CLEVELAND, Ohio — Scribbles in my Browns notebook during halftime of Sunday’s game…

1. It was great to see Ahtyba Rubin sack Ben Roethlisberger in the first quarter. It was his fifth of the year, an excellent total for a defensive tackle. He was the 190th pick in 2008 by Phil Savage, his second-best pick in his four years with the Browns behind Joe Thomas. Rubin has played 86 percent of the snaps this season, ranking No. 2 among all defensive tackles. He has been flagged for only one penalty.

2. Jabaal Sheard sacked Roethlisberger in the second quarter. That gave the rookie from Pittsburgh 8.5 this season, the most by a Brown since Kamerion Wimbley had 11 in 2006. Sheard also has forced five fumbles. He was a second-round pick, and has played like a first-rounder. He has been on the field for 90 percent of the snaps this season, so he has been extremely durable.

3. You know it’s a bad year for the passing game when Seneca Wallace threw an 10-yard pass to Josh Cribbs and I said, “That’s a nice throw and catch.” But it was third-and-11, and the Browns still had to punt.

4. Then again, Wallace was sacked when he was trying to hand off to Peyton Hillis.

5. In the second quarter, the Browns finally got a first down — and it was a 15-yard pass from Wallace to Jordan Cameron. It was his sixth catch of the season as tight ends Ben Watson and Alex Smith are injured.

6. Cribbs made a tremendous tackle on a kickoff. He leads the team in special teams tackles.

7. Wallace scrambled 27 yards — the Browns’ longest gain of the half — to set up a field goal by Phil Dawson.

8. Wallace completed passes of 23 and 14 yards to Cribbs to set up another field goal by Dawson, giving the Browns a 6-0 lead.

9. Peyton Hillis had 21 tough yards on seven carries as Pittsburgh has loaded up the line of scrimmage and is daring the Browns to throw.

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

When the Cleveland Browns take on the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, December 24, 2011, they will be doing it with Seneca Wallace at quarterback. There is a good chance he will play the role of QB in the final game against the Pittsburgh Steelers the following week as well.

Colt McCoy is still out because of the concussion he sustained due to the head on collision courtesy of James Harrison. He is still having recurring symptoms from this injury and until he is fully recovered from this injury, it is simply not safe for him – or the other players – for him to be out on the field. McCoy will not travel with the Browns either. He will stay home and rest and focus on recovering.

Since Wallace is going to be taking over the role of quarterback for the remainder of the season, he has to start acting like a starting quarterback. According to his teammates. He is falling into the role well.

“I think he’s more vocal in the locker room and on the field,” said Joe Thomas, a left tackle for the Browns. “When you’re the starter, you’re the coach on the field, not only calling plays but getting everybody lined up correctly, making sure the formation’s are correct, the personnel is right. You’re kind of the designated rah-rah guy. When things are going south, you’re the guy that needs to stand up and get everybody in a positive direction.”

Wallace has acknowledged that he is just the backup quarterback and that he is afraid to overstep his boundaries. However, he needs to lose this mentality as it could hold him back. He is not the backup at this moment. He is the starter for the remainder of the season and he needs to think like a starter. He has played in nine NFL seasons and has earned his time on the field.

In the Arizona game, Wallace showed that he has what it takes to make plays. He definitely gave the Browns some new energy. The only thing the Browns need to work on right now is keeping that energy throughout the entire game because that energy definitely faded by the end of the third quarter. If Wallace can keep throwing good passes and keep his men energized, the Browns just might have a chance to defeat the Ravens.

R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen is a lifelong Browns fan who grew up in a household of Browns’ fans. She was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and still lives there. Regardless of the trials and tribulations the Browns have been through, she remains loyal, albeit honest about her home team. Follow Rose on Twitter @Rose_Kitchen

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Gotta run!.

BEREA, Ohio — Browns quarterback Colt McCoy suffered a concussion on the helmet-to-helmet hit by Steelers linebacker James Harrison on Thursday night, but Browns coach Pat Shurmur said he sent him back into the game because he showed no concussion symptoms during a sideline exam.

“If he would have shown symptoms of a concussion, then I wouldn’t have put him back in the game, absolutely not,” said Shurmur, who goes by the decision of the medical staff. “We go through the strict protocol to evaluate whether there are concussionlike symptoms.”

McCoy’s father, Brad McCoy, told The Plain Dealer on Friday that his son didn’t remember anything after the hit, including the interception in the end zone that could’ve been the game winner in the 14-3 loss.

