Once Sunday's game ended in Pittsburgh, officials started to replace the center portion of the grass in Heinz Field by shredding the field.
Fitting, since the Steelers pretty much shredded the Browns during the game.
Oh, one can say that at one point the score was 17-14 and one can point out that the Browns did find the end zone and that the Browns did use Josh Cribbs a little more effectively on offense, and one would be correct.
But one could also point out some numbers that the Steelers offense posted in the 27-14 victory that really and easily could have been a lot more one-sided. Pittsburgh had:
—543 total yards
—7.3 yards per play
—nine pass plays of 20 yards or longer (and two more for 19)
—417 yards passing by Ben Roethlisberger
—140 yards rushing by Pittsburgh as a team
—a time of possession edge that read 36:46 for Pittsburgh 23:14 for the Browns.
—more than 300 yards receiving collectively from Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes and Heath Miller — or more than 100 yards more than the Browns gained AS A TEAM.
How dominant was the Steelers offense?
They have not had 543 yards in a game since November of 1995.
For the Browns, this seems to be one of those "last time" seasons.
As in we'll be writing and reading a lot of "last time" statistics.
Get ready to read about the last time the Browns started 1-8.
Or the last time they gave up 400-plus yards passing to a quarterback.
Or the last time they had the No. 2 pick in the draft.
Or the last time they did not win a division game.
Or the last this, that or the other.
It's all right there, ready to happen.
This is just not a very good team. It wasn't at the beginning of the season. It's not now. And it won't be in a month.
And no 6-3 win in Buffalo over the Bills is going to change that reality.
Random thoughts …
—Not that we're keeping track or anything, but this supposed "rivalry" remains a joke. Pittsburgh has won 12 in a row and 18-of-19. Rivalry? Hrrmph.
—The Browns scored a touchdown on a pass to Lawrence Vickers. They now have scored four touchdowns this season on offense. Which means that the last 12 games they've scored four offensive touchdowns, or one every three games. Just think … if they score a TD in the first weekend of a month, they could actually have two TDs in a month if they keep up the pace.
—For those counting, the Browns have now scored touchdowns on four of their last 140 possessions. That's 2.9 percent of the time, which is up from the 2.3 percent they were averaging when the Steelers game started.
—I know … it's easy to be cynical.
—The last two games, Derek Anderson has completed 11-of-41 passes.
—The difference between him and Brady Quinn certainly is marked, eh?
—What's the saying about "when you have two quarterbacks …"
—A Browns receiver and running back have yet to find the end zone this season.
—In his defense, Anderson has had 15 passes dropped the last two games — that's one-half of his 30 incompletions.
—Brandon McDonald looked pretty bad trying to make tackles and cover Sunday, but he also appeared to be playing with a bad right shoulder. He barely could lift his right arm when he was getting dressed after the game.
—The more I see Ben Roethlisberger, the more I think he's among the elite of NFL quarterbacks. Perhaps not to the level of Peyton Manning, but close. The guy is big, strong, tough, calm in the pocket and he runs the no-huddle offense with the brutal efficiency of a butcher.
—Consider that Roethlisberger called the Steelers offense "OK" after it rolled up 540-some yards.
—What can the Browns do to stem this negative tide? Not much. It would have been nice to see them use Josh Cribbs more in the Wildcat, but the coaches seemed scared after Cribbs' interception in the first quarter. To that point, the offense moved well with Cribbs. That being said, he's not a thrower, and to ask him to throw might be a big much — especially when a blitzer comes free off the right side and the throw is in the direction of Troy Polamalu.
—The next two games sure don't look easy, not with Green Bay and Chicago waiting. What was that about an easy schedule this season?
—So the Browns could be looking at going into the bye with a 1-7 record, and the sole win a 6-3 victory over Buffalo.
