Five Things Browns Fans Should Be Thankful For

My grandmother used to tell me every Thanksgiving that no matter how bad things seem, there is always someone that has it worse than you.

It didn’t matter if someone close to her was sick, going through tough financial times, or even if someone had died – grandma was always thankful for the things she had no matter how meager.

Before the Thanksgiving turkey was cut, everyone at the dinner table had to recite what they were thankful for.

For Cleveland Browns fans, it might be a while before we eat.

After losing to the lowly Detroit Lions to fall to 1-9, we might have to just throw out the tired, lame “I’m thankful for my family” response.

But in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I will give it a try.

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Quinn For HOF, Daboll The Next Air Coryell, Stuckey The Next Rice

Brady Quinn is the second coming of Tom Brady after his 300 yard, four touchdown performance against the Lions.

 

Brian Daboll is being favorably compared to Don Coryell after the Cleveland Browns offense scored a whopping 35 points in the game (24 points in less than 12 minutes in the first quarter).

 

Chansi Stuckey is the perfect second option, playmaking wide receiver the Browns franchise has been looking for.

 

Let’s be real honest here. None of the aforementioned sentences are true.

 

What we saw was a mirage that would be a mistake for anyone to take as reality.

 

The Detroit Lions have allowed more points than any team in football and they showed why on Sunday. Blown coverages, bad tackling, and overall confusion from defensive backs have been a staple of the Lions’ defense for years.

 

It would be wise to take a step back and analyze exactly how the Browns managed to score 37 points in a game before we start building a bust for Brady Quinn in Canton—and we start calling Brian Daboll the next hot head coaching candidate.

 

After all, we have seen those same big numbers out of Derek Anderson and we all know how that turned out.

 

Quinn threw touchdown strikes of 59 and 40 yards to Mohamed Massaquoi and Chansi Stuckey early in the game.

 

On both, Massaquoi and Stuckey broke completely free when the Lions defensive backfield bit on play action fakes. Good defenses do not let that happen twice in a season, let alone twice in a game.

 

The third touchdown was set up by an interception return by Eric Wright which gave the Browns first and goal field position at the six yard line.

 

The fourth touchdown pass was a two-yarder to Michael Gaines, who forced his way into the endzone by the shear force of his weight. That touchdown was set up by a series of short runs, short passes, and a Detroit offsides penalty which kept the drive alive.

 

Granted, it was nice to see some life from an offense that was non-existent for nine games. At least it made the game ‘watchable’ (which is something I could not have predicted when two dreadfully woeful football teams lined up for kick-off).

 

But before we start getting too comfortable with the play-calling of Daboll and the passing of Quinn, we should keep a mindful eye on the fact that the Lions defense is atrocious.

 

The Lions surrendered 10 plays of 20 or more yards the week earlier. The fact that the Browns managed two is not cause for a ticker tape parade.

 

All this game did is set up a future date with the Oakland Raiders in what I will less-than-affectionately dub as “The Draft Bowl.”

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Cleveland Meets Detroit in The Toilet Bowl

In what could quite possibly be the most unwatchable sporting event in the last decade, the 1-8 Cleveland Browns meet the 1-8 Detroit Lions on Sunday.

 

Save the Oakland Raiders, this is a meeting of currently the two most anemic franchises in the NFL—maybe in all of professional sports.

 

Clevelanders, do you think you have it bad? Try these numbers on for size:

 

Since 1995, the Detroit Lions have been to one playoff game.

 

The Lions have a grand total of one playoff win since 1957. That’s right! 1957!

 

The 2008 team is the only team in NFL history to lose all sixteen games in a single season (The 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 0-14).

 

They now have lost 31 out of their last 33 games.

 

The Lions have played above .500 just 15 times in the last 52 years. To put that into perspective, the Browns have eclipsed that total 26 times in the same time period.

 

Ineptitude has not been solely reserved for the Browns franchise.

 

If misery loves company, then Detroit and Cleveland fans should form their own Facebook group.

 

Like many teams before them, the Lions guessed that they could turn their fortunes around by drafting a quarterback in the first round. But they have quickly found out that despite Matthew Stafford’s considerable skills, they are still a long ways away from respectability.

 

While their offense has managed to put some points on the board, the team has surrendered a league worst 264 points.

 

When the bottom feeder offense meets the bottom feeder defense this weekend, something has to give.

 

On offense, the Lions do possess one of the NFL’s best weapons in wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Unfortunately, he has missed all or part of four games because of injury.

 

Last week, Johnson played his first full game since week four against the Vikings and did catch eight passes for 84 yards. At 6’5”, 236 pounds, he can run by, through, or jump over nearly every cornerback in the National Football League.

 

With Johnson, Bryant Johnson, Dennis Northcutt, and rookie tight end Brandon Pettigrew, Stafford isn’t afraid to air the ball out. The results have been mixed, however, as he currently has a 1:2 touchdown to interception ratio.

 

A big disappointment has been running back Kevin Smith who looked like he was turning the corner as a pro last season. He is averaging only 51.5 yards per game on a paltry 3.4 yards per carry.

 

Like the Browns, the Lions have issues on the right side of their offensive line along with the left guard slot. However, center Dominic Raiola and left tackle Jeff Backus are solid.

 

On the defensive side of the ball the Lions are a mess. In their last game against the Vikings, the team gave up ten plays of 20 yards or more.

 

Four different safeties are either injured or playing hurt. The Lions may have to resort to starting benched cornerback Anthony Henry at one of the two spots.

 

The Lions have had to sign eight different defensive backs since the start of the season because of poor play or injuries.

 

Outside linebacker Ernie Sims, who is a tackling machine when healthy, will miss the Cleveland game with a hamstring injury.

