The Official 2010-2011 Cleveland Browns Thread

[VDub26Falcon]

The Browns have played a pre-season game and I think that means it's time to start the new edition of the Official Cleveland Browns Season thread!!!

I must first say that I was in support of the veteran leadership that we got when we signed Jake Delhomme. I did not question Mike Holmgren for one second in that move. I defended it to my friends, told them it was the best thing for right now, that it would protect Colt McCoy for a couple seasons (especially with the additional addition of Seneca Wallace) and all in all it would help our team grow and get better. Now, I know it's only one series in one preseason game but you would be lying through your teeth if you say you weren't impressed by Jake Delhomme's march down Lambeau Field. Last season is DEFINITELY behind him and I think you will see him take a great leadership role on this team

Am I saying the Browns are going to be playoff contenders this season? Not a chance. However, I think you will see them take great strides in getting to that point within the next 3-4 seasons. I'm thinking anywhere between 7-9 and 9-7 for this team depending on bounces, wind gusts and injuries. And Colt? Just stay seated son, your time will come soon enough.

[hammb]

My overall take on the Browns is that I really don't see this team winning more than 6 games this year. And even THAT might be a stretch.

For starters I don't think the team was as good as the 5 wins they posted last season. I think they got on a bit of a roll against a bunch of other teams that had cashed it in for the year. They won a lot of meaningless games with a brand of football that won't work against real competition that is actually trying this season.

Secondly, I still think Mangini is a steaming pile of dog s**t dressed up like an NFL coach. He still doesn't know how, or want, to work with supremely talented players. He instead prefers a bunch of workman-like lunchpail types that just won't win on this level. I also think his offensive philosophy is (as with so many DCs turned HC) to not put the defense in a rough spot. Points be damned. Mangini is yet another Belicheck disciple that doesn't have the ability to do the things that make Bill a great coach. Until this organization rids itself of these New England wannabes they'll continue to be among the worst in the league.

Given that I don't think last year's team was as good as they're abysmal 5 win record, and given that I think the head coach is still worthless, what of the new additions to the team?

The obvious biggies are the QBs. Delhomme is the likely starter with Wallace as the backup. I personally think Wallace is a better QB, but both of these guys are still drastic improvements over their predecessors. DA/BQ were just abysmal. We went from having the very worst QB play in the league to probably only bottom 7 or so. That is, sadly, an improvement. Of course it's not enough for the team to actually win games, but maybe they won't go as many games without an offensive TD this year? The addition of Colt McCoy is a real head scratcher. Here's a guy who is only marginally taller than your average Oompa Loompa. He throws like a 12 year old girl and the world renowned accuracy only really shows itself if he's playing in a shotgun offense where the ball never needs to travel greater than 10 yards in the air. He wouldn't be a high pick in most flag football leagues across the country and they're hoping he'll make it in the NFL. Oh yeah...he also sucks balls whenever he's put under any sort of pressure. The Colt McCoy pick was the cap of a draft that I really hated almost from top to bottom.

The LB corps has undergone a pretty big makeover. Gone is Wimbley and in is Fujita. Roth & Trunsick are set to play bigger roles as well. All of this is more of Mangini being Mangini. It's an entire corps of LBs without one single worthwhile athlete. A bunch of slow, plodding, lunchpail type guys. Yeah they'll likely make the tackles in front of 'em, but they're going to get destroyed by any team with speed to the outside, and they couldn't cover a tree stump. Look for the defense to continue to get absolutely GOUGED by any passing plays over the middle of the field...this group doesn't have an elite NFL athlete in the bunch. This is a testament to the Mangini philosophy which would probably work quite well in 1957. Too bad we don't have a time machine.

