From: mocnik@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: BROWNS NEWS - Nov 16th (Charger game)
Date: 17 Nov 92 07:29:47 EST

Browns News - Nov 16th
----------------------

The Browns blew a game they could have won. Some may say SHOULD have won.
Either way, they lost to the Chargers 14-13 at snowy Cleveland Stadium.
I didn't see the game, but listened to the radio. They were saying the
footing was pretty good considering the conditions (heavy rain on
Thursday, and snow on Sunday morning). 
The Browns had over 400 yards in offense, but still only score 13 points.
Plus the defense gives up 2 TD passes. The game winner being a bomb to
Anthony Miller with just over 2 minutes to go in the game. 
Both the Browns and Chargers are now 5-5.

SD	7   0   0   7	-14
CLE	0   3   0  10   -13

1st Qtr
------
SD - Stan Humpheries 26 yard pass to Anthony Miller. @ 4:24
     key play: 69 yard interception return by Carrington
               (Eric Metcalf ran him down from behind)
     drive: 26 yards, 3 plays

2nd Qtr
-------
CLE - 36 yard FG by Matt Stover @ 14:53
      key plays: 5 yard pass to Jackson on a 3rd and 5,
                 42 yard pass to Tillman
                 handoff to Metcalf for 7 yard loss on 3rd and 4 from the
                 Charger 12. (Terrible play called.)
      drive: 82 yards, 10 plays

4th Qtr
-------
CLE - Tomczak 24 yard pass to Michael Jackson @ :56
      key play: passes to Lawyer Tillman(24 yds), Hoard (25 yds)
      drive: 99 yards, 10 plays

CLE - 28 yard FG by Matt Stover @ 10:00
      key play: Fumble by Ronnie Harmon sets up the Browns at the Charger 26
      drive: 16 yards, 5 plays

SD - 45 yard pass from Humpheries to Miller @ 12:55
     (On the previous play, the Chargers tried the same play, but the
      ball was overthrown to Nate Lewis. It was third and 8. Defense was not
      playing a prevent. Minnifield and Turner are burned badly.)
     drive: 72 yards, 6 plays
 
stats:		SD	CLE
First downs	16	 19
Third Dwn Eff	4-13	7-15
4th Dwn Eff	0-1	0-0
Yards		312	 385
  Rush		 88	  87
  Pass		224	 298
Sacked		1-10	 3-24
Penalties	5-40	 6-50
Fumbles Lost	 2	 1
Time of Poss	26:05	 33:55

Pass stats
Humpheries	19-32-234 yds 2TDs, 1 INT
Tomczak		18-32-322 yds 1TD , 2 INT

Rush stats
-----------
Butts (SD)	19-61 yds
Harmon (SD)	 3-19
others 		 5- 8

Mack		17-35 yds
Metcalf		 6-21
Tomczak		 3-11
Jackson		 1-21
Vardell		 1-(minus) 1

Receiving stats:
----------------
Harmon (SD)	8-60 yds
Miller (SD)	7-110
Jefferson (SD)  1-26
Walker (SD)	1-16
Butts (SD)	1-12
Lewis (SD)	1-10

Tillman		8-148	[spectacular day]
Jackson		4-84
Metcalf		3-33
Bavaro		2-32
Hoard		1-25

Three plays helped determine the outcome of the game:

1. Mike Tomczak threw for over 300 yards, but had 2 interceptions. The first
   one occurred at the Charger 5 yard line, and was run back for 69 yards.
   The ball was definitely forced into coverage.  
   This interception was early in the first quarter after Ronnie Harmon
   had fumbled for the first time. The Chargers scored a few plays later to 
   take the lead. This was potentially a 10 point swing, as the Browns were 
   within FG distance. It not only gave the Chargers the lead, but it also 
   gave them the momentum. It took the Browns 3 quarters to change the momentum.

2. The Browns got a second Ronnie Harmon fumble in the 4th quarter. On the next
   play, Michael Jackson takes an end around to the 4 yard line. The score
   is 10-7, Browns favor at this point. There are 6 minutes to go. A TD just
   about clinches the victory. Well, the next play never materializes as the
   Browns are called for delay of game. This is the BIG (non) play of the game.
   A couple of passes and a run can't get it past the 10 yard line.
   Funny, but the first play after the penalty, the Chargers only have 10 men
   on the field. Tomczak throws a pass for Bavaro at the 5. He is covered and
   the pass is incomplete.
   The Browns end up getting the field goal, but only lead 13-7. Somehow, I
   sensed the Chargers would get a Touchdown. And they did it just before
   the 2 minute mark. Anthony Miller beat the double zone on a 45 yard pass.
   The prevent was asleep. Eric Turner was late coming over from his safety
   spot. Frank Minnifield also was beaten. It was 3rd and 8 at the time.