“He never should’ve gone back in the game,” Brad McCoy said. “He was basically out [cold] after the hit. You could tell by the rigidity of his body as he was laying there. There were a lot of easy symptoms that should’ve told them he had a concussion. He was nauseated and he didn’t know who he was.”

But Shurmur said the symptoms didn’t surface until sometime after the game. He said McCoy told him on the sidelines that he was ready to go.

“When we were leaving the locker room is when I was made aware of it,” Shurmur said. “I’m usually the last one to leave.”

By then, McCoy had told reporters at his locker that he didn’t remember the helmet-to-facemask smash. One reporter asked him at his locker if he was OK, and he said, “I don’t know. I don’t know. I think I am.”

A few minutes later, McCoy was taken to the interview room, and TV cameramen were asked by a member of the public-relations staff not to use their lights. Reporters were also asked to keep the session brief.

But McCoy seemed coherent in answering questions and accurately described the interception. By the time the team arrived in Berea — about 2 a.m. — McCoy was woozy enough that teammate Evan Moore had to drive him home. By Friday morning, he drove himself to the Berea facility for further exams and was diagnosed with a concussion. By then, he couldn’t remember much about the end of the game.

Brad McCoy said Colt felt like he had let his team down, but he couldn’t recall quite how.

“I think these concussions or concussionlike symptoms — they’re different,” Shurmur said. “It could happen immediately, it could happen in hours, it could be a day later.”

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told The Plain Dealer in an email response that “we will discuss it with the team” to see if the Browns violated the stringent NFL concussion guidelines. Players must meet certain requirements before they can go back in the game. Aiello also said he wouldn’t speculate on possible sanctions for the Browns if they violated the rules.

Brad McCoy, a lifelong high school football coach who coached Colt in junior high and high school, was upset that the Browns didn’t spend more time trying to evaluate whether McCoy was concussed. The actual time from the hit until McCoy trotted back out onto the field was three minutes, 50 seconds, including the several minutes he spent down on the field.

“Colt takes a severe hit like that, and he’s back in the game [two plays] play later?” Brad McCoy asked. “If he took another blow to the head, we could’ve been talking about his career here.”

Brad McCoy said when he first saw the hit, he thought Colt was done for the night. McCoy suffered a serious concussion in high school that kept him out of several games.

“I certainly didn’t think he’d be out only [two plays],”‘ he said. “It would’ve taken my high school trainer longer than that to determine if he was OK after a hit like that.”

Thursday’s hit was delivered by the same player that knocked receivers Mohamed Massaquoi and Josh Cribbs out of a game last October with concussions. Harrison was fined $75,000 for the hit on Massaquoi, which was later reduced to $50,000.

In the case of McCoy, Harrison drilled him in the facemask with his helmet, and McCoy went flying backward to the ground. He remained on his back for a few minutes while the medical staff tended to him. He was then helped off the field and went to the sidelines, where he remained for the two plays, which lasted about 80 seconds. He also suffered a bruise to his left hand on the play.

When he returned to the game, he ran two plays before the costly interception. On the ensuing drive, he threw two more apparent picks, but one was reversed by replay and the other was wiped out by a penalty. Brad McCoy said he was upset that the Browns said McCoy “was fine” after the game when he apparently wasn’t.

Shurmur said he can understand Brad McCoy’s feelings.

“I’m the father of a son who plays quarterback [freshman at St. Edward],” Shurmur said. “I wouldn’t put my son in harm’s way if he was showing those symptoms. I understand that. As far as us evaluating him, we didn’t see that. I understand the thoughts. I understand it extremely well. The McCoys are terrific people who love their son and want the best for him. I get that.”

He said that, at some point, he would reach out to Brad McCoy.

“I can assure everyone that we followed the protocol,” he said. “At one point during the game, I told Colt, ‘I talk to you like I talk to my son.’ In fact, I said that. I have a lot of compassion for our players.”

Earlier in the game, the Browns followed protocol with tight end Ben Watson and fullback Owen Marecic and shut them down after concussions.

The Browns’ medical staff has been repeatedly praised by players such as linebacker Scott Fujita, Watson and Massaquoi throughout the season for how their concussions have been handled.

“They’re very professional, high-class people that do things the right way, and that’s why I trust them,” Shurmur said.

Regarding the hit by Harrison, Shurmur said, “I have some strong feelings about that that I’m not going to share.”

