Colts vs. Browns: What Are Experts Saying About Cleveland?
The Cleveland Browns (7-5) could not take advantage of turnovers and an ineffective Buffalo Bills offense in a disappointing 26-10 road loss last weekend.
Week 14 returns the Browns to the friendly confines of FirstEnergy Stadium as they get set to host the NFL's top-ranked passing attack in the Indianapolis Colts (8-4).
The quarterback controversy—for one game anyway—has been settled as head coach Mike Pettine gives the start to Brian Hoyer. Depending on how he performs determines whether Johnny Manziel makes an appearance.
Throwing the ball is just one area of concern for the Browns offense. They struggled rushing the football in Buffalo, as Terrance West's fumble led to a touchdown and Isaiah Crowell was generally ineffective. "The Crow" is also now nursing a hip injury.
Cleveland's defense has impressively improved over recent weeks, but the offense must get into the end zone and try to keep Indianapolis' elite QB Andrew Luck off the field as much as possible. Luck has thrown 12 touchdowns compared to just a pair of interceptions over his past four outings.
The Browns are eighth in defending the pass, however, they haven't faced such a complete group this season led by the likes of Luck.
Let's dive into the hot topics for Cleveland leading into Sunday with some analysis from the experts.
Peter King, Sports Illustrated/MMQB: Making the Case for Manziel
1 of 5
The football world was torn this week over who the Cleveland Browns should start Sunday versus Indianapolis: Brian Hoyer or Johnny Manziel.
There are valid points for both sides that have been bantered throughout the national and local media. However, the only opinions that matter are those of the Browns coaching staff, and they chose to go with the veteran Hoyer over "Johnny Football" this weekend.
Peter King of Sports Illustrated and MMQB.com made the case for Manziel before the official decision came down on Wednesday:
"Give the team a spark. Put the bad boy in the lineup. Let the player who drove Nick Saban—the best defensive tactician south of Bill Belichick—crazy have a shot at Indianapolis and its 25th-rated defense against the pass. Manziel against the Colts. It should happen.
The reasons why go beyond the 2014 season, but right now is significant too. If you’re the Browns, you’ve got to have realistic goals. Just make the playoffs. There’s no reason to think anyone in the building thinks the Browns are actually suited for a playoff run. Just give them the sixth seed, and the 2014 season would be a raging success.
But to make the playoffs—to go 3-1 or better against Indy, Cincinnati, Carolina and Baltimore—would be a tremendous feat for a team as shaky as Cleveland. And can you really see Hoyer leading them to three wins in the last four? I don’t know if Manziel can, but I feel much better about his chances to do so after seeing a lot of Hoyer the last couple of weeks.
"
It comes down to the devil you know or the devil you don't.
King is right. Nothing in Hoyer's performances over the past month have given any indication that he'll all of a sudden be more accurate, throw fewer interceptions and score a touchdown for the first time in 10 quarters.
The argument that the hometown boy can bounce back from a poor outing is no longer valid since he's struggled mightily in three straight games.
Going with Manziel would definitely be a gamble. There may be flashes of brilliance followed by ill-advised decisions. We saw that over two drives at the end of the Bills matchup in Buffalo.
Coach Pettine made the safe choice knowing that if Hoyer does struggle he can always try tossing Manziel in again. The threat of a "Johnny Package" keeps the Indianapolis coaching staff on its toes as well.
I feel that "Johnny Football" potentially gives the Browns the best chance to topple a Colts defense that ranks 25th against the pass and 12th versus the run. I say "potentially" because outside of the glimpse last weekend, no one knows what Manziel can do in the NFL.
What Manziel's skill set should bring, however, is the combination of a big arm and the ability to make plays with his legs. If Manziel gets in trouble, he can run. If Hoyer is pressured, the result is a sack or a throwaway.
Maybe it's the hype of "Manziel Mania", but if I had the final say, I would ignite the excitement of the Dawg Pound and start "Johnny Football".