—Cripes.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
wow, what a garbage team. eric mangini makes me long for romeo. not even when romeo was a lame duck did his teams ever look as horrid as mangini's version. i can't believe that he's actually the head coach of the cleveland browns. bud carson's zombie would be an improvement. the amazing part is that there is a good chance that randy lerner is stupid enough to let this fraudulent head coach continue this failed experiment for 3 more years. one year under belichick as d coordinator—amazing. there are fry cooks with more real football experience than that semi-pro, go-fer, ball boy tub of lard. hell, i can fetch a sandwich. maybe i'll get an interview when ball boy gets axed.
terje, there is no way Mangini gets axed. At least not until the end of his second year, at the earliest. By the way, what do you think of the new Rammstein album? I've listened to it about 12 times to try to really give it a chance, and I'm still not sure if it really sucks, or if it's an OK, albeit somewhat disappointing album. I require your expertise in these matters.
A big problem I have with Mangini, other than his pear-like shape, is his refusal to take risks. I mean, other than his top-secret evil plan to have Lerner's worthless new locker room spy assassinated. The funny thing is, Kosar is probably dumb enough to believe he's really there to lend a hand as opposed to spy. Jim Brown was arrogant enough to believe it, Kosar is blind and dumb enough to believe it. But I digress … I know Mangini traded away both of his offensive playmakers, but the thing that really gets me and is emblematic of this guy's many problems in managing a game, why no onside kicks? Jeez, what in the hell do you have to lose? The opponents have far more talent, you're overpowered, you're usually going to get your ass kicked, so take a risk. Has there been one onside kick in the six games to date? I don't think there has.
yeah, i know there is no way mangini gets axed. the braylon give-away was proof of that. this moron is going to be around for a while. unbelievable.
rammstein? i can't do that stuff. rob halford would get jealous.
Totally off the Browns subject (which is just as well), but download Rammstein's porno. Yes, they did a porno video, although they're obviously body-doubles. Find the unedited version of the single "Pussy." Crazy stuff. And talk about juvenile lyrics, which include English and German so everybody understands it. And what's wrong with Rob Halford? If that guy wasn't more gay than a French horn, I'm put him up on the mantle in my living room and have him scream for me. He can't move on stage anymore, but the guy rules.
That Braylon giveaway still makes me sick, and will continue to make me sick.
Here, you want a better Braylon giveaway, so at least you get some value for talent? A smart trader who cares about winning would have taken him aside and said, "Listen, Braylon, we intend to trade you to New York. We've got two games before the deadline. We're going to feature you in the offense to build up your trade value. We are going to showcase you. This is no empty promise. We're going to pass to you over and over again, we're going to run reverses with you, we're going to run you wild. Focus. Do your job and play your ass off. And then we'll send you where you want to go after the Pittsburgh game."
Instead, Mangini pawns him for two cans of beans and a package of future sausage. Ridiculous.
I just found this link on ESPN's website, it is for a new Browns documentary that is part of their "30 for 30" documentary series. It documents the Browns under the Lerner years. It is historically accurate and surprisingly quite good. http://xr.com/qi4
Regardless of how people feel about his coaching ability we better hope he can evaluate talent. The Browns have 11 picks this year. We need hits on a lot of those picks. If not we will remain bad for a very long time
I'd like to piggyback on Ed's point of the 11 picks: if you think for a split second things will turn around next season with 11 more fresh faces, I'm sorry to rain on the parade, but…
So: can even the hard core "we need a #1 pick QB" people admit that Sam Bradford isn't in the mix now… seriously folks? I just hope he's not done for all together.
Agree on the so-called rivalry point, and that Roethlisberger is among the elite. He might be (gasp?!) Brett Favre 2.0. Sorry, but I have more 'hate' for the Ravens than I do the Steelers, but I haven't been living in the past with this team either.
The big difference is no continuity from the Browns. Since 2003 the only acquired player on this team is Pontbriand. Contrast that with the Steelers who have been around for years. The management of the Browns has been all over the place too at all levels.. Again, no continuity. Always rebuilding. There is no talent on this team other than Cribbs. Noone to throw the ball too. Noone worth squat in coverage. Why was it so easy to find seams over the middle in the zones? Why was it so easy for Pitt. to complete bubble screens out in the flat for 8-10 yards? Could no adjustments have been made?
