How low have the browns sunk?

There's an article floating aroung about antonio bryant not wanting "payback" on the Cowboys after they "cut him loose" five years ago.

Except they didn't cut him loose, they traded him to the Browns.

Season starts in 5 days. What is a fan to do? We mostly fear the season and hope low expectations means a good chance at being pleasantly surprised. 6-10 is my prediction but I am hoping for 8 wins, 9 if things really come together. There is so much unknown that its not really possible to predict confidently.

3rd game impressions

A little life on the pass rush, but the d will need more to stay in games. I hate to complain with progress, but am wondering if it will be enough.

Quinn looked good. Not great. But he made some better decisions and I liked the playes where he quickly made decisive throws. He still seems a bit overmatched at times though and susceptible to the d disguising coverages. We won't really know if he can handle that until the regular season. Still, the titans are tough up front and quinn was in attack mode more than not so it was a good outing.

If the browns have a good year it will start with the defense.

Special teams and turnovers were great. But it also means that, 9 times out of 10, the titans win that game.

Bravo to the run d. The dline looked tough and that is great to see. Can't wait to see how we look with rogers in there. That could make a huge difference and surprise the league.

Love: furrey, who would probably start if I was coaching. Royal, just a solid player. Edwards, who came to play. Mcdonald, who played tight coverage. Coleman and rubin, both looked nasty at times. Cribbs, who is just so dangerous after the catch.

Props to kerry collins he looked great. Same with Gage at times.

3rd game was a success. Progress. And you can see signs of how this offense could get it done. Edwards, cribbs and maybe davis could be big players.

Where is jerome harrison?

What to look for game 3

Offensive line play and whether Lewis/Davis can hit the holes.

Quinn being able to look threatening to the defense. This would be surprising but is needed.

DA just look comfortable, especially on broken or well defended plays.

Solid linebacker play. This is not a position where the team can coach around deficiencies.

Drink beer. Really, this is the final preseason tune-up for fans too. Next weekend you can spend with your family...

Lets have a running back by committee with the exception that if jamal lewis is having a good game we ride him. Not hard imo.

Liking the new WRs. Furrey looks great. The rooks look promising. We might be ok there.

Not sold on linebacker. Will settle for improvement I hope.

Are we supposed to be excited about quinn? Just don't see it. He might be good eventually. But his arm is average and he doesn't look to be the next Brees to me.

Abe elams twitter account is worthless. I tried.

For chrissake jus start quinn. We will never hear the end of it otherwise.

I am not feeling the good vibes on this season yet. Worried about the oline and being able to run the ball. And quinn being exposed. Expect to see a lot of harrison out of the backfield. Harrison, cribbs and edwards are our playmakers.

vick

Don't care much. It doesn't change the trade market for da or quinn. Not that that is happening.

TC Week One Roster Knowables

Everyone is watching the QB position obviously but it is too early to judge based on the on-the-field performances. I'm most encouraged by reports that Anderson has been mentally on top of his game, which, more than anything, has been what has held him back IMO. Quinn, on the other hand, seems like a guy who can't be judged until he is in some real games. So everyone has to wait on that.

 

Looks like Steinbech is definitely slated to start at LG. That's good; for a bit there I was worried the constant rotation in training camp was an indication he was either not preferred by the new staff or he suddenly wasn't performing. The safe assumption is that the coaches want to see what else he can do on the line, playing left tackle in particular.

 

Alex Mack on the other hand hasn't gotten good reviews. Sounds like he is doing everything he can just to hold his own. While he seems to have a great attitude, it might be a year before he is really ready to be a starter. On the other hand, as I read reports of defensive linemen eagerly awaiting their turn to punk the rookie, perhaps in a few weeks Mack will be like a hardened veteran.

 

The whole right side seems like a crapshoot and likely to continue to be shuffled throughout the regular season.

 

Three cheers for Abe Elam's tweets. Well, actually, they are not very interesting. But as a clear starting safety Elam won't have to do much to be a fan favorite. I'm happy to have a guy named Abe.

 

Early report of how awesome the cornerbacks have looked are beyond meaningless. Those guys are of course great athletes and at this point the guys playing man coverage have a big advantage against a roster of WRs who are new to the team. Wait a few weeks at least before declaring CB as position of strength for the defense.

 

Linebackers... DQ and Barton do sound like real pieces to the puzzle. I don't know another anyone else, and I don't see how people can yet speculate that the Browns have turned the corner at the linebacker position. I suspect this will be a work in progress all season.

 

I'm far more optimistic about the defensive line though. Rogers is a franchise-maker. And the guys around him all appear primed for a good year. Except maybe Shaun Smith, who fans seem to want to see cut. 

 

Cribbs holdout/non-holdout

Man, who cares. I love him as a player but his stance makes no sense. He signed a longterm deal as a special teams ace who probably felt fortunate to have stuck in the nfl. Considering that he has not had much impact in the regular offense I don't see why he should expect a new regime to redo his deal. He's still a special teams ace and makes good money for that role. Hed probably fetch 20-30 percent more on the open market but that is not unheard of.

Bottom line is - make your mark in the regular offense. Then you'll get a new deal.

James davis

Let the camp profiles begin!

Nice to hear he looks good but it is meaningless until late in camp. Even then you have to show something in real games. We do need another running back though.

Mangini says no vick. Fine. But I think the proper stance should be, "sure we are interested because we need playmakers." And then sit on your hands for a while.

Did I read correctly that steinbech may not start? What the?

Hard to imagine the browns keeping him if he doesn't start. Also hard to comprehend.

Joe thomas wasn't very good last year, despite a pro bowl nod. I read that he worked -hard- in the offseason cause he knew it too. That is perhaps the most encouraging bit of browns news I have read all offseason.

DA is the better QB. Quinn's arm just isn't there. But moreover if Quinn is worth investing in so he can get comfortable and gain enough experience so he can be competent, I fail to see why its not worth building around DA and building up his confidence so he can be above average.

Blog resurrected

Because it can be done from the phone. And even though the browns bore me to death in recent years, the preseason is a magical time full of optimism and cynicism. I am good at both.