CLEVELAND, OHIO (TheOBR.com) - Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans! My brain is all over the place this morning as the Browns prepare to take on the Dolphins in what is likely a crucial game for those who like stability in Cleveland Browns leadership roles. Criticism of head coach Kevin Stefanski is redoubling, less due to the 1-5 record and more due to the offensive ineptitude being cast in a new light with Joe Flacco’s recent success in Cincinnati.
THE DAILY BLOVIATION
MENDOZA EMERGES ON TOP: Browns fans have a split focus on the future of the Cleveland Browns quarterback position, as they look to QBs available in next year’s draft as well as contemplating whether either Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders might be an already-acquired answer. While Gabriel gets his shot and Sanders awaits his, there has been a massive shake-up in the collegiate race to be the first quarterback off the board.
While many came into this season with the overhyped Arch Manning at the top of their lists, the player who is standing out right now is Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who merely went 24-of-28 with 332 and four touchdowns last weekend over Michigan State. Mendoza, who has so far led the Hoosiers to a perfect record and #3 ranking, is throwing WR Elijah Sarratt into stardom at the same time. The Hoosiers might be #2 by the time you read this.
The question, of course, is whether the Browns will be in a position to select Mendoza, with the similar QB-needy Jets apparently in a prime position to nab the best quarterback in the draft. The Jets have managed the nearly impossible by out-flailing the Browns with a 0-6 record and setting up a “Mendoza Bowl” in a few weeks with the currently 1-5 Browns.
The Athletic($) suggests that Alabama’s Ty Simpson might be a better fit for the Browns where they’re likely to pick, arguing that “along with his smarts and intangibles, Simpson also has the athleticism that makes him a threat to extend plays, both with quick feet and quick eyes that help him find the open man without forcing throws." Simpson (6′2″, 208 pounds) has recorded 18 touchdowns and one interception so far this season, which might be appealing to Kevin Stefanski (if he’s still around), who seems to approach turnovers like I approach food containing mushrooms (i.e., abject horror).
As an unabashed Ohio State fan, my eyes have mostly been on Big Ten quarterbacks, but it looks like I’m going to have to watch some SEC games due to Simpson playing for Alabama. The sacrifices I make, people, you have no idea.
DESHAUN LIKES A VIDEO: A few weeks ago, on our Monday-night show, Gang of Three, I had a “brilliant” thought as we were discussing the Browns’ offensive ineffectiveness. Namely, despite changing quarterbacks from Watson to Flacco/Gabriel this year and adding Quinshon Judkins/Harold Fannin, the Browns’ stats and points scoring were both very similar to what the team did last year when Deshaun Watson was running the show. So I asked Lane and Pete if it’s possible that Watson might not have been the problem all along.
The guys were patient with my stupid question, quickly convincing me that I was barking up the wrong Dogwood and that Watson brought along problems that were all his own.
Among those podcasting fans who don’t have the benefit of working with Pete and Lane is "Chad the Dumb Browns Fan“, who opined in a recent obscenity-filled rant about Kevin Stefanski that he wasn’t sure that Deshaun Watson was even the problem in 2024, therefore proving that I and a self-confessed “Dumb Browns Fan” have similar thought processes, which, in retrospect, should have been predictable.
Deshaun Watson favorited the video. He, notably, did not “favorite” Gang of Three as far as we know, which probably means something about our market penetration and Chad the Dumb Browns Fan’s video distribution capabilities.
The bottom line, though, is that Watson is out there giving thumbs up to anti-Stefanski rants, reason #518 we’re not likely to see Watson giving up on the pass and running too quickly on-field for the Browns in 2025.
A QUICK DOLPHINS PREVIEW: Today’s sure-to-be-lowest-viewed game on the CBS network is the Dolphins and Browns, which I would guess is going out to merely those communities and Hawaii in terms of distribution. After all, who else wants to watch teams that have managed a blistering 2-10 record between them?
I’ve concluded that this game will be about the Browns’ run-blocking. While the defense will be challenged (again) by a quick-release passer who has some dangerous targets for short passes and a complicated offense, the Browns have the potential to dictate the game if they can run the ball effectively against the Dolphins’ last-rated run defense.
Joel Bitonio sees nothing fancy about doing so, telling reporters, “It’s one of those things where everybody just blocks better... make sure we’re assignment-sound when we do call the shot plays. And truthfully, it does come down to winning your one-on-ones. You have to make your blocks in this league.”
Perhaps the Browns can deal with the Dolphins’ inevitable stacking of the box in bad weather by going big by bringing in another lineman, or making greater use of all-purpose weapon Adin Huntington as a fullback. Since pass-blocking will be less of a priority, this might be a good chance to see more of rookie Dylan Sampson, who impressed against the Bengals but has disappeared since.
“For us, it’s our fundamentals and execution”, Bitonio added.
Well, yeah. And Kevin Stefanski’s future may depend on it.
Have a good one! GO BROWNS!
Newswire Bloviation Archive
CLEVELAND BROWNS GOODIES
BROWNS ARTICLES
OBR Roundtable Cleveland Browns vs Miami Dolphins Predictions - Barry
Predicting The Cleveland Browns Inactives Miami Dolphins - Jack
Cleveland Browns News and Rumors 10/18: Almost Too Much Football Guy - Barry
Cleveland Browns: 3 Key Matchups to Watch Against Miami Dolphins - Sam
BROWNS MESSAGE BOARD POSTS
ASK THE INSIDERS (VIP)
Coaching
Was Flaccos game with Bengals due to superior play calls?
Coaches needing to show development fu
Thanks Insiders!
JW Johnson - what’s his influence?
Front office meddling
pete, fu to spida416 quick question
FU to Front office meddling
Cam Robinson injury update
Way to early Coaching prediction from Jack
THE WATERCOOLER
NFL Week #7 tOTHER GAMES: Ram@Jax (UK) NE@Tit Ind@LAC ATL@SF SNF
Maiva, best qb in college
Jeremiyah love
OBR Roundtable: Cleveland Browns vs. Miami Dolphins Predictions
Tanking for Jeremiah!
OT : Haslam needs to be called out.
LiveWire Thread for 1018 - Twitter, Video, Articles
Does this help to explain a 1-5 record?
OT - OSU at Wisconsin Game Thread
THE LIFT
Positive news from the world of sports and beyond...
New Way of Supercharging Prostate Cancer Treatments Can Weaken Tumors at Cellular Level - (goodnewsnetwork.org)
Rescued Dog Becomes the Rescuer: Family Pup Saved from Shelter Guides Officer to Missing Grandmother - (goodnewsnetwork.org)
Two stories I selected because of personal relevance. Prostate cancer took my father away from me, and is a threat that my son and I will both have to watch as we each get older. It’s a danger to many men, and new tools to fight it are emerging all the time. The second is about rescue dogs, because dogs are awesome, and our two rescues have been beloved members of the family, although the first really, really liked garbage, and the second has separation anxiety issues because of how they were treated before we found them. They come pre-stocked with personalities and are so, so happy to find forever families.
WRAPPING UP
When not telling his dog that “he’ll be right back”, Barry McBride is the Publisher and Founder of the OBR and bloviates this nonsense every morning. You can follow him on Twitter @barrymcbride or write him at barry@theobr.com if you are so compelled.
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