Shame on You, Mangini

Dear Mr. Mangini,

I thought you were better than that. I really did.

I'll be honest, I wasn't at all thrilled when you were hired as the new coach of our beloved Browns so soon into the coaching search. After all, we just ran a former Belichik underling out of town and here you are, another Belichik underling. Let's not forget, this town already had the real thing at one time (a time when Belichik wasn't commonly referred to as a football genius).

But, I gave you a chance. I threw all my support behind you, because you were now the man. You were in charge of this beloved franchise and that demanded my support as a Browns fan.

I liked what I saw in the way you chose to run things. You were no-nonsense. You were secretive and you did not care what the media or anyone said about your ridiculous QB competition throughout the preseason. Clearly, this was your team and you were prepared to run it the way you wanted to run it, regardless of what anyone else said.

I liked that about you. I defended you. I said, "Give this guy a chance. Let him coach."

Then, yesterday happened. Yesterday, as the team continued to struggle against a superior team, you succumbed to the same pressure other failed coaches in this town have succumbed to: You gave in to the idiotic pressure of the Cleveland media.

Fans, and the media, in this town are notoriously impatient. Football is in our blood and we all think we know what's best for our team. When our team is losing, we second-guess every decision the head coach makes.

For the past two weeks, as the offense has struggled, the Cleveland media has looked for someone to blame. Brady Quinn was an easy target. After all, he's the quarterback; the face of the team. You and I both know he hasn't been the problem. The team as a whole is the problem.

The Cleveland media has been critical of Quinn, calling for you to replace him with Derek Anderson. Never mind that the Cleveland media was calling for Romeo Crennel to bench Anderson in favor of Quinn just last season (that's another thing about the Cleveland media; not only are they impatient, they also have a short memory).

All last week, you rejected the thought of replacing Quinn with Anderson to the cries of the Cleveland media. Quinn is your quarterback, you'd say. I thought you meant it.

Then, yesterday, after a lackluster first half, you panicked. Quinn was 6-of-8 for 34 yards and an interception. I'll be the first to say he wasn't playing at the top of his game, but 6-of-8 is hardly bad numbers when you consider the defense he was facing and the lack of tools with which he has to work.

No matter, you gave in (or, should I say, gave up?). You started Anderson in the second half. Did he provide that spark everyone said he would? Nope. Not even close. Sure, he was 11-of-19 for 92 yards, but produced two big 3s: a field goal and THREE interceptions.

I'm sure you realize, that if Quinn was as willing to wing the ball down field with reckless abandon like Anderson, then he too could have had 92 yards passing and THREE interceptions. Of course, I thought you already knew this and that was why you chose Quinn in the first place and were, supposedly, standing by your choice.

I'm not as disappointed in the loss yesterday as I am in your lack of judgement. I expected more from you. You put on a good tough-guy show, but in reality that's all it is: a show. You gave in to the Cleveland media just like every coach before you.

When did you forget that you're the coach, and that you call the shots? When did you decide a bunch of sports reporters knew how to coach better than you? If Mr. Lerner wanted a journalist to coach the Browns, he would have hired one. He hired you, though, and you let him down. You let us all down.

You lost a lot of support when the Browns went 0-2. Now, at 0-3, you've lost a lot more support, but not because the team is 0-3. No, you lost fan support -- this fan's support -- because you displayed a complete lack of judgement.

The Cleveland media's decision to pull Quinn in favor of Anderson really didn't work out too well for you, did it? Now you've got a big decision to make as the Browns get ready to host the Bengals. What are you going to do? Perhaps you should be the one asking the questions at press conferences.

If you're a good coach, then coach. If you don't trust yourself as a coach, then keep listening to the Cleveland media. Keep letting them make your decisions for you. It's a sure way to obtain a ticket out of Cleveland; just ask your predecessors.

Sincerely,

A Disgruntled Browns Fan


---

First Half Observations

As we head into the half trailing 20-0, here's a few of my of my observations.

•I just heard Steve Tasker say, "Baltimore have given him (Flacco) all the tools he needs to be successful." This statement perfectly illustrates what I've been saying all along about Quinn's lack of production. What tools have the Browns given him to be successful? Um, none that I can think of ...

•Harrison looks pretty decent in place of Lewis today.

•As easy as Baltimore is marching up and down the field, you'd think they'd have more points than they do.

•Until I see video tape of wide open Browns receivers downfield, I refuse to believe this crap about Quinn not being able throw downfield. There's no one to throw to.

•Baltimore is four deep at wide receiver. Must be nice.

•My beer tastes pretty good.

•Brown pants, still terrible.

Go Browns!

Scouting the Ravens

Let's talk about the Baltimore Ravens. What do we know? What should we know? How do the Browns match up?

Here's the official Blawg Pound scouting report on this week's foe.

Baltimore Ravens

Record: 2-0

Last Week: Defeated Chargers, 31-26

Rankings: Offense 3rd, Defense 17th

Coach: John Harbaugh (second season)

Offense

Players to Watch:

QB Joe Flacco

RB Ray Rice

RB Willis McGahee

Match-up vs. Browns:

Baltimore, known for years as a defensive team, suddenly looks like an offensive powerhouse. Then again, it's pretty early in the season to call anyone a powerhouse. Second-year quarterback Joe Flacco has developed nicely and looks strong in the pocket. Of course, Flacco shouldn't have to do much more today than hand the ball off to either Rice or McGahee, who are alternating in the backfield.

