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Knocking on playoff door, Browns go for broke

Anderson, Rogers head long list of veterans tabbed to win now

Re-signing free agent quarterback Derek Anderson over leaving the door open to let second-year man Brady Quinn play was a clear sign of the Browns' win-now focus, writes Dan Pompei.

NBCSports.com

BROWNS TRAINING CAMP PREVIEW
By Dan Pompei
NBCSports.com contributor


If expectations are high in Cleveland, the Browns have themselves to blame.

They came on strong in 2007, and then approached the 2008 offseason as a team that was on the verge of something special might. The Browns clearly put all of their focus on trying to win quickly, emphasizing veterans over rookies.

They had already traded away their 2008 first round pick during the 2007 draft. That's how they acquired Brady Quinn. Then they traded their third round pick along with cornerback Leigh Bodden to the Lions for defensive tackle Shaun Rogers. And finally they traded their second round pick to the Packers for defensive lineman Corey Williams.

They also decided to re-sign restricted free agent quarterback Derek Anderson instead of trying to trade him and allowing Quinn to get his chance. They stuck with veteran running back Jamal Lewis, who was scheduled to become a free agent. And they added to the offense by signing free agent Donte Stallworth.

The Browns were not shy about spending. They have put together a pretty impressive roster that should enable them to build on what they did last season.

Given their go for broke mentality, this team needs to be a contender.

Hot seat
Normally when a general manager makes the kinds of bold moves Phil Savage made, he puts himself on the hot seat. But Savage just signed a lucrative three year contract extension that runs through 2012. So Savage won't feel much heat.

Anderson might if he doesn't play at least as well as he did a year ago. Especially with Quinn warming up on the sidelines.

There still are some who suspect Anderson's 2007 performance was fluky. Even the Browns were surprised by Anderson's sudden command of the offense. And his leadership remains questionable. But no one can argue the fact that he threw more touchdown passes last year than all but five quarterbacks.

Anderson got the payday and he has the weapons. To whom much is given, much is expected.

Overheard at camp
Acquiring Rogers and Williams weren't the only things the Browns did in order to improve their shaky run defense. They also replaced defensive coordinator Todd Grantham by promoting secondary coach Mel Tucker.

With Tucker in charge, look for a simpler Browns defense. The word is the team is trying to streamline its fronts and coverages so players can execute without thinking as much.

Comings and goings
Williams and Rogers give the Browns more talent up front than they have had since Crennel has been in charge. What remains to be seen is how Williams and Rogers will fit in the three man fronts that the Browns use most of the time.

Rogers is starting out at nose tackle. He certainly has the size and power to play that position. But his pass rush ability will be wasted as a nose. Look for him to eventually play some snaps at end as well.

Williams played both end and tackle in the Packers' four man front, but with the Browns he probably will play end most of the time. He has a good frame to be an end in a 3-4, and the right combination of strength and pass rush.

Neither Williams nor Rogers is going to be among the league leaders in sacks playing in this defense, but the hope is their ability to occupy blockers will open things up for Kamerion Wimbley, Willie McGinest and others.

The Browns will need plenty of pass rush to compensate for a questionable back end. In addition to losing Bodden, they also lost starting corner Daven Holly to a season ending knee injury. That leaves 2007 second round pick Eric Wright as their "shutdown" corner, and previous backup Brandon McDonald in the starting lineup.

Prediction
If the Browns played in the NFC, they might be the trendy Super Bowl pick. But in the AFC, there are many levels of excellence.

The Browns look like a contender, no doubt. But whether or not they can hang in there with the big boys like the Patriots, Colts and Chargers remains to be seen.

The nice thing about this team is they won't be dependent on one player to carry them. They have enough good things going that they will be able to win games even on days when key players have off days.

Look for them to win ten games.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/25607540/site/21683474/

I'd be more than happy with ten wins on this schedule.

Exactly. Duplicate last year's record by haing 10 wins? That's a successful season.

Ten wins with the tough schedule probably means we win the division too. I'd be friggin' geeked for ten wins...but I think nine is more likely.