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

What do you guys think about this.

Peyton Hillis is playing in the Thursday, December 8, 2011 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Colt McCoy and Montario Hardesty will also be in uniform and on the field. They are a bit banged up, but ready to take on the black and gold and, hopefully, bring a win back to Cleveland.

The only really notable player that will not take the field is T.J. Ward – a Browns’ safety – and he will be replaced by Usama Young as usual.

Now, can the Browns win? This is always a question with the Browns unfortunately. We had a shot against the Ravens last week, especially when the Ravens missed two field goals.

The receivers have to actually catch the ball. I know, I know, this should go without saying, but the Browns have the NFL record for most drops. To be fair, the Browns are actually tied for most drops with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles. I digress, McCoy has finally started to throw some relatively decent passes, but if these are not caught [by Browns' receivers] then those passes really do not mean much. Also, if those passes are caught by the opposing team, then big problems can occur.

There is also a chance that the Steelers may simply think this will be an easy win and underestimate the Browns and therefore lose to the Browns. Okay, this is a stretch and perhaps just wishful thinking, but we have seen it happen in sports before.

“In the two meetings last season, the Steelers outscored the Browns 69-19,” reports Cleveland.com. It is also important to note that the Steelers who are taking the field are healthy, while a few of the Browns taking the field are not.

To go back to the health of the Browns. This is a big concern. One really good sack to McCoy and he could be in big trouble. McCoy is necessary and he needs to be on the field in the best shape he can be. Of course, Hillis seems like a flower and even a little sack could put him out.

R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen is a lifelong Browns fan who grew up in a household of Browns’ fans. She was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and still lives there. Regardless of the trials and tribulations the Browns have been through, she remains loyal, albeit honest about her home team. Follow Rose on Twitter @Rose_Kitchen

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What do you guys think about this.

“Browns offense is (pick one) putrid, abysmal, needles-to-eyeballs-bad. But trail only 10-0 at half,” Tweeted Cleveland Browns beat writer Tony Grossi after the first 30 minutes of Sunday’s game. Unfortunately for Cleveland fans, things didn’t get much better during the second half of play.

The Baltimore Ravens played ugly, ugly football, and still managed to defeat the Browns 24-10 on Sunday. A game recap and box score can be found here.

The game was over: When Baltimore RB Ray Rice(notes), who ran all over the Browns in both halves, answered a Phil Dawson(notes) field goal with a much more significant play. A plethora of Baltimore miscues coupled with a Dawson field goal had the Browns trailing the Ravens just 10-3 with under six minutes remaining in the third quarter. On the first play following the Browns kickoff, Rice sped down the field for 67 yards, a run that landed the Ravens down at the Cleveland six-yard line. That one play eliminated any momentum and confidence the Browns may have had following the field goal, and also resulted in the nail-in-the-coffin score.

The difference: There’s obviously not just one thing that separates these Ravens from these Browns. An inability to find the end zone has crippled Cleveland throughout the 2011 season, and it did so again on Sunday. A 52-yard completion to running back Peyton Hillis(notes) took the Browns inside the Baltimore six-yard line halfway through the third. Cleveland couldn’t come up with a game-changing play, however, as two Colt McCoy(notes) incomplete passes forced the Browns to settle for three.

The Ravens found themselves in a similar situation on the very next drive following Rice’s jaunt down the field. Baltimore needed only two plays to score six, a touchdown that put the Ravens up 17-3. In just a few minutes of play, we saw why the Ravens are a team that’s finishing the season with a winning record, and why the Browns are, well, the Browns.

Poor Colt: Every week, I feel as if I’m defending quarterback Colt McCoy to Cleveland fans demanding more from the young QB. The interception he threw at the end of the first half, one that resulted in three Baltimore points, was a horrendous pick, as bad a pass as he’ll throw all season long. Can you really blame him for trying to make that throw? His wide receivers and tight ends again hung him out to dry with numerous drops and by running incorrect routes. Any quarterback, especially one that has won at every level, is going to be at least a bit frustrated when dealing with such setbacks.

I’m not suggesting McCoy is definitely “the guy.” Anybody who claims that McCoy isn’t, however, is making quite the statement about those playing alongside the current Cleveland QB. Outside of top tier quarterbacks such as Tom Brady(notes), Aaron Rodgers(notes) and (maybe) Drew Brees(notes), I’m not sure there’s a QB in the league that could consistently win games with this particular offense.