The Ravens running game could have a field day against the Browns poor run defense. On paper, this looks to be a very, very long day for the Browns. A weakness can perhaps be found at right tackle, where rookie Michael Oher will be tested against a blitzing Kamerion Wimbley.

Defense

Players to Watch:

LB Terrell Suggs

DT Haloti Ngata

LB Ray Lewis

Match-up vs. Browns:

The Baltimore defense looks solid, as usual. Joe Thomas will be under fire once again, charged with trying to keep Ngata and/or Suggs from getting to Quinn. And everyone will have to keep an eye on Lewis, to make sure he doesn't kill anyone (literally).

For an offense that's been so unproductive thus far, facing off against the Ravens defense doesn't seem to be when they'll bounce back and start scoring points.

Summary

I know I've said this for two straight weeks, but I have a really good feeling about today's game. I don't know why, but I just do. Today could be the day the offense starts clicking and the defense shuts down the running game. There is absolutely no way the Browns should win this game today, which is exactly why I think they could.

Go Browns!

---

Week 3 Picks

I didn't do as good on my picks this week. I only picked 9 out of 16 games correctly.

I think I'll do better this week though, and I encourage you to go sign up for the contest too (you can win fabulous prizes!!!). And, just to tempt you a little more into joining, I'll post my picks right here so you can see them ahead of time.

Here are my picks for Week 3 (home teams in all caps):

• Titans over JETS
• Giants over BUCCANEERS
• Packers over RAMS
• EAGLES over Chiefs
• PATRIOTS over Falcons
• VIKINGS over 49ers
• TEXANS over Jaguars
• Redskins over LIONS
• Saints over BILLS
• Bears over SEAHAWKS
• BENGALS over Steelers
• RAIDERS over Broncos
• CHARGERS over Dolphins
• COWBOYS over Panthers
• Colts over CARDINALS
• Browns over RAVENS
  

Think you can do better than me? Prove it.

Go Browns!

---

Blogging with the Enemy: Ravens

This week, I traded questions with Ravens blogger Tony Lombardi from ProFootball24x7.com. My questions, and his answers, are below. Enjoy.

1. So, a 2-0 start is pretty good and with the Bears upsetting the Steelers last week, I'm guessing you feel pretty good atop the AFC North. Have all your pre-season questions/concerns been satisfied now that we're two weeks in to the season?

My biggest concerns heading into the season centered on the positions of tight end and offensive tackle. Todd Heap is not the player he once was and the depth behind him is questionable. Free agent acquisition LJ Smith has seen very little of the field due to injury and the pair behind him, Edgar Jones and Tony Curtis have a total of 11 NFL catches between them.

At tackle the Ravens are stout at the top of the depth chart with Jared Gaither and rookie Michael Oher but beyond them, Oniel Cousins is a project and Tony Moll acquired early in September from the Packers, is new to the offense.

Special teams is also a concern. Kick coverage has been spotty and they will be supremely challenged this week by Josh Cribbs. If I’m special teams coach Jerry Rosburg I wouldn’t even kick the ball to Cribbs. Kicker Steve Hauschka is very unproven.

2. What is the biggest strength for the Ravens this year? Is it still the defense, or is it now the offense?

I think the Ravens are more balanced and capable of beating teams on either side of the ball. They have a nice 1-2 punch in the backfield with Ray Rice and Willis McGahee and Flacco’s maturity is apparent. He has become a team leader. Defensively the Ravens have no proven answer for the departure of Bart Scott. Tavares Gooden and Jameel McClain show promise and I suspect that they’ll be better after the bye week (week 7) than before.

At the end of the day, the Ravens still should be considered a defensive team first. Therein lies the pulse of the club.

2a. What's the biggest weakness?

Special teams and it’s not even close. Cribbs must be experiencing child-like Christmas Eve anticipation waiting for this game on Sunday.

3. What, if anything, worries you about the Browns? Could this be a "trap" game?

If Josh Cribbs doesn’t have a big day the Browns are done. This could have been a trap game but Philip Rivers dissecting the Ravens secondary in San Diego prevented that. The defense is out to show the world that their performance out west was a combination of a slight aberration and a Pro Bowl caliber quarterback being in the zone.

4. What are your three keys to winning this game on Sunday?

1. Contain Cribbs
2. Limit mistakes
3. Keep Braylon Edwards from having a big game.

5. What's your prediction on the outcome of this game/season?

Browns’ fans will experience another long season while the Ravens fans will have an enjoyable one. It’s far too early to say how deep the Ravens go into the playoffs, my guess is that they are still a little thin at a couple of positions and that will keep them from Miami in February but they’ll be in the mix. The bright side for the Browns fans is that they will have a high draft pick in 2010 and Eric Mangini will be a little closer to being fired.

Final score this week: Ravens 27, Browns 10

To read my answers to his questions, visit ProFootball24x7.com.

Go Browns!

---

Bring on Baltimore

It's a whole new week. Let's forget about the first two weeks. Time to focus on the next opponent: The Baltimore Ravens.

Ugh, the Ravens. They're 2-0 and atop the AFC North division (way to go, Bears!). By all means, this is no easy game for the Browns (of course, what game is easy for this team?). It could be a slaughter ... but I don't think it will be.

The Browns have their work cut out for them, that's for sure.

