The Sports Mixer - After further review

A quick look back at the previous Browns game, this time a 20-14 win over the Steelers.  Yes, I know I skipped a week.

I didn't get to watch the last game.  I know, for shame.  Given the spat I'm having with Time Warner and the lack of options at my current apartment (a story for another time), it may be a while before I can catch a game at home at this point.  Such is life, right?  That said, I followed enough of it during the game online and watched several highlight clips, therefore I'm qualifying myself educated enough to look back at the game.

Brandon Weeden wasn't awful, but he needs to get better fast if he wants to state his case to the new management team that he's the quarterback of the future.  Right now, he's on shaky ground.  He made a good throw to Jordan Cameron on the touchdown pass, but too often he's off the mark, reminding many of Derek Anderson, another strong-armed quarterback that flamed out quickly.

The receivers are getting better, so you can't pin Weeden's performance on them so much.  Greg Little has gotten better with the drops, Josh Gordon has become a viable option, Josh Cooper (when active) has shown the ability to catch the ball, and Cameron has shown he could be an option as well.  A good offseason could be the difference between taking a big step forward next year or middling along where they're at.

Trent Richardson gets a lot of flack for dancing in the backfield, but it just seems to me that it's more of an issue with the line not opening up holes for Richardson and the coaching staff not using him correctly (I get running between the tackles, I really do, but where are the pitchouts?).  He also didn't have a preseason due to his knee injury and has missed time due to a rib injury as well.  Despite that, he's on pace for over 1100 total yards, which isn't too shabby, especially with how inconsistent the offense has been.

The line gave up some sacks, but it has played substantially better since the Philadelphia game when they looked lost as a unit and Weeden had the stuffing beaten out of him.  Pittsburgh's defense will cause sacks.  They're that good.  But for the most part, the protection was there.

The defensive line is starting to look like the strength of the team.  Now that Phil Taylor and Ahtyba Rubin are both healthy and part of the rotation, we were able to see the depth the Browns touted at the beginning of the year.  Billy Winn and John Hughes have shown tremendous ability and now form a formidable tackle group.  In the last two games, the run defense has been tremendous, bringing the Browns to 19th overall against the run, which seems amazing given how bad the run defense has been over the years.

The linebackers, as a result of the defensive line, were able to play free and easy and it showed.  D'Qwell Jackson was named defensive player of the week and I have no doubt the play of the defensive line helped him earn that.  Yes, he forced a fumble and recovered another, but the line made it possible.

The line also helped the defensive backs, who aside from a bad pass interference penalty on Sheldon Brown at the end of the first half (turn around already; you're a veteran and can't get turned around?), played a pretty solid game.  It's remarkable though how much of a difference Joe Haden makes when he's out there though.  Brown made up for his gaffe by picking off Charlie Batch, as did Haden later in the game.

The defense forced 8 turnovers overall.  There were 5 fumbles, including one by each of the four running backs and three interceptions.  If the offense could've taken advantage of the turnovers more, it could've been a blowout, but they still were able to get 17 points off those turnovers.  Last week it was a sack-fest, this week it was attack of the turnovers.

Sure, it was Charlie Batch throwing the ball, but a win over the Steelers still counts for something for most Browns fans.  It meant something to the players as well, especially veterans who have often been on the wrong end of a beatdown at the hands of the Steelers.  Sure, Ben Roethlisberger may have made a difference, but the Browns finally found a way to win and fans will take it.

Finally, the white blow-up towel debate was way overblown by fans and media alike.  Look, I get it.  It comes across as waving the white flag at your rival, but after seeing the picture of the flag, I can't understand why fans get so riled up.  I know we are Cleveland fans and often need to be riled up about something, but this seemed to be a real stretch.  I wait for the day when this team is a winner and people are complaining because we only won by 10 and should've won by 20.

No, I'm not talking about coaching this week.  I don't think I can add anything that hasn't been said by anyone else.