THE HALFWAY POINT

The only thing I know for sure about the 2014 Cleveland Browns is that I know less about the team now than I did before the season began.  Never in all of my days of watching this team play have I seen more bizarrely unpredictable play.

But one thing I know for sure is that they are better than the old Browns teams.  But reading many people's narratives of this team you would never believe it.  To see the amount of people complaining about the QB situation and digging for negatives is crazy to me.  To have five wins at the halfway point of the year is an incredible feeling.  So lets go down memory lane, as I stack up games 1-8 head to head against last year's team and lets see if anyone would want to live through last season again instead.

Game One:

2014  Browns 27 - Steelers 30 - The season couldn't have started worse, the team bumbled to a 27-3 halftime deficit.  However the Browns came out in the second half like an entirely different team scoring 24 unanswered points to tie the game late in the 4th quarter.  However the team ran out of gas at the very end of the game giving up a game winning FG in the last seconds.

2013  Dolphins 23 - Browns 10 - The Browns finally mustered some offense just before half to take a 7-6 halftime lead.  That was their highlight as the Browns fell apart and Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins cruised through the 2nd half outscoring the Browns 17-3 from that point on.

Advantage: 2014   

Game Two:

2014  Saints 24 - Browns 26 - In a game where most experts gave the Browns no chance to even be competitive in their home opener the Browns outplayed the Saints through most of the 1st half.  However the Browns missed some opportunities and gave up some late points and still led the game 16-10 at the half.  However this week the Saints managed the comeback and took a late lead in the game.  Then the unthinkable happened.  Brian Hoyer led a clutch drive setting up a Billy Cundiff game winning FG.

2013  Browns 6 - Ravens 14 - Once again the Browns wasted a good defensive effort, only managing 6 points at halftime. The Ravens quickly erased the deficit and added one more TD for good measure.  Brandon Weeden was injured in the 4th quarter and Jason Campbell didn't have a chance either.

Advantage: 2014

Game Three:

2014  Ravens 23 - Browns 21 - The Browns managed to hang tough with the Ravens, and heading into the 4th quarter held a fragile 21-17 lead.  Brian Hoyer hit Taylor Gabriel on 70 yard pass that looked like it was going to setup some insurance.  The Browns didn't do another thing right that game.  The entire offense and defense fell apart and the same old Browns reared it's ugly head.

2013  Browns 31 - Vikings 27 - After a shocking week Trent Richardson was traded and Brian Hoyer was named starting QB.  The next shocker was the fact we had offense for the first time in 2013.  In the first exciting game of 2013 the Browns hung tough, but found themselves down by 4 in the 4th quarter.  Then the unthinkable happened.  Brian Hoyer led a clutch drive finding Jordan Cameron for a game winning touchdown.

Advantage: 2013 

Game Four:

2014  Browns 29 - Titans 28 -  The Browns had another first half meltdown in this game, building a 25 point deficit in the 2nd quarter.  However the Browns scored 28 unanswered points to end the game completing the largest road comeback victory in NFL history.

2013 Bengals 6 - Browns 17 - In one of the most drama free games in a while the Browns managed to hold an early lead for the entire game.  The Browns put this game on ice in the 4th quarter with Hoyer's 2nd TD pass of the game.  The Bengals offense didn't have an answer.

Advantage: 2014

Game Five:

2014  Steelers 10 - Browns 31 - In the biggest win over the Steelers in decades, the Browns beat the Steelers from pillar to post.  The only negative in the entire game was the fact that Alex Mack would be lost for the season.

2013  Bills 24 - Browns 37 - Brian Hoyer's season ended during the Browns 2nd offensive series.  This opened the door for Brandon Weeden to reclaim his job at QB.  Weeden wasn't terrific, but Travis Benjamin was.  His punt returns set up several key touchdowns taking the Browns winning streak to three games... but now we have to go forward with Weeden.

Advantage: 2014

Game Six:

2014  Browns 6 - Jaguars 24 - In one of the biggest momentum killing losses in recent memory, the Browns didn't show up in any aspect of the game.  Jacksonville literally had a blowout handed to them in this game.

2013  Lions 31 - Browns 17 - In one of the biggest momentum killing losses in recent memory, the Browns took a 17-7 lead into halftime.  After the half the Browns self destructed as the Lions put up 24 unanswered points.  The game will probably be best remembered for Brandon Weeden's flipper pass interception in the 4th quarter to seal the game for the Lions.

Advantage: None, both of these games can burn in hell

Game Seven:

2014  Raiders 13 - Browns 23 - This certainly wasn't the prettiest game in the world.  But the Browns took advantage of the Raider's mistakes and handily won this game.