Mangini continues to be the voice of reason among the panicky Cleveland media. Two games, two losses and the media is declaring Mangini, Quinn, Alex Mack and everyone else associated with the Browns a complete and utter failure. Everyone, that is, except Derek Anderson, who everyone seems to think holds the key to turning this organization around. How soon we forget.

From the Department of Duh, comes this recent article: Mangini Sticking with Quinn. Seriously? Why is this even news? It's been two freakin' games, people! You expected to be 2-0 at this point? Gimme a break!

Whether you like the guy or not, Mangini was hired to coach the team. Let him coach. Let him do his job. Two games is not enough time to pass judgement.

I simply don't get where this attitude is coming from. Prior to the season, you survey any reasonable Browns fan and they would have told you their expectations for the season were quite low. But now, after only two games, everyone seems to be calling for Mangini's and Quinn's heads.

What is wrong with you people? I want to see the Browns succeed like every other Browns fan, but I'm not ready to scrap everything already. It sure is tough to be a head coach and a quarterback in Cleveland, and I'm sure Mangini and Quinn both knew this ahead of time. Let's do something radical, Browns fans. Let's give them a fair shot for a change!

Oh well, I started off this post by saying it's time to forget about the first two games and focus on the Ravens, then I proceeded to do the complete opposite.

Baltimore is tough. The Browns need our support this week. Let's give it to them.

Go Browns!

---

Week 2 Grades

Needless to say, Sunday’s loss to the Broncos was disappointing. OK, maybe it was beyond disappointing. Is it too much to ask that the Browns at least be competitive for four quarters each week? I don’t think so. Especially against a team that’s really not that great, despite it’s 2-0 record.

I’d also like to point out, not to toot my own horn or anything, I’ve been saying all along that the prolonged QB competition by Mangini was a brilliant play to keep the media focused on that, instead of other problem areas on the team.

Case in point, this article now surfaces. Hmm, why wasn’t there a media outcry during training camp about the lack of improvement to the run defense? Maybe it's because the media fell hook, line and sinker for Mangini’s QB Derby façade.

OK, that’s enough of that. Let’s pass out some grades.

Offense
Offensive Line — The O-line’s performance was, in a word, pathetic this week. Elvis Dumervil, who sacked Quinn four times, manhandled John St. Clair. FOUR TIMES!!! We’re not talking about Quinn scrambles out of the pocket after going through all his check and is chased down by Dumervil kind of sacks either. We’re talking about Dumervil bum-rushes the backfield and gets to Quinn as soon as he gets the snap kind of sacks. The run blocking was terrible too.
Grade: F

Tight Ends — Let’s see here … did we even have any tight ends in the game? I can’t seem to recall any tight ends having any spectacular receiving numbers or even being open down-field, and it’s quite obvious there weren’t any tight ends blocking on the line. So puzzling. If only the Browns had a stud, Pro-Bowl caliber tight end ... Oh, wait, they did.
Grade: D

Wide Receivers — Nice job by Braylon Edwards, who pulled in six catches for 92 yards … and that’s about it. I think, and I’m going out on a limb here, perhaps the biggest problem with the lack of production from the offense stems from the fact that Edwards is OUR ONLY RECIEVER. Seriously, who else is Quinn going to throw to? Cribbs? I think we all see how well that works.
Grade: C (for Braylon)

Running Backs — With the way the line blocked on Sunday, I can’t really fault Jamal Lewis too much for gaining only 38 yards on 14 carries. I still believe Adrian Peterson wouldn’t be the Adrian Peterson we know today if the Browns would have drafted him instead, because even he couldn’t run behind this line.
Grade: C-

Quarterbacks — Quinn didn’t play great, that’s obvious. He was just 18-of-31 passing for 161 yards and a QB rating of 58.7. Pretty bad. Say what you will about me just being a Brady Quinn fan, but I still don’t think it’s fair to declare him a failure after these two games. Quinn plays a smarter, safer game than Derek Anderson. Quinn takes what the defense gives him, and with just one real wide receiver, the defense doesn’t give him much. Critics say he has a weak arm and cannot throw the ball more than 3 yards. Bullshit. He’s got plenty of arm strength. The problem is, there’s no one downfield to throw it to. People simply like to complain. Already, people have forgotten the interceptions that come with Anderson’s cannon arm and willingness to throw the ball down field for anyone to grab. Yes, Quinn could have played a lot better — even he admits that — but I don’t know a QB in the NFL who could win with no blocking, no receivers and no running game.
Grade: D

Summary — No touchdowns. Only 200 total yards of offense. Only one trip to the red zone. Enough said.
Grade: D

Defense
Defensive Line — How about that Shaun Rogers? Five solo tackles! And that, Blawg Pounders, is the highlight of the defensive line.
Grade: D

Linebackers — Andra Davis had 10 tackles, including two for a loss … oh, wait, he doesn’t play for us anymore. D’oh! Well, our guys did OK too.
Grade: C-

Safeties & Corners — Let’s see here: Gaffney had three catches for 82 yards, Stokley had five catches for 70 yards and Marshall had three catches for 34 yards. Hey, way to hold Marshall to just 34 yards!
Grade: D

Summary — Obviously, there are some problems on defense. We can’t stop the run, and we can’t cover the long passes. Sure, it’s difficult to place so much blame on a unit that spends so much time on the field because the offense is so inept, but it’s not like we were keeping Peyton Manning out of the end zone for three quarters.
Grade: D

