Safety Grant Delpit says he's forgotten the feeling of winning during three losses in a row and a 1-5 start to the season. That's not good. (Cleveland Browns)
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Editor’s note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Of the two 1-5 teams colliding Sunday in Huntington Bank Field, one is pointing fingers and one is doing all it can to avoid it. Each team is reacting differently to the frustration of playing really bad football.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa apologized on Wednesday for criticizing teammates earlier in the week for being late for meetings. The apology came after his coach, Mike McDaniel, said the comments were “misguided” and shouldn’t have been aired publicly.
Meanwhile, comments made by Myles Garrett after the Browns’ loss in Pittsburgh haven’t made as big a ripple among his teammates.
Garrett passive-aggressively poked at the Browns’ inept offense when he said “it must be nice” to play defense with a two-score lead -- something the Browns have never had in six games this year. He also said he’s tired of losing the same way every week, which was another veiled shot at the inability of the Browns’ offense to score 20 points.
“Myles is one of our key players, and he certainly has a voice and certainly has his opinion,” said defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. “And I think anybody that wants to stand behind their statements and speak up, I don’t see any issue with that.”
“He cares about winning,” quarterback Dillon Gabriel said. “You know, it matters to him. So of course there’s going to be frustration. But at the same time, I think with the leaders on our team, that’s us being about our action and being about going to work. And that’s what these guys do. So, we gotta continue to work together and find answers because we want a better outcome, we do.”
Guard Joel Bitonio said, “We want to be better for our defense. We want a two-score lead to try to let them rush the passer. Get the ball out quick, try to neutralize the pass rush. If you’re not frustrated, that’s a bad sign. We’re all on the same page with that. Losing sucks.”
Special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone related the experience of making the playoffs in 2018 with the Indianapolis Colts after a 1-5 start. It helped, of course, to have franchise quarterback Andrew Luck at the leadership helm.
“I do feel that we have a very well-connected football team,” Ventrone said. “I just think that we get along, we are a connected team, and I do think that we have the ability to right the ship.”
Bitonio added, “Everybody’s frustrated with the results but there’s no infighting.”
The most concerning comments, however, were made by safety Grant Delpit.
“Obviously it’s frustrating,” Delpit said. “You do all you can do to stay together as a team. [You] try to get that winning feeling back. I don’t even know what it feels like. I’ve forgotten that feeling. You’re just chasing that feeling and trying to do everything to get that back and not turn on each other. Because that can happen. Hopefully we Just stay together and find a way get one win and so you can multiply it.”
Delpit added, “It’s not fun. Nobody likes losing like that, losing in general, period. I feel the frustration. We all do. It’s time to get it fixed.”
Weathering the storm
When Browns coaches huddled together for the Miami game plan on Tuesday, it was a beautiful fall day. The forecast for Sunday, however, calls for an 80 percent chance of rain with wind gusts up to 30 mph.
Not a great day for throwing the ball, or kicking it, for that matter.
“Yeah, you definitely plan for it,” said offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. “To go into all the specifics probably wouldn’t be an advantage for us, but you definitely plan for it and account for it. You know, you put the ball security part at a premium. You look at maybe certain things that you might need more of or less of based on the plan.
“So, there’s certainly drills and things you do to work that with your players and then there’s planning that goes into it to make sure that you have enough of certain things.”
Brownie bits
Newly arrived cornerback Tyson Campbell had an adventurous first game guarding Pittsburgh’s D.K. Metcalf. Campbell displayed some tight coverage but was victimized by not turning to look for the ball. It’s been a coaching point this week. Schwartz said, “He had some really good, tough, competitive plays. I thought he was battling. You know, they obviously were testing the new guy, and you’re talking about one of the premier receivers in the NFL doing it. But we’ll get him up on that, because I think on two of those plays, if we get our head around, there’s chances for interceptions there. … There’s a potential on Sunday that the wind is going to be blowing pretty good and the ball’s going to move around a lot. And our ability to find the ball down the field is a big part of what we do.” …
Right tackle Jack Conklin (concussion) and tight end David Njoku (knee) were DNPs a second day in a row. Receiver/punt returner Gage Larvadain (concussion) was upgraded to limited. Prior to practice Larvadain said he feels he’ll be a go for Sunday …
Since he missed a field goal and a PAT in the 17-16 Game 1 loss to Cincinnati, kicker Andre Szmyt is 8 of 9 on field goals and 5 of 5 on PATs. His only miss was from 56 yards in Detroit.