"Browns don't stand a chance..." on ESPN Insider

[Tasher]

Anybody with insider access want to summarize this for us? Sounds juicy...

http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/nfl/scoreboard

[membengal]

Well, at first glance, they give the Bengals the edge at every position but special teams, and I think they are wrong in giving Cleveland the edge there.

This is their summation after a lot of analysis:

Scouts' Edge

This is a mismatch. The Bengals are among the best teams in the NFL and the Browns are in the second year of a massive rebuilding project. There are simply too many mismatches that favor Cincinnati, which is playing at home. The Browns have long-term potential, but that potential will not be realized in Week 2 of this season. The Bengals will win big to further establish themselves as a powerhouse in the AFC North.

They predict a 35-13 Cincy win...

Oh, and there was this too, on Rudi:

As far as running backs who wear defenses down, there aren't many better than Cincinnati's Rudi Johnson. He battered the Chiefs' defense into submission last week and showed excellent burst, power and desire to get the extra yard. He runs low and almost always falls forward. When people talk about the best power backs in the league, Johnson's name doesn't always come up, but it most certainly should. The Browns' defensive line lacks depth and really isn't very talented. The Bengals' offensive line, tight ends, FB Jeremi Johnson and Rudi Johnson are spry, hungry and will wear the Browns' front down by the middle of the third quarter.

[BengalByTheBay]

Uggggh. The clowns always play us tough -- I hope this isn't the kiss of death.

[agreen_112]

I predicted 35-10 a few hours ago on another thread, so I'm sticking to that. Big day for Rudi and CJ! One of them will have 2 touchdowns.

[bengal4life]

Homerism; I predict a shutout. lol

[Kazkal]

If our defense has truely gotte better should be np

[derekshank]

I doubt we get a shut-out. They won't score much... and very well might not find the endzone, but unless we play strong early, and score often eliminating FG attempts, I doubt we'll see the zero (it would be a beautiful thing to behold though).

The Browns offense is bad, bad, bad... but the very few things that the Chiefs were able to do successfully against us are things that the Browns are probably better at.

The Chiefs couldn't run the ball, or get the ball to WR's (These are things the Browns are already bad at) but KC did get several good QB scrambles, and dump offs to RB's and TE's.

Frye is a much better running/scrambling QB than Green, and should be able to find Winslow for some annoying 1st downs despite the fact that we will dominate the line of scrimmage. It will be frustrating, and I imagine there will be some complaining about 3rd and long conversions on broken plays... but when that is all the offense they can muster, I'll take it... and that's what I expect at this point.

My actual prediction... Palmer will have much better control of the offense this game, and we'll score 20 in the first half... but only 3 in the 2nd while Rudi drains the clock. Final score: 23-6.

[HairOnFire]

The Bengals' offensive line, tight ends, FB Jeremi Johnson and Rudi Johnson are spry, hungry and will wear the Browns' front down by the middle of the third quarter.

No argument, but it should be pointed out that FB Jeremi Johnson was one of the few Bengals who had a bad game against KC. I doubt many viewers noticed, but time and again Rudi was stuffed at the LOS late in that game and far too often it was a result of the lead blocker getting defeated by a LB at the point of attack.

Jeremi Johnson is a very solid FB, but he had a bad game.

[derekshank]

The Bengals' offensive line, tight ends, FB Jeremi Johnson and Rudi Johnson are spry, hungry and will wear the Browns' front down by the middle of the third quarter.

No argument, but it should be pointed out that FB Jeremi Johnson was one of the few Bengals who had a bad game against KC. I doubt many viewers noticed, but time and again Rudi was stuffed at the LOS late in that game and far too often it was a result of the lead blocker getting defeated by a LB at the point of attack.

Jeremi Johnson is a very solid FB, but he had a bad game.

You're right... I didn't notice. What I did notice was that they were keeping 9 in the box, and the Bengals kept running the ball right into their teeth. It was a bit annoying to see us not convert 1st downs... but it's hard for 8 players to block 9 guys. We still drained the clock, and won the game... so mission accomplished, but I get the feeling that in the future, Brat will allow Palmer to make team pay for that by going over the top to Chad or Housh... even if we are up by 13.

[sexywendy]

He had a bad game? did you see the kickout block that sprang rudi for the TD? they had 8 and 9 in the box if you watch the tape of the game a lot of times Jeremi had 2 players to block because Williams and Steinbach would miss there blocks!!!

[ShulaSteakhouse]

He had a bad game? did you see the kickout block that sprang rudi for the TD? they had 8 and 9 in the box if you watch the tape of the game a lot of times Jeremi had 2 players to block because Williams and Steinbach would miss there blocks!!!