Coaching\Special Teams
Special Teams — How sore do you think Dave Zastudil’s leg is this week? Six punts for 272 yards is a pretty good workout. On the bright side, Phil Dawson connected on both his field goal tries and Josh Cribbs learned to take a touchback on a kickoff. Also, how about that fumble recovery on the opening kickoff? Pretty sweet, huh?
Grade: B

Coaching — I thought the play calling was a little bit better this week, it was the execution that failed. Also, no Wildcat Offense, so that’s a major plus in my book. As a whole, the team only had four penalties for 43 yards, so that’s not so bad. Defensively, I liked the blitz packages, but it really left the secondary vulnerable. In the end, though, it’s still a loss.
Grade: C-

Intangibles — Two words: Brown pants. Terrible.
Grade: F

Summary — Game 2 of the Mangini Era did not fair any better than Game 1. In fact, it was worse. I’m not ready to throw in the towel on Mangini yet, though. I’m far from it. He’s not panicking, so I’m not either. At this point, Romeo Crennel would have shown signs of confusion as to what needs to be done. Mangini is the complete opposite. Whether he’s telling the truth or not, he says he knows what the problem areas are, and that they’re fixable. As I’ve said again and again, I don’t expect a Super Bowl; I only expect marked improvement each week. I didn’t see any against the Broncos. Here’s hoping we see some next week.
Overall Grade: D

Go Browns!

---

Completely Offensive

I'm not too happy about yesterday's game.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not jumping the gun and declaring the Mangini Era a failure already. I know it's only the second game. It baffles me that prior to the season, many Browns fans' expectations were not at all high and yet, after two losses, they're up in arms about how horrible the Browns are this year.

No, I'm not one of those people. I care about the team and I want to see them do well. I'm also realistic in thinking it's going to take a lot longer to turn this team around than probably most people are willing to allow.

Still, I can be upset about yesterday's loss because I saw almost no improvement. Win or lose, I expect to see at least some improvement from the Browns each and every week. I don't have Super Bowl or playoff dreams for this season, I simply want to see marked improvement each and every week. Yesterday, I saw none.

Today, that's really all I have to say about it. I need to step away from it for a day, then come back tomorrow with some grades.

Go Browns!

---

Scouting the Broncos

Let's talk about the Denver Broncos. What do we know? What should we know? How do the Browns match up?

Here's the official Blawg Pound scouting report on this week's foe.

Denver Broncos

Record: 1-0

Last Week: Defeated Bengals, 12-7

Rankings: Offense 17th, Defense 17th

Coach: Josh McDaniels (first season)

Offense

Players to Watch:

QB Kyle Orton

WR Eddie Royal

RB Knowshon Moreno

Match-up vs. Browns:

Denver hasn't really had a problem running the ball on the Mike Shanahan-coached teams (I think I could have gotten 1,000 yards rushing with that offensive line blocking for me), but McDaniels wants a pass-first offense. During the off-season, they decided Bears quarterback Kyle "Cowboy Bob" Orton was the man they needed to run the offense. So, they went out and got him.

With a rookie running back in Moreno, and an offensive line that's not quite what it used to be, this game is a huge opportunity for the Browns defense. If the Browns can dominate the line of scrimmage and get in the backfield, they should be able to shut down the run and put some pressure on Orton.

Defense

Players to Watch:

LB Elvis Dumervil

S Brian Dawkins

CB Champ Bailey

Match-up vs. Browns:

Brady Quinn will have his work cut out for him this week against the experienced Denver secondary. Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins are wily veterans who should have no problem covering Braylon Edwards. The Broncos held the Bengals to just 7 points last week and intercepted Carson Palmer twice.

At linebacker, Elvis Dumervil is quick against the pass rush and Joe Thomas will need to stay alert to keep him out of the backfield. Inside, the Browns will face a former teammate in Andra Davis, who had nine tackles last week against the Bengals.

Summary

I'm really, really confident about this game. Sure, all signs pointed to the Broncos losing handily to the Bengals last week, but the two teams fought it out til the end with the Broncos coming out on top thanks to a miracle 87-yard TD pass from Orton to Brandon Stokely with 11 seconds remaining in the game.

Still, I think if the Browns can stick to fundamentals and Brady can stay calm in the pocket, they should be able to win this one. I don't see the Broncos dominating the Browns in any area, and I doubt they can pull out a miracle two weeks in a row.

Go Browns!

---

Friday Link Blitz

Some interesting, Browns-related links for your Friday reading pleasure. Enjoy:

• Browns Gab: Browns Take Baby Steps

• Brady Quinn Fan: Brady's Report Card vs. Minnesota
  

• Cleveland Browns: Dawson Joins Elite Company
  

• Sports Illustrated: NFL Fines Mangini

• TheDailyBlitz.com: Heartbreaking Loss for Bungles
  

• ProFootballTalk: Agents Steering Players Away from Browns
  

• Don Banks: NFL Power Rankings

• Peter King: Week 1 Picks

• The Morning Journal: 2009 Pick 'em Challenge

Go Browns!

---

Week 2 Picks

As I mentioned last week, I'm listed as a VIP in The Morning Journal's Pro Football Pick 'em Contest. Well, I didn't do so well on my picks last week. I only picked 10 out of 16 games correctly.

I think I'll do better this week though, and I encourage you to go sign up for the contest too (you can win fabulous prizes!!!). And, just to tempt you a little more into joining, I'll post my picks right here so you can see them ahead of time.

