Ok, it's not often I write a novel like this...but...I feel that my Brownies deserve it. So here goes...
This team is extremely competitive against good teams (i.e. Ravens and Panthers, not so great against the Bengals), yet they can't even beat the mediocre teams (i.e. Saints, we barely pulled out the Raiders game). It is just a lack of execution. The offensive line doesn't do their job half the time, and after they let their blocker get by they just stand there (i.e. Ryan Tucker getting schooled by Julius Peppers and just standing there when if he had followed the play he could've recovered Charlie's fumble). Also when you hold, they quarterback should not get hit. I've seen way too many holding calls when Charlie is still getting mauled. It's ridiculous. Charlie is making rookie mistakes...because he is just that, STILL A ROOKIE (once he gets his 16th start under his belt I won't call him a rookie anymore - and I'm not defending Charlie, nor do I know if he's the QB of the future for us or not, but I do believe he deserves a chance and that should be at least 2-2 1/2 years at the helm of the team to gain respect, confidence, and leadership abilities that a quarterback must have to be successful in this league). He didn't get enough experience last year because we brought in that tool Trent Dilfer (granted there was no way that I would've wanted Charlie starting the opening games of the season, but come on...Trent Dilfer!?!? I'm not so amused with that move Savage. :chuckles: ). He's still used to playing in the MAC. MAC defenses are terrrible - that is one thing that poorly prepared him for the NFL. He had all kinds of time to throw the ball in college, it is quite and adjustment for him to have to throw the ball as soon as he has to with this offensive line. He holds on to the ball too long - he'll learn with time that he has to get rid of it sooner. It also doesn't help his progression/confidence when he does make a good/decent throw and it gets dropped (i.e. Braylon dropping the slant in the first game against the Saints when we are driving for the win, and "No-hands" Northcutt letting it bounce off his shoulder pads [granted the throw wasn't perfect, but any NFL wide-reciever should have been able to make that adjustment and make that catch ((it's not like he was hearing footsteps or anything))]) against Carolina when we have a 3-0 lead which gives them a touchdown and momentum) in a KEY situation. As I said before I am not defending him, I just would love to see him succeed, and for him to do that he has to be given time. I want to see him succeed because our franchise and our fans deserve that. We deserve to have a championship and a guy with Charlie's drive and determination deserves to be a guy that delivers that for us. If i had to pick between an Indians/Browns/Cavaliers championship and only one could happen in my lifetime it would definitely be a Browns superbowl because of the tradition of the team and the passion that Browns fans have for their team.
It's about execution my friends. This is a young and inexperienced team and they don't know how to execute. Most of them are still used to being "the man" in college and we need players to learn their roles and go out on the field and execute. No missed tackles, no missed defensive assignments. NO DROPPED PASSES. If no one is open and you're being pressured Charlie, just throw it away (sad thing was this was about all he did well in the Carolina game) - don't try to be a hero unless it is 3rd down and its a key drive and we NEED points (though we need them whenever we can get them because we have such trouble getting them) and we aren't backed up too far in our own territory. Once this team learns to execute (oh yeah, how could i forget to mention MAURICE CARTHON IS FIRED), this team will be respectable.
This team still has a lot of holes for the future, though. I'll list them here:
Nose tackle: Ted Washington is at the end of his career. Baba isn't getting any blow, so how do we know what he can do?? It would be nice if we had Ngata, but I'm LOVING the Kamerion Wimbley pick so I can't complain about this one.
Defensive End: Orpheus Roye is getting old - he's at least 31 or so maybe? (It's a shame that Courtney Brown didn't pan out. Injuries crippled his career, or we'd have a damn good player right there.) Alvin McKinley isn't a starting caliber defensive lineman. And behind them we don't really have much.
Offensive guards: Andruzzi is past his prime and Cosey Coleman isn't much to write home about. We need to get some youth on this line and get them experience before Andruzzi has to retire and hopefully someone better can step in for Coleman. We need to draft offensive lineman early!
Cornerback: Leigh Bodden is the real deal. But who do we have opposite of him? Sure you can say Baxter and McCutcheon, but can they stay healthy?? McCutcheon is getting older and he's missing this whole year - that is not a good sign for his future. Baxter can't stay healthy at all either - that signing really back-fired. I wish we still had Anthony Henry (anyone know how he's doing in Dallas?).
Quarterbacks: I've done a lot of talking about Charlie already so this isn't going to be about him. But if he goes down there is no way I want my next guy to be Derek Anderson or Ken Dorsey. Backup quarterback needs to be addressed. If we bring in a big-name FA (though we tried that and Jeff Garcia backfired) or high draft pick at quarterback (Brady Quinn, Brian Brohm, Troy Smith, etc. anyone?) Charlie could be the backup (not sure how well he would like that though).
Okay, Okay - enough will all the negatives - i know. So i'll point out what I'm excited about.
Linebackers - The trio of Kamerion Wimbley, D'Qwell Jackson, and Andra Davis has the potential to be the best trio of linebackers IN THE LEAGUE. The overhaul of the position was amazing and all it took was one season - by using our top two draft picks on Wimbley and Jackson. If the Browns were smart - which they have not been in the past - they could do the same to their defensive and offensive lines. If we end up with a top draft pick it would be possible to get maybe 3 to 5 selections in the first two rounds. USE THEM ALL ON DEFENSIVE AND OFFENSIVE LINEMEN! Ok at least one of them, please!!
Tight Ends - Kellen Winslow. KW2. Enough said. Heiden ain't too shabby either. Nice duo there.
Special Teams - One of the best, if not the best special teams in the league. Cribbs is dynamite in the return game - he's been our only source of offense in two games (Oakland and Carolina). Northcutt is the #1 punt returner in the league - but I wouldn't be surprised if he's gone after this year and Cribbs showed he can do that too against Carolina. Zastudil and Dawson are both solid, above-average players. I can't believe Dawson learned that you could kick it into the endzone this season! The coverage teams are also pretty good too.
Ok that is all the positives I have for now. Well I'm done for now.