 

Detroit’s front four generate little to no pass rush and do an even poorer job stopping the run. The team is pining for the days when they could rely on current-Brown, Shawn Rogers to control the line of scrimmage.

 

Left outside linebacker Julian Peterson is the lone play-maker the team has on defense, and even he has struggled because the defensive lineman cannot keep him clean to make plays.

 

Former Steeler, Larry Foote has put up big tackle numbers at middle linebacker, but he has been unable to create turnovers like he did with Pittsburgh.

 

This Lions team may be the Cleveland Browns last hope of garnering a second victory (and vice versa).

 

I do look for the Browns to finally put the ball in the end zone this week. And if the Browns defense plays as well as it did against the Ravens on Monday night, that might be enough to finally put one in the win column.

 

Final Prediction: Cleveland Browns 17 – Detroit Lions 14

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Cleveland Browns’ Eric Mangini: Deja Vu All Over Again?

On my way to the office today, I was listening to a local sports talk radio show taking merciless shots at Eric Mangini.

 

Callers to the show chimed in with their own negative views of the beleaguered head coach. And that is putting it lightly.

 

Just yesterday, veteran running back Jamal Lewis took a not-so-subtle swipe at the head coach for what he deems to be working the players too hard.

 

Without getting into the legitimacy of Lewis’ gripe, it occurred to me that I had been in this place before as I listened on my car speakers.

 

New head coach takes over a team that was bludgeoned to death the year before under complaints that the previous regime was too soft on its players.

 

Head coach proceeds to dismantle the roster to rid the team of malcontents and players who do not want to play by his rules.

 

Head coach unceremoniously benches the hero quarterback and Clevelanders threaten to charge the gates of the Browns’ headquarters.

 

Veteran players begin to squeal on the head coach to the media because he’s working them too hard and is not approachable enough in the clubhouse.

 

Soft-spoken, egotistical, and remorseless head coach makes enemies with the media because he is…well, soft-spoken, egotistical, and remorseless.

 

The local fans and media members take turns joining into the fracas by consistently beating the life out of the head coach on the airwaves and in the newspapers.

 

Just as all those previous events begin to float through my head, a caller to the talk show comes on and says, “this is like déjà vu all over again…you guys are running this coach out of town just like you did to Bill Belichick.”

 

Now, this particular media member gets defensive and cut off the caller by shouting him down with, “revisionist history,” “Modell let him go before he took the team to Baltimore,” and “Bill admitted he made mistakes when he was with the Browns.”

 

While it is in fact true that the Browns were on their way out of town with or without Bill Belichick, apparently some in the Cleveland media forget their places in history, as well.

 

In 1995, I placed my one and only phone call to a sports talk radio station. In fact, it was to that exact same talk show host I was listening to today (who, by the way, I think is fantastic and I happen to agree with roughly 80 percent of the time).

 

He and a Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter had just spent the previous three months taking apart coach Belichick at virtually every turn and I called to defend the man.

 

I reminded them both that neither had ever coached a football team—let alone coached an NFL team to the playoffs, nor had they been on a Super Bowl-winning coaching staff.  I tried to explain to them that this guy is young and he will learn from his mistakes, and he has a reputation as a very smart football guy.

 

I further went on to say that even though no one wants to admit it, he took over a team on the decline and it will take a little while to clean it up.

 

I was quickly dispatched, as I assume I did not comport to the lynch mob mentality of the remainder of their listeners.

 

“If you don’t want to jump off this cliff with the rest of our sheep, we don’t want you on our show.”

 

So let’s look at the history that followed Bill Belichick after he left Cleveland:

 

Belichick was roasted for saying that a legendary Cleveland quarterback had “diminishing skills.”

 

Let’s also not forget that same legendary quarterback openly defied the coach’s play call by “drawing one up in the dirt.” Although Belichick didn’t say it at the time, these events led him to cut the legendary quarterback from the team probably more than the player’s “diminishing skills.”

 

And that same legendary quarterback who tried to lead a revolt against the head coach went on to win…zero games as a starter in the NFL.

 

That’s right, sports fans! He did not win a single game as a starter again!

 

Meanwhile, Bill Belichick went on to lead one of the NFL’s greatest dynasties to four Super Bowl appearances and collect three Lombardi Trophies.

 

He has solidified his spot in the Football Hall of Fame as one of the most successful coaches to ever carry the clipboard.

 

That brings us back to today.

 

While it is hard at this point to point to any successes that current head coach Eric Mangini has made with these Cleveland Browns, he is only one year into the “process”—I use that term because I know much everyone hates to hear it.

 

The team is ONE YEAR removed from the Club Crennel approach that led to a 4-12 season!

 

The team is ONE YEAR removed from a 2008 draft class that did not have a single pick until round four!

 

The team is ONE YEAR removed from a team that had not decided on its starting quarterback, and was precariously thin at just about every position on the football field!

 

Fans and the media may not like his personality. The players may not like his methods. But one year is just not enough time to evaluate a coach who took over the mess he took over.

 

I am not predicting Super Bowl rings or even success for Mangini here in Cleveland. For all I know, he may end up being just another in a long line of disappointment us Clevelanders have had to endure.

 

I fully expect to receive plenty of angry comments from disaffected Browns fans who are calling, “Off with his head!”

 

And after all Cleveland Browns fans have been through over the years, they have every right to be mad about the product they are seeing on the field.

 

Perhaps I take too much joy out of simply stating the contrarian opinion, but I do want to remind everyone of this rather apropos quote from philosopher George Santayana:

 

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

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Cleveland Browns General Manager Search: Weighing the Options

A lot of big names are being bandied about to be the next General Manager of the Cleveland Browns.

 

We have heard names such as Mike Holmgren, Marty Schottenheimer, Bill Cowher, and Mike Shanahan.