I'm looking at the Browns roster. Of the 22 starters I'm beating 7 guys won't be in football in two years. Another 9 are bench players. I'd say 6 are legit starters. It will take at least three years to accumulate talent and turn this team around. By then another cohort of players will be ready to retire. Even in the best of circumstances you are looking at four years before we have a contender.
I suspect Mangini's first conversation with Lerner went like this: There's no possible way the 2009 Browns will be even average. The best you can hope for is to get a couple starters out of the '09 draft, get a high draft position in 2010, accumulate extra draft picks by trading the few marketable players you have – who won't be here by the time you get respectable in any scenario – and hope to draft enough talent in '10 to start a legitimate rebuilding project. Switch to Mangini-Lerner conversation 10/19/09: Progressing as planned.
btw – Colt McCoy will be their first choice in '10 — not necessarily my favorite, just my prediction.
16 dropped passes in 2 games? Wide receivers running wide open all game for the other team? At least we stopped their running game. It isnt much but when you suck as badly as the Browns right now you try and find any positive. Someone should write an instruction book based on how Pittsburg is able to game after game have receivers running in the secondary with no Browns DB within 10 yards of them time after time.
We had no TE, Heiden was out and Royal Robert has a finger so bad he can not catch a ball. Edwards is gone. Massaquo drops more than he catches and apparently had never played below 70 degrees before last week or some such silly excuse.
Major differences between Quinn and Anderson. The wins and loses are about the same. But how they look and how they throw and how the team around them plays is much different. We actually get to the red zone and usually score with Anderson despite having no receivers or running game and not even a TE. With Quinn is was automatic 3 and out. Unless he threw a pick or dropped the ball backwards while by himself first.
Can't blame Quinn for trying to get out of the game as fast as he could even by dropping the ball behind him. This offensive line is not getting it done. We need at least 1 maybe 2 wide receivers, 2 maybe 3 offensive lineman, a running back, a tight end and then if the offense still is not going anywhere we can talk about QB. Right now this team is so bad it is is a miracle they move the ball downfield even once a game against a decent defense.
Then you get to defense where you need a CB, a LB or 2, 2 defensive lineman, and probably a safety.
Good thing we have 11 draft picks, they better hit on 9 starters with those picks, they need that many just be competitive. Talking about a new QB is like talking about replacing Jimmy Johnson as a driver if he was losing driving the family SUV in NASCAR races. Until they give Anderson at least some talent around him you are wasting time switching QBs. Bringing in another young QB to try and win without blocking or receivers and no running game will only serve to get him beat up and lose his confidence and hurt his arm like Couch and so many QBs before and after him. You bring in your QB when you have a good team and the QB is the final piece in the puzzle and then that QB can succeed. That is why guys like Flacco and Ben did well and guys like Harrington and Carr failed. It was far less about the QBs talent and more about the talent on the team.
Every one of the 9 drops last week and 7 this week puts more pressure and uncertaintity into the QBs head and makes his job impossible. The receivers hang on to those very catchable balls, balls any good receiver catches 98 out of 100 times and the games are way different and we today are talking about how the Browns upset Pittsburg on a day they had 500 yards of offense and lost.
The scary thing no might be that other than Mack we may have gotten not one good player from last years draft. One player a draft is not going to help us catch up with teams that have far more talent than we have. And 11 picks will mean nothing if only the first rounder helps.
Tough day to be an optimist and a Browns fan.
alan, there is nothing wrong with rob halford. the man is an icon with or without his bondage gear.
OK, maybe I misunderstood you, terje. Halford is indeed God. Well, maybe not God. Maybe Christ. Lemmy is God.
And Ed, come on. 11 draft picks? So what? How many are the equivalent of NBA lottery picks? Didn't they get the equivalent of 11 draft picks this past off-season, with all the draft picks and ex-Jets combined?
Why are so many people so hypnotized by sheer numbers? Why do people always buy into the spin? It's about quality, not quantity. It's like being in awe of a Victoria's Secret model who has 57 boobs. Call me shallow, but I'm not a fan of birth defects.
As for me all i can say is GO CAVS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go Steelers!! unfortunate that i still care enough to even hope they will get better sorta like an abused spouse hoping they get back the one the fell in love with then keep taking it like rob H does in the…there you have it!