Brian Dulik, Chronicle-Telegram: Terrance West's Fumble Was Inexcusable
2 of 5
Rookie running back Terrance West is in head coach Mike Pettine's dog house this week.
The third-round pick in this year's draft that general manager Ray Farmer traded up to get fumbled the ball 10 seconds after the Buffalo Bills had scored a touchdown to go up 7-3.
The result was a Buffalo recovery for an immediate score and a complete momentum shift in the game that the Browns never came back from.
Brian Dulik of The Chronicle-Telegram breaks it down:
"Browns coach Mike Pettine didn’t hesitate to throw Terrance West under the bus Sunday afternoon.
'You can’t be that loose with the football, it’s inexcusable,' Pettine said. 'West really changed the whole flow of the game. It would have been a one-score game, and that’s the frustrating thing.
'Close games are going to come down to turnovers. Like I said, the West fumble changed everything. It’s inexcusable.'
"
There's some bite that goes along with Pettine's bark, as the Browns signed free-agent RB Shaun Draughn on Tuesday. Isaiah Crowell is nursing a hip injury, and it is quite telling of the coaching staff's lack of trust in West that the team brought in Draughn as a safety net.
If "The Crow" is limited by his ailment on Sunday it's unlikely that offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan would bench West to send a message. However, his snaps could be severely limited if fellow rusher Glenn Winston and or Draughn have some in-game success.
West has produced decent results through 11 contests, but he's been far from impressive.
The Towson alum is averaging 3.8 yards per carry, has three touchdowns (hasn't scored in the last three games) and 502 yards on the ground. He's been a non-factor when it comes to receptions with just nine catches during this 2014 campaign.
Compare that to Crowell, an undrafted free agent, who has scored seven touchdowns on 26 fewer carries and is averaging 4.4 YPC.
This will be a huge week for West in how he handles himself in regards to attitude, preparation and ultimately results against Indianapolis. Remember, No. 28 was sat down earlier in the year due to poor performance on and off the field.
Zac Jackson, Fox Sports Ohio: Browns Try Out New Kickers
3 of 5
Remember when the one thing Browns fans didn't have to worry about was making field goals? Those comfortable days of Phil Dawson are long gone and have been replaced by the inconsistent leg of Billy Cundiff.
In his second full season with the Browns, Cundiff has now missed field goals in four consecutive games and is 21 of 27 on field-goal attempts in 2014. The 10-year veteran's conversion rate of 77.8 percent ranks 27th in the NFL, and he has hit one of three tries from 50 yards or beyond.
Connecting on long field goals of 50-plus yards is always ideal in a cold-weather city like Cleveland, but it's usually agreed that, at that distance, making a kick is not a given. However, delivering on 30-39 yard tries is expected no matter what the location.
It's the missing of mid-range kicks that has become most troubling for No. 8. Cundiff has only made nine of 12 tries from between 30-39 yards. That's completely unacceptable for a professional kicker.
The Browns apparently agree, as they were looking for possible alternatives this week.
Zac Jackson of Fox Sports Ohio wrote:
"Trying out for the Browns were Zach Hocker, a seventh-round pick of the Washington Redskins last spring, and Michael Barnard, a journeyman who's had a variety of NFL tryouts and stints with indoor teams.
Hocker was cut by the Redskins at the end of training camp.
"
Hocker's senior year at Arkansas saw him convert on 86.7 percent of his attempts, hitting three of four from 50-plus yards with a long of 54.
Barnard hasn't been able to stick with any NFL club and has played one time for an indoor football team. These are the replacement options you get heading into Week 14.
It will be interesting to see if either one impressed the coaching staff enough to make a change. If not, could tryouts continue? The clock is ticking on Cundiff's career as a Brown if he doesn't greatly improve on his accuracy issues—and quickly.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Zack Meisel, Cleveland.com: Another Possible Change at Center
4 of 5
Since Pro Bowl center Alex Mack went down with a leg injury in October, the position has become somewhat of a revolving door.
