Krunch Time With Katelin: DeShone Kizer Vs. Other Browns QBs First Starts

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE


The Browns fell short in DeShone Kizer's first career start 21-18 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kizer showed a lot of promise in his first career start, going 20/30 for 222 yards in the air. Kizer threw one touchdown and one interception. Kizer also ran for 17 yards and a touchdown. He made normal rookie mistakes like, over throwing wide receivers and holding the ball too long resulting in sacks.

All in all Kizer gives the Browns hopes for the future. Now for the fun of it let us look back on other Browns quarterback's first career starts since '99.


Tim Couch: First start was week two of the 1999 season. Couch went 12/24 for 134 yards and a touchdown in a 26-9 loss against Tennessee. Couch was sacked seven times and lost a fumble. Obviously Couch's career was derailed because of a terrible offensive line.


Charlie Frye: First start, week 13 in 2005. Frye went 13/20 for 226 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-13 loss against Jacksonville. Frye was the first of a few guys, who Browns fans hoped would be our starting Quarterback of the future who was drafted in the mid-rounds.


Brady Quinn: Quinn didn't start a game until his second season in 2008 because of the success of Derek Anderson in 2007. Quinn's first start was week 10 in 2008 against the Denver Broncos. Quinn threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns on 23/35 passing in a 34-30 loss.


Colt McCoy: McCoy was forced into starting because of injuries in 2010. He took on the Steelers in week 6. The Browns lost 28-10 but McCoy went 23/33 passing for 281 yards, a touchdown and two picks.


Brandon Weeden: Brandon Weeden was the first rookie quarterback since the Browns came back in 1999 to start week one of the Season. Kizer was the second since 1999. Weeden's first start was horrendous...and it might not be the worst one on this list. Weeden went 12/35 for 118 yards and four picks in a 17-16 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles.


Johnny Manziel: As I mention the worst "rookie" quarterback debut. Johnny Manziel takes the cake. We all know the situation the Browns were in 2014. Manziel's first start was in week 15 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Manziel went 10/18 for only 80 yards and two interceptions. This was probably the beginning of the end for Manziel in Cleveland...


Cody Kessler: Last year Cody Kessler debuted in week three of the season because of injuries to Robert Griffin III and Josh McCown. Kessler's situation was almost the exact same situation Colt McCoy was forced to make his debut. Kessler put up a winning effort but (unfortunately/fortunately) for the Browns sake lost his debut against the Miami Dolphins 30-24 in overtime. Kessler was 21/33 for 244 yards and only had one turnover which was a fumble.


Looking back at all these quarterbacks, Kizer's debut was basically par for the course. But Kizer's football abilities are far superior then any of these former Browns starters. It should be fun to watch Kizer develop going forward. And boy...and I glad the Browns "Got wiser...and Started Kizer".

Cleveland Browns 2017 Season Preview: Quarterbacks

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

**PREVIOUS**
The Coaching Staff
The Running Backs
Offensive & Defensive Line

On Wednesday Head Coach Hue Jackson announced that rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer will start the the third preseason game and that "he (Kizer) is certainly positioning himself well to earn the starting job." So it looks like its going to be Kizer's team in week one...So what should we as fans expect from the quarterback position in 2017?

First things first, DeShone Kizer is a rookie and is the youngest quarterback in the NFL this season. And I think that's important to note before we all go crazy with expectations.

This team was built to handle a rookie quarterback. The Browns went into the off-season and rebuilt their offensive line with the signing of J.C. Tretter and Kevin Zeitler. Last year, the Browns gave up the most sacks in the league. Some of it was on the quarterbacks but a lot of it was because of the struggles of the offensive line. With the rebuild of the offensive line the Browns will be a run heavy team with Isaiah Crowell, Duke Johnson, and Matt Dayes.

Those two factors will take a majority of the pressure off of Kizer. He won't have to throw the ball 30 times a game to win. And its not like Kizer isn't going to make rookie mistakes, like we seen in the first two weeks of the preseason. Whether its poor decision making, fumbling the snap under center, or not sliding on scrambles these are all teachable moments. The way we judge Kizer shouldn't be wins and losses, but how he grows week-to-week into a more comfortable NFL quarterback.

DeShone Kizer gives the Browns the best opportunity to win games this season. Kizer's arm strength will keep defenses honest with the deep ball and prevent teams from stacking the line of scrimmage which will only help the running game. Kizer also has an ability to run the ball. He was a solid runner at Notre Dame and with his 6'4 235 frame gives the Browns another running threat in short yardage and red zone situations.

Its exciting to see a rookie quarterback start from day one, something we haven't seen since Brandon Weeden in 2012. Kizer earned this opportunity to start week one and has worked his way up from third string quarterback in the first week of the preseason to first string in the third week.

If Cody Kessler plays in 2017 it means Kizer got hurt. Its that simple. We know what we have in Kessler. He can come in, manage a game, and that's about it. He's not gonna make the big play but he's also not gonna make the big mistake.