 

There certainly will be some interest on the part of owner Randy Lerner in each. So let’s look at the background, wisdom as a choice of each, and the chances that that they may actually have an interest in the Cleveland Browns’ position.

 

 

Mike Holmgren

 

Holmgren will be 62 by the time next season starts and last coached the Seattle Seahawks in 2008.

 

He is highly regarded as a quarterback developer, having worked with such All-Pro quarterbacks as Joe Montana, Steve Young, Brett Favre and Matt Hasselbeck as an assistant and head coach in the NFL.

 

He also worked as a quarterback coach with Brigham Young University at a time when they were putting up record passing numbers under head coach LaVell Edwards.

 

He won a Super Bowl as a head coach in 1996 with the Packers. After a highly successful stint as a head coach with the Packers, he left the team largely because he wanted control over personnel decisions (something he did not have in Green Bay).

 

His stint as a coach/general manager with the Seattle Seahawks did not go quite as smoothly, although he did manage to take the Seahawks to their lone Super Bowl appearance in 2005. The Seahawks record was 86-74 during his tenure.

 

The rumor is that Holmgren comes as a package with Jon Gruden as the head coach. A Gruden-Holmgren duo makes for a pretty impressive twosome, as Gruden boasts a pretty solid resume in his own right.

 

The downside to Holmgren is that his record as a general manager is not nearly as sterling as his record as a coach. If the Browns intend on keeping current head coach Eric Mangini, this would not be a match made in heaven.

 

The two come off entirely different coaching trees with completely different coaching philosophies. If Holmgren does become the next decision maker, Mangini’s days are numbered.

 

The guess is that it would not take much other than big dollars to push Holmgren out of retirement.

 

 

 

Mary Schottenheimer

 

Local sentiment is on the side of Marty Schottenheimer, who was the Cleveland head coach during what was unquestionably the franchise’s best run of football since the glory years of the 1950s and ‘60s. He amassed a 44-27 record as head coach of the Browns.

 

How quickly fans forget that they once were calling for Marty’s head when he “couldn’t win the big one” against arch-rival John Elway and the Denver Broncos.

 

Schottenheimer followed up his Browns experience with a successful run as the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, finishing 101-58-1 in 10 years. But again, Marty just could not get his team over the top in the playoffs.

 

He finished 8-8 in his one season with the Washington Redskins, and led the San Diego Chargers to a 47-33 record in five years.

 

Although Schottenheimer was successful for virtually every team he coached during the regular season, he could never get the “playoff monkey” off his back.

 

Another thing to keep in mind with Schottenheimer is that he has very little experience as a general manager. Throughout his coaching career, he was surrounded by strong personnel evaluators who generally had the last word with respect to roster decisions.

 

It remains to be seen whether Schottenheimer has the ability to run a franchise. His lone experience in “running the show” was in his one year with the Redskins.

 

Although Schottenheimer does not have a direct link to Eric Mangini, Mangini did give Marty’s son his first job as an offensive coordinator with the Jets.

 

Additionally, their coaching philosophies are not all that different. They both believe that strong defenses and power running games are the keys to success.

 

Thus, if Randy Lerner is serious about keeping Mangini around, this might not be such a bad match.

 

At this point in his career, Marty would probably sign any contract an NFL owner put in front of him.

 

 

 

Bill Cowher

 

This is a name that many Cleveland fans have been dreaming about for a decade. Cowher cut his teeth as an assistant with the Browns and became one of the most successful coaches in history with the hated Pittsburgh Steelers.

 

There are several reasons why Bill Cowher might want to come to Cleveland, not least of which is his ego. Although he still is a beloved figure in Pittsburgh, he never believed his pay from the Rooney family was commensurate with what he was able to accomplish as a field general.

 

There certainly must be a part of him that would love to stick it to his former employer as a divisional rival.

 

Despite all that, there are a number of reasons why Cowher coming to Cleveland would be a long shot.

 

First of all, he is a Carolina resident and there has long been talk that he has been waiting around with bated breath for the Panther opening so he could stay close to home. Because of the recent failures of the Panthers, that time may be coming soon.

 

Secondly, he was already offered a king’s ransom to come to Cleveland by Randy Lerner last year. Little has changed that would make the Browns more attractive the second time around.

 

The word on the street is that Cowher wants the dual role as the head coach and the general manager. Money and complete power are the only things that are going to talk him out of retirement.

 

That may not necessarily be a good thing. Keep in mind that although Cowher was a great coach, he was never the architect behind the player decision process with the Steelers.

 

Most forget that Tom Donahoe was the Director of Football Operations from 1992 through 2000 and is credited with many of the player acquisitions which made the Steelers a powerhouse.

 

Kevin Colbert took over for Donahoe in 2000 and still holds that position.

 

 

 

Mike Shanahan

 

Mike Shanahan is perhaps the one name on this list who has successfully built a franchise from the ground up as both a coach and a personnel decision-maker.

 

He has two Super Bowl rings as a coach and led the Denver Broncos to a 138-86 record in his tenure.

 

He may still have some desire to coach, but at 58 years old, that may or may not be in the cards in the NFL.

 

Shanahan is a brilliant offensive mind, dating back to his days as an offensive coordinator with the Super Bowl Champion San Francisco 49ers (1992).

 

Shanahan may have been the beneficiary of being the head coach of the Broncos during the John Elway era, but the one thing his teams always were able to do is run the football, no matter who was toting the rock.

 

He seemed to find diamond-in-the-rough running backs and offensive lineman all over the draft board and his style of play lends itself to the cold, blustery playing conditions here in Cleveland.

 

One other consideration is that Shanahan’s son, Kyle, is a rising star and is the youngest offensive coordinator (28) in the NFL with the Houston Texans. Kyle currently has the Texan offense clicking with a journeyman quarterback and a less-than-stellar group of running backs.

