Cleveland Browns 2020 Regular Season Thread

[markb]

 

[red.]

 

[Phil Mixtape]

Seems like most on here think there will be a season? If there is, i can't imagine there being any fans at the games . . .

 

[Bob_The_Cat]

Seeing people predict double digits wins at this point is still a bit shocking IMO.

Overall talent on offense is much improved, and while the offensive system should be better, there’s still going to be an adjustment period. Baker should be better, but still a bit of an unknown. OBJ and Landry are both coming off offseason hip surgery so it’s not a total given on where they’ll be at to start the year.

There are still a lot of question marks on defense, specifically at LB and safety to a degree. Once again, I think we’ll be better with a new defensive scheme but there is going to be an adjustment period. Another big concern for me moving forward is if our top CBs can stay healthy.

If a full season is played, I think 8-8 or 9-7 seems right. Given that we have brand schemes on offense and defense, an entirely new coaching staff, and a shortened offseason with limited access, double digit wins and wild card births seem a bit premature.

 

[Triplethreat]

Seeing people predict double digits wins at this point is still a bit shocking IMO.

Overall talent on offense is much improved, and while the offensive system should be better, there’s still going to be an adjustment period. Baker should be better, but still a bit of an unknown. OBJ and Landry are both coming off offseason hip surgery so it’s not a total given on where they’ll be at to start the year.

There are still a lot of question marks on defense, specifically at LB and safety to a degree. Once again, I think we’ll be better with a new defensive scheme but there is going to be an adjustment period. Another big concern for me moving forward is if our top CBs can stay healthy.

If a full season is played, I think 8-8 or 9-7 seems right. Given that we have brand schemes on offense and defense, an entirely new coaching staff, and a shortened offseason with limited access, double digit wins and wild card births seem a bit premature.

If there's a year to make a jump.. it's this one.

 

[Hurl Bruce]

Going to be a lot of Natson jerseys in the stands.

 

[JDailey23]

If there's a year to make a jump.. it's this one.

Anything less than 9 and it’s a failure IMO.

 

[The Oi]

Anything less than 9 and it’s a failure IMO.

Every year is a failure for the Browns.

 

[bushwick_bill]

Every year is a failure for the Browns.

2 wins.

 

[Bob_The_Cat]

Anything less than 9 and it’s a failure IMO.

We’ve won 9 or more games twice since coming back into the league and haven’t done it in 12 years.

2002 - 9 wins
2007 - 10 wins

I just can’t call fewer than 9 wins a failure right now given an entirely new staff and the limited contact that is currently allowed due to circumstances.

I think the schedule is favorable, but I also thought it was last year, too, which didn’t really turn out to be true.

 

[daddywags]

With a brand new, first time, head coach and a shortened off season program there's a lot working against us this year. The only things I require are that we see some football, show some positive signs, and have patience.

 

[Triplethreat]

With a brand new, first time, head coach and a shortened off season program there's a lot working against us this year. The only things I require are that we see some football, show some positive signs, and have patience.

We have quite possibly the most talented roster in the entire NFL.

That simply isn't good enough. At some point you have to actually make the playoffs.

 

[Vee-Rex]

We’ve won 9 or more games twice since coming back into the league and haven’t done it in 12 years.

2002 - 9 wins
2007 - 10 wins

I just can’t call fewer than 9 wins a failure right now given an entirely new staff and the limited contact that is currently allowed due to circumstances.

I think the schedule is favorable, but I also thought it was last year, too, which didn’t really turn out to be true.

This core has some serious questions that need answering. Going 8-8 or 7-9 won’t do much for figuring out if we want to continue with Baker, Denzel, or continue paying our receivers, etc...

We need to go 9-7 or better unless 8-8 gets us into the playoffs.

 

[Bob_The_Cat]

We have quite possibly the most talented roster in the entire NFL.

That simply isn't good enough. At some point you have to actually make the playoffs.

We can’t have the most talented roster until Baker starts playing like a top 8 QB in the league at bare minimum. Until that happens, there’s no reason to discuss that, not even mentioning other roster issues.

This core has some serious questions that need answering. Going 8-8 or 7-9 won’t do much for figuring out if we want to continue with Baker, Denzel, or continue paying our receivers, etc...

We need to go 9-7 or better unless 8-8 gets us into the playoffs.

IMO, these are the three main questions that need answered this year.

1. Is Stefanski a legitimate head coach?
2. Can Baker consistently play as a top 12 QB?
3. Is Wills able to play LT?

If the answer to even one of those questions is either no or inconclusive, I’d say our ceiling is at best 8-8.

That’s not even factoring in that we might currently have a bottom 5 LB core, but I’ll leave that for another time.

 

[Vee-Rex]

IMO, these are the three main questions that need answered this year.

1. Is Stefanski a legitimate head coach?
2. Can Baker consistently play as a top 12 QB?
3. Is Wills able to play LT?

If the answer to even one of those questions is either no or inconclusive, I’d say our ceiling is at best 8-8.

That’s not even factoring in that we might currently have a bottom 5 LB core, but I’ll leave that for another time.

I think Stefanski being better than a complete dumpster fire (Freddie) is likely. I don't think he has to be an amazing coach or anything, just decent. I think 'top 12' QB for Baker is an arbitrary line. We want him to be good, but there's so many variables and factors that come into play during the year that I can see him being league-average and us still winning more than 8. He was 2nd worst starting QB last year and we won 6 games with a dumpster coach and turnstile tackles. And I think it's likely Wills is able to play LT. I doubt he'd be worse than Greg Robinson. A coach's scheme alone can work wonders for getting the best out of players. As such, if Stefanski turns out to be damn good, maybe Baker can be the 17th best QB and we still win 10 games.

We start ignoring so many variables when we are making statements such as, "Our ceiling is X if Y or Z happens". I do agree that all of your points are certainly important.