Cleveland Browns: How to watch football like a pro

The first step to overcoming the problem is to accept the problem. This may seem simple, but once the fan accepts the consequences that comes with accepting the problem, a whole new world of football viewing becomes available.

The problem Browns fans must accept is that the 1950s camera angle does not allow the viewer to see everything that is happening in the game. Why is this the case?

The traditional camera angle was created during a time when football was primarily a running game. Paul Brown’s Cleveland Browns prided themselves on extreme discipline, toughness and running the football. (Brown was an innovator in the passing game as well.)

Thus, cameras were installed to follow the football wherever it went. A typical game in the 1950s would see a style of offense that tried to hide the football from opponents to gain the element of surprise.

Think of the popular offense at the time the Wing-T offense that operates as a series offense. A single set of backfield movements can lead to a play that potentially attacks the defense at three different places. By hiding the ball, defenses had to be disciplined enough stop the play no matter who had the ball or where the defense was attacked.

Broadcast TV was born in this era. The cameras tried their best to follow the action of the football. In this era, it allowed fans to know where the ball was going before the defense. This foreknowledge allowed fans to see how well the offense and defense were executing on that day.

However, even though football is no longer played this way, it continues to be broadcast like it is. Browns fans should accept this reality.

Accepting that the broadcast angle was created in a different era means that the Browns fan can accept they will not see everything that is happening on any particular play. It may sound simple, but the consequences are tremendous.