It would truly be amazing if the Browns made it to the Superbowl this year.. It doesn't really appear that we are truly ready for that, but we certainly look improved.. Especially on D with the line pickups we made..

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Re-signing free agent quarterback Derek Anderson over leaving the door open to let second-year man Brady Quinn play was a clear sign of the Browns' win-now focus, writes Dan Pompei.

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It's funny how the press always makes the headlines about the QB, but in reality, getting the two Dline guys was as big or perhaps even a bigger indication that the Browns want to win NOW.

I only say that because if the O stays exactly the same but the D improves, we probably win 2 more, maybe 3 more games last year making us 12 or 13 wins..That's the division and the playoffs.. Then anything can happen.

That's why I feel as if the D line guys are the indication of a win now mentality..

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The Browns look like a contender, no doubt. But whether or not they can hang in there with the big boys like the Patriots, Colts and Chargers remains to be seen.

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Not that he's wrong about the Pats, Colts and Chargers, but I think it's odd, no mention of the Steelers, Ravens or Bengals.. Those are our gateway games to the playoffs.. We come out of those games with the better record and we are probably in.

Either way, it's nice to hear positive things about the Browns.. hard not to love it actually.

Hope for 10-6. 9-7 is probably more likely. Very well could win division. Think we are a year away and another DB & OLB from being a serious contender. Hope we don"t trade away our draft picks for a quick fix. Not sure our QB is for real. This year will tell.

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I said this same thing to my dad the other day. We could be alot better and and not have the record to show for it.

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Pretty fair way of putting it. I agree.

But I still don't think everyone is taking into consideration that teams that were good last year, may fall and those that weren't so good could rise.

When it comes right down to it, we are looking only at probablilities based on last years results.

WE could (as if) end up with what will be viewed later, as an easy schedule.

All it would take is for the Cowboys, Giants and Colts to fall off for any one of a number of potential reasons and POOF..., a hard season becomes much easier, leaving us with just the usual suspects, Pitts, Cinci and Balt to be our hardest games. Nothing we aren't used to already.

No, I don't expect them all to crumble.. but one of them can and probably will.. Two of them would be way to much to hope for

I think the perceived difficulty of our schedule is overblown.
I'm EXPECTING at least 10 wins.

Truthfully, that's what happened last year. Our schedule last training camp, although nowhere near as tough on paper as this year's, was thought to be pretty tough. But, some of those teams that were thought to be on the rise, didn't really rise, and teams that were thought to be good, floundered. So our schedule ended up easier than originally thought.

Not saying that will happen this year, but it could. I don't think the Giants will be as good this year.

Yeah Nduty, that's what I was trying to say... (you did a better job of it however LOL )

Truth be told, and looking at things with Rose colored glasses, whats to say that we don't just run roughshod over all these "So Called" top teams. I mean, who expected us to turn the corner last year like we did.. Naturally, when you think that's possible, you have to allow for a complete collapse as well.. only logical I guess.

But I have faith....

I agree here. The one thing never mentioned when talking about these so-called tough schedules, is who did those teams actually beat last year. I remember last year how the same talk was used. But the so-called tough teams played a bunch of losing teams the year before.
Also the Browns playin the NFC east means nothing to me. I believe the AFC consistently have stronger teams. Also, teams like the Chargers always seem to be a powerhouse, but can get beat by relatively weaker teams.
IMO, last years schedule means nothing to me.

The schedule looks brutal now, but its hard to say if all the teams who were good last year or are supposed to be good this year actually will be. We had a pretty nasty looking schedule last year at this time of the offseason, but once the season started it seemed to get softer every week.

These are the teams we played last year:

Baltimore, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Miami, Houston, Seattle, San Francisco, New England, New York Jets, Oakland, St. Louis, Arizona

Cinci was bad but that came as a surprise.

Baltimore was also bad and that was not a huge surprise to me at least, but most people thought Baltimore, Cinci, and Pittsburgh would be fighting for the division and it ended up not happening that way at all.

Pittsburgh was Pittsburgh, no surprises there, beat us twice as usual.

