Daily Archives: October 5, 2020

Best & worst of Progressive Field via MLB Cathedrals

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The MLB Cathedrals Twitter account has highlighted the best and worst of every MLB ballpark including Cleveland’s Progressive Field.

Over the past few days the Twitter account MLB Cathedrals has been highlighting the best and worst aspects of every ballpark. The best and worst of Progressive Field was on display Sunday evening. Let’s start with the best of Progressive Field.

Two aspects of the ballpark were pointed out, but were not considered the best aspects of the ballpark, the largest big screen in baseball and The Corner. However it is the bullpen in center field which is chosen as the best part of park formerly known as The Jake. The bullpen areas were moved to this location after previously being down in the right field corner. This particular location allows everyone to see if anyone is throwing in the bullpen and who that person is. It is the perfect stage to see just who will be the next pitcher to enter the ballgame.

As the second tweet in the thread showed the worst part of the ballpark is the shipping containers in the upper deck. They are hideous and an eyesore. Also they are not what was promised when the renovation was announced. The upper deck area was supposed to look much different, similar to what the Rockies did in Colorado. The reply below is what Coors Field looks like.

Below is what Progressive Field was supposed to look like.

It’s pretty easy to see why this specific area is such a disappointment. The final product is nothing like what was shown before the project was completed. The current version plagued with ugly shipping containers is hands down the worst part of Progressive Field and it is not even close.

Nick Chubb placed on injured reserve

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Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb has been placed on injured reserve and could miss up to six weeks with an MCL injury.

When Nick Chubb left Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys it did not look good. Chubb was limping as he left the field and went to the locker room. The initial hope was that the injury was not serious, unfortunately that is not the case as the Browns have placed Chubb on injured reserve.

The expectation is that Nick Chubb will only miss up to six weeks with the injury.

In the meantime Cleveland has Kareem Hunt to take the starting role. While Hunt is a very capable back, perhaps one of the better backs in the league, Hunt and the grab bag that exists under him on the depth chart is not as strong as the combo of him and Nick Chubb. While Dontrell Hilliard and D’Ernest Johnson were able to be productive on Sunday, it is just isn’t the same as the two better running backs on the roster.

NFL Week 4 thoughts and observations

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Thoughts and observations from NFL Week 4

1. San Francisco 49ers miss Jimmy Garoppolo

First things first, I do not think much of Jimmy Garoppolo. That being said he is significantly better than San Francisco’s other options (Nick Mullens, CJ Beathard). The 49ers are a better team with Garoppolo compared to without him. While Jimmy G may never be a Top 5 quarterback, he at least plays at a level that is not detrimental to the team.

2. Nick Foles unable to continue magic in Week 4

Nick Foles was not able to rally the Bears to a second straight victory as they lost to the Colts by a score of 19-11. Chicago had to punt 7 times and it is not easy to win when the punt unit comes out that often. Big Dick Nick didn’t build off of last week but the fact of the matter is that he played better than Mitchell Trubisky would have.

3. Bill O’Brien stinks

As long as Houston continues to employ Bill O’Brien they will be doomed. Nothing more needs to be said.

4. Monday Night doubleheader should be fun

This is less of an observation and more of projecting a thought onto tonight. There are two games on Monday night and they should be fun. The Patriots and Chiefs should be an entertaining matchup, but the absence of Cam Newton will take a bit of the star power out of the game. Falcons and Packers may not be competitive, however Aaron Rodgers should have a field day against the joke that is the Atlanta Falcons defense. Rodgers airing it out is always entertaining, sit back and enjoy the show.

Observations from Browns Week 4 win over Dallas

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Four observations from the Cleveland Browns 49-38 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

1. Browns rushing attack is elite

D’Ernest Johnson led the Browns rushing attack with 13 carries for 95 yards as he was thrust into a situation he was probably not prepared for. Nick Chubb left with an injury after only carrying the ball six times for 43 yards, seemingly backing the Browns into a corner. Combine that with the fact Kareem Hunt was limited with a groin injury and things could have gone off the rails. Cleveland was able to lean on their offensive identity by using Johnson, Dontrell Hilliard, and Odell Beckham Jr. to propel their offense to victory, more on OBJ later.

2. Defense still stinks

Myles Garrett had another great day and Denzel Ward sealed the victory with his late interception, aside from that it was another poor performance from the Browns defense. Everyone knew that Cleveland’s defense would be bad this season, but very few realized just how bad they would actually be. The Browns are winning games now, however they will not be able to simply outscore their opponents forever.

3. Hey Hey, Ho Ho, Andrew Sendejo has got to go

Speaking of the defense being a huge liability, Andrew Sendejo is a a whole new level of bad. Week in and week out there is a touchdown scored and it is the result of blown coverage from Sendejo. The Browns have to do something because they cannot keep trotting Sendejo out there. There is no possible way that any other option they have is worse than he is because he is abysmal. The fact that Sendejo continues too see as much playing time as he has is malpractice.

4. OBJ bailed out Kevin Stefanski

This was a spectacular play from Odell Beckham Jr. and a not so spectacular play call from Kevin Stefanski. This was not the first time that Stefanski ran this concept and Aldon Smith was ready. Lucky for the Browns, OBJ was able to make Smith miss and turn what should have been a massive loss into a touchdown.

Yes the play worked, but that is not the point. This was a bad play call by Stefanski and OBJ was able to make something out of nothing. This won’t work every week and the fact that one Dallas defender recognized the play as soon as it started should be a warning sign to the coaching staff to not run this type of play too often.

Browns have found their offensive identity

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The Cleveland Browns appear to finally have an offensive identity, the running game. In Cleveland’s three wins it has been the rushing attack that has carried the offense while the passing game has been rather pedestrian. But that’s okay, playing to the strengths of the roster is something that has been absent in Cleveland for quite some time. Focusing on running the ball and not passing is how this team will win games. 

Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt is the best backfield in the NFL. Chubb was injured in Sunday’s win over Dallas and it is a situation that needs to be monitored, however when both are available they are without question the best 1-2 punch in the league. The Browns rushing attack led by Chubb and Hunt is head and shoulders above every other team through the first four games this season. Cleveland has 818 yards (204.5 per game) while the next highest total is Baltimore with 643 yards (160.8 per game).

Even when Chubb left the game due to injury, the likes of D’Ernest Johnson and Dontrell Hilliard stepped up and performed. It just goes to show how good the offensive line and scheme is that even third and fourth string backs are producing. 

If the Browns are going to keep winning games this season it will be due to the running game. Feed Chubb, Hunt, and anyone else who can carry the ball and ride them to victory.