Brock Osweiler's tenure with the Browns might be coming to an end real soon. He was given an opportunity to grab the starting job and he failed. If he's not traded by the end of the preseason I expect Brock to be released when the Browns cut down the roster to 53.

Krunch Time With Katelin 7/26/17: 5 Things To Watch In Browns Training Camp

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE


Football is back!!!!

The Browns are getting ready for the 2017 season, headlined by first overall pick Myles Garrett. Its been a successful off-season for the Browns. They've beefed up the offensive line, they've also added players on both sides of the ball in the draft and during free agency. But it wouldn't be an off-season with changes in the coaching staff. Gregg Williams is now the defensive coordinator after the firing of Ray Horton.

And with that being said the number one thing to watch for is the new defensive coordinator and his staff. Gregg Williams has a history of being one of the top defensive coaching in the NFL. He is a hard-nose football guy and is here to help change the culture. We've seen it already...during press conferences he's calling out players and members of the media *cough. And we've also seen bits and pieces of how he interacts with players (before the press conference of the first round picks). And that's what I'm personally interested in. Seeing how Gregg Williams interacts with the defense during camp and how it will set a tone of the defense throughout the regular season.


It wouldn't be a Browns training camp without a quarterback battle. But this time its s triple threat match between: second year quarterback Cody Kessler, Veteran quarterback Brock Osweiler, and rookie second round pick Deshone Kizer. There is an argument to be made for all three of these guys to start week one. Kessler has been in the system for a year and has made improvements to his game. For the record, he might be odds on favorite to start week one.

Osweiler was acquired during the off-season along with a second round pick from the Texans in a deal that was basically a salary dump. The Texans wanted Osweiler off the team and the Browns wanted the second round pick and his contract in order to meet the NFL's cap requirements. There were rumors about Osweiler being traded, which could still happen if there is an injury during the preseason. But as of right now he is competing for the starting job. Osweiler never seemed to fit into what Bill O'Brien wanted to do in Houston and the change of scenery might turn out to be a good thing. He did win a super bowl in Denver while playing a number of games during the regular season and he played well.

Last but certainly not least the second round pick out of Notre Dame, Deshone Kizer. This guy has all the tools to be an NFL quarterback. In my opinion he should just start week one. The Browns aren't going to win a lot of game so I don't see why the Browns would wait six-eight weeks for Kizer to start. I'd rather have a complete year grade for him and if the Browns end up with a top five pick in next year's draft they'd know what they have a the quarterback position. Kizer can make all the NFL throws and for the majority of last season was touted as the top quarterback in the class. But a terrible record and the questionable coaching he had in college seemed to have dropped his stock.


Rookies in general are always fun to watch during camp. They give fans a hope for the future and this year is no different. With 10 draftees this year the Browns are full of young talent. Three first round picks: Myles Garrett, Jabrill Peppers, and David Njoku, Kizer, and defensive linemen Larry Ognujobi and Caleb Brantley are the ones should stand out.

But its not just the rookies this year to keep an eye on but the guys who are entering their second year as professionals. The wide receivers are still extremely young. These guys need to step up. Corey Coleman, Ricardo Louis, Jordan Payton and Rashard Higgins are all vying for playing time. Obviously, Coleman will get his chance as a first round pick, but the other three will be battling each other not just for playing time on offense but showing their worth on special teams.

This might not but just a training camp thing to watch but throughout the preseason is to just keep an eye on the secondary. This is Joe Haden's put-up or shut-up year. He's already been challenged by Gregg Williams this off-season and he is the leader of the defense. Haden had a bounce back year last year after a rough 2015 campaign. Even though 2016 was still an injury plagued season for Haden. Outside of Haden the Browns still have some questions. And it isn't in a negative way but just as an unknown.

Jamar Taylor seems to be a solid starter in the NFL and Briean Boddy-Calhoun played well at times last year. The Browns acquired two veterans Calvin Pryor and Jason McCourty late in the off-season. It will be interesting to see if a change of location would help Pryor and the were McCourty will even play. Whether at the corner position or a safety. And how McCourty's leadership will help the development of Peppers, Derrick Kindred, Bobby-Calhoun, and Ibraheim Campbell

There will be a lot more to talk about during the preseason and I will have articles on specific positions while we lead up to the start of the regular season. And as always I will have the Previews for each game and the recaps along with a random article Browns article during the middle of each week. Its good to be back in the groove of writing and talking Cleveland Browns!!!!

Krunch Time With Katelin: Five Stories and Thoughts from the 2016 Cleveland Browns

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

2016 was tough year for the Browns. A number of different quarterbacks, a ton of injuries, and the lack of wins resulting in the number one overall pick in the upcoming draft. We knew this past season was going to be rough and the start of a tear-down rebuild, but not many expected the Browns to end up 1-15 at seasons end. With 1-15 there aren't a lot of stories to tell but here are five stories that will help recap this 2016 season.

