Why did they hire Kitchens to be head coach? Was it an “appease the franchise QB?” move or do they actually think he’s ready for the job after a whopping 8 games as an OC?
I agree though that the most glaring problem is the coaching. The lack of discipline and play calling is pretty bad, and I can’t imagine putting that on anyone but the coaching staff. Mayfield was over-hyped coming into this year, and, while I think he can still be a legitimate top 10 QB in the NFL, he’s not currently making good decisions out there.
Meanwhile, the Packers get a nice win against a team that was bound and determined to lose that game. Getting turnovers is always nice, but you don’t want to rely on them for wins.
I am getting worried about LaFleur’s coaching outside the scripted beginnings. This is the second game in a row where they start awesomely, and then … nothing. Rodgers isn’t looking himself, which doesn’t help, but I can’t tell if it’s just a lack of system familiarity (the scripted stuff is likely stuff they’ve practiced enough), or if it’s play calling. Either way, it will be an issue if the Packers have Super Bowl aspirations this year.
But, woo, 3-0 and having a good defense. I like it.
To be fair, they’ve only played the Bears (who were awful offensively [or is is offensively awful]), and the Vikings and Broncos, who both ran all over the Packers, but also turned the ball over a total of 7 times in those two games. While I’d love to completely credit the defense with turnovers, a lot of them were just dumb throws and lucky bounces. Turnovers come and go.
The Packers need to be better at stopping the run (they’re giving up 130+ yards a game on the ground, 25th in the league), or they’ll always be within losing distance of teams with a competent QB during the game. The defense is definitely good, but the lack of run defense, the quality of opponents, and the reliance on turnovers are all serious considerations moving forward.
Is there a more exciting player to watch right now than Alvin Kamera? He slips, slides, jukes, powers, and speeds his way over, under and past tacklers like a greased pig. His balance is ridiculous, particularly for someone who runs so “tall.” I love watching that guy play.
In other news, despite playing very well and the team getting a big win against the Titans, Jalen Ramsey calls in sick today. It could be the “flu”, but c’mon, who really believes that. He’s angling for a trade.
With Bell’s holdout last year, Gordon’s this year, the success of Zeke’s holdout, AB’s antics, and the Fins jettisoning any of their good players, it seems to me players are feeling more empowered to make demands of their teams. And while Ramsey is very, very good, it seems like no teams are willing to pay the demanded 2 first round picks for him. Personally, I’m kinda on his side, because the Jags have made some pretty poor decisions personal wise (Bortles and Foles get PAID, while Ramsey, and Ngakoue are still on their underwhelming rookie contracts), and are not well coached. And he’s not holding out, he’s actually playing (quite well too). But he’s also over-reacting to the whole situation and putting himself before the team.
Lions technically undefeated after 3 games is nice to see. And more importantly they are healthy so far. Most seasons their hopes are largely crushed by this point with close but stupid losses, and multiple let injuries
Yeah, I think that Packers defense hype train is a bit overmuch. Either Trubisky, Cousins and Flacco are total shit or the Packers D is booming, it probably isn’t both.
My gut is that the Packers D is improved, but probably only top-half in the league as opposed to top 5. Trubisky and the Bears O is objectively dismal and broken, Flacco and the Broncos are only somewhat less screwed up, and the Vikings running game is very good and is masking and slapdash passing game in Minny.
I honestly don’t know. I read an article at the time, but I can’t remember if this was sourced or speculation, but the article said that the NFL is so desperate to find the next Sean McVay, an up and coming offensive mind, that they’re hiring guys who are way outside the norm for head coach hires that would fit the bill (Kingsbury’s hire would support this idea), and that either someone else would hire Kitchens if they didn’t. Or if not this year, then if they hire a different HC, in a year or two if Kitchens continues to be successful, another team would make him an offer and the Browns would have to decide between a coach they hired a year or two ago or Kitchens, and that’d be a pretty awkward position.
I don’t know - all indications is that Dorsey is behind the pick and he seems pretty reasonable so I suspect Kitchens must’ve had a crazy convincing interview or something.
I don’t even hate the idea of trying to find the next McVay or any of that - but what’s so strange to me is that it seems obvious that if you’re hiring an offensive guru head coach, he should be very hands on and designing the offense. But that doesn’t seem to be the case here - the 2019 Browns offense is way different than the ones Kitchens was so successful with in the last half of last year. It’s a lot closer to the Tampa Bay offense that Monken ran in Tampa Bay. So to hire an offensive guru but not have him run his own offense seems like the worst of all worlds.
I don’t think that Bears receiver had control before that first foot came up off the ground, but the Redskins really don’t want to be even close to winning this game anyway.
He had the ball in his hands with the left foot down then that foot kicked the pylon when the right foot hit so it looks a bit questionable, but good (I am a Bears fan).
I never thought Taylor Gabriel would have a 3 TD game (or half…)
I was wrong about this game. Yes, I was right about Case Keenum getting a wakeup call from a very good defense. Yes, I was right about me checking out early because it was a hideously ugly game. But I was wrong that I would buy Observation and play it tonight. Instead, I watched I’m Sorry with the wife.
I’m glad the Bears don’t have any more MNF games this year. Booger is the absolute worst announcer. And they spent way too much time cutting to the booth when players were on the field.