The changes in the secondary further exemplify this piss poor philosophy. We added Sheldon Brown...he's a solid veteran who's days as a CB SHOULD be numbered. He's not that fast, and is best in a zone where he can hit the guys as they catch the ball...he'll get torched now & again in coverage. He SHOULD have been transitioned to safety this offseason where he would have been a very valuable player. The rookies all follow this same back asswards organizational philosophy. Haden doesn't have elite speed and is never going to be a lockdown corner. He'll never prove worthy of a top 10 draft pick and he'll be grossly overpaid the entire time he's playing on that contract. TJ Ward looks like a playmaking safety as long as the play is in front of him. He'll come up and make a tackle and can hit a receiver. Of course, he's questionable in coverage, got torched for a TD in the first preseason game to show this. On top of that Ward is incredibly injury prone, rarely since his HS days has he been able to complete a full season...now he's playing 20 game NFL seasons...color me not optimistic on him playing a lot. Asante was another addition in this mold...I didn't even see him on the field Saturday. Of course he couldn't cover a 3 toed sloth on a fly pattern, so I'm not sure what value he has to an NFL defense anyhow. He can hit though...YAY! Oh yeah, we still have Abe Elam too...and he sucks. Wright is a good cover corner, the rest of this group is a bunch of physical guys with no speed to cover deep. Look for a lot of zone and with our mix of unathletic LBs and non-covering safeties TEs should end up with about 1500 yards receiving against us this year.

The DL is mostly unchanged and that's okay. Rubin really came on last year as a run stuffing NT. Rogers will get more time at DE and make some more plays that way. I think the DL can be average, although they are getting old. Geathers is a great talent, but likely headed for the practice squad...too raw.

The OL should be just fine. The addition of Lauvao could be a new starter at RG...he looked good Saturday. If Pashos or Womack can prove capable at RT hopefully they'll be an improvement over St. Clair. Mack is a great young center, and Thomas is checking prices on tickets to Canton sometime around 2025. Steinbach continues to be solid. I think this is one of the top 10 OL in the league.

The RBs are going to be one tired group by the time December rolls around. Harrison is a good between the tackles runner who doesn't have the speed to be a major threat, nor does he make people miss. He's got good vision and he's quick through the hole. He's a guy who will typically get what the OL gives him (unlike 8 ball who left it on the field), and with this OL that should be enough to be a solid RB. Hardesty is in midseason form exactly what I expect from him already: a consistent member of the injury report. He's a good banger between the tackles and can even get out and catch the ball a bit, but he's always hurt, and just like TJ Ward I don't expect the extra games against bigger/stronger/faster guys to help him get healthier. Davis is a guy I liked out of college, will be anxious to see if he can stay healthy and bring anything this year.

The WR corps is quite probably the very worst in the league. Cribbs can't run an NFL route. Robiskie runs like he's in quicksand. Massoquoi is a decent #2/3 option, but has no business as a goto guy. The only way this group improves is if Robiskie & Massoquoi make big 2nd year leaps...I wasn't a huge fan of either of them in the draft (like MoMass better), so I can't say I'm real optimistic on them making that leap. I love Mitchell as a project, but I wouldn't expect much contribution from him this year.

Overall the secondary & QB play should be somewhat improved, but still not enough to really make this team better. I still look at this group and see a bad HC who is hell bent on an organizational philosophy of tough hard-nosed football in an era where passing is king. When I look at this roster I see quite possibly the SLOWEST team in the NFL. The only players who are great athletes for their position are the big guys (Thomas, Rogers). I don't think there's a single player on the team that could crack 4.40 in the 40...and I'm not saying 40 times are the end all beat all, but dammit you have to have some speed. There aren't any playmakers on either side of the ball, and I just don't see where the team is going to be much improved, if any. I'll say 4-6 wins as the total. I really think the best thing this team could do for the long term is lay a total egg. A 2 win season would put them in position to shitcan Mangini and get a QB in the draft.

[kdog27]

My overall take on the Browns is that I really don't see this team winning more than 6 games this year. And even THAT might be a stretch.

For starters I don't think the team was as good as the 5 wins they posted last season. I think they got on a bit of a roll against a bunch of other teams that had cashed it in for the year. They won a lot of meaningless games with a brand of football that won't work against real competition that is actually trying this season.

I read your whole analysis but the beginning sums it up for me. I see 5 wins tops. There is practically no talent on this team still. The wildcat with Josh Cribbs isn't going win them any games this year, at least in the half of the season where it matters it won't.

They might have won 5 games last year but for 75% of the season they were one of the bottom 3 teams in the league, and at points had the worst offense in the past 20 seasons in the NFL. Like Hammb said they won a few games against teams that had packed it in. I don't see that 3 game winning streak as any type of a momentum builder.

[VDub26Falcon]

As the season draws near, I am cautiously optimistic. I feel like this team has the talent to hover right around .500 and the upper management that has the brains to make it happen. This week, we play Tampa Bay and it SHOULD be a win for the Brownies. There is no reason we should lose to this Tampa team. They are weak and their big "weapon" is K2. I like our chances!!!