0 Responses to “Cleveland Browns Reactions in What Should Have Been an Easier Win Jake Delhomme makes adjustments prior to taking a snap vs. Panthers. By Daniel Wolf The Cleveland Browns hosted the NFL's worst team, the Carolina Panthers, on Lake Erie's coast at Cleveland Browns Stadium. In what looked to be a classic trap game for the Browns, Cleveland squeaked by the one-win Panthers, 24-23, for their fourth win of the 2010 NFL season. That's not saying much for a team that handed both the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints losses in consecutive weeks. Both the Patriots and Saints are a combined 7-0 since they lost to the Browns by the way. So what went wrong? What went right? Here are several observations/reactions to the Browns' near-loss. Delhomme has throw six interceptions in limited playing time in 2010. Jake Delhomme Is Nothing More Than an Overpriced Tutor... Yes, a win is a win in the NFL, but when a team wins with its starting quarterback throwing two interceptions and having a 64.6 quarterback rating, then you know there is a problem. Colt McCoy is the future and Jake Delhomme knows his role is to be the mentor and tutor, but having Delhomme put on pads and a helmet is nothing more than a scary thought now. In limited playing time, Delhomme has managed to already throw six interceptions (two pick-six and one brought back to the 1-yard line), just barely complete 60 percent of his throws and have a horrid 54.2 quarterback rating in 2010. Yikes. But there is a positive that is present with Delhomme, which leads to the next observation. WR Brian Robiskie caught seven passes vs. the Panthers. He had nine all season before that. ...But Delhomme Throws to the Wide Receivers Somehow Delhomme is capable of making players out of the Browns' wide receivers, including Brian Robiskie, who had only nine receptions going into Week 12 but caught seven passes from Delhomme against the Panthers. You read that right. Delhomme knows how to throw to Browns wideouts and he is able to spread the ball around, since six Browns caught passes and two others had passes thrown to them. So do the Browns still need help on the outside? Yes, unless Delhomme can teach McCoy how to throw to receivers more often and spread the ball around. Still there is a talent gap on the outside, and a receiver or two is still needed for 2011 regardless. If you haven't voted for Hillis to go to the Pro Bowl yet, go to NFL.com now. Peyton Hills Can Fly and He Should Be Getting Your Pro Bowl Votes Too Browns fans knew Peyton Hillis could hurdle since he is guaranteed to jump a defender at least once every game, but who knew he could fly too. As the picture shows, Hillis is more than just a beast of a running back, but he is more athletic and agile than he gets credit for since it is hard to see past the Incredible Hulk-like biceps. Hillis is deserving of a Pro Bowl berth as much as some of the other top backs in the AFC, but it is up to Browns fans to vote for him and you can do that by clicking here. With five games left, Hillis already has over 900 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns. He is projecting to end the season with 1,300 yards on the ground and 16 touchdowns. And...he leads the Browns with 46 receptions for 414 yards and two touchdowns, which is projected to be 66 receptions for over 600 yards and three touchdowns. Add that all together and Hillis will have just under 2,000 total yards from scrimmage and nearly 20 touchdowns at the end of 2010. Give this guy some votes! Haden is showing his value as the Browns' high first round pick. Joe Haden Is Cementing His Spot as a Starting Cornerback Joe Haden had a bad rap for not having elite speed at the 2010 NFL Combine and at his Pro Day workouts. Now nearly nine months later, Haden is looking every bit the part of the top cornerback selected in the 2010 NFL Draft. With veteran corner Eric Wright going down to injury in Week 11, Haden has stepped in and shut down his opponents while netting two interceptions and deflecting four passes. Haden looks to be a permanent fixture as the Browns' starting corner opposite of veteran Sheldon Brown for the remainder of the season since he currently leads the Browns defense with four interceptions and 11 passes defended. It seems that Haden's speed on game day is as fast as ever, and that is what is most important in the end and really proves how much of a joke it is to test a player's 40-yard-dash pre-draft. Cribbs has been hurting for much of 2010 and he needs to get 100 percent healthy before taking the field again. Josh Cribbs Just Needs to Take a Seat and Get 100 Percent Healthy No one can deny Cribbs' passion and commitment to play the game of football, but he also needs to realize that when you have four dislocated toes, you do not play earlier than you should. Cribbs was in for several kick returns, but then it was reported that he went to the Browns coaches and told them to put in backup returner DeAngelo Smith to finish the game for him. A overly high sense of pride and need to play is a great thing that Browns fans love about Cribbs, but they also want to see a player who is 100 percent on the field and not at risk of re-injuring himself. There is no word yet on Cribbs' condition, but hopefully he did not set himself back for playing in Week 12. Hodges (2) has been a pleasant surprise in 2010 on special teams. Reggie Hodges Shows Why He Got a 2-Year Extension Hodges has been an unknown until this season since he is overshadowed by the special teams play of Cribbs and kicker Phil Dawson, but after signing a two-year extension with the Browns he finally has gotten some recognition for his terrific play. Whether he is landing punt after punt inside the opposing 20-yard line or running an punt fake 60-plus yards down the field, Hodges is quickly becoming a favorite of Browns fans. He should also get some Pro Bowl votes for keeping teams pinned deep every week. The Browns need to get younger and faster on the D-Line in the offseason. Glaring Needs Are Still Evident The Browns have their needs just as much as the next team, and besides the obvious need at receiver, the Browns need to get younger and faster on the defensive line since both Shaun Rogers, Kenyon Coleman and Robaire Smith (who is on injured reserve) are well into their 30s. An infusion of youth and speed are needed on the line to improve the pass rush, along with a playmaking inside linebacker. Maybe D'Qwell Jackson is still that inside force the Browns need, but suffering an injury to his pectorals for a second straight season will probably land him on a new team in 2011. Depth at the cornerback position is an area of need. Regardless of whether it has been either Tony Pashos (who is on injured reserve as well) or John St. Clair at right tackle, right guard Floyd Womack is really what helps gets the running game going on Sundays. Perhaps the Browns do not need another right guard since rookie Shawn Lauvao is learning from Womack, but getting a young right tackle to also learn from Womack in 2011 should be a need too. (Also posted on Bleacher Report) Share | Posted by Daniel Wolf at 7:26 AM Labels: AFC North, Brian Robiskie, Cleveland Browns, Colt McCoy, Eric Mangini, Jake Delhomme, Joe Haden, Josh Cribbs, Peyton Hillis, Reggie Hodges, Tom Heckert 0 comments: Post a Comment Older Post Home Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom) search article archives Article archives By Month Serving Greater Cleveland's heating and cooling needs for three generations. Dawgs By Natur”