First, whats the difference between awful or bad...2nd, that Cleveland game was average in your opinion?
I realize there's some subjectivity there...but I digress. As for the Cleveland game...I think he was above-average actually. Just for fun...and if anyone enjoys some light reading...I re-watched the game went through every single one of our pass plays. Somehow I jacked it up, cuz I have him 14/24 where as his stat line is 15/23. I'm tired and don't care to go through it all again to find what I messed up. but here is my breakdown:
- 1st and 10…first play. Quick pass. First read. Good read. Woulda been an easy 5 yards. Hit Britt in the hands, but he didn’t hold on as he was hit by Desir. Should have been as easy 5 yard pickup on 1st down. To be objective, I suppose Foles could have led him more to the sideline. But he hit him square in the hands. 0/1
- 3rd and 15…Browns rush 3 and keep 8 guys back. There was no way we’re picking up the first…especially once Jamon Brown gets whooped by one of the 3 rushers (really???). He still delivered a pass to Cunningham to get what little we could. 1/2
- 3rd and 8…Browns blitz one LBer. Foles may have bailed out a little early… possibly…but pressure was coming. If he stays in the pocket he probably gets sacked or throws it away. He got a positive 3 yards out of it on a little out to Cook. Couldn’t tell if anyone else was open. In what little I could see and piece together, looked like a good decision. 2/3
- 2nd and 13…out of the shotgun. Quick pass to Tavon who runs for 7 yards. Good play by Cigs to get to 3rd and manageable. Easy pass/play for Foles. Executed appropriately. 3/4
- 3rd and 6…out of the shotgun. Browns blitz and bring 7. One comes untouched. (WTF HAPPENED TO ROBINSON ON THIS PLAY. OMG. ANYWAY…). I know he saw the free blitzer who came between GRob and Reynolds. I don’t know if he was trying to throw it away or complete it to Austin. If he was actually trying to throw it away, I’d like to think he would have chucked it further out of bounds. It actually fell in play but way out of Austin’s reach. Regardless of whatever his intent, there was a small chance for a completion…which would have got Tavon nailed. And 0% chance we pick up the first. He is now 3/5 on the day.
- 1st and 10. Designed play-action rollout. You can tell he goes through 3 progressions on his rollout, while being chased by a defender, before settling on the underneath pass to Cook, who actually caught the ball…but couldn’t get two feet in bounds, which he should have been able to do. The only knock one could have on this play was the time it took him to go through his progressions, and maybe got it to Cook a tad sooner for the whopping potential 3 yard gainer. But I don’t know if he was slow in his progressions, or reading the defense and giving his WRs time. The incompletion, IMO, is on Cook. 3/6.
- 2nd and 15 (after GRob false start). Looks like he wants Britt (hard to see the numbers) who’s running a deeper route. He came back left which looked like a second read where I think Harkey and Austin were out in a pattern. I Just watching the game on TV (not coaches film or anything) I can’t tell if his reads were bad or not. After making those two reads with decent pass protection, he settled on Gurley underneath, who came out of the backfield. One could argue that Foles could have hit him dead in the numbers and made a better pass, so I can concede that. But he still hit Gurley right in the hands. The defender was close and hit Gurley as soon as he touched it. Good play by the defense on a play where Foles just tried dumping it off for something. Woulda been a gain of 2 if anything. 3/7
- 3rd and 15…out of the shotgun. Browns rush 3…and leave 8 deep. Pass protection is good enough, but Foles buys more time by peeling out of the pocket. Actually makes an excellent throw on what would have been a 50 yard pass and nice catch by Quick, if not for two problems. Quick stepped out of bounds before catching it. And Robinson was called for holding (on a 3-man rush!). They declined the penalty due to the incomplete pass as Quick was out of bounds. Foles, however, did his job and made a great throw. 3/8
- 1st and 10. Play-action, TE Screen to Harkey. Executed perfectly by Foles. A 4-yard gain due to a nice play by Kirksey. Otherwise, Harkey runs for a bit! 4/9
- 2nd and 11…shotgun. Play-action out of the shotgun was nice. LBers bit on it and Cook got open across the middle. Foles hit him in stride for 12 yards…moving into the red-zone…before Cook fumbles it at about the 15. Foles had a nice little double clutch, showing he was smart with the ball and continued to read the LBer. 5/10