Browns MVP: Rookie defensive end Jabaal Sheard(notes) continues to impress. He now has a sack and forced fumble in three straight games. The Cleveland pass defense seems to have a solid foundation. If the offense looked half as good as the team’s defense, Browns games wouldn’t be so painful to watch.

Overall: Just another completely missable game played by the 2011 Cleveland Browns. Thursday night’s game in Pittsburgh could be even uglier. All I want for Christmas is one more Browns win this season.

Even Santa can only do so much.

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Cleveland defensive lineman Phil Taylor (98) points while walking off the field Sept. 18 after the Browns beat the Colts in Indianapolis. / Brian Spurlock/US PRESSWIRE

Written by

Tom Withers

Associated Press

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Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer writes how coach Pat Shurmur would do it the same way if he had to do it all over again.

Shurmur defended his strategy at the end of Sunday’s 13-12 loss to the Rams, running the ball six straight times in the red zone and setting up a field goal instead of trying to pass for a touchdown.

“No. I’ll go to the well with what I did,” said Shurmur. “And I’ll go to the well lining up to kick the field goal, making them use timeouts and leaving them nearing two minutes to try to drive and beat us. I’ll do that again.”

We know the result, but was that the right move?

Gotta run!.

The Cleveland Browns were hoping to end their two-game losing streak on Sunday, Nov. 13, with a victory over the 1-7 St. Louis Rams. Instead, the team sent its fans home empty-handed again after Phil Dawson(notes) missed a 22-yard field goal that would have put Cleveland in the lead at the two-minute warning. The Rams won 13-12.

The Browns actually made some plays against the Rams that many people in Northeast Ohio have been waiting for them to make. Much-maligned head coach Pat Shurmur was aggressive with his play-calling and often caught the Rams’ defense off-guard.

One play lined up backup quarterback Seneca Wallace(notes) as a receiver on the right side of the field with Colt McCoy(notes) as a receiver on the left side. Josh Cribbs was under center and took the snap. Cribbs handed the ball off to Wallace, who appeared to be running an end-around, but then he gave the ball to McCoy. Wallace streaked down the sideline, and McCoy passed him the ball for the 21-yard reception. It was one of the best plays I’ve seen drawn up this season, and the Browns deserve credit for pulling it off.

Cleveland remained aggressive throughout the game. Shurmur rushed Cribbs out of the wildcat formation three times, and also skillfully used Greg Little(notes) to open up the Rams’ secondary.

However, once the Browns would drive deep into St. Louis territory, Shurmur became conservative with the play-calling. I can only remember the Browns throwing into the endzone once in the game, which isn’t good enough considering how well the team moved the ball. Colt McCoy had a great game, and I think the Browns wasted his hot hand by not passing more when the team was deep in Rams’ territory.

Late in the fourth quarter, Cleveland was in the red zone again and had a chance to seriously hurt St. Louis. With the ball on the Rams’ seven-yard line and just under three minutes left in the game, Shurmur elected to run Chris Ogbonnaya(notes) on third down. I understand he was trying to drain the clock and position the team for the game-winning field goal, but Shurmur had the chance to bury the Rams.

I think he should have let McCoy take a shot at the end zone in hopes of getting the touchdown. If the Browns put six on the board there, it would have forced Rams quarterback Sam Bradford(notes) to take his team nearly the full length of the field for the winning score instead of getting into field goal range. Instead, the Browns ran the ball for a three-yard gain, and we all know what happened from there.

Despite the heart-breaking loss, the Browns did some good things on Sunday. But when a passionate fan base has had to go through such painful defeats, those positives get lost in translation. When I left the stadium on Sunday, there was an empty and hopeless mood in the air. Even on the train where people are usually talking about the game, it was quiet and rather depressing. When one fan tried to cheer people up, they could only respond briefly before lowering their heads again. One lady sitting nearby was nearly in tears.

“There’s always next year. That’s all we ever say,” she said. “I can’t do this any more.”

I felt awful as the lady expressed her heartache, but there was nothing I could say. I think Browns fans want to see the team go for it. They need to see the coaching staff take risks, and when that doesn’t happen, it’s almost worse than a blowout defeat. At least in those situations, you know there wasn’t a chance to win. But victory was there for the taking, and the Browns gave it away.

Cleveland’s passionate fans deserve more from their team. Browns’ management needs to know that. Watching the team lose games like this is getting old.

