Week 8: Browns @ Seahawks 4PM

[CBBI]

I think there's also the argument to say even if you run it and get 2.5 yards... you maybe even go for it on 4th down to win it too.

I don't think they were stopping us twice to get 3 yards. That's a whole other scenario and different risks but another idea as well.

Now this is a good hypothetical.

If I had confidence that Stefanski would have actually gone for it on 4th and 1 or 2 if they didn't pick up 3 on 3rd, I'd have been fine running the ball.

But I think he'd have punted, so give me the play with the best chance of conversion.

 

[redscoon]

I think there's also the argument to say even if you run it and get 2.5 yards... you maybe even go for it on 4th down to win it too.

I don't think they were stopping us twice to get 3 yards. That's a whole other scenario and different risks but another idea as well.

It also gives you the option to line up and try to draw them offsides. Worst case, you take the 5 and punt or call one of your TOs.

I know people are drunk off of PJ hitting some screen passes, but dude was under 50% passing. He's put the ball in harms way a ton. He's taken critical sacks and fumbled the ball. There just isn't logical reason why you trust PJ WALKER to put it in the air there.

You let Kareem run as hard as he can or read option with PJ again and give him the chance to win it with his legs.

You have to know your personnel and you simply can't trust PJ.

 

[MirORich]

Looking at it again, I don’t hate the call. 31 other QB’s don’t spike the ball into a defender’s helmet like a 95mph fastball.

Sure you can say “you know PJ isn’t that good so why do that?” But it’s 3 yards and you had 2 guys WIDE open. I’m more concerned at our defense letting Seattle walk down the field the last drive… but I guess it’s time to gear up for another week of fire Kevin talk, even though you were 3 yards away from being 3 and 0 with an XFL QB with two of those on the road.

Not surprising though. We are the most miserable fan base

View attachment 17659

I’m not saying Fire Kev
And have never been part of that contingent
Think he called a great game until that point

Think that the pass play call here was an epic mistake that flew in the face of how he had chosen to playcall and make decisions the previous 15 minutes

 

[David.]

Looking at it again, I don’t hate the call. 31 other QB’s don’t spike the ball into a defender’s helmet like a 95mph fastball.

Sure you can say “you know PJ isn’t that good so why do that?” But it’s 3 yards and you had 2 guys WIDE open. I’m more concerned at our defense letting Seattle walk down the field the last drive… but I guess it’s time to gear up for another week of fire Kevin talk, even though you were 3 yards away from being 3 and 0 with an XFL QB with two of those on the road.

Not surprising though. We are the most miserable fan base

View attachment 17659

Ya but that's who walker is. Any time he drops back you hold your breath

 

[Liam]

This reminds me of a very similar situation and outrage last season with Jacoby. I think it was a 4th and 2 or 3 and amari beat his man down the sideline and the throw was off. Was it vs the bills? Everyone was mad the ball wasn’t put into Chubbs hands

In this situation I support running the ball because it’s PJ damn Walker, and I don’t personally believe Geno would have marched 80+ yards down the field, but I can live with the fact that our coach will take those shots in those situations over being passive. I think the browns will benefit more in the long run having that type coach than some of the terrorist coaches around the league that don’t take any chances.

I get both sides, but I think at the end of the day the play call had a wide open first down (Ford), and just like last week with the toss play which was a TD call the players didn’t execute. If the defense is as good as all the metrics, that game should have at most gone to overtime

 

[Chris]

Not calling you out at all...

But to me this is also kind of the point... PJ Walker makes stupid decisions.

I don't expect everyone to agree with me.. It's a fucking message board. I just cannot be convinced running there wasn't the better strategy..

Maybe not for Mahomes or Allen or Burrow or even Kenny Pickett...

PJ Walker? Kind of is..

And I'm gonna leave it there.

There is NO fucking world in all the parallel universes where passing was the right call there.

None. Zero. Nada. Run. The. Ball.

Is what it is, not hating on KS nor do I want him gone but it absolutely was the wrong call.

 

[Prime 1978]

Jerome Ford was wide open and the ball hit off of a defenders helmet. That's not a play call issue.

