Optimistically.... my vote is 6-10

I am going to go off the fact that Mangini possibly knows how to work the clock and the fact that Winslow is gone (Good for team Moral), Edwards can catch the ball.  If all that is true, then there is no reason they should not go 10-6.  if someone can tell me why the Browns are not that good, then I will listen.  Believe it or not, they have playmakers.  I envision very little drama on the team also this year.  I think they will lose 2 to Pittsburgh, 1 to Baltimore, 1 to San Diego, 1 to Buffalo, and one to Denver.  I was half tempted to say they may win their first to Pitt this year, but not ready yet.  And last year, I did guess every loss and win correctly prior to the season starting.  I was off by two in 07 and that was the upset to Oakland (Bogus) and the catch that should have been loss to Arizona.  First round Playoff loss for the Browns this year. 

Tucker was just released.

 

Edit; Nope that was wrong, he was placed on the IR...

Name a game-changing player outside of Braylon Edwards and Shaun Rogers?  Right there is the answer they won't sniff north of 8-8.  And they are both volatile and hit or miss.

Name a game-changing player outside of Braylon Edwards and Shaun Rogers? Right there is the answer they won't sniff north of 8-8. And they are both volatile and hit or miss.

 

Josh Cribbs. Jerome Harrison.

 

I bet you said the same thing in 2007.  Schedule is awful this year.  I predict 7-9, but wouldnt be surprised at all if it was better.

Also-You cant predict in this league based on the last year unless things stay the same.  For example, both Atlanta and Miami were two of the worst teams in the league in 2007 and changed cultures and became winners.  That can happen anywhere....you dont necessarily need a ton of game changers to win in this league.  You need a system that plays good, sound football (see Tennessee 2008-best record in football).  Mangini is not a bad coach.  Favres arm fell off last year and it caused Mangini to not make the playoffs and he should have made it 2/3 years.  Oh by the way, he went to New ENgland twice and won...anyone else do that?  He also beat Tennessee to give them their first loss.  Im telling you this is a more disciplined team and they will be around 7-9 and i dont think worse. It may actually bank on Jamal Lewis getting his big slow @ss out of the game and letting the two young guys run wild.  Browns will beat the steelers once this year.

Name a game-changing player outside of Braylon Edwards and Shaun Rogers? Right there is the answer they won't sniff north of 8-8. And they are both volatile and hit or miss.

 

Cribbs is game changer #1, James Davis is going to be good, and watch out for Furrey.

I love the Browns and will watch all 16 games, but I predicted 4-12. :(

There is no way this team only wins 4 games with that schedule.  We play the AFC west, who is atrocious...thats 3 wins right there.

*groan* even a combined detroit and cleveland team would go 4-12!

2 precursors:

1.  The only thing you can predict in the NFL these days is that you can't predict anything (teams showing last year means basically nothing)... mainly because in my opinion,

2.  In the NFL moreso than any other sport there is a pretty small gap in talent between top and bottom and because of that, momentum plays such a HUGE roll... a team wins a few games gets some confidence starts believing in themselves and gets on a roll.  Anything can happen.

 

that being said while I'm already on record as 7-9, and i think the schedule helps us with that... if as gotribe asks for someone to let us know why the browns aren't very good... here's my thoughts.

 

1.  For all the amount invested in the o-line... they stink.  Seriously we never open holes.  I watch opponents play the browns and they open holes against us even i could run through... yet when we go to run, it's like the rb is running into a brick wall.  We get no push.  Even our pass protection is shaky at times. rarely do we see one of our qb's with "all the time in the world" to find an open reciever.

2.  Our best playmaker and number one receiver can't catch... which kills drives and morale.  Though he can make some awesome circus catches.

3.  Our starting running back is a step slow.

4.  When quinn wins the qb competition, and he will, teams will stack the line and the lb's will play a step closer which will make our running game even worse.  And on top of that lewis is not the back you want in a brady quinn offense where you need the back more for screens and such (james davis i believe is that back but i don't think he'll be the guy until next year)

5.  Our #2 reciever has never played reciever before.  Playmaker?  Absolutely.  But so much about reciever in the nfl is about knowing the position and running precise routes and making the right reads as qb's really do throw to 'spots' where the wr is SUPPOSED to be.  I've heard a ton coincidentally that braylon is pretty poor in this regard as well.

 

6.  our defense all in all stinks.  Our line for some reason was built with a bunch of 4-3 players even though we play the 3-4.  Guys like corey williams are built for shooting the gap and applying pressure and instead are being asked to gobble up space and take on 2 linemen and just plug the gap.  Sean Rogers on the other hand is a rampaging beast and could play in a 1-10 and still be a force.  Essentially i think he's all we have.