- 1st and 10…out of the shotgun. This was with 0:47 seconds til the end of the half when we all thought we’d run a couple times and waltz into the locker room. Nice play design by Cigs…he runs Austin, Stedman and Cook out in patterns all to the same side, drawing defenders that way. Foles fakes a throw that way and throws the opposite way on a nice screen to Gurley for 20+ yards. (Barnes coulda been called for being downfield, but he did make a nice little block). 6/11
**QUICK NOTE ABOUT PISS POOR CLOCK MANAGEMENT AFTER THIS PLAY!! WHOEVER WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT**
- 1ST and 10…out of the shotgun. Partly due to the clock/situation, the Browns DBs played way off the ball. Our WRs ran routes that were at least 10 yards down the field but the DBs had eyes on Foles the whole time with their cushion. He at least went through 2 progressions before dumping it off to Gurley who picked up about 7. Maybe it would have been better to throw it away? Hard to say. You never know what #30 can do once he gets the ball in his hands. Picked up 7 anyway. 7/12
- 2nd and 3…out of the shotgun. I want to say Foles might have wanted Cook in the middle of the field, but the Browns had safety help. Without seeing some other tape, I can’t tell if he had Cook or not…I would lean heavily toward not. Austin was his #2 option (possibly even #1) on a quick out. Foles overthrew Tavon significantly. So much so that I don’t know if it was on purpose/throwing it away. I don’t like what Foles did here mostly because the protection was decent…not good…but decent. He didn’t have to rush this. If he held it longer he would have seen Benny running free into the flat to his left for probably an easy 15-20 yards. And I can't tell if Britt (or Quick) would have beat their man deep left. Foles rushed this when he did not have to. Bad play. 7/13
- 3rd and 3 out of the shotgun. 0:12 seconds left in the half. Browns rushed 3…and kept 8 back. We weren’t going to get much here anyway. Bailey wasn’t open. Cook, not so much. Tavon was the primary target and got held, but didn’t get the call for what would have been a 1st down and made an easier kick for Zeurlein. The pass to Tavon was incomplete, in large part due to the non-call. I don’t think there’s anything Foles could have done better here. 7/14
- 1st and 10…out of the shotgun. First possession after halftime. Fake the hand-off to Gurley (Teams are scared of him). The backers bit on it. Foles throws left to Austin on a WR screen with GRob , Barnes, Britt helping Tavon get 10 yards. 8/15
- 2nd and 6…out of the shotgun. After the big Gurley run two plays prior. Foles goes through his reads. Nothing to the wideouts left. Cook not a good option over the middle. Dumps it to Cunningham. As I watched the WRs weak routes on this play, it was evident it was designed for Cunningham out of the backfield. Foles did his part looking DBs off left. This was an easy one for Nick. Good call by Cigs. Bad play by the Browns LBer to let Cunningham slip out. Gain of about 10. 9/16
- 2nd and Goal from the 8…out of the shotgun. Trips WRs left (Britt, Austin, Stedman), Cook wide right. Trips WRs has worked well for us through 6 weeks. On this play, this first time we’ve used it this game, they covered it well. Nothing was open left. Gurley covered coming out of the backfield. Don’t know about Cook. But it doesn’t matter because Jamon Brown got whooped and Foles got sacked before he could do anything. I think I just chalk this one up to the Browns calling it good on their side and executing well. 9/17
- 3rd and Goal from the…umm…17. Out of the shotgun. He takes a shot at Cook. I think given the circumstances and options, it was the best Cigs could dial up. Cook actually had a chance. It would have taken a better/perfect throw by Foles. Foles missed. Brady and Rodgers probably make the throw…I would think….maybe. It’s hardly a gimme, but I’ll dock Foles a few points seeing as how he missed it. At least he erred on the side of throwing it where it was Cook or nobody. 9/18
**AND GZ MISSES THE CHIP SHOT**
**THE GAME IS STILL 10-6 WITH 4:00 LEFT IN THE 3RD (UGH)**
- 1st and 10 from our own 12. Play action to Gurley…and you guessed it…LBers bit. Good pass protection. Foles 15 yard pass to Austin on an out pattern who was wide open after running a great route. Austin gets a few more after the catch. 10/19
- 2nd and 10…out of the shotgun. Good pass protection. Foles deep right to Britt who draws the PI. Underthrown ball. Maybe Foles gets credit for trying to throw it to Britt’s backside, but I don’t know because, well, it wasn’t thrown to Britt’s back side. DB had good position and if he plays the ball, he may get a pick. I don’t really know what Nick saw or was trying to do there. But it was DPI, so I’ll take it. But negative points for Foles. Some might see this differently.
