Shurmur doesn’t seem to know HOW to use Hillis like Mangini did. Maybe he should humble himself enough to look at some of last year’s film. Wait…isn’t that what OC’s do???

You’d almost think people had forgotten a couple of things… Like the fact Hillis sat out one game out of the 4 the Browns have played so far. There’s a whopping 25% less of a CHANCE to even gain any yards. In the last game, they gave him 10 snaps- and he was healthy. How the hell do you produce when you get 10 touches?

The way I figure it, all in all, Hillis has had about 40% less playing time than he would have under normal cirmcumstances. Not exactly gonna help him look like the stud he was last year.

Not to mention that Shurmur apparently doesn’t study game tape or something- Last year, the Browns ran Hillis outside the tackles around 20-30% of the time and it was pretty much a guaranteed 5 yards (or more) every time. This year, I don’t remember seeing a single run outside the tackles *except* a busted play where he ran into Lavauo’s back and bounced out- for a 24 yard TD run. Maybe if Shurmur would pay some attention to stuff that has worked in the past instead of insisting that Hillis run up the middle every time, he (Hillis *and* Shumur) would be looking a little better right now.

Oh, and Vickers being gone isn’t helping either. Good thing Marecic can at least catch the ball or he’d be *totally* useless.

the only reason hillis isn’t getting paid is because he’s white, and it’s impossible for a white RB to be a long term, elite player at the position in the NFL.

My memory can only go back to the mid 80s but I can’t ever remember Cleveland fans liking someone because they’re a “face of the team”. The fans have always liked whoever has produced and got it done. There wasn’t some fairy that came down and waved a wand over their head and said “You are now the face of the team.” Cribbs and Hillis are faces of the team because of what they do on the field. Trust me, if they weren’t making plays, the fans would stop caring about them fast.

Remember Braylon Edwards? Fans loved him during his breakout year but when he completely forgot how to catch the ball the next year, they didn’t keep him in their hearts for sentimental reasons.

That is, as soon as that mysterious “illness” clears up.

It makes it easier to gang tackle a back like Hillis because of the speed on the Dee, something the Raiders have plenty off.. It’s those slashing type backs that kills the Raiders.

It should be a good game, but too many emotions will carry this team into the playoff’s.

Raiders 31 – Browns 17

Teams can find a late round draft pick or even an undrafted guy, ie. Arian Foster, Fred Jackson, that can get the job done.

Glad it took a public lashing for our stupid coaches to realize that.