2013  Browns 13 - Packers 31 - The Browns traveled to Lambeau Field, and did exactly what everyone expected them to do... get blown out.  Weeden was horrible, and lost his job again after this game.

Advantage: 2014

Game Eight:

2014  Buccaneers 17 - Browns 22 - The Browns running game continued to struggle since the loss of Alex Mack, but the passing game picked them up.  Hoyer threw for over 300 yards for the first time this season, and the Browns hung tough and picked up a hard fought fifth win of the season.

2013  Browns 17 - Chiefs 23 - Jason Campbell became the 20th starting QB for the Browns since 1999 at Kansas City.  And after not being able to complete the comeback after a 20-3 Chiefs lead, became the 20th QB to take a loss.    

Advantage: 2014


So tell me again why people are so upset.  I have the 2014 season up 6-1-1 versus the 2013 team.  And the only time I picked that team was Hoyer's debut.  Let's not forget those 5 wins we have at the halfway point is more than the 2013 team mustered all season long.  They won their next game and never won again.

So calm down people, the most alarming things about this year's team is the offensive and defensive lines.  We have some work to do.  But sit back and enjoy it for a change.

AT THE QUARTER POLE I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the first four games of the 2014 Cleveland Browns season.  And yes this team is insanely bipolar, unpredictable and crazy to watch.  There is a theory that this team could very easily be 4-0 right now, but the same theory applies to the fact that this team could very easily be 0-4 right now.  They probably should be 2-2 right now, but the thing is they haven't won both games they probably should have won, but didn't lose both games they should have lost.

Twice this team has completed the largest comeback in team history.  They are 1-1 in those games. They completed a 70 yard bomb to all but seal the Ravens games, and literally didn't do one single thing right for the rest of the game to ensure a loss.

When this team is good it is great.  When this team is bad it is unpalatable.  At times the "same old Browns" show their ugly faces,  Yet the offense isn't the problem, which is new for the Browns.  The defense is a huge problem, which wasn't supposed to be the case.

Yes it is very hard to deny that Brian Hoyer has finally managed to make believers out of many people.  Hoyer has a 6-1 TD to INT ratio and has a higher QBR than Brady, Brees, Flacco, and Stafford.  While there is still the painfully biased Johnny Manziel faithful still calling for Hoyer's benching, the consensus finally has agreed to stay the course with Hoyer for the foreseeable future.

While Hoyer hasn't been perfect, he has done a fine job of making his receivers better, not the other way around.  He isn't leaning on any one guy. Miles Austin and Andrew Hawkins have been very solid, but many of the biggest plays have been left for guys like Taylor Gabriel and Travis Benjamin.
But the real strength has been the fine core of running backs that the Browns amassed this offseason.  Gone are the days of watching a back smack into a rear end of an offensive lineman for a minimal gain.  This team can run, and run well.

Call them what you will the running backs have been awesome.  Ben Tate ripped off a huge run in the opener and got injured.  All that did was show us that we have two more awesome running backs in Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell.  Each guy is just different enough from one another that it has made for a tremendous opportunity to rotate and keep our running game fresh all game long.

So what is the catch?  Yes it is Browns football so there has to be a catch right?  The catch comes in the 31st ranked defense.  Yes the vaunted "wait until you see what these guys can do" defense that came with into town with Mike Pettine has been awful.

Each game has came and gone with large chunks of games exhibiting some of the poorest tackling you can hope for.  Running backs flow through our front seven like water passing through a strainer.  Receivers routinely run wide open through our secondary.  Our defense is a big play factory.  Their 6.1 yards allowed per play is tied for the worst in the league.

So no I can't tell you what to expect for the rest of this season.  I am not even going to embarrass myself with a guess.  If the defense improves we have a good chance.  If the offense stalls we are probably screwed.  It is as simple as that, now hopefully the games will be less stressful.

COREY KLUBER: A YEAR IN MEMES

I'm not sure that the Indians have another miracle in their sleeves.  But the real silver lining has come in the form of Corey Kluber.  As far as my Indians season has went he has undoubtedly been the star.  So here is my Corey Kluber year in review...

MOST FOOTBALL PLAYERS ARE MORE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT THEY PUT ON FILM

Since YouTube has come around I have been able to start a new tradition over the last few years for the beginning of football season.  Now each year before the season starts I watch Masters of the Gridiron.  And if you don't remember this classic film, allow me to enlighten you.

in 1986 Browns center Mike Baab had the idea to create a short movie featuring the Browns that would be a parody of Conan the Barbarian.  With many of his teammates on board they created Masters of the Gridiron, a movie that represented the 80's in Cleveland so much I can't believe the WMMS Buzzard didn't make a cameo at the end.

