Ernie Kosar
Rookie
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2008
- Messages
- 935
- Reaction score
- 20
- Points
- 18
Browns Backers,
With the Browns and Eric Mangini reaching a four year deal to become the 12th head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Mangini will have his work cut our for him and not in the way of dealing with New York cabbies who have road rage.
Mangini, 37, will be entering a mess in Cleveland, with the whole organization in complete disarray following the Savage/Winslow public feud, reports of players quitting, Shaun Smith hitting his first QB in a long time in punching QB, Brady Quinn, and the failed hands of WR Braylon Edwards not to mention the horrid defense.
Mangini can either turn the Browns around in 2009 like he did the Jets in his rookie year and go potentially 10-6, or fail in addressing the ugly warts that the Browns have and opt for major surgery.
While many Browns fans are either lukewarm or not happy in Lerner hiring another Belichick branch from the "Belichick Tree" Mangini could prove to be his own redwood and establish his own roots and seeds in Cleveland.
And the Browns have as much talent as the Jets but it was never properly utilized by the former regime, which shall not be named on penalty of death but, Mangini is actually coming into a good situation in Cleveland with two young and promising QB's and both Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn, a promising young DB tandem in Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald and a young and yet untested defensive core in D'Qwell Jackson, Alex Hall and Kamerion Wimbley that will be looking to redeem itself in 2009.
Mangini's first actions as head coach should include:
Identifying your QB
This is actually fairly easy and will eliminate any future distractions and drama for the Browns, while former starting QB, Derek Anderson played like the next Brett Favre in terms of throwing picks, there is still some talent in him that can be harnessed under Mangini and maybe a new offensive system would do him some good.
Brady Quinn looked very promising during his first three starts under center, but is that REALLY enough to just hand him the reins to a potentially deadly offense that will be getting its true slot WR, Joe Jurivicius back? Mangini needs to pick his QB and stick with him.
Lose the Dead Weight
What I mean here is lose the players, who you think could hold this team back or don't fit into your plans for the future, players such as LB Andra Davis, DB's Terry Cousins, Mike Adams and Travis Daniels come to mind immediately but also look for the Browns to possibly release RB Jamal Lewis, especially if they draft a RB in April.
It also wouldn't surprise me if the Browns cut QB's Derek Anderson and/or Ken Dorsey, WR Donte Stallworth and possibly let SS Sean Jones leave if they decide to draft a DB, maybe USC SS Taylor Mays or Ohio State standout, Malcolm Jenkins.
Bring Back the 4-3
For those of us who have had to watch the Browns' play defense, this is a easy call, The Browns don't have the linebackers to play a 3-4, and with the tackling dummy also known as LB Andra Davis on his way out, along with Willie McGinest's upcoming retirement, now would be a good time to switch back to a 4-3, and with potential free agent's that are capable of playing the 4-3 out there, Mangini must decide between keeping the 3-4 or bringing back the 4-3.
The Browns must decide not only who to target in free agency but also the draft, as such noteworthy LB's such as Wake Forest's Aaron Curry, USC LB Ray Malaluga and Ohio State LB, James Laurinitis and Texas DE, Brian Orapko could be a major factor here.
This in my opinion is the second biggest action next to deciding between Quinn and Anderson that Mangini will have to make.
Utilize your Playmakers
While in New York, Mangini used RB Leon Washington in a lot of various ways, slot WR, kickoff returns, etc. Fans were creaming at their TV's wondering why Romeo never used similar players like RB Jerome Harrison and WR/KR Joshua Cribbs more effectively.
I get the vibe that under Mangini that could change and if Lewis is released look for the Browns to make a run at Chargers RB, Darren Sproles and potentially have a two-back set of Sproles and Harrison split behind Quinn/Anderson.
Manigini will also have his hands full in trying to coach up prima-donna WR, Braylon Edwards who had a bad case of the dropsies and now feels that the fans don't like him, I hope E tells Braylon to just CATCH THE DAMN BALL! and all will be fine.
Draft Fearlessly
Mangini strikes me as the type who will do whatever it takes to draft the best player and currently the player that fits the Browns needs the most is USC LB, Rey Malaluga, he is fearlessly, intimidating and actually HITS people, another player I wouldn't be surprised to see him want is SS Taylor Mays from USC.
Mays reminds him of former Pitt standout and current Jets DB Darnell Revis, a real ball-hawk and someone who can change games, Safety is becoming the new prime position in case you haven't watched Troy Polamalu or Ed Reed, the Browns need a intimidator in the Eric Turner type of mold.
Form a Partnership With the New GM
George Kokonis, Rich McKay, Tom Heckert or Scott Pioli, the names are coming from all angles and we keep hearing different things about each and I'm not all that high on Kokonis because of his lack of experience being a GM.
I think the perfect fit for Mangini would be Eagles GM, Tom Heckert, they both seem to be tough, passionate men who want the best for their teams and with Heckert's track record of success coupled with Mangini's youth and potential, Heckert a Heckert/Mangini union could very well work, considering that both are experienced and have something to prove.
Is Manigini the Right Fit for Cleveland?
You will get no argument from Mangini's brother-in-law, Mark Shapiro, Mangini does have connections in Cleveland and while I'm not sure if that played a big factor in hiring him but at 37 Mangini is young enough to relate to the veterans on the team such as Shaun Rogers and Jamal Lewis and old enough to be able to talk to the young guns such as Quinn, Winslow, Edwards and Cribbs.
Mangini may not be the people's choice as was Bill Cowher, but he does have a chip on his shoulder now to prove Lerner right in hiring him and New York wrong in letting him walk.
And in the long run, Mangini just might work.