Here are my picks for Week 2 (home teams in all caps):

• FALCONS over Panthers
• Vikings over LIONS
• PACKERS over Bengals
• JAGUARS over Cardinals
• Raiders over CHIEFS
  
• Patriots over JETS
• Saints over EAGLES
• TITANS over Texans
• REDSKINS over Rams
• BILLS over Buccaneers
• 49ERS over Seahawks
• BEARS over Steelers
• CHARGERS over Ravens
• Colts over DOLPHINS
• COWBOYS over Giants
• Browns over BRONCOS
  

Think you can do better than me? Prove it.

Go Browns!

---

The Hits Keep Coming

Boy, I tell ya, the Browns just can't catch a break. Forget about any Cleveland Curse, this is just plain unlucky.

First, although he wasn't our coach at the time, Mangini gets fined by the NFL for covering up Favre's injury last season. Now, the cover of Sports Illustrated features a shot of Adrian Peterson posterizing D'Qwell Jackson with the giant headline "Dominator."

Of course, lets be honest here: No matter what team the Vikings played in Week 1, they would have been the ones dominated. It's simply a bad coincidence our Browns were the unlucky victim.

Go Browns!

---

Blogging with the Enemy: Broncos

This week, I traded questions with Broncos blogger Garrett Barnes from Bronco Madness. My questions, and his answers, are below. Enjoy.

1. No one outside Denver gave the Broncos a chance last Sunday. Honestly, were you surprised a little bit by the win over the Bengals, or do you just chalk it up to it being the Bengals?

You're right, like the Browns, we have been pretty much counted out of the playoff race by the MSM (main stream media). On the other hand I truly believed that the Broncos had a chance this week and had predicted a win. I was surprised by a lot of things (like the strong play of our defense) but the win wasn't one of them.

2. What is the Broncos biggest strength this year -- the offense or the defense?

Had you asked me this a week ago, I would have said offense, hands down. But after the strong play by the defense last week I am leaning away from that. They both have their plusses:

I think that the Broncos are going to establish themselves as one of the best running teams in the NFL. Knowshon Moreno, Correll Buckhalter and Peyton Hillis will add a big amount of "pop" to this offense. The passing game has good Wide Receivers and as you know an AMAZING offensive line but the question comes up with Kyle Orton. Can he establish himself as a solid QB in the league? I'm not ready to make a decision that just yet.

The defense showed me some promise in the front seven, of all places! Our Linebackers looked very good. Elvis Dumervil is a great pass rusher, Andra Davis and D.J Williams are powerhouses down the middle and I am kind of liking the play of Mario Haggan. I like our secondary a lot but I think that Champ Bailey is losing a step or two. Brian Dawkins as well. Our D-Line still hasn't proved itself to me. So because of that, I will have to say the offense over the defense. It's close though.

3. What, if anything, worries you about the Browns?

I am worried most of all about Joe Thomas. I have a great deal of respect for him and he could really disrupt this defenses rhythm. Besides winning the Bengals game because of a miracle, we won it because we put Carson Palmer under pressure. That started with Elvis Dumervil, and if Joe Thomas can stop Dumervil from having the impact he did last week it could cause a lot of trouble for our defense.

4. What are your three keys to winning this game on Sunday?

1. Establish Knowshon Moreno as force on offense. Since he was coming off of an injury last week, it was reasonable to say he wasn't going to have a very good game. He didn't. This week, I think that the Broncos need to establish him into both the inside and outside running game. Use him as a pass weapon, running weapon, blocking weapon, or whatever else it takes. We just need to have the Browns fear him. If we can do that, then I think it will be a big step towards winning the game.

2. Disrupt the QB/Offensive Line. As I mentioned earlier, if we can't disrupt Brady Quinn, our Defense loses. It's that simple. If we can get Elvis Dumervil and Mario Haggan coming in from both sides of the field, disrupting the Browns offense, then it will be a lot easier to make big plays.

3. Minimize Mistakes. We did a great job last week of not giving away turnovers and minimizing game changing mistakes. That said, we had a few drops here and there and didn't always look perfect but if we can improve those small mistakes and not make any big ones, then it will also minimize chances the Browns have to score.

5. What's your prediction on the outcome of this game/season?

I hate to say this to you Pete, but I'm predicting a Broncos win. Outside of Brady Quinn and Joe Thomas nothing really is overly impressive. I think that if the Browns can be able to build around those two pieces you may have a few good years, but for now, I'm predicting Broncos.

To read my answers to his questions, visit Bronco Madness.

Go Browns!

---

Let's Move On

OK, Week 1 is over. Finished. Nothing we can do about it now. We can play "What if?" all day long, it still isn't going to change the outcome. What's done is done. Time to focus on the next game.

This week, the Brownies will travel to Denver to take on the Broncos. I know we're long-removed from the Elway's Denver, but the Broncos still evoke images of intense heartbreak.

Need to get fired up? I know it's painful to watch, but maybe this will get your blood boiling. If today's players only knew the emotional pain the ending of this game caused, maybe they'd play a little harder for us fans.

Go Browns!

---

Week 1 Grades

It may be cliché, but to say you must play all four quarters in order to win a football game truly describes the Browns 34-20 loss to Minnesota. As I mentioned yesterday, it was a tale of two halves — one good, one bad — for the Browns. Unfortunately, the bad half out-weighed the good half.