 

Although Kyle may not be ready to be a head coach, perhaps his father could coax him into being the head coach in waiting as he tries to breath new life into the Browns disastrous offensive attack.

 

Mike Shanahan has a track record and is just the kind of tough-minded leader that this franchise has lacked since its rebirth in 1999.

 

He does have a rather autocratic style, however, which will most certainly not mesh with Eric Mangini. Thus, if Shanahan is brought on board as General Manager, Mangini will not make it past the opening introductions.

 

Shanahan, at this time last year, could afford to be picky with regards to who his next employer would be. But currently, there is not enough interest around the league for him to turn down a job if Lerner met his salary demands.

 

 

 

Others

 

There is some sentiment for bringing in an old-timer who has run a team in the past who can teach Cleveland legend Bernie Kosar the ropes.

 

Kosar does not have enough NFL experience to just jump into the job despite his legendary football acumen and die-hard allegiance from Browns’ fans.

 

Since Ernie Accorsi has hedged on whether he would like to join the Cleveland Browns organization, an interesting choice as Kosar’s mentor might be former Redskins and Texans GM Charley Casserly.

 

Regardless of which way Randy Lerner turns, his best option would be to slowly and methodically weigh his options and listen to advice from those in the NFL inner-circle, rather than jump the gun like he did in his last major hire.

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Chicago Bears Hungry in Their Week Seven Cleveland Browns Matchup

The Cleveland Browns head to Chicago to take on a Bears team that is licking its wounds after a 45-10 beat down from the Cincinnati Bengals last week.

 

The Bears seemed to be riding high after starting the season 3-1, including a win against the world champion Steelers. But they are now on a two game losing streak and are hungry to put on a beat down of their own this week.

 

Offensively, the Bears have the weapons to do it. But defensively, they are struggling to overcome the loss of All Pro linebacker Brian Urlacher.

 

Quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte lead the offense.

 

Cutler has struggled to gain consistency after being traded away from the Denver Broncos. But with one of the leagues strongest arms and the capability to buy time in the pocket with his feet, he can light teams up on any given day.

 

Cutler is coming off of a three-interception game and has now thrown five picks in the last two (nine interceptions in the Bears three losses). The season has been a tale of two Cutlers as in the teams’ three wins he has seven touchdown passes against just one interception.

 

Forte, who ran for over 1,200 yards in his rookie debut, is going threw some growing pains in his sophomore season. Forte currently has just one touchdown run against three fumbles, and his yards per carry average has dropped to 3.5 in his second season.

 

He did manage 121 yards on only 12 carries in Week Four against the Lions, but he has had three games this season where he was not even able to get over the 30-yard barrier.

 

It seems as though the Bears are a team in transition as they attempt to find their offensive identity from a run-first team to a team more reliant on the passing game. Look for coach Lovie Smith to try to gain more balance in their attack against the Browns this week.

 

The receiving corps is led by Devin Hester, who is starting to establish himself as more than just an electric return man. Hester is coming off his first 100-yard receiving game this year and is beginning to figure out the intricacies of the position.

 

The rest of the wideouts are average at best. Second year wideout Earl Bennett is becoming Cutler’s go-to guy in third-down situations, but has not established himself as a big play threat.

 

Rashied Davis was beginning to look like a playmaker in 2008, but is currently buried down the depth chart as the team looks to use return man-wide receiver Johnny Knox  to take shots down the field in three-receiver sets.

 

Knox, in his rookie season out of small Alibene Christian College, has three receiving touchdowns (all over 20-yards) and one kickoff return for a touchdown this year.

 

The offensive line is a veteran group whose old legs are having a difficult time in the run game.

 

Center Olin Kreutz is in his twelve year. Left tackle Orlando Pace, now in his thirteenth season, is struggling to regain his Pro Bowl form after several seasons of injuries.

 

Right tackle Chris Williams is the only youngster on the line. The former first round draft choice is learning on the job as he comes back from back surgery that ruined what would have been his rookie year.

 

Nine-year veteran Roberto Garza, Frank Omiyale, and Josh Beekman split time at the guard spots.

 

The defense is reeling after getting torched by the Bengals in Week Six. Carson Palmer threw five touchdown passes, and former-Bear Cedric Benson ran over, around and through the Bears defense in route to 45-points last week.

 

The Bears cannot figure out exactly what lineup they want to send out on the field at linebacker, switching Nick Roach and Hunter Hillenmeyer between the outside and middle linebacker slots.

 

The one mainstay is outside linebacker Lance Briggs, who already has 46 tackles over six games.

 

The Bears defense is allowing a Cleveland Browns-like 40 percent conversion rate on third downs. That did not happen when Urlacher was in the lineup.

 

The front four consists of Tommie Harris, Marcus Harrison, and Anthony Adams splitting time at the defensive tackle positions, and Alex Brown and Adewale Ogunleye at the ends.

 

Harris is the teams best run-plugger in the middle but has been dealing with a string of injuries. Brown and Ogunleye are solid edge rushers, but age is beginning to creep up on them.

 

Charles Tillman has the ability to be a shut-down corner and will usually matchup with the oppositions’ best receiver. He managed to contain Calvin Johnson and Roddy White, but was beaten all over the field by Chad Johnson against the Bengals.

 

Second year player Zack Bowman starts at the opposite cornerback position. He is young and improving, but teams will continue to pick on him until he shows he can stop it.

 

Rookie Al Afalaya starts at safety and can hit. His coverage skills are still a work in progress, however.

 

Danieal Manning is beginning to open some eyes at the opposite safety spot. He has been the one pleasant surprise for the Bears defense in 2009, showing a real nose for the ball.