5. Let's start with the number of quarterbacks this past season. Not counting Terrelle Pryor and Duke Johnson who threw passes this season, the Browns had five different quarterbacks lineup under center for them. Cody Kessler, Josh McCown, and Robert Griffin III started this past season with Kevin Hogan and Charlie Whitehurst taking snaps in relief of Cody Kessler. The quarterback problems started week one when RGIII broke a bone in his shoulder. Then, in week two, McCown ended up breaking his collar bone which sidelined him for a month and a half. Cody Kessler didn't play terrible for a rookie quarterback but he didn't do enough to keep the job for the entire season. RGIII ended up started the last four weeks and didn't help solidify anything for the 2017 season.

4. Jamie Collins, one of the best linebackers in the NFL, got traded from the New England Patriots to Cleveland. The Browns gave up a third round pick for his services. After the Browns traded for Collins it was weird to see on the field. Everyone could tell how good he was and at some points he seemed frustrated with the lack of talent around him. It was also weird to hear the speculation of why Collins was traded out of New England. Whether it was locker room stuff or him being a free agent in 2017...it will hopefully help the Browns going forward.

3. Even though the year was tough a number of players stepped up and made a giant leap. Guys like Christian Kirksey, Jamar Taylor, Danny Shelton and Isaiah Crowell improved immensely because of the opportunity given. Danny Shelton played like a top tier nose tackle. He was constantly disrupting the flow of the opposing offensive line even if statistically the Browns defense didn't play well. Christian Kirksey ranked 6th in total tackles with 143. The past two years he was spelling Karlos Dansby but this year he was all over and was a three down player. He improved on his run defense and has always been a solid in pass coverage. Jamar Taylor was traded to Cleveland from Miami for a handful of spots...in the seventh round of the 2016 draft.

Taylor was a former second round pick who seemed to be a bust for Miami. For his growth this past season the Browns ended up rewarding him with a 3yr/$15 million extension. And finally Isaiah Crowell...who ended up 48 rushing yards short of 1000 for the season. The First few weeks of the season Crowell was lighting it up and was in the top 5 in rushing yards. Because of injuries at offensive line Crowell's 1000 yard season dream came up short, but it was positive in the sense of how the Browns found their starting running back going forward.

2. Terrelle Pryor's transition from quarterback to wide receiver was amazing to see...even if former and opposing players criticized him for being emotional on the field. Its not that people didn't think he could do it, he's a freak athlete, but if he was going to become selfish and become a "diva" on and off the field. While off the field some took their shots at him on the field he played extremely well. 77 catches 1007 yards and four touchdowns in his first full season at receiver is pretty dang good. Hell fans wanted the Browns to sign Pryor to an extension after his crazy game in Miami where he caught eight passes for 144 yards, ran for 21 yards and a touchdown...and threw the ball for 35 yards on 3/5 passing. It will be interesting to see if Pryor has a future in the Browns and Orange but even if he doesn't he was one of (if not the main reason) people still tuned in on Sundays to watch the Browns.

1. The Browns only winning one game this season has to be the number one story. Whether it was speculation Hue Jackson and company were going to get fired at the end of the season...which turned out to be kinda true. Or the number of odd ways the Browns found themselves on the short end of the win column. Like when The Browns stormed to a 20-2 lead against the Ravens and ended up losing 25-20 because of a blocked PAT that was returned for a touchdown and a missed field goal. (and lets not forget about the stupid flag on Terrelle Pryor when he went to give the official the ball) Or when Cody Parkey missed three field goals in one game including a potential game winner, And the Duke Johnson fumble that he obviously recovered but the lady official completely messed up calling a Redskins recovery when Johnson had the ball five yards behind her. And that all happened in consecutive weeks...And the 0-16 parade which divided Browns fans on many social media platforms. Heck, it ended up having one of Cleveland's top radio personalities threatening to run over people who were participating in the parade.(I guess anything for ratings). But All in all the Browns won a game and ten's of thousands of dollars were donated to the Cleveland Food Bank because of the fan funded 0-16 parade and the contributions from the Cleveland Browns and others.

This season was a trip. Remembering all these stories and seeing how social media was during this headache of a season was something to remember...if people didn't pay that close of attention because of the Indians playoff success or the Ohio State University during their thing on Saturday's. But the "try-out year" as I coined in my season preview was a success. I think the Browns have a good idea of were their weaknesses are and now have the tools to fix this team the correct way. And that starts with making smart signing during free agency with the large amount of cap room they have and the number one overall pick in April's draft.  