Dawgfather
Read More...
Get More Browns Here...
With the Browns and Eric Mangini reaching a four year deal to become the 12th head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Mangini will have his work cut our for him and not in the way of dealing with New York cabbies who have road rage.
Mangini, 37, will be entering a mess in Cleveland, with the whole organization in complete disarray following the Savage/Winslow public feud, reports of players quitting, Shaun Smith hitting his first QB in a long time in punching QB, Brady Quinn, and the failed hands of WR Braylon Edwards not to mention the horrid defense.
Mangini can either turn the Browns around in 2009 like he did the Jets in his rookie year and go potentially 10-6, or fail in addressing the ugly warts that the Browns have and opt for major surgery.
While many Browns fans are either lukewarm or not happy in Lerner hiring another Belichick branch from the "Belichick Tree" Mangini could prove to be his own redwood and establish his own roots and seeds in Cleveland.
And the Browns have as much talent as the Jets but it was never properly utilized by the former regime, which shall not be named on penalty of death but, Mangini is actually coming into a good situation in Cleveland with two young and promising QB's and both Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn, a promising young DB tandem in Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald and a young and yet untested defensive core in D'Qwell Jackson, Alex Hall and Kamerion Wimbley that will be looking to redeem itself in 2009.
Mangini's first actions as head coach should include:
Identifying your QB
This is actually fairly easy and will eliminate any future distractions and drama for the Browns, while former starting QB, Derek Anderson played like the next Brett Favre in terms of throwing picks, there is still some talent in him that can be harnessed under Mangini and maybe a new offensive system would do him some good.
Brady Quinn looked very promising during his first three starts under center, but is that REALLY enough to just hand him the reins to a potentially deadly offense that will be getting its true slot WR, Joe Jurivicius back? Mangini needs to pick his QB and stick with him.
Lose the Dead Weight
What I mean here is lose the players, who you think could hold this team back or don't fit into your plans for the future, players such as LB Andra Davis, DB's Terry Cousins, Mike Adams and Travis Daniels come to mind immediately but also look for the Browns to possibly release RB Jamal Lewis, especially if they draft a RB in April.
It also wouldn't surprise me if the Browns cut QB's Derek Anderson and/or Ken Dorsey, WR Donte Stallworth and possibly let SS Sean Jones leave if they decide to draft a DB, maybe USC SS Taylor Mays or Ohio State standout, Malcolm Jenkins.
Bring Back the 4-3
For those of us who have had to watch the Browns' play defense, this is a easy call, The Browns don't have the linebackers to play a 3-4, and with the tackling dummy also known as LB Andra Davis on his way out, along with Willie McGinest's upcoming retirement, now would be a good time to switch back to a 4-3, and with potential free agent's that are capable of playing the 4-3 out there, Mangini must decide between keeping the 3-4 or bringing back the 4-3.
The Browns must decide not only who to target in free agency but also the draft, as such noteworthy LB's such as Wake Forest's Aaron Curry, USC LB Ray Malaluga and Ohio State LB, James Laurinitis and Texas DE, Brian Orapko could be a major factor here.
This in my opinion is the second biggest action next to deciding between Quinn and Anderson that Mangini will have to make.
Utilize your Playmakers
While in New York, Mangini used RB Leon Washington in a lot of various ways, slot WR, kickoff returns, etc. Fans were creaming at their TV's wondering why Romeo never used similar players like RB Jerome Harrison and WR/KR Joshua Cribbs more effectively.
I get the vibe that under Mangini that could change and if Lewis is released look for the Browns to make a run at Chargers RB, Darren Sproles and potentially have a two-back set of Sproles and Harrison split behind Quinn/Anderson.
Manigini will also have his hands full in trying to coach up prima-donna WR, Braylon Edwards who had a bad case of the dropsies and now feels that the fans don't like him, I hope E tells Braylon to just CATCH THE DAMN BALL! and all will be fine.
Draft Fearlessly
Mangini strikes me as the type who will do whatever it takes to draft the best player and currently the player that fits the Browns needs the most is USC LB, Rey Malaluga, he is fearlessly, intimidating and actually HITS people, another player I wouldn't be surprised to see him want is SS Taylor Mays from USC.
Mays reminds him of former Pitt standout and current Jets DB Darnell Revis, a real ball-hawk and someone who can change games, Safety is becoming the new prime position in case you haven't watched Troy Polamalu or Ed Reed, the Browns need a intimidator in the Eric Turner type of mold.
Form a Partnership With the New GM
George Kokonis, Rich McKay, Tom Heckert or Scott Pioli, the names are coming from all angles and we keep hearing different things about each and I'm not all that high on Kokonis because of his lack of experience being a GM.
I think the perfect fit for Mangini would be Eagles GM, Tom Heckert, they both seem to be tough, passionate men who want the best for their teams and with Heckert's track record of success coupled with Mangini's youth and potential, Heckert a Heckert/Mangini union could very well work, considering that both are experienced and have something to prove.
Is Manigini the Right Fit for Cleveland?
You will get no argument from Mangini's brother-in-law, Mark Shapiro, Mangini does have connections in Cleveland and while I'm not sure if that played a big factor in hiring him but at 37 Mangini is young enough to relate to the veterans on the team such as Shaun Rogers and Jamal Lewis and old enough to be able to talk to the young guns such as Quinn, Winslow, Edwards and Cribbs.
Mangini may not be the people's choice as was Bill Cowher, but he does have a chip on his shoulder now to prove Lerner right in hiring him and New York wrong in letting him walk.
And in the long run, Mangini just might work.
Dawgfather
Read More...
Get More Browns Here...