2018 Browns' Chronicles: Week 10

By Kris Mead

The Browns have increased their win total compared to last year by 300% after they decisively beat the Atlanta Falcons, 28-16. The second game in which Hue “Clueless” Jackson was not piloting the Browns into a direct nose dive, nor was Todd Haley calling wide-receiver reverses on 3^rd and ones, resulted in the Browns’ most complete win all season. Baker Mayfield commanded the field and had a near perfect QBR entering the second half. The defense played stellar, especially considering that the Falcons are one of the most proficient offensive teams in the League, holding Atlanta to 311 yards passing (their average is 319 yards passing per game) and 78 yards rushing (their average is 89.8 yards per game). So, should Greg Williams and/or Freddie Kitchens be crowned the lead candidate for the next Browns head coach? The answer is no.

Now understandably many Browns fans will be upset with my pessimism, especially after such a complete win, but this is my blog and I must complain about something.

The first reason that Williams and/or Kitchens should not be the lead contenders is because it is just one win, albeit a very good first win. Last week the Browns played “well” against the AFC leading Kansas City Chiefs, but, in the end, they were outmatched, and the loss would go down as one of the three “blowout” losses that the Browns have sustained (Chargers, second Pittsburgh game, and Kansas City) this year. Whereas this week the Browns competed against a “good,” but not outstanding team and whose defense is utterly atrocious. According to The Football Database, the Atlanta Falcon’s defense was ranked 30^th in yards given up per game (only in front of Cleveland and Cincinnati, respectively) at an average of 414.3yds/game. The Falcons also ranked 30^th in pass yards given up per game (only in front of New Orleans and Cincinnati, respectively) at 294.4yds/g. The Falcons are also in the lower half in terms of rush yards given up per game, at 119.9yds/g. Finally, the Falcons rank 25^th in most points allowed all season, at 254. In other words, the Atlanta Falcons would have trouble stopping the Columbus School for the Blind’s football team.

The second reason that Williams/Kitchens should not be the front runners is because it is easy to look like the smartest guys in the room when you replaced two complete knuckleheads. For instance, Duke Johnson received more carries and playing time than he previously did under the former regime. However, it was no surprise to any Browns fan that Johnson was receiving more carries, as the real surprise was the fact that he wasn’t ever receiving more carries under Jackson/Haley. Johnson had over 1,000 yards in total offense back in 2016.  Why that did not warrant him to get the ball more in the subsequent years baffles anyone with grey matter between his ears. So, it was nice to see, but no surprise, that Johnson could muster nine receptions (i.e. caught every pass thrown to him) for 78 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs. In the Atlanta game it was also nice to see that Kitchens utilized the wishbone formation to get his two most dynamic running backs on the field together – rookie Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson. By causing the defense to be unsure whether either running back would receive the ball, be a play action pass, or be a running back option play, it caused the defense to be unsure how to respond and line up. In turn, if Hue “Clueless” Jackson and Todd Haley both believed they were “innovators,” why was it so hard for them to visualize two running backs on the field together? The answer is because Jackson and Haley were both overrated offensive gurus, who were too consumed in a power struggle to think intelligently.

The last reason that Williams/Kitchens should not be the front runners is because we need a coach on the same page as the general manager, John Dorsey. Both Kitchens and Williams were not Dorsey’s hires. Since Dorsey seems to be the only person who has a brain in the Browns front office, I rather he vet all coaching options, even if Williams/Kitchens go on to win the majority of the remaining games. Further, Williams doesn’t fit with the current trend in the NFL – a young quarterback is to be coupled with a young offensive minded coach. Williams is a great defensive coordinator, but as a head coach he could only achieve 17 wins in three years with the Bills. In addition, Williams is plagued with the Bountygate he orchestrated in New Orleans. The last thing Cleveland needs is another embarrassment at head coach.

So, removing Hue/Haley has prevented the cancer from spreading further, but Williams/Kitchen are not the cure.

 

P.S. As of November 11, Hue “Clueless” Jackson has been named as the “Special Assistant” to Marvin Lewis. Not only is the title a joke, but Hue will be working on helping Lewis out with the defense! This is the man who constantly claimed he was an offensive guru and now he’s on defense …