Buffalo was considered an up and coming team at the beginning of last year.

I think everyone knew Miami was getting the #1 pick in the draft this year, one of our only games everyone thought we would win last offseason.

Houston was about what was expected, decent but not good.

Everyone thought Seattle was going to be a powerhouse but they were merely above average.

Remember people picking San Francisco to be a playoff team and make some noise? They were getting almost as much hype last year in the offseason as we are this year.

New England went 16-0 in the regular season. Don't think anyone expected that, but they were most people's picks to represent the AFC in the super bowl.

The Jets were being called a playoff team coming in to the season and they really weren't very good at all last year.

Oakland was supposed to be a doormat. They ended up beating us, but it was a game we should have won. One of the weakest teams we played, which I don't think anyone was surprised by.

St. Louis was probably the biggest shock in the league last year, at least for me. They were downright terrible most of the season and they were being hyped to be a contender and there were people picking them to be the NFC's super bowl team. The greatest show on turf was supposed to be making a comeback. I don't even know what to call the team they put on the field last year.

Arizona is supposed to be making it over the hump every year, but they never seem to. Before the season people were predicting that it would finally happen with the talent they have now. They did beat us.

If you look at our schedule last year, you can see that it was fairly weak overall. But, if you remember to last offseason, most of the teams on our schedule, save maybe 3 (Arizona, Oakland, Miami), were supposed to be winning football teams. How many of them actually were? I remember the talk last year about Cleveland not winning a single game because of how difficult our schedule looked and how much talent we supposedly lacked. Turns out both of those were false. We played alot of teams who were bad but were supposed to be good and we actually do have talent.

This year, the only difference is people know we have talent now. Our schedule looks hard on paper, but that doesn't mean it will be. Just look at last year as an example of what could happen. Things change fast in the NFL. Look at the Rams or the Saints as good examples of teams falling flat on their faces last year. We don't know who will have that happen to them this coming year, but hopefully its a few of the teams on our schedule, and hopefully its not us.

My money is personally on Dallas combusting, winning solves everything in the NFL, but if we come out and beat them and they lose another game or two early, the personalities on that team will really come out.

Thanks for the read.

"Given their go for broke mentality, this team needs to be a contender."

Go for broke mentality??? Nothing in our acquisition reeks of getting an old veteran with one or two good years left in the tank for a SB run.

We invested in Rogers n Williams both in their late twenties and both playing a position of long term impact. Definitely 5 good years maybe more!

So we gave up the 2nd n 3rd round picks in what seems to be a weak draft class.

And the Quinn investment has nothing to remotely do with giving away the future for the present.

I this regard I believe the author missed the boat in his thinking.

This wasn't Go for broke...we are well set up for cap room next year as well. Bentley's contract gone, ADs contract gone, JJ retiring, McG's tenure here at a end (or a new contract)...DA's 08 contract very cap friendly and a trade out friendly contract for next off season (if we look to make the switch to BQ).

We are still set up for growth and improvement. This isn't the APEX which is when team go for broke the next step is to disband. We have built ourselves into a possible contender, true. But we still will move forward...next year back on track with draft picks - minus a 3rd rounder (maybe also a 5th???) but more than probable additional picks gotten from dealing the QB we deem as 2nd banana to the other.

We will be right there with early picks to provide Impact and upgrades!...plus a little money to spend on maybe one more key FA pick up if it fits!

I don't see this as the Apex but more like the tip of the Iceberg.

"Rogers is starting out at nose tackle. He certainly has the size and power to play that position. But his pass rush ability will be wasted as a nose."

The author totally lost me on this rendition of Rogers and our pass rush. He totally underestimates the value of having the pocket collapse from underneath...and he just doesn't get it...its not all about the STAT Sacks!...its the pressure and the breakdown of the pocket which in effect creates mistakes by the offense and Turnovers....every time he has to get out of the pocket cause of Rogers crashing the underbelly of the pocket....that makes Wimbley and Peek more effective...especially Wimbley and his penchant for creating Fumbles...#3 in the AFC??? It rushes the QB in his throws and when he does stay in the pocket it is from that underbelly that stops the QB from following through which last I surmized was probably 75% responsible for all INTs from thrown balls in the pocket!