 

Manning combines blazing speed, outstanding instincts along with a complete disregard for his body when filling holes to stop the run. He is starting to draw comparisons to Steelers all-world safety Troy Polamalu.

 

The Bears are hungry after two straight embarrassing losses, and will look to get off the schneid against the Browns.

 

If the Bears are able to establish their running game early, Cutler will be too much for the Cleveland defense to handle.

 

The Bears defense is not the Monsters of the Midway of the past, but they do not need to be against the Browns.

 

If Jamal Lewis and company can get the Cleveland Browns running game going early, they can keep it close. But in the end, the Browns do not have the veteran talent necessary to win this game.

 

Final Prediction: Chicago Bears 27 – Cleveland Browns 13

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Cleveland Browns Fans: Do You Still Want To See The Rookies?

OK Browns fans, you wanted them…you got them. A good portion of the B/R Community was calling on head coach Eric Mangini to play the rookies.

 

The theory went, “this team isn’t going anywhere, so give the young guys a chance!”

 

I cannot tell you how many posts I have gotten since the beginning of the season arguing that we need to play Mohammed Massaquoi (Brian Robiskie, Kaluka Maiava, David Veikune, Coye Francies, James Davis, Phil Trautwein, Brett Ratliff).

 

Well Cleveland fans, with the exception of Trautwein (a marginal “professional” who was picked off the practice squad), James Davis (who was injured) and Ratliff (who couldn’t complete a preseason pass against players who are no longer in the NFL), here they are. Are you happy now?

 

I am not sure that everyone understands exactly how tough of a transition it is from the college level to the NFL.

 

It is one thing to plug in a rookie next to a bunch of veterans who can take the heat off him. But it is another thing to throw your entire draft out on the field and ask them to remain competitive. It just is not going to happen.

 

When starting middle linebacker D’Qwell Jackson went down with injury last week, some opined that it was a “good thing” because players like Maiava and Veikune could learn on the job.

 

Maybe in the long run it is a good thing. But in the short run, this Browns team is going to get beat like a drum.

 

I tried to warn anyone who was listening that although getting rid of Braylon Edwards might have solved some clubhouse issues…you better be prepared for what is going to happen when he is gone.

 

Now that Edwards is gone the Browns have not one, but two rookie second round draft choices starting at wide receiver.

 

Let’s all just stop and think about what happens during the course of an average pass play.

 

The average NFL quarterback has about three seconds to make a read when he steps back to pass. It is currently taking almost two seconds for the rookie wide receiver class to even get off the line of scrimmage.

 

Those plays are dead before they even start!

 

On top of that, because the Browns are throwing the ball in a lot of second or third and long situations, teams are bringing the house at our quarterbacks. That is giving Browns quarterbacks even less time to deliver the ball.

 

Given the debacle that occurred last week against the Packers, there is a good chance that no one has this game TIVOed. But if you do, please watch the matchup of the Browns wideouts against the Packers cornerbacks.

 

There is just no way possible that anything the Browns call is going to work under those circumstances. There are times that Robiskie and Massaquoi cannot even get into the pattern they are running, let alone get separation.

 

Now I want you to watch a college game so you can see the difference between what an NFL receiver has to go through to get into a pattern versus a college wideout. You will rarely see college wide receivers have to fight off jams because college cornerbacks (outside of a few superior athletes) are afraid to get beat.

 

College wide receivers run their patterns without even getting touched at the line of scrimmage. That is why starting two second rounders at wide receiver is just asking for trouble.

 

Neither Massaquoi nor Robiskie is ready to accept that kind of responsibility. They are both physically and mentally over-matched.

 

The Browns currently have a rookie who should be a number two or three receiver as the number one option. They have another rookie who should be a number three or four receiver as the number two option. Lastly, they have a punt returner/former quarterback who is the number three option.

 

That is a recipe for disaster.

 

I even tried to find a photograph for this article of Brian Robiskie getting open; but sadly, no such picture exists.

 

If a team is forced to play multiple rookies (Alex Mack, Massaquoi, Robiskie, Veikune, Maiava, etc.) next to the average talent that is playing next to them, there are going to be days like the last three Sundays.

 

Why is a guy like the rookie WR Mike Wallace having such a good season in Pittsburgh? Wallace has two veteran receivers (Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes) on the field with him. Wallace is lucky enough to be drawing the other teams’ third corner or safety on every play.

 

For those of you who are now calling on Brett Ratliff to take the snaps, be careful what you wish for.

 

Ratliff made the team only because he understood the playbook. He had a difficult time completing passes when facing other teams’ third and fourth stringers who did not even make a professional roster.

 

For those of you who think I am trying to excuse Derek Anderson’s play…you are wrong. But to point the blame for all of both the offense and defense’s troubles at one man is remarkably short-sighted.

 

The point I am trying to make is that although both Anderson and Quinn have been terrible…this offense has NO CHANCE. And the defense might be even worse. They are completely out-manned.

 

I do not care if either of these quarterbacks is the second coming of Joe Montana (which they are not), this offense is not going to move the ball consistently this year; or at least until the Browns play a few teams who are going through the same rebuilding process that they are going through (See Detroit, Kansas City, Oakland).

 

I am sure all you Quinn fans out there will get a chance to see Brady once again this season, out of necessity or choice. There is a strong possibility that even if Anderson is Mangini’s “guy,” he eventually will have to be dragged off the field on a stretcher while he waits for his young receivers to get into their patterns.

 

It is likely that the organization is in fact keeping Quinn off the field until they can assure that his salary escalators do not kick in.

 

While Quinn fans may get irritated by that gesture, it is the right move. Because if Quinn does have any trade value left, it will most certainly be gone once he receives that salary increase.