A native of Northeast Ohio, Derek Ciapala grew up in a family of Cleveland Browns’ fans. He has been following the Browns since 1987 and still hopes to see the team play in the Super Bowl one day. You can follow him on Twitter @dciapala.

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Just once this week I would like to hear some good news coming out of the Cleveland Browns. From the drama surrounding Peyton Hillis(notes), to all the injuries, to amateur performances on the field, I just want to hear something positive.

It is no wonder Browns’ fans are so stinking grumpy all of the time!

The latest news to hit on Wednesday, November 9 is starting safety T.J. Ward(notes) is now in a cast on his right foot after getting injured in the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans. Add that to wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi’s(notes) concussion, Usama Young’s(notes) hip, Dimitri Patterson’s(notes) knee, Tony Pashos’(notes) ankle, Peyton Hillis’ hamstring, and Montario Hardesty’s(notes) calf, and you have more players missing practice than quality players on the field. What gives?

It was painfully obvious the team would be nowhere near the level to compete for a playoff spot at the beginning of the season, but one hoped they would at least be competitive on the field each week.

Quarterback Colt McCoy(notes) is playing his heart out every week but is being unprotected by his offensive line nearly every play. When he is able to get a pass off, the next question is if the receiver will even catch the ball. McCoy’s constant state of fear on every down will either make him a better quarterback in the long run, or lead to an early death from getting slammed to the ground so often. The answer to which is still up in the air.

It is easy to blame coach Pat Shurmur for all of Cleveland’s problems. He is the head coach after all, and is calling the offensive plays. At the same time, how could he call more complex plays when the Browns’ offense is unable to execute even the most basic ones? He really is in a no-win situation.

Who is to blame for all of the injuries this season? Should it be the strength and conditioning coach? Should the players take responsibility for not keeping themselves in optimum shape during the lockout? It is a tough call. Maybe it is a combination of both.

When the Browns take on the 1-7 St. Louis Rams on Sunday, November 13 they will almost need to play the game of their lives. McCoy will need to give a Pro-Bowl caliber performance and Chris Ogbonnaya(notes) will need to run the football like he is Adrian Peterson. Anything less the Browns will have a full-scale fan riot on their hands to deal with.

More Cleveland Browns Commentary from this Contributor:

Former Browns’ WR Brian Robiskie quietly joins Jaguars: A fan’s take

Browns’ loss to Texans opens eyes to big picture: A fan’s take

Browns’ Hillis to miss more games: Fan Reaction

Peyton Hillis saga continues for Browns: A fan’s take

Cleveland Browns release Robiskie, sign Clayton: A fan’s reaction

Sources:

All data provided by NFL.com

Paul Rados is an avid Cleveland Browns fan and a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Follow him on Twitter @PSRados or leave him a message on Facebook. For a complete look at his freelance work please visit his Blog.

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Not much else going on in the NFL world today.

The Cleveland Browns have one of the largest fan followings in the National Football League, even though they are one of four teams to have never reached the Super Bowl. To be fair, however, the Browns won multiple championships in the two decades they existed before the advent of the first Super Bowl in 1967. Still, the franchise has been marred in one losing season after another, having only two winning seasons this century.

Here are five embarrassing plays that embody just how awful it has been to be a Browns fan the last half a century:

Dwayne Rudd loses his head (and his helmet)

In a Sept. 8, 2002, the Browns were beating the Kansas City Chiefs 39-37 in a large scoring affair. With 4 seconds left, Kansas City had the ball around midfield when quarterback Trent Green(notes) just got rid of a lateral before being sacked by Browns linebacker Dwayne Rudd. Dwayne Rudd threw his helmet, apparently overjoyed at the victory. Since the helmet came off while the offensive lineman who caught the lateral was still rumbling downfield, the official promptly called a 15-yard penalty, which set up a game-winning field goal for the Chiefs with no time remaining.

Quincy Morgan’s dropped pass

With under a minute remaining in a December 2001 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Browns needed a win to stay alive in the playoff hunt. Jacksonville was winning 15-10 as the Browns moved closer toward the end zone. On a fourth-down play, Tim Couch looked to have connected with Quincy Morgan for a first down at the Jaguars’ 10-yard line. After Couch spiked the ball, the referees chose to review Morgan’s catch. The ruling was he never controlled the ball, thus being incomplete and turning the ball back over to the Jaguars, essentially ending the game. Cleveland fans responded by throwing beer bottles all over the field, causing a 30-minute delay. Even more embarrassing than Morgan failing to make a clean catch, the officials’ questionable decision to review the play. Most embarrassing thing of all, Cleveland fans creating “bottlegate,” chucking their bottles at the players and referees.