The o-line did not have it's best game vs KC - as usual they are overrated, over-shadowed by great skill players at almost every position here.

They are by no means "bad," but they are not the stalworts of greatness a lot of people seem to make them out to be. I've been saying that for 2-3 years now since this group was put together.

That said, they are capable of getting better as the season goes on and stringing together some excellent games - like they did the 2nd half of last year.

I really think they could stand to have a change-up back in there more often - god bless Rudi - but the days of Jim Brown are long gone. Change it up Brat and Marvin - if you have to give Watson some more opp's, or even Quincy.

[Tasher]

What?

This was a W with the team up 17-3 at the half. Had the game been different, ie the Chiefs had put any points up early in the 3rd, the offense would have come out in a spread, no-huddle and been very different and dimensional, throwing the ball as well as running it, which would have given Rudi plenty of room because the defense had to play honest against the receivers. Carson would have torched those guys over the top with 8-9 in the box. Period.

But that did not happen. So we ran the ball to drill the Chiefs and the clock. Waiter, there is a fly in my soup!

Waiter, I will take 16 orders of this TO-GO!

Our O-Line is one of the very best in the league. PERIOD, hands down.

Thank you for coming.

[HairOnFire]

He had a bad game? did you see the kickout block that sprang rudi for the TD? they had 8 and 9 in the box if you watch the tape of the game a lot of times Jeremi had 2 players to block because Williams and Steinbach would miss there blocks!!!

Yeah, I watched the blocks he made as well as the matchups he lost, and I'll repeat the point that too often a defender beat JJ in the hole...including several times late in the game where he not only lost the matchup...but got rag-dolled in the process.

Shank is right, and so am I... that late in the game the Bengals were running into the stacked front of a defense that knew what was coming so success in the form of yards and 1st downs were going to come hard. In fact, that didn't happen. Success at that point was determined by killing the clock and sitting pretty on a solid lead. Well, fair enough. But we've all seen this team run the ball better under those very same circumstances and one of the reasons for the fall off in production was having the FB stuffed backwards into the running lane. Another reason, as your sexy self has pointed out, there was uneven play from several O-lineman.

There's room for improvement, and that's true regardless of if the changes come in the form of more creative playcalling, a greater willingness to allow Palmer to test the defense with his arm, or simply better execution from the blockers.

[semiotter]

It dont matter how good either team is, it will be a war anytime these guys meet....

[Ox]

[Tasher]

He had a bad game? did you see the kickout block that sprang rudi for the TD? they had 8 and 9 in the box if you watch the tape of the game a lot of times Jeremi had 2 players to block because Williams and Steinbach would miss there blocks!!!

Yeah, I watched the blocks he made as well as the matchups he lost, and I'll repeat the point that too often a defender beat JJ in the hole...including several times late in the game where he not only lost the matchup...but got rag-dolled in the process.

Shank is right, and so am I... that late in the game the Bengals were running into the stacked front of a defense that knew what was coming so success in the form of yards and 1st downs were going to come hard. In fact, that didn't happen. Success at that point was determined by killing the clock and sitting pretty on a solid lead. Well, fair enough. But we've all seen this team run the ball better under those very same circumstances and one of the reasons for the fall off in production was having the FB stuffed backwards into the running lane. Another reason, as your sexy self has pointed out, there was uneven play from several O-lineman.

There's room for improvement, and that's true regardless of if the changes come in the form of more creative playcalling, a greater willingness to allow Palmer to test the defense with his arm, or simply better execution from the blockers.

Would also attribute it to 1st week of the season when the defense has an advantage on the offense. Remember, we are talking about the 4th quarter here, when none of those guys have played very many snaps, run the ball very many times, nor had they seen tape of the Chiefs under Herm's defense, so I'll take these results. Now, if JJ looks like this in week 8, 9, 10 on and Rudi is getting pummelled, I will sing a very different song, even winning. (but I'll still take the win!)

[HairOnFire]

"I had a career in movies and television that lasted nearly 60 years. I made many millions of dollars, the love of thousands of people, and at times...praise for my work. Yet I can honestly say that my first day in show business was my very best. For you see, I got my start in show business as the ice boy in a strip joint. It was my job...no, it was my lifes work, to perk 'em up before the gals went onstage. So despite the fame and riches that I gained later...when I left that first job my career did nothing but go downhill."

Glen Ford --- Actor, Cowboy, and Old School Boobiemeister---(Rest in Peace)

[HoosierCat]

Regarding espn insider, just FYI it appears to be free this weekend (or at least most of it is, you still can't see the scouts inc. game previews) as long as you are willing to watch a stupid phillips ad every time you click a link.