 

If Quinn is eventually re-inserted into the lineup, outside of the three games mentioned above, he will have no better luck putting the ball into the endzone. And it will not be all his fault when that happens.

 

There may or may not be talent among the current rookies on the roster (and there most likely is). But this isn’t college football anymore for some of these players, and there will be a lot of growing pains.

 

So if you can stand the beatings that will continue to ensue while this team grows up…that’s great. But make no mistake, this team will be taking a lot of beatings as long as all these youngsters are on the field at one time.

 

Don’t act surprised while it is happening.

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Cleveland Browns vs. Green Bay Packers: Relative Score Fest

The Cleveland Browns head into Week Seven in a state of disarray. They are 1-5, the offense can’t make a play, the defense can’t make a tackle, and now the flu bug has caused the team to send as many as twelve players home from practice.

 

Now, the Browns have lost their most consistent linebacker D’Qwell Jackson for the season. This one really hurts.

 

There really is no bright side as Aaron Rodgers and the potent Green Bay offense come to town. The Packers are coming off a 26-0 shutout of the Detroit Lions, which moved their record to 3-2.

 

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is fast establishing himself as one of the league’s best signal-callers. Rodgers is averaging close to 300 yards passing per game, has a passer rating of 104.1, and has eight touchdown passes versus only two interceptions.

 

Rodgers can throw it from the pocket and he can throw it on the run.

 

It helps to have one of the top receiving duos in the league in Greg Jennings and Donald Driver. These two go almost unnoticed around the league, but each allows his play to speak for itself.

 

Jennings has had some minor bumps and bruises, but he is on pace for his second straight 1,000-yard season and is averaging nearly 18 yards per catch. Driver is working on his seventh 1,000-yard season and averages almost 16 yards per catch, and is now the Packers’ all-time leader in receptions.

 

Both are as good working the middle for the tough yards as they are getting free down the field. They are sure-handed and tough.

 

Third receiver Jordy Nelson is out indefinitely with a sprained knee, but James Jones is a more-than-capable backup. Jones scored on a 47-yard touchdown last week against the Lions.

 

The Packers’ running game has been inconsistent behind running back Ryan Grant. Grant can get the tough yards, but he is by no means a dynamic back.

 

The team re-signed longtime Packer Ahman Green this week to serve as a backup for Grant. He is only 46 yards short of becoming the Packers’ all-time rushing leader.

 

The sore spot of the Packers seems to be the offensive line. They are not providing much push in the run game and are among the NFL’s worst in sacks allowed.

 

To make matters worse, starting left tackle Chad Clifton is likely out after re-injuring his ankle against the Lions last week, and center Jason Spitz is suffering from back spasms.

 

Fourth-round pick rookie T.J. Lang will start at left tackle this week. Scott Wells will start at center if Spitz cannot go. Left guard Daryn Colledge and right tackle Allen Barbre are both average starters at best.

 

The offensive line is the one thing keeping the Packers from being an elite offensive team. Luckily for the Packers, their quarterback is adept at keeping plays alive with his feet.

 

The Packers can score, and can score in a hurry. And if the offense does happen to stall, they have one of the top kickers in the league in Mason Crosby.

 

But it’s the Packers’ defense that must improve before they can go from pretender to contender. They currently rank 30th in the league in total defense, and dead last in passing defense.

 

However, the Packers do have the ability to stuff the run, largely due to an improving linebacking corps.

 

Ohio State product A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett man the middle along with Brandon Chillar, who has been splitting time with Hawk. Although none have shown big-play potential, they are solid at plugging the running lanes.

 

Aaron Kampman is one of the NFL’s best edge-rushing linebackers, and rookie Clay Matthews Jr. already has three sacks on the opposite side. Matthews has become a fan-favorite in Green Bay.

 

The Packers have been getting solid production out of defensive ends Johnny Jolly and Cullen Jenkings; And another former Buckeye, 340-pound Ryan Pickett, clogs the middle at nose tackle.

 

None of the aforementioned defensive lineman are playmakers, but each does his job in the 3-4 alignment of keeping offensive lineman off the ‘backers.

 

The Packers’ defensive backfield is in shambles.

 

Cornerbacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson have both had fantastic careers and, for that reason, most are afraid to say what has become extremely obvious: After twelve years in the league, they are now shells of their former selves.

 

The safety play has been even worse. Nick Collins had a breakout year in 2008, but appears to be struggling this season. Atari Bigby got his second start and first interception of the season last week against Detroit.

 

Both starting safeties are extremely short for their position, and teams with big wideouts and pass-catching tight ends can really exploit the Packers’ safeties. The Packers do occasionally insert an extra linebacker in place of a safety in order to negate that weakness.

 

The bottom line for the Green Bay defense is they do not force turnovers or get to the quarterback (outside of Kampman and Matthews).

 

Despite all the Browns’ troubles, this is not an un-winnable game.

 

Green Bay can score points in bunches and they do not make a lot of mistakes on the offensive side of the ball. On the other hand, their defense is vulnerable.

 

Unfortunately, the Browns do not currently have a pass-catching tight end on their roster, nor the consistency at wide receiver to cash in on the Packers’ weaknesses.

 

I do look for the Browns to finally score more than one touchdown this game, but it will not be enough to keep pace with the Packers’ high-flying offense.

 

Final Prediction:  Green Bay Packers 28, Cleveland Browns 17

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Dear Browns: Don’t Draft a Quarterback!

Three games into the season, it became apparent to anyone who did not already know that the Cleveland Browns were not going to the playoffs. To even that casual observer who watched the disasters against the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos and Baltimore  Ravens, the Browns were completely overmatched.

 

With the trading of Braylon Edwards to the New York Jets, the team is now even more devoid of talent.

 

As a result, I have been paying even closer attention to the college football scene to see if there is anyone out there that could potentially help this organization in the near future.