Red Right 88

In a 1981 AFC playoff game against the Oakland Raiders, the Browns trailed 14-12 at the 13-yard line of the Raiders before Brian Sipe threw the season-ending interception with less than a minute remaining. What makes this play so embarrassing isn’t that Sipe threw the painful pick-off, but that he had been told by then coach Sam Rutigliano to “throw it into Lake Erie” if the player wasn’t wide open since the Browns were still in position to kick a relatively short game-winning field goal.

Byner’s Fumble

The Cleveland Browns faced off against John Elway and the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium in the 1988 AFC Championship Game. With 1:12 left on the clock and Cleveland trailing 38-31, the Browns were at Denver’s 8-yard line. Earnest Byner took the handoff and was on his way into the end zone when he was stripped of the ball. Byner’s fumble was recovered by the Broncos at the 2-yard line. The Broncos then intentionally took a safety and went on to win 38-33.

20-yard pass to Mark Jackson on third-and-18

One year before Byner’s fumble, in 1987, the Browns and Broncos had again clashed in the AFC Championship Game. This time it was in Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium, and unlike 1988′s devastating game, Cleveland held the lead as the fourth quarter clock ticked away. Starting on their own 2-yard line, John Elway marched the Broncos down the field for the game-tying touchdown with just 37 seconds left in the quarter. The Broncos then went on to kick the game-winning field goal in overtime. “The Drive” was exemplified by the play after Elway was second on second down, bringing up a third-and-18. While rushing only three and dropping back eight in coverage, somehow Cleveland still allowed Mark Jackson to sneak between three Browns players 20 yards downfield.

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That’s all the news for today.

Cleveland Browns fans have little to feel good about regarding Sunday’s victory over the lowly Seattle Seahawks. The Browns hardly impressed during the 6-3 win, and were, truth be told, rather lucky to get a bit of help from the officials during a second half punt return. Cleveland may very well be the least impressive 3-3 football team in the league right now. Unfortunately, the problems for the Browns don’t simply begin and end on the field.

3 final thoughts on Browns vs. Seahawks game: Examining McCoy

If it’s not the second quarter, Cleveland QB Colt McCoy(notes) isn’t going to be an inaccurate passer. There’s no denying that halfway through the current campaign. With that said, McCoy absolutely deserves a bit of a break from fans calling for yet another new offensive leader. He is getting absolutely killed while in the pocket, taking an average of over six hits per game thus far this season. McCoy has also been forced to play around the Peyton Hillis(notes) Saga, one which has created issues on and off the field for a Browns team not talented enough to survive such distractions. Unlike quarterbacks playing on better offenses, McCoy is also without a single go-to playmaker. Josh Cribbs gives it his all each and every down. Montario Hardesty(notes) and Greg Little(notes) have both shown promise. Not one of those guys is currently capable of taking a game over when the need for such a player arises during a game. Any second-year quarterback, McCoy included, would struggle in this offense.

3 final thoughts on Browns vs. Seahawks game: More Hardesty

I’m beyond over the Peyton Hillis Saga. I don’t know where he’s at physically or mentally, nor do I care. Neither Hillis nor Hardesty have made monumental highlights thus far this season, although I’m positive the duo would average more yards on the ground per carry if both could manage to stay healthy for longer than a week. I do like what I’ve seen from a fully healthy Hardesty thus far, so much so that I think he should now be the feature back for the Browns heading into at least this Sunday’s game at the San Francisco 49ers.

It’s quite possible Hardesty, not Hillis, is the future of Cleveland’s running game. That future should begin now. In a perfect world, touches would be about a 1.5-to-1 ratio in favor of Hardesty over Hillis as long as Hardesty is 100 percent. Hardesty is a well-rounded running back, one who can keep Hillis fresh for the latter portions of contests. Of course, that scenario involves Hillis actually being an option for the Browns.

3 final thoughts on Browns vs. Seahawks game: Change the rule

The Block in the Back penalty which erased what should have been a Seattle touchdown on a punt return was an awful call. There’s not a lot you can do about that, as refs make bad calls every game. The Unnecessary Roughness penalty called on Kam Chancellor(notes) in the first quarter wasn’t the result of the official making an error. The flag was thrown in this instance because of the NFL’s desire to protect any and all quarterbacks.

