Cleveland Browns (2013 Season)

[Buckeneye]

i find it funny in that everyone had to blame the browns organization for trent richardson's failures. even after the trade, excuses were made for him until his performance was so bad that nobody could justify it any further. it had to be as obvious as getting kicked in the dick with a steel toed boot before people could finally say that maybe cleveland wasn't the problem, and maybe they made a smart move.

Given the perceived talent level around him, some of ability he flashed at times during his rookie year and pre-season, then coupled with just how god-awful the Oline was to start the season... the perception the front office may have made a brash move wasn't really out of the question.

Recent history has vindicated the decision; those of us here who admit we may have over-reacted have now seen the value in the trade.

I don't think anyone predicted Trent to be that ineffective, even in Indianapolis. They've made a smart move, now everyone has acknowledged that.

Sometimes something being obvious or blunt is just about what it takes. Kudos to the front office for have the fore-sight to make a trade.

 

[Mike80]

i find it funny in that everyone had to blame the browns organization for trent richardson's failures. even after the trade, excuses were made for him until his performance was so bad that nobody could justify it any further. it had to be as obvious as getting kicked in the dick with a steel toed boot before people could finally say that maybe cleveland wasn't the problem, and maybe they made a smart move.

I find it funny that people are giving this front office a pass already even though they got this one right.

It's still Cleveland people. They have to earn that trust, it can't be blindly given.

 

[Buckeneye]

Tennessee needs to keep this up. That Indy pick is looking better by the week.

 

[OHSportsFan]

Tennessee needs to keep this up. That Indy pick is looking better by the week.

I'd be laughing in the Colts misery for this except I kinda got a decent parlay involving them at over 8.5 wins.

I'll take 9-7, though.

 

[Buckeneye]

It's nice to see Haden getting a little love for DPOY. He's only given up one touchdown. On a near impossible to cover slant from Rogers. Best Browns defensive player since MDP.

 

[LitlBuck]

Still trying to recover from that loss to Cincinnati.

Browns elevated Josh Cooper from the practice squad. Edwards was a good sign because he is now on IR. Bess will be returning punts which makes me sort of nervous.

 

[Buckeneye]

Still trying to recover from that loss to Cincinnati.

Browns elevated Josh Cooper from the practice squad. Edwards was a good sign because he is now on IR. Bess will be returning punts which makes me sort of nervous.

I always liked Cooper's rapport with Weeden; plus the kid just knows how to find the holes in the zone and sit in them. I think he could be a good 3rd down chain mover like Jurevicius or Brennan were in their day.

The Cincy loss behind us and my mind much more settled - I can at least say this. For how shitty Cleveland football has been the last 10 years, this season has at least given us a rare moment of pause. Pause that there may be hope for fielding a playoff team in the near future. That we actually have a small dash of talent and that it needs to be built upon. Its a young team, and for all the bitching about 4 and 5 win seasons that have become our standard, the Browns had 4 wins just past the half way point of the schedule with two very tough losses that could have been wins. Sure, I had my hopes up a little bit that if we beat Cincy and went 8-8 we might get playoff football back for the first time in over a decade. We might just go 6-10. I'm rather pegged at 7-9, I think it will be difficult to beat Pittspuke twice. However, there was at multiple points this season, a legitimate possibility the Brownies could make a push for that final wild card spot. That alone is something I haven't seen since I was a freshman in high school. So I'm trying to put that in perspective. Its a team that needs to couple experience with the youth, consistency at QB and direction. From what I can tell, our coaching staff isn't a total disaster. Sure I question Norv on occasion, but the guy has next to nothing at RB and a revolving door at QB. I'd feel much more confident with Hoyer under center for a full season. 'Chud' - well, we have an Ohio boy, someone who understands how starved we are for success and generally appears to enjoy being Clevelands head coach. I'll also celebrate that because he's a hell of a lot more professional and enthusiastic than Shurmur could ever be. Beat the Steelers in consecutive seasons, hell, sweep them - that would be a pretty successful campaign IMHO. Then as long as we don't fuck up the draft and keep Gordon away from the sizzzurp, walk into next season with a fair bit of momentum.

 

[tsteele316]

I always liked Cooper's rapport with Weeden; plus the kid just knows how to find the holes in the zone and sit in them. I think he could be a good 3rd down chain mover like Jurevicius or Brennan were in their day.