7.  our linebackers are awful.  It's a 3-4 the entire defense is designed to allow to let the linebackers wreak havoc and we don't have a single playmaker out of the group.  not one.  Barton is a slightly better andre davis, big and slow.  While I like dq jackson, he's too small (this was the knock on him of course coming out of college... nothing has changed).  He often gets gobbled up by one o lineman.  He's fast and versatile and can cover sideline to sideline and is a sure tackler.  but he makes all his tackles 5+ yards downfield.  If you are going to play of 3-4 you need a middle linebacker that can step up and demolish people.  Everything in the 3-4 revolves around their play.  We don't have it.  And none of our outside backers can get to the qb.  Seriously did you watch kerry collins on saturday?  he seemed to sit back there for an hour and pick us apart.  If he plays that whole game we get creamed.

8.  our safties scare the bejesus out of me.  And if brodney pool gets another concussion we have to move mike adams to free safety.  That should work out well... oh, and we have no reliable nickel backs and out corners are still young and learning.

 

bottom line.  we still can't run the ball.  still can't stop the run. still can't put any pressure on the qb.  not a very good combination for success.  That being said i do REALLY like the direction the team is heading under mangini.  we just won't be that good this year.  Another draft, a few more solid fa additions.  We're getting close, but until we can shore up the front 7 on d... we're going to struggle.

Mayor, I couldn't agree more with items 7-8.

 

Defense, not offense wins football games!

I love the Browns, but their utter inability to apply pressure or stop the run on the defensive front will doom them.  I still say an optimistic 6-10.

I agree with some McCleveland points...especially point #1.  I think the O line is good, its Jamal Lewis is the probable, is slow, to wide and falls forward for 2 yards every time.  Watch the difference when davis is in compared to Lewi.  Davis gets 4-5 yards every time.  I wont buy that the holes are there for davis, just not lewis.  Its lewis is the problem.  Edwards will catch the ball this year or he doesnt get paid next year...dont worry about him.  Cribbs will line up as a second receiver, only so they can run quick hit plays to get him the ball, im not worried about him running routes and being expected to convert third downs (although the 3 and long he converted the other night was nice)..thats what the new WR's and Furrey are for.  THe defense will have issues, but i dont think it will make us 4-12.  They have a bend dont break mentality as seen the other night...two huge defensive plays in the red zone.

james davis may have been the steal of the entire 2009 draft.  words can not describe how excited i am about his future here.

Thats a sweet photo, lets see the Brownies do us proud some time soon eh?  Maybe Randy Lerner will stop paying so much attention to his FA Primier League Soccer Team and more about the team his Dad helped to ressurect on behalf of his home town.

i was hoping it'd have the Lions.  after all, the last time either was good it was back then.

 

The book was a series... The Browns one was written by "Jack Clary" I think...something like that.. It was just called "Cleveland Browns" It covered the team up until 1974, I think.... Great photos in it...interviews with all the greats! I purchased it in a small sports cards shop way back in 1982.

This guy makes my 4-12 prediction look optimistic:

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/09/01/main/index.html?eref=sihpT1

10-6...

 

Wins in week 2, 4, 5, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, and 17.

 

Yes, I say they beat Pittsburgh in the meeting late in the schedule.

10-6...

 

Wins in week 2, 4, 5, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, and 17.

 

Yes, I say they beat Pittsburgh in the meeting late in the schedule.

 

Ok swami!  LOL.  I don't think they'll go 6-10 but I'm an optimistic 7-9.  I dont think Brownies have a decent defense or killer instincts on offense.

 

Why am I not the coach of a professional team?!

Why am I not the coach of a professional team?!

Because it would bother you too much to have all of them dressed the same?

Why am I not the coach of a professional team?!

Because it would bother you too much to have all of them dressed the same?

 

LMAO!!!

 

Only in school, but not in a team sport.  Although my team would have a different uniform for every game.  The new Browns uniforms would be fab-u-lous.

I picked 6-10, but I think the way the team plays under Mangini, the fans will have pride in the Browns again.

 

(currently knocking on wood)

So apparently the QB competition is closed.  I suppose the browns arent announcing to try to get maximum trade value for DA?  Nevertheless, i think its time to let the cat out of the bag.  I was surprised neither at least had a drive last night.

I'm going to the home opener on Sunday and need some advice from the experts. I want to get to the city around 8:00 and park, grab a big breakfast and start a bar-crawl towards the stadium. What are your suggestions???