I tried my best to stay positive this off-season, and I’m not giving in to the eternally pessimistic Browns attitude yet, but it’s becoming more difficult to stay up beat.

Honestly, though, the Browns finished 4-12 last year, fired both the head coach and GM, and pretty much declared it rebuilding time … again. Kinda makes it hard for a fan to find positives to focus on, but I’ve tried.

I’ve tried my best to support Mangini during the off-season, convinced Quinn would be the starter and that the whole QB competition would pay off — I bought in to Mangini’s attitude of “competition breeds excellence.” Clearly, though, Quinn would have greatly benefited from the experience that comes from taking consistent snaps with the first team.

I supported Mangini’s attitude of keeping his decisions close to the vest, not letting the media in on his plans — and I still do. I want to let him do his job. Whether I agree with his tactics or not, I have to support him and let him do his job the way he wants to do it.

It’s too early — way, way too early — to crucify Mangini. He did what he thought was best. He’s the coach and he was hired to make decisions. Sunday’s loss is not the end of the world. It was only one game — Mangini’s first game as head coach of the Cleveland Browns. It wouldn’t be fair to judge him already. And, it wouldn’t be fair to judge Quinn already based on that one game.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I can’t grade them — and the rest of the team — on Sunday’s loss to the Vikings.

Offense
Offensive Line — Quinn had decent protection. Not great, but decent. It could have been much worse, had it not been for Joe Thomas. Thomas was matched up against sack-machine Jared Allen, who he handled just fine. Allen made just one tackle all day. Rookie center Alex Mack also held his own for most of the day against nose tackle Pat Williams.
Grade: B

Tight Ends — Robert Royal led all receivers with four catches for 60 yards and caught the Browns first offensive TD since last November. If he keeps that up, I may not miss Winslow as much as I thought I would.
Grade: B+

Wide Receivers — There was some definite miscommunication between Quinn and the receivers (ahem, Braylon) on which routes were supposed to be run. Maybe it was Quinn’s fault or maybe it was the receivers’. All I know is, this is why it’s important for the starting QB to take reps in practice with the first team.
Grade: C+

Running Backs — Jamal Lewis had just 57 yards rushing on 11 carries. Not too good. Of course, the Viking do have one of the best run-defenses in the NFL. Lewis also caught the ball three times for 47 yards. Rookie James Davis, who was in a minor car accident Saturday morning, was a non-factor with his five rushing yards on four carries.
Grade: C-

Quarterbacks — Quinn posted a QB rating of 74.1, completing 21-of-35 passes for 205 yards, with a TD, an INT and a fumble. Not great numbers, but not terrible either. I expect him only to get better as he’ll now have full-time reps with the first team in practice each week.
Grade: C

Summary — Two first-half drives resulted in points, but they were only field goals, not TDs. A total collapse in the third quarter allowed the Vikings to get ahead unanswered. A fourth-quarter TD drive may have been too little, too late and during “garbage time,” but at least it got the “no offensive TDs since Nov. 2008” monkey off the team’s back.
Overall Grade: C-

Defense
Defensive Line — Despite sitting out the entire preseason with a foot injury, Pro-Bowl tackle Shaun Rogers did play Sunday and recorded five tackles (two for a loss) including a sack. His presence was felt mostly in the first half, when Adrian Peterson was held to just 25 yards rushing.
Grade: C+

Linebackers — D’Qwell Jackson led the team in tackles with 10 and newcomer Eric Barton added eight, including one for a loss which, as my brother pointed out during the game, is probably more than Andra Davis had all last season. Kamerion Wimbley had three tackles, including a sack.
Grade: B-

Safeties & Corners — Abram Elam, Brodney Pool and Brandon McDonald combined for 18 tackles and two sacks. Brett Favre didn’t have too many passing yards, but then with Peterson gaining yards at will, he didn’t have to.
Grade: C

Summary — They held tough for most of the game, sacked Favre four times and forced the Vikings to punt six times. But, Peterson still had 180 yards rushing. Clearly, there are some holes that need fixing.
Grade: C-

Coaching\Special Teams
Special Teams — Josh Cribbs had 207 return yards (punt and kick) and a TD. You can’t really ask for much more from a return specialist, but I will: Please, Mr. Cribbs, learn to take a touchback every once in a while. Even if the Browns were ahead 13-10 at the half, they still lost the field position battle in the first half.
Grade: B

Coaching — I question the conservative play calling and I definitely disagree with the Wildcat Offense formation on the goal line. I think that’s a situation that could have resulted in seven points if the real offense was in the game. The penalties were atrocious — 8 for 66 yards. That’s a direct reflection of the coaching. Now that the games count, we’ll see if Mangini’s methods during training camp were hit or miss.
Grade: C-

Intangibles — I must say, as much as I dislike most announcers and as much as I dislike Brian Billick as a coach, he was fantastic in the booth Sunday. He really lent some good insight into the game. For instance, when he explained why Braylon’s catch didn’t count after it was reviewed, I understood the reasoning and accepted it.
Grade: B

Summary
The Browns lost, and that’s the bottom line. I’m realistic, and I’m not expecting a Super Bowl season or even the playoffs this season. But, I do expect to see improvement each and every week.

I also expect the Browns to be competitive for four quarters each game and cut down on mental mistakes. They played OK for one half, and bad for the other. I’ve tried my best to be positive, and I’ll continue to do so.