The Cincy loss behind us and my mind much more settled - I can at least say this. For how [Mark May]ty Cleveland football has been the last 10 years, this season has at least given us a rare moment of pause. Pause that there may be hope for fielding a playoff team in the near future. That we actually have a small dash of talent and that it needs to be built upon. Its a young team, and for all the bitching about 4 and 5 win seasons that have become our standard, the Browns had 4 wins just past the half way point of the schedule with two very tough losses that could have been wins. Sure, I had my hopes up a little bit that if we beat Cincy and went 8-8 we might get playoff football back for the first time in over a decade. We might just go 6-10. I'm rather pegged at 7-9, I think it will be difficult to beat Pittspuke twice. However, there was at multiple points this season, a legitimate possibility the Brownies could make a push for that final wild card spot. That alone is something I haven't seen since I was a freshman in high school. So I'm trying to put that in perspective. Its a team that needs to couple experience with the youth, consistency at QB and direction. From what I can tell, our coaching staff isn't a total disaster. Sure I question Norv on occasion, but the guy has next to nothing at RB and a revolving door at QB. I'd feel much more confident with Hoyer under center for a full season. 'Chud' - well, we have an Ohio boy, someone who understands how starved we are for success and generally appears to enjoy being Clevelands head coach. I'll also celebrate that because he's a hell of a lot more professional and enthusiastic than Shurmur could ever be. Beat the Steelers in consecutive seasons, hell, sweep them - that would be a pretty successful campaign IMHO. Then as long as we don't fuck up the draft and keep Gordon away from the sizzzurp, walk into next season with a fair bit of momentum.

the reason there is a glimmer of optimism is the fact that cleveland is actually 4-2 when they get anything resembling respectable qb play. mind you, not great qb play. just anything above average.

 

[LitlBuck]

the reason there is a glimmer of optimism is the fact that cleveland is actually 4-2 when they get anything resembling respectable qb play. mind you, not great qb play. just anything above average.

I was wondering what you thought of Sobo's mock draft over on the Scout free Browns forum. He has the Browns selecting CJ Mosley with the first pick and Hundley with their second first-round pick. I did not realize that Robertson was going to be a free agent at the end of the season and we do need an upgrade at ILB. This is the first time I have seen him go defense with the first pick. I guess I would be okay with that as long as they get a big WR in the second round and upgrade the OL in the third and then just add depth in the later rounds.

 

[tsteele316]

I was wondering what you thought of Sobo's mock draft over on the Scout free Browns forum. He has the Browns selecting CJ Mosley with the first pick and Hundley with their second first-round pick. I did not realize that Robertson was going to be a free agent at the end of the season and we do need an upgrade at ILB. This is the first time I have seen him go defense with the first pick. I guess I would be okay with that as long as they get a big WR in the second round and upgrade the OL in the third and then just add depth in the later rounds.

I assume it will all depend on how the draft board ends up falling. there are so many different directions the browns could go, that its nearly impossible to predict what will happen. it wouldn't surprise me if the browns took a RT that has LT potential and moved Schwartz to guard, thereby upgrading two spots at once and hedging on Joe Thomas's age. But, Robertson is a FA this year, and Jackson's contract really starts becoming cost prohibitive next year.

 

[LitlBuck]

I assume it will all depend on how the draft board ends up falling. there are so many different directions the browns could go, that its nearly impossible to predict what will happen. it wouldn't surprise me if the browns took a RT that has LT potential and moved Schwartz to guard, thereby upgrading two spots at once and hedging on Joe Thomas's age. But, Robertson is a FA this year, and Jackson's contract really starts becoming cost prohibitive next year.

just out of curiosity if they do take a OT and move Swartz to OG which OG position would you see him filling and do you think that is feasible that they might be moving Graco to center and letting Mack go depending upon his demands.

 

[NJ-Buckeye]

Jonathan Martin will be available soon... and Cleveland has always been the perfect town to hide/protect people

We kept everyone away from exposing Manny, Albert Bell, Cousineau, etc...

 

[tsteele316]

just out of curiosity if they do take a OT and move Swartz to OG which OG position would you see him filling and do you think that is feasible that they might be moving Graco to center and letting Mack go depending upon his demands.

if you look at the eagles OL's of the past, Schwartz would look like the ideal LG candidate with cleveland getting their mauler to put in at RG. Alex Mack's future with the browns hinges entirely on how reasonable his contract demands will be.

 

[NJ-Buckeye]

If I'm the GM, I'm giving Mack whatever he wants...
When Bentley posts that Mack is elite that says a lot.
And I am now a firm believer, your entire line is a function of your center...
The few games Mangold was missing, that line went to crap
I want Mack and Thomas there for the next 20 years

 

[LitlBuck]

If I'm the GM, I'm giving Mack whatever he wants...
When Bentley posts that Mack is elite that says a lot.
And I am now a firm believer, your entire line is a function of your center...
The few games Mangold was missing, that line went to crap
I want Mack and Thomas there for the next 20 years

Mack is no Mangold. In fact, is not even ranked as one of the top five centers in the NFL. Banner is known for not spending much money on centers because you can get a fairly good one pretty cheap and Mack is making pretty good money. He did not sign a contract extension prior to the beginning of this season nor was he offered one so the ball is probably in his court. They have a backup center on the roster and I think Greco can also play center.