinals in Cleveland on Sunday. (NEOMG Photo)

CLEVELAND — So there the Browns were, after forcing another Arizona turnover, up 20-7 with the ball and 1:20 on the clock in the 2nd quarter. They were deep in their own territory, but they’d also moved the ball up and down the field at will in the first half.

The 2-5 Browns had a chance to score again and put even more pressure on the Cardinals heading into halftime. Plus, the Browns got the ball to start the 3rd quarter. The offense was clicking, Josh McCown was in rhythm, and there was a real chance to take a three-possession lead into the locker room.

What did head coach Mike Pettine elect to do? Play not to lose, of course.

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By Adam Bennett, @HFSCleveland

So we’ve reached the point where we’re being owned on every side of the football by the St. Louis Rams. The same Rams that can’t finish over .500 and make the playoffs to save themselves. It’s officially become draft season for Browns fans again.

Photo via @WFNYScott

The Browns will play out the last nine games of the season, and then another brutal campaign will finally pass. We’ll begin talking about college quarterbacks and “playmaking” talent and we’ll dream of the Browns finally getting it right. Maybe next year will be the year it all turns around.

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