Yes, I'm aware my grades seem a bit higher than one might expect. As I said, I'm trying to stay positive and focus on the good things I saw Sunday. Sure, they lost, but there were some good things on which to build. Overall Grade: C

Go Browns!

---

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

It was a tale of two halves yesterday in the loss to the Vikings. In the end, though, it's pretty clear the Browns still have some work to do if they're going to compete with the elite teams.

As the title of this Blawg post indicates, I saw some good things, some bad things and some ugly things.

The Good
Almost the entire first half was good. The Browns shot down Adrian Peterson for only 25 yards and the defense held tough on many series.

Offensively, the play-calling was a little too safe for my liking, but it set the tone for some good things. Brady led the offense down the field right away, but had to settle on a field goal. Still, they at least were able to come away with points and actually led the Vikings at halftime.

The Bad
The Browns were flat -- offensively and defensively -- in the second half. Mid-way through the third quarter, it looked as if the defense had given in to defeat.

Brady's lack of snaps with the first team during training camp showed, as miscommunication with the receivers led to many missed opportunities.

The Ugly
Penalties. Way too many penalties. This is something the Browns will need to fix fast, and I know Mangini will continue to address it.

The Browns had two opportunities to score from the 2 yard line and fail miserably on both attempts. Why? Because of the stupid Wildcat Offense.

I don't understand why just about every team in the league feels the need to adopt this fad formation. It's not exciting, it's stupid. Stop it.

Nothing against Josh Cribbs, I think he's a fabulous special teamer, but any team who counts on him as a major component of its offense has problems. From 2 yards out, Quinn could have easily punched it in on a QB sneak. Or give the ball to Lewis. Just don't run the Wildcat, let alone two times in a row.

Overall, the Browns exceeded expectations in the first half and resorted to their old self in the second. I agree with Mangini, however, in that there were enough positive things yesterday on which to build.

Go Browns!

---

It's Game Day!

It's finally here: Game Day! This is it, Week 1 of the 2009 season. The Browns. The Vikings. Cleveland Browns Stadium. Can you feel the excitement?

The countdown to kickoff has begun. The pre-game shows will start in just a couple of hours. Time to get ready for some football.

Today, questions will be answered. Forget the 2008 season. Forget Romeo Crennel. Forget Phil Savage. Forget everything. There's a new regime in town. This is a different Browns team than we saw last season (about 43% different).

Today, beginning at 1 p.m., (another) new era in Cleveland Browns Football begins.

Brett Favre brings his brand new team and the NFL's leading rusher into our house today. The Vikings defense is one of the best in the league and the offense will provide a stiff test for our beloved Brownies.

Honestly, though, I have a good feeling about this game. I don't think it will be a blowout at all. I just have this gut feeling the Browns are going to come out today and play with a fire and passion like we haven't seen in a long, long time.

Don't get me wrong, shutting down Adrian Peterson is one tall order. And, breaking through the Williams Wall is near impossible. But, and I don't know what it is, I simply think the Browns are up to the challenge today.

Go Browns!

---

Scouting the Vikings

Let's talk about the Minnesota Vikings. What do we know? What should we know? How do the Browns match up?

Here's the official Blawg Pound scouting report on this week's foe.

Minnesota Vikings

Record: 10-7 (last season)

2008 Results: Lost to Philadelphia in NFC Wild Card game

2008 Rankings: Offense 17th, Defense 6th

Coach: Brad Childress (fourth season)

Offense

Players to Watch:

QB Brett Favre

RB Adrian Peterson

LT Bryant McKinnie

Match-up vs. Browns:

Favre is back, again, and this time he's in a system that's very similar to what he ran in Green Bay. Much of the talk surrounding Favre questions whether or not he'll be able to last a whole season. That, of course, does not apply to tomorrow's Week 1 match-up with the Browns. Instead, all will be focused on how well he plays with his new Vikings teammates. Judging by his decent performance in the preseason game against Houston, he shouldn't have a problem.

Although a veteran leader and future Hall of Famer, Favre is prone to throwing interceptions as he's not afraid to blindly launch the ball down field and hope for the best. The Browns young secondary will be tested when he opens up the offense and stretches the field.

The bigger problem for the Browns will be trying to shut down Peterson, the NFL's leading rusher

last season. If he decides to run up the middle, he'll have to get around Shaun Rogers, who is expected to play despite sitting out the preseason with a foot injury.

If Rob Ryan's defense can keep Peterson quiet early, it could force Favre to throw some of his wild, down field passes. Unfortunately, I wouldn't want to force a QB like Brett Favre to beat you with the passing game.

Defense

Players to Watch:

NT Pat Williams

T Kevin Williams

DE Jared Allen

Match-up vs. Browns:

It all starts up front for the Vikings defense. Nose tackle Pat Williams will provide a tough first test for rookie center Alex Mack. In tandem with defensive tackle Kevin Williams, the "Williams Wall" will be something Jamal Lewis will have to break through if the Browns want to establish any kind of a running game.

Allen is a sack machine for the Vikings, but he'll be matched up against Pro-Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas. Thomas will have definitely earned his captain's title if he can contain Allen and protect Brady Quinn tomorrow. Keeping Quinn upright will be key to building the (essentially rookie) quarterback's confidence, letting him get passes off without being hurried.

Summary

On paper, the Minnesota Vikings don't have a lot of weaknesses. This team made the playoffs last season essentially without a passing game. Though old, Favre is a huge upgrade at QB and he'll have more help than he could have ever hoped for from the running game.

