Cleveland Browns 2011: What We Learned From Sunday's Game

The Browns were beaten badly by the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. 

Offensively and defensively, the Browns struggled to do anything against the Titans, and it ended up in a 31-13 loss that was over in about the third quarter. 

Matthew Hasselbeck looked like the Matt Hasselbeck of old, throwing for three touchdowns in the first half. Chris Johnson had his best game of the season, running for just over 100 yards, but beating his total from the first three games of this season. 

The Browns ended up looking okay in the stat column, but as many wise men have said: Stats mean nothing. 

The Browns are 2-2 heading into a bye week, and here's what we learned from this week's loss.

The Browns Can't Tackle

The Tennessee Titans might have lost to the Browns today, had the Browns been able to tackle. 

But let's not speak in hypotheticals. 

The Browns were unable to bring down Jared Cook Jr. on what should've been a 25-yard gain that turned into an 80-yard touchdown to put the Titans ahead 14-3. There were numerous other times when the Browns should have been able to bring guys down, and instead the Titans ripped their arm tackles and gained another few yards. 

Jared Cook's touchdown was the prime example, but there were numerous times throughout the game that the Browns missed easy tackles that lead to big plays for Tennessee. 

The Browns defense has been good this season, but the Browns really need to learn how to tackle. This game proved it more than the others. If you're not able to tackle, then being in the right place defensively really means nothing. 

Dick Jauron and the defensive coaches may need to go back to the basics with these guys and get them to start tackling with better form, and not with their arms, so that they can stop the opponents where they should be stopped, not 10 or 20 yards from where they should have been stopped. 

If the Browns can tackle better, they will have a much better chance down the stretch.

Montario Hardesty Can't Catch

Montario Hardesty had four drops against the Titans. 

Four drops. 

I don't even think Braylon Edwards ever had four drops in a single game for the Browns, and he was King of the Drops. 

Montario was a bright point against the Dolphins. He ran well against what was a good Dolphins rush defense and was able to fill in for Peyton Hillis admirably as the Browns beat Miami. 

This week, he looked good running the ball too. He averaged 3.1 yards a carry, which may be a little low, but he ran hard when he had the ball and was able to make a few nice gains for the Browns. 

But the guy needs to catch the ball. Four drops by Hardesty changes Colt McCoy's completion percentage from 65.57% to 73.77%. That's eight points! 

If Hardesty wants to get opportunities for this team, he needs to continue to run well, but he also needs to prove that he can catch the ball, if he wants to stay in on third down and other long-yardage passing situations. 

Today's performance was inexcusable. 

Greg Little Is Getting There

Little is slowly but surely becoming that big playmaker the Browns drafted. 

He led the Browns in receiving for the first time this season, catching six balls for 57 yards and an average of 9.5 yards per catch. He was able to get open a great deal, even when McCoy wasn't looking in his direction, and made a difference in the Browns passing game.

He did have one stupid personal foul penalty on a kickoff that cost the Browns 15 yards, but other than that flaw, I thought Greg Little played his best game of the season.

If he continues to be a target for Colt McCoy to find, Little is going to be well on his way to becoming a big-time receiver for the Browns. 

The Offensive Line Still Needs Help

Colt McCoy was hurried, sacked, and put on the ground way too much today against the Titans. 

However, I did think that Tony Pashos did make a difference on the right side of the line. 

There is something that needs to be fixed with this group. Week in and week out, McCoy is hurried and hit without fault. He's always forced into making decisions and throws that maybe he shouldn't make, but that are not always his fault. 

Today, as much as Pashos helped, it was much of the same. The No. 1 defense in the NFL put McCoy on the ground and kept the running attack at bay for most of the time. 

I don't know who or what is going to help the line, but the bottom line is: they still miss Steinbach, and they still have issues.

Pat Shumur Needs to Address His Play-Calling

Last week we had the same issue. Pat Shurmur's play-calling was atrocious. 

The big miscue was undoubtedly the fourth down near the middle of the field. 

For you who did not watch the game, The Browns went for it on 4th-and-1 near the Browns midfield and turned the ball over on downs. 

Why you ask? 

A horrible play-call. 

Instead of giving the ball to the massive running back, who is referred to as "the Winnebago" or the "White Rhino", Shurmur fakes to Hillis and pitches the ball to the opposite side of the field to Armond Smith, who is met behind the line by Titans safety Michael Griffin. 

Even in the smaller moments of the game, I was scratching my head as to what Shurmur was doing calling that certain play. 

Shurmur is still getting used to the Head Coaching thing, but he has been an offensive coordinator and he should know what he's doing. 

The play-calling needs to get better fast.

Colt McCoy Was Impressive

40-of-61, 350 yards. 

Colt McCoy's stat line may be a bit padded thanks to the amount of garbage time in this game, but the numbers are nonetheless impressive. 

Unfortunately for Colt, he made an error that cost the Browns immensely. It was an unusual decision by Colt, because it's not often he makes a truly dumb decision.

When that ball was returned to the house by the Titans, it was clear that the game was over, but Colt was determined to go out there and do the best he could regardless of his mistake. 

Even before the interception, I was impressed with Colt's ability to pass efficiently and move the Browns down the field. No, the Browns couldn't score a touchdown, but they did move the ball into the Titans territory nearly every time they had the ball, and most of that was due to Colt's ability to pass the ball. 

After the interception, Colt looked even more impressive. He took the team down the field and threw a touchdown over the middle to Ben Watson.

He threw for around 100 or so yards in the final quarter, while, although it was garbage time, he could've been upset about the interception. It showed the mental toughness that we've always seen from Colt. 

In an otherwise bleak game, Colt McCoy provided some kind of light. He showed that he is the leader of this offense, and no matter the situation can get the job done.