Week 4: Battle of Ohio Cleveland Browns (1-2) vs Cincinnati Bengals (2-1)

[Feared]

So I guess Weeden was holding back the Browns Offense that much, huh? Oh and where did this Hoyer guy come from? He was the 3rd string QB for the Pats before? He's done enough for him to establish himself as "the" guy for now, hopefully for the Browns he can keep it up; and yeah the AFC North is looking like a 3 team race as of right now between Cinci, Baltimore, and Cleveland..who thought we'd ever be saying this?

[OSUFan_88]

Weeden was pretty bad. I don't know if it's fair to put it all on him. The running game is still poor, although they are producing better by committee now. But he didn't have Gordon.

Still, it's pretty clear that Weeden was bad. Hoyer has been pretty much on the money with getting the ball out on time to his receivers, hitting them in stride, doing very well on timing routes. He also does a great job of reading a defense and knowing where to go with the ball before the ball is snapped.

Hoyer isn't the threat down field that Weeden is, but if Weeden cannot get the defense to respect his underneath stuff, then it's just a field day for the defense. Hoyer does a really good job of being able to mix his passes.

Also, it helps when Hoyer has probably the best TE in the league and a young, very gifted WR with him.

[wwharton]

Quote: Originally Posted by Segagendude

They have a better record than the defending SB champs. When's the last time we could say that!!??

How do you figure? They don't even win the tie breaker.

[Segagendude]

Quote: Originally Posted by wwharton

How do you figure? They don't even win the tie breaker.

My bad. I thought the Ravens were 1-3. I goofed.

[wwharton]

Quote: Originally Posted by Segagendude

My bad. I thought the Ravens were 1-3. I goofed.

lol, it's all good. I'm a little bitter since the Ravens are playing like they should be 1-3... maybe even 0-4.

[Segagendude]

Quote: Originally Posted by wwharton

lol, it's all good. I'm a little bitter since the Ravens are playing like they should be 1-3... maybe even 0-4.

They're the defending champs. They have two rings while the Browns have never even been to a SB.

Why be bitter?? Besides, they released a lot of the players that helped them win last year, so the fact they're "only" 2-2 isn't bad.

And I hate Baltimore with a passion. I could talk smack, but why would I? Lol

[IlliniM1ke]

This feels so much like 2007 only it doesn't feel fluky to me. QB who comes out of nowhere and is producing, a good TE, a #1 WR, veteran RB, only we actually have a defense capable of shutting teams down this year. Cameron playing the role of Winslow (and doing it better thus far), Gordon stepping into the Braylon role (hopefully he doesn't forget how to catch), Davone Bess playing the Joe Jurevicius possession guy, Willis McGahee as Jamal Lewis (only more past his prime). Hoyer and Anderson are obviously different, Anderson had a cannon and wasn't very good at reading defenses, Hoyer can read a defense but doesn't have the same arm.

The nice thing is unlike 2007 this feels sustainable, the defense is for real, granted we need a #2 CB (Skrine played well yesterday but he would be better suited further down the depth chart) and maybe a FS and ILB (depending how Gipson and Robertson look the rest of the way). Even if Hoyer isn't the guy it's nice to know that whoever we draft can step in and this team should be ready to compete from day 1, and worst case for Hoyer he looks like a guy who could be the best backup QB we've had since Holcomb.

I don't think I've ever felt this good about the Browns since they've returned to the NFL, things finally seem to be on the right track.

[OPDriver]

Quote: Originally Posted by CardsFan27

This feels so much like 2007 only it doesn't feel fluky to me. QB who comes out of nowhere and is producing, a good TE, a #1 WR, veteran RB, only we actually have a defense capable of shutting teams down this year. Cameron playing the role of Winslow (and doing it better thus far), Gordon stepping into the Braylon role (hopefully he doesn't forget how to catch), Davone Bess playing the Joe Jurevicius possession guy, Willis McGahee as Jamal Lewis (only more past his prime). Hoyer and Anderson are obviously different, Anderson had a cannon and wasn't very good at reading defenses, Hoyer can read a defense but doesn't have the same arm. The nice thing is unlike 2007 this feels sustainable, the defense is for real, granted we need a #2 CB (Skrine played well yesterday but he would be better suited further down the depth chart) and maybe a FS and ILB (depending how Gipson and Robertson look the rest of the way). Even if Hoyer isn't the guy it's nice to know that whoever we draft can step in and this team should be ready to compete from day 1, and worst case for Hoyer he looks like a guy who could be the best backup QB we've had since Holcomb. I don't think I've ever felt this good about the Browns since they've returned to the NFL, things finally seem to be on the right track.

I agree 100%. 07 was a joke from the start and wasn't sustainable for the long run. True Browns fans could see that. But you are right about this year. It just feels different and that it isn't a fluke at all.