As much hype as there is surrounding Favre's second un-retirement, there's just as much surrounding Peterson's ability to continue the momentum of his first two seasons. If the Vikings get scoring, these two should account for at least one touchdown each.

Go Browns!

---

Friday Link Blitz

Some interesting, Browns-related links for your Friday reading pleasure. Enjoy:

• Brady Quinn Fan: OH HAPPY DAY!

• Terrell Owens on Twitter: Congrats 2 Brady Quinn

• Fan House: Mangini's New Beginning

• New York Times: Favre is Doubting Durability

• Brownie Man: Minnesota Unveils New Mascot, Logo

• Waiting For Next Year: The NFL Filled with Constant Predictions

• TheDailyBlitz.com: AFC North Prediction

• Peter King: Week 1 Picks

• Sports Illustrated: NFL Season Predictions

• The Morning Journal: 2009 Pick 'em Challenge

Go Browns!

---

Week 1 Picks

Who doesn't love to try and predict the future? Whether you enter in to an official pool around the office or with friends, picking who you think is going to win each week is as much a part of football as watching your favorite team.

Now there's an opportunity to see how you match up against other football fans and "local experts." The Morning Journal is hosting a Pro Football Pick 'em Contest. Simply go to the website and sign up.

Each week, you pick the winner for each game up to 15 minutes before it is scheduled to start. Your four worst weeks are thrown out, so only your best 17 weeks count toward your overall score. It's fun and easy!

This year, I'm among the VIP participants in the contest so you can see how your picks measure up to mine. And, just to tempt you a little more into joining this contest, I'll post my picks right here so you can see them ahead of time.

Here are my picks for Week 1 (home teams in all caps):

• Titans over STEELERS
• FALCONS over Dolphins
• Chiefs over RAVENS
• Eagles over PANTHERS
• Broncos over BENGALS
• TEXANS over Jets
• COLTS over Jaguars
• SAINTS over Lions
• Cowboys over BUCCANEERS
• CARDINALS over 49ers
• GIANTS over Redskins
• SEAHAWKS over Rams
• Bears over PACKERS
• PATRIOTS over Bills
• Chargers over RAIDERS
• BROWNS over Vikings

Think you can do better than me? Prove it.

Go Browns!

---

Blogging with the Enemy: Vikings

This week, I traded questions with Vikings blogger Clint Rhode from The Viking Nation. My questions, and his answers, are below. Enjoy.

1. Honestly, what is your opinion of this whole Favre fiasco? Do you think he's got enough left in him, and is he the missing piece, to winning the Vikings a Super Bowl?

For the whole Favre drama, I am just glad it is all over and now he can get his revenge over the Packers. I live in the middle of Packer country and told everyone that he will wait until after training camp (to sign), because he has not been in a camp for 10 years.

With the addition of Favre, at his age he is better than what the Vikes have on their roster behind him right now. Sure Sage and Tarvaris can play well in 4-6 games in a row, but neither have played an entire season. Yes, i do think that he may be the missing piece for the Vikes for the team that they have right now.

2. Looking at the Vikings offense, I don't see a whole lot of weaknesses -- you've got a solid line, a good receiving corp, a great RB and now Favre at QB. What, if any, area do you think needs some help?

The weakness that I can see is if Favre can hold up for the entire season. Penalties- The Texans game the Vikes committed quite a bit of penalties that kills some of the drives. Other than this I do not see much the worry about from the offense.

3. Obviously, you've heard that Mangini hasn't yet announced who his starting QB will be. Do you really think your coaches/defenses care if they face Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson? If you had your choice, who would you want to face?

I do not think that the Vikes coaches are staying up all night debating who they will be facing. Really they are 2 of the same type of a QB, it is not like one is a running QB to a pocket QB. If I had the choice, it would be Quinn, because he is the future of the Browns. To see if he can contend with one of the best defenses in the league.

4. What are your three keys to winning this game in Cleveland?

Establish a passing game early to keep defense honest

Keep pressure of the QB as a defense

Minimize the mistakes from both sides of the ball

5. What's your prediction on the outcome of this game/season?

For the game, I can see the Vikes being a offense that can run and pass (something new to them). I am excited to see Favre playing an entire game finally as a Viking. I can see both Peterson and Favre having at least one TD each in the game.

For the season, it could be one magical year if everything goes for the Vikings. With the schedule that Minnesota has and the team they are fielding this season, I can see them with 11 wins and the end of the season, maybe more who knows.

To read my answers to his questions, visit The Viking Nation.

Go Browns!

---

Anderson Slips Up?

I just read some very promising news. According to reports from Berea, Derek Anderson may have let it slip that Brady Quinn, not himself, will be the Browns starting QB on Sunday against the Vikings.

Seems during Mangini's press conference, he informed the media that he has indeed let the two QBs know which one of them will start.

During his time with the media, Anderson responded to the question of whether or not it will be hard for him to keep the secret by saying:

No, because after these two minutes are over, I'm not talking to you guys. Pretty easy. Obviously the rest of us have to go about our regular preparations and continue to do what we always do.

The rest of us? As in, the rest of us non-starters? Quinn got the nod over Anderson? Well, duh! Was there really any doubt?

Of course, this could all be just an elaborate scheme to really keep the Vikings guessing. We'll find out on Sunday.

Go Browns!

---