- 1st and 10 from the shotgun. Excellent pass protection. Deep right to Kenny Britt. Good throw. Not great, but good. If he led Britt more, it’s probably an easy TD. Great positioning by Britt who has to slow up a bit and make a good catch. 11/20
**GURLEY’S 1ST TD**
- 3rd and 3 from the shotgun. 14:00 left in the game 17-6 ballgame. A good time to keep the ball and sustain a drive. Key 3rd down. Browns show blitz, bring blitz…a DB and LB from Foles’ left side. Cigs had dialed up a RB screen. Browns read it well. Jamon Brown was late on his block. Foles completes it to Gurley for a loss. Nothing Foles did wrong. Even reading a blitz beforehand, it looked like a good call. The Browns read it well and we didn’t execute it well. 12/21
**AFTER THE FAIRLEY FUMBLE RECOVERY (AND ENSUING TAVON AUSTIN SWEEP)**
- 2nd and 7 from the Browns 32. Out of the shotgun. Cunningham in the backfield. They don’t even bother with the fake to him, and simply throw a WR screen to Austin. Easy pass to Austin 3 yards behind the LOS. Britt and Robinson make a couple blocks, the rest is Austin for an easy 6. 13/22
- 1st and 10 from the Browns 23. I think it was Quick far left. And I think Foles saw something and wanted Quick because at the snap he looked right to Quick and pumped and clearly there was some miscommunication. Until Quick convinces me otherwise, given his track record, I’m going to say this was on him. Either way…this play was dead after that. A Browns player came in untouched and sacked Foles. 13/23
- 2nd and 14 out of the shotgun. Foles looks right where he has options of Cook and Austin. Cook looked open at first glance, but there a Browns player not far who had the play in front of him. I think it was a good no-throw. Austin was still running his route through the D. There was something of a designed screen to Gurley in here, but it was sloppy. Foles completes the easy screen pass to #30 who makes something out of it for about 6. 14/24
- 3rd and 8. After Austin motions, we have trips right. At the snap, Foles reads the safety, and doesn’t like Britt to his left. That leaves him with Austin, Bailey or Cook out of the trips. Browns bring 6…one comes untouched and ends up nailing Foles good. None of the 3 were open as the Browns played it well again (hmmmm…teams figuring some of Cigs stuff out?). Foles throws Austin’s way, but it’s every bit of a throw-away as he knew there was pressure coming. The Zebras gifted us a holding and automatic first down. Didn’t see Foles do anything wrong.
- 3rd and 5. 3:44 left to play. Out of the shotgun. They play soft coverage and Bailey is wide open. Easy pitch and catch from Foles for 7. They do Bailey for a bogus facemask call.
I'd say Foles' day was above average. One drop by Britt. Cook not getting his feet in bounds on an easy one. Another play sabotaged by GRbo holding and Quick not staying in bounds. Possibly another that Quick had some miscommunication. a couple plays on the OLine (which Cignetti helped a lot with some easy/quick passes). Some bad penalties putting us in 3rd and long. Sure, Foles wasn't perfect...I highlighted some things above. But he's been getting some heat...and after the Packer game...much was deserved. But he played better than hi stat line showed this game. And he played the game they planned on playing (Lots of defense and Gurley).
I'll add these tidbits after re-watching the game
- Lots of mistakes. Lots of mistakes. Bad penalties....drive-killing stuff. Not catching balls we need to. Easy stuff. A better team beats us. The Browns just played poorly.
-Stedman Bailey wasn't getting open much. And I like the kid. But it wasn't his best day.
- We will need to push the ball deeper a little more. Teams will stack the box and take away Gurley on runs and screens, and Austin on screens. Our OLine will need to improve and we need WRs/TEs who can do damage in the middle/deep parts of the field. Cook and Quick need to start showing up.