Wasted???? More like a God Send!

JMHO

I agree Eo.

From a pass rush standpoint, teams don't double a NT unless they want to do so...and if that is the case, they could double Rogers no matter where he lined up.

I guess it might slow him down a bit not knowing if a team is passing or running, but shortly after the snap he knows.

I think we are going to have a very vibrant pass rush this season...especially if we can disguise which backer is going to join the rush on any given play.

The biggest fear I have with Rogers on the nose is he is by nature a pass rusher. Once he sees his man stand-up rather than blow out, I fear he will, or we will, be open to allowing draws to gain some big yards.

That said..that's life...I expect we will see qbs harassed all season long in a big way.

Go Browns

This is by no means a guarantee cause I never guarantee anything...lol...

Rogers has the potential to RE-INVENT the Nose position...Guys like Hampton and Wilfork are stout at the LOS but lack any type of quickness to be able to get to a QB in a 3-4...Rogers has that quickness...Moreso than ANY other Nose in the game today...

This could be a beautiful thing to witness...Doubled up on or not...If Rogers beats it these guys can't give up on him...They do and their QB gets crushed...They need to ride him as long as possible and that right there will open the middle up bigtime...He ain't gonna just sit there and "Occupy" 2 linemen when he can blow right past em'...

We need to send guys like Jones and Jackson right up the gut where Rogers is...And send Wimbley up the same area at times...This HORSE we got in Rogers is gonna open a new world for these Safeties and LB's...

Just a feeling but I think Rogers is gonna shove it right up the collective asses of all the critics he's got with this "He plays when he wants to" BS...

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Rogers has the potential to RE-INVENT the Nose position...Guys like Hampton and Wilfork are stout at the LOS but lack any type of quickness to be able to get to a QB in a 3-4...Rogers has that quickness...Moreso than ANY other Nose in the game today...

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Yeah, interesting you say that. I'm really interested in seeing what our line and particularly Shaun can do in terms of "eating up blockers". As you say, he (or they) could end up redefining not only the Nose, but the 3-4 line in general. If they start blowing up O-lines, wreaking havoc in the backfield, making tackles behind the LOS and getting sacks, we may see a whole new definition of what a 3-4 line is all about. If these guys consistently collapse the middle, there will be nowhere to hide.

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"This wasn't Go for broke...we are well set up for cap room next year as well. Bentley's contract gone, ADs contract gone, JJ retiring, McG's tenure here at a end (or a new contract)...DA's 08 contract very cap friendly and a trade out friendly contract for next off season (if we look to make the switch to BQ)."

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IMHO, it isn't "go for broke," either. Rather, I see it as some of the shrewdest GM'ing this year.... and your next statement shows exactly why:

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"We are still set up for growth and improvement. This isn't the APEX which is when team go for broke the next step is to disband. We have built ourselves into a possible contender, true. But we still will move forward... next year back on track with draft picks..."

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...while adding to an already solid team with (very) few holes to fill.


Anyone who thinks that these offseason moves have an air of desperation or "hurry up" flavor, simply doesn't understand Phil's strategy for building this team. Grabbing up Rogers & Williams was EXACTLY the right move at exactly the right time. There simple wasn't anyone on our draft board who could possibly bring the same immediate AND long-term impact that these 2 guys can. Smart using our picks to grab quality players at reasonable rates.

I would liked to have seen Bodden stay (for depth), but I also understand why he was bundled in the trade... you gotta pay to play. Better to see him go than either of our two young'uns, who look to have more potential than Leigh.

Bottom line: although he was off in a number of his supositions, the author nonetheless saw some real potential for our team this upcoming year... and it's still a pleasant novelty to read positive press about the Browns.

Now. if these guys could just write with a little more accuracy... the extra cred they'd have would put even a better spin on things....


h.02,
Clemdawg

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had to do it.

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No, you didn't Pres.

You really didn't... you DO realize that?