Browns Recap 11.21.16: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The Browns fall to 0-11 after their 24-9 loss to the Steelers. This game was personification of the 2016 Cleveland Browns and four plays proved that.  The first was the Browns punting on 4&33 and then two penalties at the end of the first half (which would have ended the half at 6-0) allowing the Steelers to take a 14-0 lead into the locker room. Then in the second half the quarterback Cody Kessler suffered a concussion and Josh McCown had to take over. Each quarterback suffered four sacks and were hit hard multiple times.


The First Half:

Defensively the Browns played a "bend, but don't break defense". The Steelers completely dominated the time of possession having the ball for just over 20 minutes. The Steelers had 217 total yards on 41 plays. 132 of the 217 yards were through the air with Le'Veon Bell as the Steelers leading receiver with seven catches for 50 yards. Bell also carried the ball 16 times for 85 yards and a touchdown (which was the result of the two penalties at the end of the half). The Steelers were also 4/7 on third down and 1/1 on fourth. Roethlisberger was 18/25 for 132 yards.

The Browns were horrible offensively only managing 50 total yards. Kessler was 3/7 for 60 yards and one interception, but what really killed this team was Kessler being sacked three times for a total of 29 yards. The running game didn't do anything. 19 rushing yards on seven carries. Isaiah Crowell had five carries for nine yards and Duke Johnson had two carries for 10. The leading receiver was Terrelle Pryor with one catch for 30 yards. Andrew Hawkins had a catch for 28 yards and rookie Corey Coleman had a catch for four yards, and he also had two dropped catches.


The Second Half:

The defense played well holding the Steelers to 96 total yards in the second half. Bell had 66 of the 96 yards. 61 on the ground and five through the air. Bell ended the game with 146 yards on the ground on 28 carries and a touchdown. And eight catches for 55 yards. Roethlisberger ended his day with 167 yards on 23/36 passing. Antonio Brown tied Bell as the game leader in catches with eight and had the team lead in receiving yards with 76.

The Browns leading tacklers were Christian Kirksey with nine, Jamie Collins with eight, and Demario Davis with seven.

Offensively the Browns were the Browns. They couldn't run the ball at all and their quarterback got hurt. Kessler suffered a concussion and McCown came in. McCown played like he always does. 118 yards on 14/27 passing and throwing the Browns only touchdown of the day. A 14 yard pass to tight end Gary Barnidge. Two plays back-to-back really hurt the Browns. After getting the ball while down 17-9 McCown threw a ball over the middle to Terrelle Pryor. Pryor didn't catch it because it was overthrown but suffered a big hit and was taken off of the field. The next play while scrabbling, McCown fumbled the ball into the end zone and it was recovered by the Steelers for a touchdown. So like stated before..."McCown played like he always does". Terrelle Pryor ended his day with five catches for 97 yards, Duke Johnson had three catches in the second half for 46 yards, and ended his day with 4 catches for 39 yards.

The offensive line was terrible all game. They couldn't get a push in the running game resulting in 33 yards on 13 carries and the Steelers having eight sacks for 70 yards.

Overall Thoughts:

These games are hard to watch, but this team isn't quitting and that says a lot. It says a lot about the coaching of Hue Jackson and his staff. He is trying to get as much as he can with what he has. We all knew this year was going to be tough but no one thought it was going to be this tough. Its hard to win when you play six different players at quarterback, numerous offensive line combinations, and injuries on both sides of the ball.

This game also showed me that Kessler isn't going to be our starting quarterback for the future...and that is okay. Kessler seems to hesitant to get the ball out. Yes its a combination of the lack of play-makers and offensive line but its becoming obvious that the Browns will draft their future quarterback in April. Also expect Robert Griffin III to start either this week against the Giants (if he's cleared) or week 14 vs the Bengals and to play for the reminder of the season.

Most Valuable Brown (MVB): Terrelle Pryor continues to play well with a murky quarterback situation. He is proving he can be a top-level receiver and should get paid handsomely this off-season whether its in Cleveland or not.

Browns Preview 11.18.16: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The (4-5) Pittsburgh Steelers travel to Cleveland to take on the (0-10) Browns. The Browns are coming off an interesting game against the Ravens where rookie starting quarterback Cody Kessler was benched in the second half  while leading 7-6. Then Josh McCown took over and the Browns ended up losing 28-7. The Steelers lost to the Cowboys last week 35-30 in a shootout. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 408 yards and three touchdowns in that game. But the deciding factor of this game was the Steelers going 0/4 on two point conversion attempts.


Browns Offense vs Steelers Defense

Cody Kessler will be starting this week with an opportunity to show he's improved enough to be the starter long-term. Kessler will need to prove he can throw the ball down field to help out the running game and the intermediate passing game. Kessler's stats aren't bad. He's thrown six touchdowns and only one interception (which was back in week four). Kessler has a high completion percentage 66.9% but only 7 yards per attempt. The Steelers defense gives up about 278 yards threw the air. Their secondary is headlined by William Gay...yes William Gay is still in the league. They have first round pick Artie Burns as their nickel corner and former Browns first round pick Justin Gilbert as a sub-package corner.  With all that being said Corey Coleman and Terrelle Pryor should have a good day Sunday. Pryor is a matchup nightmare for the Steelers, whether its down the field or in intermediate yardage. But its up to Kessler to take advantage of Pryor and Coleman.

