Covering the Bengals is like writing about a marriage that never reaches Lance Mason territory– but doesn’t offer any joy to anyone involved, and will never get better. Since I’ve never covered all the bases, and I’m tried of discussing Marvin Lewis, let me go into that in detail. The personalities in this reality show:
This is, I think, the last thing I’ll say about Hue Jackson‘s firing. I’ve squeezed as much blood out of the stones as I can get. The problem is that: Continue reading “What’s wrong with this picture?”
I haven’t stopped posting– I’m just busy and I haven’t had time to fight with WordPress’s editor, tags and categories. I’m still posting at my DoG Facebook page– which lets me get a post up faster. Just go to
https://www.facebook.com/DelayOfGameBlog/
You’ll find the previews and reviews– and even quick columns.
Some off-season, if I ever get a chance, I will go season by season and determine the number of coaches who were either made or broken by the NFL scheduling formula. I believe it to be a lot.
The 2016 San Diego Chargers played (depending on which formula you use) either the fifth, seventh or eighth-toughest schedule in the NFL. They finished 9th in points scored, 29th in points allowed and went 1-8 in close games. Since one of those eight losses was a 20-17 loss to the Browns, coach Mike McCoy ended up getting fired. Continue reading “Browns Preview: Game 6 (Chargers)”
I did a postgame Facebook post, so this will be a little shorter. If you haven’t already seen it, go there first– I didn’t repeat anything.
Bottom line is that they won. I’m not going to give a win back– especially not one that gets Cleveland to .500 after five games.
But it also isn’t an impressive win. When you get 12 points– and need overtime to get the last three– it’s never a good game. A number of things stand out: Continue reading “Browns Review: Game 5 (Baltimore)”
2018 will be GM Ozzie Newsome’s final season as Baltimore’s GM. It’s hard to disagree with the decision. The Ravens haven’t made the playoffs since 2014. It was also the last time they were two games over .500. The 5-11 season in 2015, you could attribute to injuries; a lot of people got hurt that year. The 8-8 and 9-7 seasons after it were indicative of a mediocre team.
The culprit is the front office. It hasn’t drafted exceptionally well since Phil Savage left after 2004. 2007 was the last draft with more than one Pro Bowler. The 2011 and 2013 drafts each produced two or more players who spent at least five seasons (more than the average) as a starter. Continue reading “Browns Preview: Game 5 (Baltimore)”
A week ago, I led with the following chart: Sam Darnold’s gamelog for his first three starts.
I pointed out that Darnold had looked like a world-beater is his first game, but the league had caught up with him very quickly– and that the same thing might happen to Baker Mayfield. It appears that my word of caution was well-grounded: Continue reading “Browns Review: Game 4 (@Oakland)”
I was planning do to a piece on the Indians– an explanation of why they were going to lose to the Astros in three games. I had late Friday morning and afternoon scheduled for it– then I discovered that the game was starting in 10 minutes. Continue reading “Indians Preview: ALDS (Houston)”
When the Raiders panicked and decided to rehire Jon Gruden (he said, tipping his conclusion), I read a number of columns saying “Does Chucky still have it?” Most of them answered “I doubt it”, but they’re still kinda missing the point:
I don’t think Gruden “had it” the first time around. Let’s review his career: Continue reading “Browns Preview: Game 4 (@Oakland)”
Let me cut right to the chase. No, I’m not as excited as you are. No, I’m not happy about what happened. No, I don’t think this is a great moment for the history of the Browns– or even the John Dorsey era. Continue reading “Browns Review: Game 3 (NY Jets)”
Delay of Game 