 

To the frustration of my spouse, the television set has been on picture-to-picture from noon to past midnight the last three Saturdays. And my internet has been on overdrive as I scour the scouting reports for potential free agents, college seniors, and college juniors who may choose to leave their college experience behind.

 

Conventional wisdom says that the Cleveland organization should scrap the Derek Anderson and/or Brady Quinn experiments and look to use the top pick (which seems assured to be top seven) on a big name quarterback. I say “conventional wisdom” is wrong.

 

The Cleveland Browns section of B/R has been lighting up with calls for Jimmy Clausen, Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford or Tony Pike.

 

In the same breath, many are saying that Eric Mangini has “ruined” Brady Quinn or that DA “is not the future of this franchise.” All that may or may not be true, but there is one axiom that I have heard from a number of general managers who are considered to be the top of their craft:

 

“NEVER DRAFT FOR NEED!”

 

The fact is, not one of the aforementioned quarterback prospects is a sure thing. Each has his strengths, but all have question marks.

 

The truth is, if you look at the most successful franchises over the past ten years – aside from one (the Indianapolis Colts), they all built their teams with solid talent BEFORE settling on a quarterback.

 

The Pittsburg Steelers,New York Giants, New England Patriots,Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Ravens, and St. Louis Rams (nine of the last 10 NFL Champions) all forged ahead by building superior defenses, accumulating numerous playmakers on offense, or both – before picking the quarterback that would lead them to the promised land.

 

The Steelers first Super Bowl with Ben Roethlisberger at the helm was largely won behind the strength of a power running game and a stingy defense.

 

The Patriots first Super Bowl with Tom Brady was the result of a playmaking, opportunistic defense. And on top of that, Brady was a sixth round pick.

 

Eli Manning had a terrific run down the stretch for the Giants, but it was the Giants ferocious defense and solid run game that kept them afloat for most of the season.

 

The Buccaneers and Ravens won Super Bowls with career journeyman; and the Rams won their Super Bowl with a guy who was working check-out lines at a grocery store before becoming famous.

 

For all those reasons, I implore the Browns franchise to build a strong defense and run game before deciding to switch gears at quarterback. And if Anderson or Quinn are not “the guy,” at least refrain from using a top pick on who you “think” will be the guy.

 

Let’s take a look at the two quarterbacks who were chosen early in the draft this year with the hope that they would turn around their respective franchise’s fortunes.

 

The Lions chose Matt Stafford with the first pick. In the limited time he hasn’t been injured, Stafford has played relatively well for a rookie. But the Lions, despite having one of the top two or three wide receivers in the game, are far from turning their team into a playoff contender.

 

The Jets drafted Mark Sanchez. Sanchez has a 5:10 interception to touchdown ratio and his team is no better off with him than without him. The Jets were a 9-7 team in 2008 and it appears that they may even fall short of that in 2009.

 

This is not a popular opinion in Browns circles because fans are so tired of losing they think that a top-rated college quarterback will be the miracle cure. But football is a 48-man sport, and this team is about 35 short (if not more).

 

The one thing that I am encouraged by is the fact that I think this Browns organization understands that. They are piling up draft choices like a squirrel hoards nuts to prepare for the winter.

 

Something that fans should also prepare themselves for is that the landscape is about to change in the NFL with a new collective bargaining agreement on the horizon.

 

NFL owners are getting ready to play hard ball on issues such as revenue sharing, rookie salaries, the salary cap, and restrictions on free agency.

 

As result, small and medium market clubs are less likely to rebuild their teams through free agency. In fact, there will most likely be very little player movement even among large market teams.

 

NFL GM’s are starting to follow the Patriots blue print of avoiding the top 10 of the draft like it’s the plague. The reason is that they want to avoid paying big contracts to roll-of-the-dice rookies.

 

If you do “miss” on a player you are devoting a great deal of your salary structure to, you can set your football team back three to five years. That is why I commend this organization for working so hard to accumulate draft choices in rounds two through five.

 

There is strength in numbers, and it is a lot easier to cut short-term contracts that are not working out, than to eat the salary of a player on a four-year, multi-million dollar contract. It is not only difficult to cut the player in the latter category, but that player also becomes untradeable because his signing bonus cannot be spread out over the term of his deal.

 

This scenario hits a team two ways: 1.) You have a player under-performing; and 2.) you cannot replace said player because there is not enough money left.

 

The fact is, there is not one single player in the up-coming draft that can completely turn this franchise around. There are needs at wide receiver, tight end, offensive guard, offensive tackle, running back, defensive end, outside linebacker, middle linebacker, corner back and safety (in addition to quarterback).

 

If the Browns do decide to turnover the quarterback position, I would recommend keeping Anderson or Quinn and drafting a QB in the second round or later…slowly groom him…and make sure the pieces are in place before throwing him to the wolves.

 

My final message to the team…

 

Dear Browns:

 

If you cannot trade out of the top pick in next April’s draft, draft the best available player.  But please…please…please!…do not draft a quarterback unless he IS the best available player!

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Pittsburgh-Cleveland: Hated Steelers ‘Rivalry’ in Week Six

The Cleveland Browns face hated rival, and last season’s Super Bowl Champion, Pittsburgh Steelers this week at Pittsburgh.

 

The Steelers come into Week Six with back-to-back victories to sit at 3-2, but are still not playing championship-caliber football right now. Specifically, the Steelers are struggling to close out games and are suffering from a number of injuries to some key players.

 

Last week’s 28-21 victory over the Detroit Lions may have raised more questions than answers for the Steelers. Their defense allowed aging QB Daunte Culpepper, and the pedestrian Lions, to accumulate 335 yards and collect 11 fourth-quarter first downs.