The script was something that would make today's NFL brass cringe.  It starts at a Browns game when Baab is knocked out cold, and due to an obvious concussion becomes Baabarian.  Baabarian is joined by a band of Masters of the Gridiron, given equally cheesy names.  They go through a training montage, fight through a Michael Stanley performance at the stadium, and ultimately Baabarian has his showdown with Tiny Tim (No I'm not kidding, watch it and see).

So I present to you MASTERS OF THE GRIDIRON:

CLEVELAND SPORTS FAQ'S

Q: What did Brian Hoyer do to win the QB competition?

A: It is more what he didn't do that won it...

Q: Why did Kevin Love choose the #0?

A: Because he is used to being the superstar on his teams...

Q: What are the Indians chances of making the postseason?

A: Mathematics says more than 0% so...

Q: Can I get a refund on those Browns season tickets I bought?

A: No.

Q: Is there any hope for Steelers week?

A: I don't know, I just hope they keep Swagger on his leash...

Q: What is the worst thing about Cleveland sports right now?

A: There are Steeler flavored pierogies being sold in the area...

THE QUARTERBACK INCOMPETITION

Normally my post game rants I highlight some guys who played well and adversely call out some guys who under performed.  This week that is easy, the defense was really good and the offense was really bad.  As stupid and simplistic of an analysis that is, it really is the truth.  The defense is set, and outside of some injuries at CB the Browns defense looked mean, nasty and tough.  Three turnovers created by the first team alone should have set the tone for this offense in flux, but alas that didn't happen.

The reason that this is significant was that coach Mike Pettine wanted to name the starters, most significantly the starting QB.  So the battle of Brian Hoyer vs Johnny Manziel had its final showdown on Monday Night Football.  And did someone stand out?  No.

Our offense way abysmal.  It looked like the worst of Brian Daboll, Pat Shurmur, and Rob Chudzinski all combined into some new type of stupid that was painful to watch.  And more importantly created more questions than answers to a unit that appears to be in way worse shape than many of us feared. So what better way to end an annual QB controversy in Cleveland than a completely disfunctional game?

And as the dust settled after that stinker it was Brian Hoyer awarded the starting position over fan favorite Johnny Manziel.  Was it fair?  Did Hoyer earn it?  So lets take a look at both guys...

Truthfully that is where the positives end.  Brian Hoyer may have just won a QB competition doing the least amount of good things in the history of the NFL.  Boasting a 40% completion percentage and failing to convert third down, let alone a touchdown Hoyer has hardly given the Browns faithful a reason to forget about Johnny Manziel.

However I don't want to bury the guy, he certainly wasn't blessed with a ton of support from his teammates.  Hoyer's inaccuracy was amplified by some very poor WR play, and his decision making hampered in the last game with some very poor offensive line play.  The first team units under Hoyer looked disorganized and poor as a whole.

To be honest it is hardly the glowing endorsement I was hoping to give our QB going into the season, but I am guess I can see the coach's logic.  So if I can see the logic in it, how bad could Johnny have been?

    
Considering the above pic was Johnny Manziel's NFL highlight so far, I can honestly say that I wasn't blown away.  I haven't made it a secret that I don't see Johnny through the same rose colored glasses that many fans do.  Johnny looked every bit the college gimmick offense QB who probably came out of school too soon.  He did outplay Hoyer, but only barely.

While that may sound harsh, those aren't criticisms they are facts.  The truth is Johnny Manziel isn't Brandon Weeden, he's a 21 year old kid.  He has a lot of time, and an almost limitless ceiling.  But Johnny isn't any where near that ceiling right now.  The worst part of Johnny's game has been simple, but obvious... he isn't ready for the pro game.  Simply calling a play in a huddle is new to him, and it has been a struggle for him.  I noticed several instances where he turned to throw to a receiver who was running a completely different route than Johnny thought he was running.

Fixable?  Yes.

Fixable overnight?  Absolutely not.  

So I am sorry to the people who were Manziel or bust this season.  There are adjustments that people in Johnny's position need to make, and no matter how much you wish it to be true he is no exception.  Brian Hoyer has more experience, a better grasp on the offense, and in my opinion gives this team a better chance to win during this brutal stretch that starts this season.

The fact is that Brian Hoyer's window is small, if he wants to make a career as an NFL starter this is his chance.  It is now or never for him.  I hope that ending the competition will allow him to regain some of the comfort in the offense he showed last season.

And as far as Johnny Manziel goes, chill out people.  He isn't the exception to the rules, he's human and he will be well served to learn his position.  The logic that players don't get experience backing up veterans is flawed, and if you really are a fan of the kid let him learn.

And if they both turn out to suck, there was one bright spot at QB...