The running game just needs to keep the Steelers honest. Its not like the Browns are going to run for 120 yards but if they can get 85-100 total yards on the ground then it should keep the Browns in third and manageable. The Steelers give up about 102 yards on the ground per game with ranks 15th in the NFL. But with the loss of Cameron Heyward the Steelers will need to adjust and the Browns need to take advantage of the lack of Heyward...both in the running game and pass protection.

The offensive line of the Browns will dictate how this game goes. Cam Erving and Spencer Drango are the most important, Erving and Drango have to keep the pocket clean for Kessler to be able to throw the ball down field like Hue Jackson wants. Yes, Kessler needs to get the ball out quicker but we've seen Erving...he might be the worst player in the NFL and Drango is still a rookie.  But if the Browns can win in the trenches then the Browns have an opportunity to at the very least cover the betting spread.


Browns Defense vs Steelers Offense

This is were this game can...and will get ugly. The Browns defense averages 419 total yards per game which ranks them 31st just behind the 49ers. And the Steelers average 370 total yards per game which is ranked 11th. Roethlisberger is going to target Antonio Brown and Le'Veon the most in the passing game. Brown will be going against Joe Haden most of the game and has had great numbers against him. Haden has problems going against small and quick receivers because of Haden's inability to play press-man against him. Bell will have a combination of linebackers (Jamie Collins, Christian Kirksey, and others) and young safeties. Browns and Bell are first and second on the team with catches...and Bell missed the first three games due to suspension.

The Browns struggle against the pass giving up about 275 yards per game...but against the run the Browns are 31st, giving up 143 yards per game. The linebackers for the Browns will have big games stat wise because the Steelers game plan should be give the ball to Bell 25+ times. The Browns have to choose whether or not to sell out on the run or pass and then hope they can force a turnover...whether its in the red zone stopping a score or the Steelers side of the ball shortening the field for the offense.


Five Guys to Watch

Cody Kessler: Kessler is going to be one of the five guys to watch until the end of the season. Kessler has an opportunity to prove to the front office and coaching staff he's the starter to build around. Kessler need to get the ball out quickly and to stay aggressive whether its down the field or scrabbling for extra yards.

Terrelle Pryor: Pryor has shown he can be a pro-bowl receiver. Kessler needs to play aggressive  and Pryor and him have good chemistry. So Pryor should get a ton of targets this week and should find the goal line at least once.

Cam Erving: Erving is running out of chances to prove he's an NFL player not just a starting center. With Heyward out, Erving has an opportunity to show he can be a competent center. These next few weeks will be a tryout not just for his Browns career but his entire NFL career.

Emmanual Ogbah: Ogbah is now listed as an defensive lineman instead of an outside linebacker. He needs to play well in both against the pass and rush. And he needs to capitalize on the pressure he gets on Roethlisberger.

Joe Haden: As long as Haden doesn't let Antonio Brown go for 120 + yards then its a success. Haden is in an almost impossible situation. He's banged up and he will have to go up against the best receiver without any help this game will show if he's quit...and if the team has quit on this year in general.

Injury Report

Weather Report
Betting Line: Pittsburgh -8


Prediction: Steelers 35 Browns 24

The Browns will fall to 0-11...*insert #questforimperfection & 0-16 parade jokes. This is a must win for the Steelers to potentially remained tied with the Ravens (who are playing the Cowboys). Kessler should play well and Pryor and Kirksey will continue to show that they are pro-bowl players but overall the team lacks talent all over...and this game will show the giant gap between the Steelers and Browns.

Browns Recap 11.11.16: Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The Browns fell to 0-10 Thursday night after a loss against the Baltimore Ravens. Which marks their 13th straight loss dating back to last season. Overall, this game fit the script of almost every game this season for the Browns. A competitive first half and then a total collapse in the second half. The Browns used three different quarterbacks this game, which was the first time a team did that since 2011.

The Browns had the lead at the end of the first half 7-6. Cody Kessler played the first half and one drive into the second. Kessler didn't play horribly going 11/18 for 91 yards and a touchdown. But was spelled by Josh McCown to hopefully bring a "spark" to the offense...unfortunately his "spark" lit a fire, and not in a good way. McCown went 6/13 for 59 yards, two interceptions and fumble.

Overall the offense really struggled in this game. Terrelle Pryor was the Browns leading receiver with five catches and 48 yards and Crowell was the Browns leading rusher with 23 yards on nine carries. Because of the lack of an overall offense the Browns couldn't control the time of possession, having the ball for only 21 mins, managing only 11 first downs and 144 total yards in the game. The Browns averaged 3.0 yards per play and were 2/10 on third down.