Three different snappers have seen action. First John Greco, then Nick McDonald and last Sunday it was Ryan Seymour.
When Greco returned to his natural guard spot it was McDonald that slid in, and he has been serviceable. When a hurt ankle sidelined McDonald in Buffalo, Seymour replaced him, and it looks like he impressed the coaches.
Zack Meisel of Cleveland.com reports:
"'To me, it's similar to the quarterback situation, just a little less of a glamor position,' Pettine said. 'It's competition. You go with the guy who gives you the best chance to win. This is no different.'
Seymour saw his first NFL game action last week when McDonald suffered an ankle injury early in the loss to Buffalo. Seymour played the rest of the game.
'I think last week I learned a lot," Seymour said Thursday. "Needless to say, I made a few mistakes, but I took what I saw on film and tried to put it toward this week and correct those mistakes. You just try to prepare every game like you're starting, even if you're not.'
"
Chemistry between a quarterback and his center is vital, so it is interesting that Pettine is considering a switch since McDonald is healthy.
After playing in his first NFL game can Seymour really be that much of an improvement over McDonald? Is it worth the disruption on the offensive line and giving Brian Hoyer one more thing to adjust to when he needs to prepare for arguably the most important matchup of his career?
To give a positive outlook, at least the Browns now possess two competent centers that are ready to play.
Tony Grossi, ESPN Cleveland: Making the Case for Brian Hoyer
5 of 5
This could very well be Brian Hoyer's last chance to prove that he can be a legitimate starter in the NFL.
Browns head coach Mike Pettine has rewarded Hoyer one more time for getting this club to 7-5. The confidence comes despite three consecutive poor outings and 10 quarters without a touchdown compared to six interceptions.
Cleveland is stuck in the middle of incredibly tight divisional and wild-card playoff races. There are four games left, and two are against AFC North opponents.
This isn't technically a must-win contest, but it's pretty close to realistically stay in the hunt.
Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland gives his take on why Pettine stuck with Hoyer:
"This situation is unlike any other veteran v. rookie quarterback decision in the NFL this year. The Browns are mathematically alive in their division playoff chase. Rookie QBs Blake Bortles, Teddy Bridgewater, Derek Carr and Zach Mettenberger are getting playing time for teams with a combined record of 10-38.
Despite his recent slump, Hoyer has piloted the Browns to relevant games through December.
Forget the wild card. The path to the playoffs for the Browns is this: Win three of their last four, with two of the victories coming against Cincinnati and Baltimore. A 10-6 final record, with a 4-2 record in division games, could claim the division title, based on the schedules of Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Baltimore.
Pettine, Thomas and other veteran players – most of whom probably are not on the defensive side of the ball – believe Hoyer, not Manziel, gives the Browns the best hope of winning three of the last four.
"
Hoyer is the safe bet. The coaching staff always has the option to insert Johnny Manziel if No. 6 falters again like he did last week in Buffalo.
The tricky part is that Hoyer has done some of his best work in the second half and coming from behind to deliver a "W". He's pulled off four fourth-quarter comebacks in 2014. So if he can't convert touchdowns and looks sloppy, when is the right time to toss in Manziel?
My thinking is that we will see the "Johnny Package" more than once Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan can't afford prolonged lulls when the Browns have the ball. Not against a high-octane attack like Indianapolis.
For Hoyer to thrive, the ground game needs to rebound and be effective. The Colts run defense is not world-class and can be had if the offensive line and running backs are in sync.
The stakes are huge for the present and future of the Cleveland native's career. Time to be a hero, Hoyer...are you up for it?
Final Score Prediction:
The rushing attack clicks, which allows Brian Hoyer to get his groove back. A shootout is the result and Andrew Luck narrowly wins the duel 32-27.
Andy McNamara is an international sports broadcaster and journalist.
Follow Andy on Twitter @AndyMc81
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