 

Had the ferocious Steeler pass rush not sacked Culpepper seven times for 57 yards, there would have been a lot more focus placed on the poor play of their defensive backfield this week.

 

In a Week Four win, the Steelers allowed 21 fourth-quarter points to the San Diego Chargers. In a Week Three loss, they allowed the Bengals to score 14 fourth-quarter points. In a Week Two loss, they allowed the Bears to score 10 points in the last six minutes of the game.

 

Does anyone notice a pattern here?

 

The Pittsburgh defense may get a shot in the arm if All Pro safety Troy Polamalu can return this week against the Browns. Polamalu, who is largely regarded as the heart of Steelers’ defense, has missed four games due to a torn knee ligament. He has been limited in practice so far.

 

But just as Polamalu is returning to health, they may be losing the services of DE Aaron Smith for an extended period of time with a shoulder ailment. Teammates call Smith the most underrated player on the defense.

 

Backup defensive ends Travis Kirschke, Nick Eason, and rookie Ziggy Hood are less than comparable replacements for Smith.

 

Nose tackle Casey Hampton is one of the best at his position. He clogs the middle in the run game and can collapse the pocket in the pass game.

 

Brett Keisel and Eason rotate at the right end spot. Neither is a playmaker, but both do their jobs keeping opposing offensive linemen off their exceptionally active linebackers.

 

LaMarr Woodley and Kent State product James Harrison are the best bookend outside linebackers in the game. They combined for an amazing 27.5 sacks in 2008. Harrison already has six sacks and four forced fumbles this year.

 

James Farrior and Lawrence Timmons start in the middle of the 3-4 defense. Farrior, now in his thirteenth season, is getting long in the tooth, but did have 133 tackles in ’08. Timmons is primed to break out entering his third year in the league.

 

While the front seven is one of the best, if not the best in football, the defensive backfield is less than stellar. Not having Polamalu cannot be used an excuse, since the big-hitting safety is more of a factor in the run game and pass rush than in coverage anyway.

 

Ike Taylor is the leader of the cornerback unit, but is not by any stretch of the imagination a shutdown corner. William Gay starts at the opposite side and has shown he can hit, but the third-year player still struggles as a pass defender.

 

Free safety Ryan Clark’s low interception count is startling, considering the amount of havoc the front seven creates.

 

If the Browns are going to have any success at all on offense this week, they are going to have to throw the ball down the field. The Steelers will not allow the Browns to just pound the ball between the tackles; so if Cleveland enters this game with last week’s game plan, there are going to be a lot of three-and-out series.

 

The problem for the Browns is that their lack of playmakers at wide receiver make opening it up a risky proposition. Look for the Browns to get the running backs more involved in the passing game. This also might be a good time to get Josh Cribbs the ball on some misdirection plays to take advantage of the Steelers propensity to over-pursue.

 

The Steelers’ offense has been inconsistent as well, although QB Ben Roethlisberger is playing at a really high level right now. With almost 1,500 yards in five games, he is on pace to shatter his previous high yardage figure of 3,513.

 

Big Ben still is susceptible to holding on to the ball too long and taking the sack. He has taken six sacks in the past two games and 13 for the season; But his ability to keep the play alive by moving around in the pocket more than makes up for those issues.

 

Starting running back Willie Parker will most likely miss his third straight game with turf toe. Backup Rashard Mendenhall does not possess the same electrifying abilities, but did rip off 165 yards and two touchdowns against the Chargers two weeks ago.

 

Old vet Hines Ward is still plugging away in his 12th year. He only has one touchdown so far, but with 440 yards, he may very well set a career high in pass-receiving yards.

 

Many felt Santonio Holmes had become the Steelers primary receiving option, but he has been disappointing after starting the year with a nine-catch, 131-yard, one-touchdown game. He has not caught a touchdown pass since.

 

Wide receiver Limas Sweed was drafted last year to provide Roethlisberger with the “big” wideout he craved. When he has been healthy, he has been a major disappointment. He only has one catch in 2009 after grabbing only six in 2008.

 

Tight end Heath Miller is a huge weapon in the Steelers’ passing game. He already has 29 catches and is a frequent target near the goal line.

 

Right or wrong, the Pittsburgh offensive line has been dubbed the weakness of the club. In fact, many so-called experts ranked this offensive line as the worst in football in 2008.

 

Roethlisberger has been on record as saying some of the lines issues should be placed on his shoulders. The team has improved its sack totals so far this season.

 

C Justin Hartwig, LG Chris Kemoeatu, RG Trai Essex, LT Max Starks, and RT Willie Colon are all big, run-blocking road-road graders. Colon in particular can be dominating. But this unit can be beaten by quick pass-rushers.

 

On paper, the Pittsburgh offense does not scare you. But they are a veteran group who always seem to do just enough to get the win.

 

Although the Steelers’ MO over the years has been to be a grind-it-out style running team, this year’s squad seems to become more reliant on its quarterback to make plays. They are scrappy and tough, and even the receiving corps will knock your head off if you don’t keep it on a swivel.

 

The Browns must be disciplined and not overrun plays. If the Browns are to have any chance to win this game, they are going to have to keep Roethlisberger in the pocket. The Steelers are dangerous when Big Ben breaks containment and forces defensive backs to have to cover receivers all over the field.

 

Overall, the Steeler defense poses too many issues for this Browns offense (with or without Polamalu). Cleveland just does not have enough weapons on the outside to take advantage of a weak secondary.

 

Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll is going to have to get really creative to solve the Steeler D, something he has not shown the propensity to do so far.

 

For a half, the Browns’ defense can hold the Steelers from putting up too many points. But my fear is that they get worn down when the Browns best offensive play becomes “The Punt.”

 

Final Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers 24 – Cleveland Browns 6

 

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