Harris on Cleveland.com

rollalongFF0304 · Post by **rollalongFF0304** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 2:06 pm

Top story on the Plain Dealer's website. Good picture and the headline "Falcon Has Landed."

bgsuman · Post by **bgsuman** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 2:22 pm

I like, I like!

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 2:27 pm

There is also a poll for "Who should be the Browns starting QB?" Vote for Josh!

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 2:54 pm

Warthog wrote:Theer is also a poll for "Who should be the Browns starting QB?" Vote for Josh!

Man guys, I like Josh as much or more than the rest of you, but he's not ready to be an NFL QB yet. Especially not in that situation in Cleveland. He'll likely get killed. That team has given up completely. That is a recipe for disaster and injuries, as seen by the number of players that are going down in Cleveland. You cannot play at 85% against teams going 100% and expect to come out of the game healthy.

I want Josh to go there and watch from the sidelines for these last few games. Then let him come into training camp and compete for the backup slot. I still think Josh can make it in the NFL because he has "IT". Nobody knows what "it" is, but I've watched J5 enough to know that he has "it". "It" is what has you hobbling around but running in for an OT TD against WMU. "It" is what puts your team on your back during a bowl game. "It" is what has you playing your best game of your best season against your rival on a sloppy field in terrible conditions. Josh has "IT" and "It" is what has made Big Ben the talk of the NFL this season. Josh doesn't have Ben's physical gifts, but between the ears and his makeup are very similar. And THAT is the most important part of an NFL QB.

I want Josh to be the starting QB for the Cleveland Browns for the next 15 years. I want him to rise up and spank the Ravens for giving up on him so soon. I want him to get revenge on Big Ben for what he did in college. I want him to bring name recognition to both BG football, and further the MAC image of a QB factory. But most of all I want that journey to start NEXT year under a new head coach, and hopefully behind an improved OL. At the very least I want him to have a healthy KWII, Andre Davis, and Antonio Bryant.

Redwingtom · Post by **Redwingtom** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 3:25 pm

The poll is for the starting QB for NEXT YEAR.

Josh in currently in third place behind 'Other' and McKown. At least he is ahead of Holcomb and Garcia!

transfer2BGSU · Post by **transfer2BGSU** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 3:25 pm

hammb wrote:....but he's not ready to be an NFL QB yet. Especially not in that situation in Cleveland. He'll likely get killed.

I don't think there is a QB alive that should even be put into that situation in Cleveland.

I agree with hammb. Josh needs to stay off the field (for the sake of his health) and come into training camp with the opportunity to compete for the backup job.

I wonder what ML thinks of his own flesh and blood going to the freaking Clowns

ffejfalcon · Post by **ffejfalcon** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 4:10 pm

Hammb and Transfer - I agree with you in that any QB in this Browns O is going to struggle and run for their lives. But I disagree with you on Josh not being ready for the NFL. If you recall during the last 2 pre-season games with the Ravens, Josh really started to play much better. He has had , what, 15 weeks of additonal practice time in Baltimore to improve his skills against some high level talent and study the NFL game. I think he is ready. He'll have to get rid of some of the butterflys in his stomach when he gets in but, I think he can be effective. If he does take some snaps, don't make a blanket judgement on the first set of downs. Yes it may be a slow start but I really think he make some positive things happen. it's what he does...

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 4:10 pm

hammb:

As usual, you're right on the money.

Josh is not ready to be a starting QB in the NFL. And, as stated, there's no QB, NFL-ready or not, who deserves to take the beating that will be inflicted upon anyone who takes snaps for the Browns for the remainder of the season.

IMO, I'd like to see Josh watch and learn all through next season. By then, the Browns will have given McCown his chance and realize that J5 is the future.

ffejfalcon · Post by **ffejfalcon** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 4:53 pm

Guess i'm seeing this diffrent than you guys. I think Josh needs to get some playing time this year. I'm just afraid that if he rides the bench the last three weeks of the season, the Browns are going to have some high draft picks and possibly take a couple QB's next year. If that happens, Josh may fall by the wayside and be moved down the ladder. Eventhough we all agree this Browns O line is brutal, I think it would be good for Josh to show the front office that, even under these circumstances, he can play the game. He'll be able to show them that even with this HORRIBLE offense, he can make things happen. He needs this chance now.

Just the way I see it....

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 5:05 pm

ffejfalcon wrote:Hammb and Transfer - I agree with you in that any QB in this Browns O is going to struggle and run for their lives. But I disagree with you on Josh not being ready for the NFL. If you recall during the last 2 pre-season games with the Ravens, Josh really started to play much better. He has had , what, 15 weeks of additonal practice time in Baltimore to improve his skills against some high level talent and study the NFL game. I think he is ready. He'll have to get rid of some of the butterflys in his stomach when he gets in but, I think he can be effective. If he does take some snaps, don't make a blanket judgement on the first set of downs. Yes it may be a slow start but I really think he make some positive things happen. it's what he does...

From last year's draft we have seen these QBs start games this season:

Eli Manning
Ben Roethlisberger
John Navarre
Craig Krenzel
Luke McCown

Am I forgetting any others? All were taken ahead of Harris, I believe. Only Big Ben has had any success at all. Ben is the exception guys. Maybe once every 4 years there comes a QB who can come in his rookie season and play the position at an above average level. The other 4 would rate as the 4 worst QBs to start an NFL game this season.

All of these guys were considered ahead of Harris in terms of readiness to play in the NFL by all the scouts/GMs of the NFL. Josh looked terrible in the Senior Bowl and struggled in the first couple preseason games. Admittedly he did look better towards the end of the preseason, but preseason isn't the real season. You are playing against the most vanilla of vanilla, as coaches don't want to show anything to give away any strategy. This is especially true later in the preseason as the season draws nearer.

Don't get me wrong, I firmly believe Josh will play in the NFL at some point. He has the moxy and desire to get it done that you cannot teach. But the system he played in at BG severly limited his experience in pro-style sets & formations. The NFL is a whole new ball game, and I'm confident in saying that Josh is NOT yet ready to lead a team to wins. He might make a play or two, but I don't see him going in there and turning things around for the Browns, or any team yet. Give it time guys, VERY few QBs can play in their first year, and most who do end up ruined in the long run. The best route with a young QB is to watch from the sidelines until year 2 at the least.

And, FWIW, practice squad guys (where Josh was for the whole season in Blatimore) get VERY, VERY few reps. Almost none. The few reps they do get are in trying to imitate the opponent on the scout team. Even still they're not abundant, and very few NFL teams run full speed practices during the season. The time for practice is training camp, and his reps have to have diminished greatly since then.

Redwingtom · Post by **Redwingtom** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 6:09 pm

Navarre was drafted behind Harris I believe.

And all you people saying he is not ready to start yet, I am not going to argue with you, but I will leave you with two words:

Eli Manning