I understand not being able to hit a quarterback up high, and also believe all helmet-to-helmet shots should result in penalties. Chancellor made what my middle school football coach would refer to as a “form tackle” on Colt McCoy. He didn’t make contact with his helmet, nor did he hit the QB in any way that should have resulted in a flag being thrown.

I’m all for the “I know it when I see it” definition regarding hits on QBs. Instead of defining Roughing the Passer, let’s just allow refs to use judgment in such instances. I’m a lifelong fan of the Browns, and even I can’t defend that horrendous penalty. It was quite possibly the worst I’ve seen this season.

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That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

Gotta run!.

When the Seattle Seahawks take on the Cleveland Browns on the road October 23, the team will be coming off a bye week after their big win over the New York Giants. The bye week was a good thing, allowing some of the injured Seahawks and chance to heal up.

The extra week has helped clear the Seahawks’ injury report. The latest edition shows offensive guard Robert Gallery(notes), wide receiver Mike Williams, running back Marshawn Lynch(notes), and linebacker Malcolm Smith(notes) participating in full practices October 19 and looking good for availability on Sunday. Tight end Zach Miller and center Max Unger(notes) did not practice are still doubtful.

The only other name on the injury report is Tarvaris Jackson(notes). He suited up for Wednesday’s practice and participated in the run-drill. He’s not throwing passes yet, and his status is still unclear. The team is impressed with the speed of his recovery, but is still moving ahead as if Charlie Whitehurst(notes) will be the starting quarterback in Cleveland.

The good news there is that both of them demonstrated they can move the offense and get points in the win over the Giants. Whichever QB ends up under center, I think Seattle will come back home with another big road win and a 3-3 record. I expect to see Whitehurst, but Jackson could complete his recovery in time.

If they want to compete in the NFC West, they need wins. The San Francisco Giants have given notice that the division will not be won with a losing overall record this year. The 49ers are at 5-1. Only the undefeated Green Bay Packers have a better record, and the New England Patriots are the only other team in the NFL at 5-1.

Seahawks on a streak

Seattle has won two of their last three, and came close to a comeback win in the loss against the Atlanta Falcons. The offense is producing points, especially in the hurry-up. Defensively, the Seahawks are making crucial stops when they need to.

The Browns are a different story. They have an identical 2-3 record, but their wins came against the winless Indianapolis Colts and the equally winless Miami Dolphins. On a sidenote, how odd does that sound, the Colts and Dolphins with zero wins between them?

The Browns’ offense will likely missing running back Peyton Hillis(notes), who is out with a hamstring injury. The Browns’ injury report indicates he did not practice Wednesday, so it’s doubtful he will be on the field for kickoff Sunday. This one looks like a ripe opportunity for the Seahawks to pick up a road win. After the game, Seattle fans will have to throw their support behind Cleveland for the next game. The Browns will take on the 49ers in Candlestick Park October 30.

Jeff Musall has been a fan of the Seattle Seahawks since he was a kid living in a small Idaho town, watching Jim Zorn move the team down the field.

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Gotta run!.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns host the Seattle Seahawks in a matchup of 2-3 teams on Sunday at Browns Stadium.

The game is certain to stir memories for Browns president Mike Holmgren. He coached Seattle to an 86-74 record, and 4-6 in playoff games, from 1999-2008. Holmgren and the Seahawks reached the 2005 Super Bowl, losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 21-10.

Holmgren was interviewed today on Seattle radio station KJR 950/AM, on the Mitch in the Morning Show.

Click here to hear Holmgren’s interview on KJR’s Mitch in the Morning.

A couple highlights of what Holmgren had to say, from the Waiting For Next Year blog:

Mitch: How long you going to do this?  In 10 years are you going to be the President of the Cleveland Browns?

Holmgren: Well, you know it’s hard to tell for sure.  I’m pretty sure it’s not going to be 10 years.  We still have our home in Seattle.  The kids are there.  The grandkids are there.  I don’t think they’re going to be moving anytime soon.  Our vision is to get back into that area at some point.  Exactly when that is?  I’d like to see improvement here and lay the foundation here so that they can feel good about the team again before I make any changes.

Mitch: What kind of team are the Seahawks going to face this week on Sunday?  Is it a good football team?  Is it an O.K. football team?  What’s your honest assessment of what kind of Browns squad you’ve got over there?

