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This week I turned to Craig Lyndall of WaitingForNextYear.com to talk about the Saints-Browns matchup. Craig is an expert on Cleveland sports in general but he certainly writes about the Browns a significant amount. Many thanks to him for taking the time to answer some questions on the game, and be sure to follow him on twitter. Enjoy!
Saints Nation: I have to admit I didn’t follow the game too closely against the Steelers, but it looks like your loss was as crushing as ours in week 1. You were down 27-3. You come back to tie at 27, and then lose on the last play of the game. How is the fan base feeling after that one?
Waiting For Next Year: These are Browns fans who’ve seen it all. Last year’s loss to the Pats after giving up an onside kick and then watching the Pats get a gift of a flag in the end zone on a pass “interference” was much worse. I mean, just google “Browns Dwayne Rudd,” but I don’t want to just keep showing you the fanbase’s scars. It comes off like weird, sadistic bragging after a while.
I think Browns fans were largely encouraged by the game, despite the loss. The Browns didn’t show up in the first half at all. The comeback was a shock in a good way and the fact that they couldn’t quite pull off the improbable comeback is far more palatable. The idea for Browns fans is just that the team can’t start so poorly again.
SN: Where are we with the Brian Hoyer/Johnny Manziel battle? I guess Hoyer bought himself more time with a pretty good performance in the comeback, no?
WFNY: It’s interesting because in Cleveland the majority of Browns fans have assumed Johnny Manziel would sit from day one. Yes, it was a bit sketchy at points in the pre-season, but not because Manziel did anything to win the job. It always seemed like the real Manziel drum beating was happening nationally. CBS even started out the Steelers game going heavy on the sideline Manziel reaction shots. Kind of embarrassing, really. Hoyer is the guy for this season until he gets hurt or absolutely hands the job to Manziel with extremely poor play.
The most underreported fact about the situation is just how much money Brian Hoyer is playing for. He and the Browns were talking extension in June and July and couldn’t come to an agreement. Hoyer is making a giant bet on himself and if he has more games like he did against the Steelers, he will win and get paid.
SN: You guys rushed for 183 yards at 6.1 yards a pop. The Saints’ defense gave up over 500 yards to the Falcons and aren’t great against the run. Are you even going to bother throwing in this game?
WFNY: I’ll be furious if the Browns aren’t run heavy in their game plan. I know it’s cliche to say that you run to set up the pass, but with receivers like Miles Austin, Andrew Hawkins and rookie Taylor Gabriel, you really have to do it. I don’t dislike those guys, but none of them are even close to a number one receiver.
There’s a reason that the Browns fans are embracing the #FreeJoshGordon hash tag. Maybe that will happen soon, but until it does, they better just go ahead and lean on that offensive line and run.
Plus, as you noted, the Browns ran the ball really well, and that included two rookies, Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West.
SN: How do you feel about this matchup specifically? What are the keys?
WFNY: I don’t even know. The Browns are underdogs and should be.
If I have to pick one key for the Browns it would be defensive. The defense is going to have to not just pressure Drew Brees, but actually complete the plays. Roethlisberger is tough for anyone to bring down, and the Browns were getting pressure, but he was extending plays until the coverage would break down. The key for the Browns will be getting pressure and completing plays by actually getting sacks and forcing throw-aways. This new Mike Pettine defense seems to rely on it and put corners on their own.
SN: Is Ben Tate going to play in this game? If he doesn’t, how big is that for the Saints? And Jordan Cameron?
WFNY: Ben Tate is really doubtful, from my standpoint. I don’t have any inside info, but he canceled an appearance today “due to bad luck” which sounded pretty ominous for a guy with a knee injury. (Screen shot below.)
Jordan Cameron’s injury was a “re-injury” and that’s probably the bigger loss for the Browns. With no Josh Gordon, Jordan Cameron was the Browns’ deep threat against linebackers and safeties. The Browns have guys who can fill in as more traditional tight ends in Gary Barnidge and Jim Dray, but they don’t provide any of the “X factor” that Cameron does.
SN: Many of us take interest in Barkevious Mingo because of his local ties. How is he progressing?
WFNY: Mingo has yet to really break out, especially considering how high he was drafted. It’s also not totally fair to him, but Mingo has a bit of the Joe Banner / Michael Lombardi stink on him. I don’t know if Saints fans are as intimately aware of the Browns last 12 months or so, but it’s pretty crazy. Joe Banner’s firing was kind of like “The Witch is Dead!” for large portions of the Browns fan base. Mingo is still in the shadow of being a Banner / Lombardi draft pick.
As I said, Mingo hasn’t broken out yet. That’s the the answer. Browns fans are rooting hard for him and are very patient. There have been a number of really amazing displays of athleticism and the hope is that Mike Pettine can really put him in positions to shine. He’s such a good guy and a pro’s pro when it comes to working on his game and being a good teammate.
SN: Score prediction?
WFNY: I hate doing these, but I’ll go ahead and do it for you anyway. I’m going to say the Browns lose 28-20. It’s possible that the Browns win, but it makes sense they’re underdogs and I can’t predict they’ll beat the Saints even after they played a much better second half in week one. Of course, I’d hope to be wrong.
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