I like you as a poster but you sometimes look at things too absolute. It’s not about the play not scheming guys open, it’s about having the guys to execute the play in that situation and understanding the trends of that player in similar situations.

Let me explain.
49ers game. Right before the half. You’ve weather an early storm and the team is back in the game. You get the ball back on your side of the field. You try to score points before the half. The one thing you can’t do is turnover the ball and lose momentum. Not to mention the field is wet. PJ takes a hit and looks to fumble luckily the refs rule his arm was going forward. In that play. PJ taking a sack isn’t the worst thing. Instead he tries to pitch the ball and it’s an intentional grounding. Disaster avoided but only by literal inche due to a bad situational decision by PJ.

49ers game: Down 1 well within fieldgoal range. 3rd down and you put the ball in Walker’s hands. In this situation, the one thing you can’t do is turn the ball over. Walker is told not to throw the ball. Walker rolls out and has a few yards of he runs. Instead he throws the ball in the end zone where he’s lucky it doesn’t get picked off. Another bad situational decision by PJ.

Indianapolis game. Driving and in the red zone to get the win. PJ roles out gets pressured. Holds on to the ball and tries to throw while getting hit. He fumbles and Indianapolis recovers. Bad situational decision by PJ. Luckily a flag bails him out.

Today in the first half. You are getting back into the game. In the red zone on 3rd down. PJ feels pressure and throws off base. He over throw a Njoku and is picked. Again bad situational football decision when taking the sack keeps you in field goal range for your automatic kicker.

There’s many other smaller situation bad decisions I could point to but the point I’m making is that more times than not, in high leverage situations, not only does PJ not make the correct decision, he makes the disastrous decision. So why would you trust him in another high leverage situation when he’s not been good on those in just about every instance. We are a missed field goal and some questionable penalties away from having lost 4 in a row by trusting PJ in high leverage situations.
After the Indianapolis and 49er games why would you trust him to make the right decision when you don’t have to?

That’s my issue with Stefanski. We’ve seen a trend where he makes the absolute worst decision at crucial times. Why trust him?

 

[CBBI]

In this situation I support running the ball because it’s PJ damn Walker, and I don’t personally believe Geno would have marched 80+ yards down the field, but I can live with the fact that our coach will take those shots in those situations over being passive.

I mean he marched about 60 in barely a minute, ya know?

 

[JDailey23]

There is NO fucking world in all the parallel universes where passing was the right call there.

None. Zero. Nada. Run. The. Ball.

Is what it is, not hating on KS nor do I want him gone but it absolutely was the wrong call.

Interesting. After 1st and 2nd down I immediately said “you have to throw it here”.
So did my buddy.

 

[Smooth]

Running the ball may have lower turnover risk bar also comes with a lower conversion probability…

Passing the ball may have a higher turnover risk but also a higher conversion probability..

If people are okay punting the ball and putting the game in the Seahawks hands if they don’t make it after a run with the way the defense got cut through like Swiss cheese then idk what to tell you..

Stefanski obviously went for the more “aggressive” call there but I don’t fault the thought process of trying to put the game away..

 

[Smooth]

 

[Chris]

Interesting. After 1st and 2nd down I immediately said “you have to throw it here”.
So did my buddy.

You and your buddy would be incorrect. Unless it was somehow 3rd and 10 and I misread the situation.

 

[Expensive Jet]

You still had the lead with under 2 minutes and your defense let them walk down the field basically untouched

 

[Chris]

I’ll listen to this - end of the day it’s 20 yards and Seattle absolutely humiliated our defense on the final drive.

Still would have ran it though.

 

[CBBI]

There is NO fucking world in all the parallel universes where passing was the right call there.

None. Zero. Nada. Run. The. Ball.

Is what it is, not hating on KS nor do I want him gone but it absolutely was the wrong call.

Except the world where passing converts 3rd and 3 situations at a much higher rate than running, right?

The Browns faced a 3rd and 3 on the literal possession before and called a pass play. Walker converted with a 9 yard completion to Moore.

Hell... the Browns faced a 3rd and 3 EARLIER ON THAT SAME DRIVE and called a pass play. Converted with a Seahawks penalty.

To act like it's a 100% no questions asked running situation is just irrationalness after a tough loss.