The only bright spot on offense was rookie Seth DeValve who caught his first career touchdown pass. And that Cody Kessler will be starting next week against the Steelers.

Defensively the Browns were...the Browns. Again like in weeks before they play really well in the first half. The first half only gave up six points in the first half, forced Joe Flacco into an interception, and sacked him twice. But in the second half...things really imploded. With the offense struggling the defense did all it could. They gave up a touchdown on the first drive of the second half but came back and forced another interception in the end zone...but then McCown came in and threw one of his two interceptions.

Joe Flacco had another Joe Flacco game. He went 30/41 for 296 yards three touchdowns and two picks. His leading receiver was 2015 first round pick Breshad Perriman, catching three passes for 64 yards and a touchdown (which went for 27 yards). Steve Smith Sr had five catches for 60 yards and a touchdown. The Ravens running game was really solid rushing for 119 yards on 34 carries. Former Browns running back Terrance West was the Ravens leading rusher with 65 yards on 21 carries.

Mike Wallace had a solid game for the Ravens catching four passes for 59 yards. And all four catches were against Joe Haden. Brein Boddy-Calhoun struggled against all of his match ups. Giving up seven catches and two touchdowns. He did intercept his second pass of this year which is tied for first place among rookies.

Most Valuable Brown

The Co-MVB(s) of this game: Christian Kirksey and Jamie Collins Sr. Kirksey was leading the Browns leading tackler with 13 and Collins was second with nine. Collins had a sack and two tackles for losses. They both also played really well in the run defense.  

The Browns going 0-16 is becoming a real possibility. But just remember that this is exactly what fans wanted and expected. A "tryout" year for many of these young players and having the opportunity to draft any player with the first overall pick. So lets not call for anyone's job just yet. Actually lets not call of anyone's job for another two years or so because...well...who else are the Browns going to get Coach this team.

Browns Recap 11.7.16: Dallas Cowboys @ Cleveland Browns

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE


The Cleveland Browns fall to 0-9 after their 35-10 loss to the Cowboys. The Browns became the first team since 1964 to give up 25+ points in the first nine games of the season. Overall this game was terrible and it started on the first drive. Center Cam Erving got ejected from the game after a personal foul flag for throwing the helmet of Cowboy's defensive tackle David Irving. Irving was also ejected for a personal foul on Erving.


Browns Offense

The Browns offense was terrible on Sunday, only managing 222 yards. 177 yards were through the air. Cody Kessler was 19/27 passing with 203, a touchdown with a quarterback rating of 104.4. Kessler was sacked four times for 26 yards and ended up having x-rays done on his leg after the game. He's still expected to start Thursday against the Ravens.

The Browns leading receiver was running back Isaiah Crowell, who caught four passes for 63 yards. 44 of them were on a catch and run on the first drive of the game, which set up a field goal. Terrelle Pryor caught five passes for 47 yards, one of which was a 12 yard touchdown at the end of the first half. And Corey Coleman caught three passes for 41 yards in his first game back after breaking his hand before week 3.

The running game was horrible and wasn't used because deficit the Browns found themselves in. Duke Johnson had 30 yards on five carries and Crowell had four yards on six carries. Kessler also had 11 yards on the ground on two carries.

The Browns were 1/9 on third down and only had the ball for 20:21. They couldn't keep their own defense off the field. But the offense, at the very least, did protect the ball this week...not committing a turnover.


Browns Defense

Defensively, the Browns gave up 423 yards. 255 of those yards were through the air. Dak Prescott was 21/27 for 247 yards, three touchdowns and had a quarterback rating of 141.8. Prescott didn't turn the ball over. He was given a clean pocket all game, only hit once (which was by Jamie Collins Sr) and wasn't sacked. He also had 20 yards on the ground on four carries. Mark Sanchez threw one pass for eight yards.

Jason Witten had a huge game. Eight catches for 134 yards and a touchdown. This was Witten's first 100 yard game since week 17 in 2013...yes 2013...2.5 seasons ago.  Cole Beasley also had a solid game, catching six passes for 56 yards and a touchdown. Dez Bryant was held in check though. He only had one catch for 19 yards...and was only targeted four times.

On the ground Dallas did whatever they wanted. Ezekiel Elliott had 92 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. Alfred Morris had 56 yards on 17 carries. Dallas as a team averaged four yards per carry and had a 168 yards on the ground.

The combination off all that resulted in Dallas controlling the clock for over 39 mins. They were 8/12 on third down and were also 2/2 on fourth down. The Browns leading tacklers were Demario Davis with 10 tackles, Christian Kirksey had nine tackles and new Brown Jamie Collins Sr had eight tackles.










Most Valuable Brown

Cody Kessler is the MVB of this week. This game was terrible but Kessler had another solid game. Considering how badly the right side of the offensive line played (Alvin Bailey and Austin Pasztor) Kessler really did do the best he could. Kessler is the starter for the rest of the year, so its exciting to see if he can potentially become the quarterback of the future for the Browns.

