Greetings SEMBBers!
Well, with the loss on that cold, cold Christmas Eve the Browns are officially eliminated from the play off hunt. But there are still two very winnable games left in the season to end it on a semi-respectable 8-9 record. So, here are a few thoughts about last week, a wish for this week and for the new year.
COAL FOR CHRISTMAS
Despite a somewhat exciting first half performance in the freezing weather, the Browns ended up giving us lumps of coal for our Christmas stockings this year, ultimately losing to the Saints 17-10.Not sure if Kevin Stefanski–in his OC role–was trying to show he was smarter than the average bear, but he only proved he wasn’t as smart as the Saint’s DC and that he couldn’t fool Mother Nature. That was some of the most head-scratchingest offensive play calling I’ve seen in a long time–especially when one takes into account that the weather was a tremendous factor!Of course, Stefanski’s ‘punishment’ of Myles Garrett (keeping him out the first defensive series of the game) has had everyone scratching their heads all week. The explanation for the disciplinary action just doesn’t ring true.The second half defensive letdown–allowing 17 points–I think reinforces the fact that Joe Woods is not the answer at DC. (Despite the defensive units better performance in the past few games.) All one needs to see is how he shifted his coverage schemes from the first half to the second and failed to make adjustments that allowed the Saints to run the ball with abandon in the third and fourth quarters.Granted, the Defense can’t take all the blame since the offense couldn’t move the ball much in the second half to answer New Orleans’ scores (see above comment on OC Stefanski’s play calling).Of course, some folks are trying to deflect criticism towards Paul Depodesta and his applied analytics approach to the game. Sure, he might share in some of the blame, but at the end of the day the blame rests on the coaches who make the decisions on the field or in the coaches box, not on a front office official. So, the tinder and kindling has been piled and lit under Coach Stefanski’s seat…we’ll have to see how the next two games play out and whether more fuel will be added to the fire.
ON TO THE COMMANDERS ON NEW YEAR’S DAY
OK, enough of piling on the coaching staff, we still have two more games to go and the next one is this Sunday, January 1st, 2023. Kickoff is at 1pm. The Browns will be in Washington D.C.–well actually Landover, Maryland–to take on the team formally know as the Washington Football Team–The Commanders.
I’ll be at the Den to host the viewing and hope to greet the less hung over members of the club as we watch the game.
WISHES FOR THE NEW YEAR
Let me finally wish all of you a very Safe, Healthy and Happy New Year! Here’s hoping 2023 brings us good fortune and a winning football season!
That’s it for this week except…
GO BROWNS!!! |