Holmgren: You’ll watch us play, and you know we’re a young football team.  You combine the youth we have on the team and a new coach and at times we kind of look young out there.  And then at other times we actually play pretty well.  I think we play pretty good defense.  Dick Jauron, who’s the defensive coordinator, is doing a heck of a job.  Ray Rhodes is on the staff who you know.  They’re doing a great job.

Offensively, we’re inconsistent.  That comes with having a young quarterback, young receivers, rookie starting at left guard and all those things.  But, when we can eliminate our own mistakes we aren’t bad.  So, you know. We’ll see.

About no longer being on the field as a coach, Holmgren said: 

After being on the field for so long and feeling like you have some control over the outcome or what’s happening out there, now I’m upstairs and I have no control over anything. I’m working through that. I’m better this year than I was last year. That’s a tough thing because that’s the chess game of calling plays and outfoxing the defense and the emotions of what’s happening on the field. That’s why you get into coaching in the first place….

 

 

What do you guys think about this.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Peyton Hilli is a deeply religious man who doesn’t believe in The Madden Curse. But his star-crossed season took another hit Sunday when he suffered a pulled left hamstring on his second run of the game and managed only four carries thereafter.

Hillis, who ran six times for 14 yards, will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of the injury.

“It’s all frustrating,” said Hillis. “But when it rains it pours and you just kinda roll with the punches. Everything’s a life-learned lesson. The more optimistic you are about it, the more positive you can be and have an open mindset about it, the better off you’ll be.”

Hillis, who sat out the Dolphins game with strep throat and flu-like symptoms, pulled the hamstring on the opening run of the second drive, a six-yarder.

“It was my second run when I went outside and one of the defensive backs pushed me out of bounds and I overextended,” he said. “I tried to play there a couple of series afterward the best I could.”

Hillis remained in on that drive, but netted two yards on his three subsequent carries. He sat out the next possession and then tried to play in another second-quarter drive, eking out a four-yard run and catching a 16-yard pass that was nullified by a penalty. For most of the rest of the game, he stood on the sidelines with his helmet in hand.

Entering Sunday, coach Pat Shurmur had promised to get his embattled running back “the bulk of the carries.”. Colt McCoy was looking forward to the renewed commitment to Hillis.

“That’s nobody’s fault,” said Hillis, who’s been the focus of talk-show debate for his absence against Miami and ongoing contract talks with the Browns. “You pull a hamstring, you try to go out there and do your best. It’s nobody’s fault. It’s just unfortunate, disappointing.”

In the fourth quarter, with the Browns trailing, 24-7, Hillis was determined to do something to help. After Montario Hardesty missed a safety blitz and watched McCoy get drilled on the field goal drive, Hillis trotted out to shore up the pass protection. He blocked on back-to-back plays and then had to depart again.

“I felt it was a critical part in the game,” said Hillis. “I didn’t want to leave Montario hanging out there, so I felt if I could go in there and do a little pass protection, do what I could do to help the team win…”

But it wasn’t long before he realized that he couldn’t play.

“Yeah, it probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do,” he said. “But I wanted to help the team win. I was anxious to get out there and help. It was a critical point, we were just two possessions down and if we got that touchdown — you saw how things worked out with the onside kick and stuff, we knew it was within reach.”

Did he make it worse by re-entering the game? “I don’t know,” he said. “We’ll have to see about that tomorrow.

“Hopefully I can try to play next week. If I’m not 100 percent, I still want to play. We’ll see how that works out, see what the trainers say and hopefully I can be out there next week.”

Safety Usama Young sat out all four preseason games with a pulled hamstring.

“It’s low, that’s good,” he said. “I hear the lower it is, the better off you’ll be. That’s good news.”

Meanwhile, Hardesty sat at his locker with a dejected look on his face. He finished with 35 yards on 11 carries and caught two passes for 18 yards. But he also dropped two passes and let McCoy get slammed on the blitz.

“There was only one time that I got my quarterback hit but that was a big play of the game,” said Hardesty. “We ended up getting a field goal on the drive, but I let my quarterback get hit and I don’t ever want to be the man to let my quarterback get hit.

“I’m definitely going to watch the film and correct everything that I did wrong so next week I can perform better and help us come out with a win.”

He said he didn’t think he was being too hard on himself.

“I want to be a perfectionist on the field and I don’t think I had a perfect game today.”

He might have plenty of opportunities next week to get it right.

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

There is the quick update of the day.