Browns Preview 11.4.16: Dallas Cowboys @ Cleveland Browns

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The (6-1) Dallas Cowboys travel to Cleveland to take on the (0-8) Browns. Last week the Cowboys beat the Eagles 29-23 in overtime. The Browns lost 31-28 last week to the Jets. The Browns will have Corey Coleman back for this week. And Jamie Collins is expected to make his Browns debut.


Browns Offense vs Cowboys Defense

The Browns are expected to start Cody Kessler this week. Last week, the starter was a returning Josh McCown, who threw for 341 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. The Cowboys are ranked 18th in pass defense and the Browns should have some success. In week two with McCown, Corey Coleman caught five passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Last week, Pryor caught six passes for 101 yards. With a complete passing game along with guys like Barnidge, Johnson, and Hawkins the Browns will have to score a ton of points to keep it close.

With a struggling running game, the Browns might be forced to throw the ball a ton, The Browns are going to have run the ball some, but don't expect a lot of carries. Duke Johnson should get a ton of snaps because of his ability to catch the ball out of the back field, and hopefully keep the Dallas defense honest at times.

To win this game, whether its Cody Kessler or Josh McCown, will have to take care of the football. His four interceptions this year, is one of the main reasons the Browns lost his two starts. If McCown can just play smart and not force anything, he can keep them in this game.


Browns Defense vs Cowboys Offense

Defensively the Browns are going to struggle. They give up the second most yards on the ground per game and Ezekiel Elliott is the number one rusher in the league. All Dallas needs to do this week is hand the ball off to Elliott. It might be that easy for Dallas this week. As long as Elliott keeps hold of the ball, he should have a huge game on the ground...Jamie Collins should help a little, but he's only 1/11 guys on the field.

Dallas should have a good game in the passing game. The Browns struggle with covering the slot receiver and tight end, and Dak Prescott's main targets are Cole Beasley and Jason Witten. They have 67 catches between them and four touchdowns. Also running back Zeke Elliott is really good at catching the ball out of the backfield and is already one of the best pass protecting running backs in the league.

The Browns will need to force turnovers and can't give up dumb plays. If the Browns can force a couple of turnovers then maybe and stop the Dallas defense on third and long then maybe the Browns can pull off the win. It may seem like a trap game for Dallas but with rookies Dak Prescott and Elliott along with vets like Dez Bryant and Jason Witten that would seem unlikely.


Five Guys to Watch

Corey Coleman: First game back since week two, He had success with McCown at quarterback and with the threat of Pryor...it should open up an opportunity for him. Also this is a good time for him to knock the dust off and start the second half of the season refreshed.

Duke Johnson: Johnson should get most of the snaps this week. He is a threat in the passing game and will need some carries to open up the passing game. Also with McCown needing to play it safe, Johnson is the main target for check down passes.

Jamie Collins: Unsure how much he will play, but he's already the Browns best player on defense. Its that simple.

Christian Kirksey: Kirksey has grown into a really solid linebacker. He will need to have a big game in the run defense to help stop Zeke from running wild.

Ray Horton: The defensively play-calling will determine how this game goes. Will the Browns sell out on the run and force Prescott to beat them or be more balanced.


Injury Report
Weather:
Betting Line: Dallas -7


Predictions

Dallas 35 - Browns 17

Browns fall to 0-9 and are getting closer to their quest for imperfection. The Browns will have no answer for Dallas' running game this week. But if you have either Pryor or Coleman on your fantasy team it might be good to start them because they will get a lot of targets and should get you some points in garbage time. Let's just hope the Browns stay healthy this week since the Browns have a Thursday night game in Baltimore next week.

On The Mark 10.24.16: Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals Recap

0 for 7; The Browns lose yet again, 30-17, to the Bengals, and also lose another QB
By Mark West, @Markw2112

The Cleveland Browns are headed towards a historic 2016 season.  Sadly, this history might be one of the worst teams in NFL history.  The Browns have now lost all 7 of their games, this time to the Cincinnati Bengals, 30-17 at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.  The Bengals, who have had issues of their own, were able to completely maul the Browns on both sides of the ball.  

Cody Kessler started the game and, when time allowed him, looked good yet again.  Yet the offensive line was over matched by the Bengals defensive line and Kessler paid the price.  On an excellent shovel pass to Gary Barnidge, he was hit in the head then hit his head to the ground by defender Domata Peko in the second quarter.  He went 9-of-11 for 82 yards before being knocked out of the game and in to concussion protocol.

When Kessler went down, in came 4th string QB Kevin Hogan, who had a few excellent runs in a wild cat formation usually reserved for Terrelle Pryor.  Hogan tried to lead the team with his feet as he was the leading rusher with 108 yards and a touchdown.  Passing, he was 12-of-24 for 100 yards and 2 interceptions.  Gary Barnidge led all receivers with 66 yards.  Terrelle Pryor, fighting a hamstring issue, only had 2 catches for 18 yards.