For a good greasy breakfast on gameday, check out Karl's Inn at the Barristers on West 3rd.  Get some corned beef and eggs.  Just head over to west 6th and hit those bars for gameday.  I dont usually party there, but for gameday if you arent tailgating thats the best place to party.

Thanks and GREASY is a must prior to a day craziness and drinking

+1 on the Karl's recommendation for breakfast.  However, if GREASY is really your goal.... just wander on down to the muni lot and you should not have a problem finding what you are looking for.

 

Golic's on W 6th Street is a good place to load up on the brews before heading over to the game, so long as it is not too crowded.

thanks for the advice, looks like karls in the place to go!

Let me throw Little Bar as a recommendation to start the pub crawl. Best literal hole in the wall in downtown. It's on Frankfort behind Johnny's on W. 6th.

Mangini announced that Quinn is the starter for Sunday's opener.  No big shocker there.... other than the fact that he did not wait until Sunday morning to make this announcement.  Ahhhh.... the power of the odds-makers.

I was under the impression it was 'leaked' but yes it does look like Brady will be the starter against the Vikings

Why?  Just why?  What happened out there today?

Nothing. Nothing happened today. Same old story...

 

EDIT: I think this might be my token message in this thread until either:

 

A. the Browns don't embarass themselves or

B. August 2010

Nothing. Nothing happened today. Same old story...

 

EDIT: I think this might be my token message in this thread until either:

 

A. the Browns don't embarass themselves or

B. August 2010

 

LOL  You're just hateful.  LOL

well just got back from the game.... I'm not even sure where to start.

 

Brady looked bad, although he was getting pressured a lot

 

E. Barton, linebacker # 50, got burned repeatedly. A.P. made him look like JV player

 

Cribbs is the shit, but we can't win games SOLELY on special teams play...

 

 

I was impressed with the defense in the first half. However, the lack of offense in the second half really put a lot of pressure on the defense. How many times can a defense stop A.P.?

I was impressed with the defense in the first half. However, the lack of offense in the second half really put a lot of pressure on the defense. How many times can a defense stop A.P.?

 

Especially when the offense can't give them a break.  I will admit that it was better than I expected it to be.  The 2nd half was downright dismal, I hope Mangini gives them hell for that.  Can we start the super bowl talk yet??

Really though... who actually expected the Browns to beat the Vikings?  Show of hands?

I expected the browns to get killed by the vikings... i did not expect the quarterback to throw the ball backwards.

Yeah.... that was pretty hard to watch.  After breaking free and rolling out, oops there goes the ball.  I was stunned by the way Peterson manhandled Eric Wright, it was actually pretty awesome.

The Browns just don't have that much talent.

 

Even with good coaching,  they would only be around a .500 team.

The Browns just don't have that much talent.

 

Even with good coaching,  they would only be around a .500 team.

 

I disagree.  Talent is so close in professional sports.  We just can't seem to get our talent clicking on both sides of the ball, in unison.

I think we have enough on offense that we can succeed...it eventually lies on the QB's shoulders.  Can Brady do it?  Lets put Tom Brady as our QB.  Edwards has (believe it or not) the same God given raw ability as Randy Moss, Mike Furrey is pretty close to Wes Welker...and we also have Cribbs...Tom Brady could lead our team to the playoffs.  If Brady can just become an assassin, someone who puts fright into the other team...this team can score points.

I think we have enough on offense that we can succeed...it eventually lies on the QB's shoulders.  Can Brady do it?  Lets put Tom Brady as our QB.  Edwards has (believe it or not) the same God given raw ability as Randy Moss, Mike Furrey is pretty close to Wes Welker...and we also have Cribbs...Tom Brady could lead our team to the playoffs.  If Brady can just become an assassin, someone who puts fright into the other team...this team can score points.

 

However, offense does not win championships! Defense does!  If you can't stop the run...you can't win a game.

 

Coach MTS has spoken!

More positive press for The Browns! :) Courtesy of Yahoo Sports.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/rumors/post/NFL-agents-telling-players-not-to-sign-with-Brow;_ylt=ArNdw96KwCk_e2u1T3pY78lDubYF?urn=nfl,190193

If Magini is to turn this team around, it will be by building through the draft and by instilling discipline in the team. I'm not too worried about these kind of articles. Sounds like an agent or two are pissed off.

While this team is developing, I would not expect too much... In the meanwhile, watch You Tube videos of the 60's Browns. Its much less painful.

There isn't much good to say about this last game, it appears that's how everyone else is feeling too.

No offense eventually means the defense gets tired and finally caves in for the final third of the game. Same thing over and over unless there is some offensive activity. It really is that simple. Back to the 60's highlights.