3. Finally the Browns only need a FG at this point to win the game. They move 
   the ball to the Charger 40, on 2 plays. Then a holding call on Tony Jones 
   sends them back to midfield. FInally Eric Metcalf on the next play takes a 
   screen pass to the Charger 38 and F-U-M-B-L-E-S..... Charger recover, 
   game over.
   Eric got hit from behind as he was trying to put a move on.

Notes:
- The Chargers are NOT a bad team. They have some very good personnel. Their 
  defense was able to stop the sputtering Browns offense most of the day
  when it had to. Tomczak was under pressure most of the day. Bill Arnsparger,
  the defensive coordinator is doing his magic again. When he was with the 
  Dolphins, they had one of the best defenses in the league.
- The Browns coached stupid again. Right before halftime, the Browns have
  a 3rd and 4 from the Charger 12. They hand the ball off to Metcalf up the
  middle. Eric loses 7 yards. STUPID PLAY. TERRIBLE EXECUTION. WHOEVER KEEPS
  CALLING THIS PLAY SHOULD BE FIRED!!!!! IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!
- Tomczak's luck of forcing the ball, finally ran out. There were other
  passes which also could have been intercepted. Twice the Browns were called
  for delay of game. Tomczak must NOT look at the clock and the plays must
  be slow coming in from the sidelines. The second occurance really hurt.
- Lawyer Tillman made many spectacular catches. On the radio, they were 
  saying that Laywer was hurting so much, that he was being considered for the
  inactive squad before the game. I'd assume the ribs were the problem.
  He played the best game of his short career. He was outleaping defenders and
  diving for balls everywhere. Great effort!!!
- On the other hand, Michael Jackson would make a bad play and then come back
  and make a good play. The bad included a dropped pass right in his hands,
  and he got caught pushing off (10 yard interference penalty). The good
  was a TD catch and the end around run.
- The running game continued to be non-existent. Mack and Vardell had no
  running room. I wonder if Vardell's ribs were bothering him as he
  only had 1 carry for minus 1 yard.
- The defense gave Stan Humpheries all day to throw. No pressure for most
  of the game, especially on the 2 TD passes.
- The game of field position was in the Charger's favor for most of the game.
  The Browns would start most drives from deep in their own territory,
  and the Chargers near midfield. This was a huge advantage for the Chargers.
- The Browns only TD came on a 99 yard drive.
- Two field goal attempts by the Chargers failed. On the first one, Ernie Logan
  blocked it. On the second the snap was bobbled by the holder.
- Matt Stover made both his field goal attempts, although the second one
  barely made it inside the right upright.
- Michael Dean hurt his knee again in the second quarter. He came back in 
  the 4th quarter. He says he is okay, but I think he is hurting.
  Richard Brown (LB) will have his knee X-rayed today. He got hurt on a kickoff.
  Atleast 9 Browns had the flu last week. This seemed to be the 24 hour
  variety. No one missed the game due to the flu.
- The Browns activated Rod Milstead from the Practice squad and Todd Philcox
  from injured reserve for the game. The Browns also activated Keenan McCardell
  from the practice squad. John Rienstra was placed on
  Injured reserve. I don't know the other player the Browns either cut or
  placed on IR. {I'll have the new roster in my Viking preview}
- Once again the dog-pound showed its brains, or lack thereof, by throwing
  snowballs throughout the game at the Chargers. Luckily no player was hurt.
  Maybe these idiots should be allowed on the field and the players can then
  pelt them !!!!!!!  This is completely uncalled for, and it is an 
  embarrassment for the city of Cleveland and its good fans.

Notes from Sunday's Hal Lebovitz column (NewsHerald)
- Belchick felt the Chargers and the Vikings were the 2 toughest opponents
  for the Browns this year. He thinks the Chargers are better than the Dolphins.
- Philcox needs more practice time. He was very inaccurate in practice.
- Kosar threw better than Philcox, but his ankle is still not playable.
- After the Houston game, Mike Johnson spoke to the team and reminded them
  of the preparation that went into the victory. He told them also that if
  they continued with this hard work, that the results could be just as sweet.
- Look for Ed King to move to tackle next year. He is practicing there
  on the "scout team". Freddie Childress then can go back to his natural
  position of guard.

Finally, 
  I am kind of glad that the Browns lost. This team, is NOT a playoff team.
The same problems which have plagued the team all year showed up: Penalties
at the wrong time, Turnovers, and STUPID play selection. We see some
improvement, but it varies from week to week. This game showcased the
talents of Lawyer Tillman. The wait has well been worth it for him. 
Plus it showed that this team will never give up. 
On the negative it showed the inabilty of the offense to run the ball and 
the limitations of a Mike Tomczak. The defense also still has problems
giving up the big play, especially on third down (Both SD TD's were on 3rd
down passes). The NFL is so even in talent, that the old saying of "ON ANY
GIVEN SUNDAY....." holds true more than ever. Especially when two average
teams meet.


Thanks for the support.
 
Later,

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Don Mocnik   |        I CANNOT e-mail my reports to individuals. I do not
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