For the Bengals, it was all too easy on the offensive side.  With Joe Haden sidelined yet again with an injury, Andy Dalton (19-of-28, 308 yards, 2 TD's) had no problem connecting with A.J. Green, who ended his day with 169 yards and an amazing Hail Mary touchdown to end the first half to make it 28-17 going in to halftime.  Jeremy Hill also ran for 168 yards on 9 attempts while Gio Bernard had a touchdown with 80 yards rushing.  The Bengals had 559 total yards against the Browns depleted defense.

The Browns will play the Jets next Sunday, in Cleveland, at 1 PM.

Browns Preview 10.21.16: Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The (0-6) Cleveland Browns travel to the Cincinnati to take on the (2-4) Bengals. Last week the Browns lost to the Tennessee Titans 28-26. The Bengals lost to the New England Patriots 35-17. This week marks the first time Hue Jackson takes on the Bengals as a head coach since leaving Cincinnati for Cleveland.


Browns Offense vs Bengals Defense

The Browns offense struggled last week and they should struggle again this week. The running game hasn't done anything the past few weeks. The Bengals are ranked 20th in the NFL in rush defense giving up 108 yards per game. The Browns can't give up on the running game like they did last week. Last week the Browns only had 15 rushes...4 rushes for Duke Johnson for 18 yard and Isaiah Crowell had 9 rushes for only 16 yards. This week the Browns will need to control the time of possession and the only way they can do that is have success on the ground.

Cameron Erving needs to step up this week. Last week was his first game since his injury week two against the Ravens. Erving is going to set the tone for the game this week. Erving has been terrible in both pass protection and run blocking but hopefully another week recovering from injury will help improve his play. 

Cody Kessler has balled out since becoming the starter and is starting make his case to be the quarterback of the future. Kessler's game plan each week is simple...short quick passes to the tight ends and running backs and when in doubt target Terrelle Pryor. Lets just hope Pryor is able to play this week even though he's been nursing a hamstring injury. 

Last key for the Browns offensively is converting on third down. Last week the Browns were 3-13 on third down which was one of the main reasons they gave up on the run. 


Browns Defense vs Bengals Offense

The main thing the Browns need to do defensively is stop A.J. Green at all cost. Green is a top tier receiver, ranking number one in catches with 42, and third in yardage with 606.  Joe Haden will be matched up against AJ Green this week. The past few years Haden has had Green's number which is why its important Haden plays even if he's only at 80% or so. 

Pressuring Andy Dalton is another key for success. Dalton is known to make mistakes when pressured and the Browns should be able to do that. The Bengals have given up 19 sacks which is tied, with the Browns, for second with most in the NFL. So guys like Carl Nassib, Emmanuel Ogbah, and Cam Johnson should have a field day.

Last but not least is stopping the two headed monster in Jeremy Hill and Gio Bernard. Hill will get most of the carries on the ground, Bernard is not just a threat on the ground but in the passing game too. Bernard is second on the team with 29 catches. The Browns shouldn't have to sell out to stop the run this week and all they should do is focus on getting to Dalton and shutting down AJ Green.


Five Guys to Watch

Joe Haden: The Browns need Haden this week. Like stated before, Green has had terrible games against Haden. Haden need to come up big for the Browns to have a chance this week.

Emmanuel Ogbah: Ogbah is still looking for his firs career sack and this week seems like the perfect week for him to record it against a struggling Bengals O-line.

Duke Johnson: Johnson has been a disappointment this year and needs to step up as a playmaker. Whether its in the kick/punt return game, the passing game, or the ground game the Browns need his play-making ability. Also he takes pressure off of Crowell and Kessler. 

Cody Kessler: Speaking of Kessler he will be making his fifth start of his career this week. He's played really well for a rookie and its really nice to see him grow. Its going to be interesting to see how well he plays with one of his main guys (Pryor) hurt. Kessler seems to have chemistry with Ricardo Lewis. 

Ricardo Lewis: Lewis had a really solid game last week recording 5 catches for 65 yards. He's been inconsistent at times with drops but if Pryor can't play look for this week to be his coming out game. 


Injury Report
Weather Report

Betting Line: Cincinnati -10

 
Unfortunately the Browns fall again, which will make their record 0-7. Now I won't be surprised if the Browns keep it close for most of the game but the Bengals have too many weapons and are a veteran team. Another moral victory for the Browns. Kessler will continue to play well and develop right in front of us. Like I said in my
"Krunch Time With Katelin" article this week this season is all about the big picture and a game like Sunday's against a really good opponent in Cincinnati will help make the development go even faster. And like I've stated in the past few previews...don't get all pissed off at the Browns. Just go enjoy the Indians, Buckeyes and Cavaliers!!!