|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 240
Practice Squad
|
OP
Practice Squad
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 240 |
Every time someone asks me how many games the Browns will win this year, I always fall back on Pete Puma's response when Bugs Bunny asks how many lumps (of sugar) he wants (in his tea). You know, before he gives up on tea, because it gives him a headache, and switches to coffee. My reply as to how many games I think my Browns will win is: "Oh, two or three." Then during the season we get a whole lot of lumps. Is it going to be different this year? With news of Gordon's suspension the day after Manziel's drafting, I thought, just like always: the Browns new QB scrambling to find a receiver. Any chance of playoffs?? I've been hearing we have more talent, but so what, if it doesn't transfer into W's?? Because of a poor receiving corps (cobbled together in an emergency, not grown together into a QB's organic supporting cast), uncertain RB situation, maybe improved defense and O-line (??), what do you think?? Two or three wins?? More?? 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 901
All Pro
|
|
All Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 901 |
16-0. Superbowl Baby!!
Why not?
Likely though, I see about 6-8 wins. Maybe for once things go our way.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9,433
Hall of Famer
|
|
Hall of Famer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9,433 |
I'll just be happy if we don't fire a coach, manage not to clean house, and Jimmy escapes prison.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 240
Practice Squad
|
|
OP
Practice Squad
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 240 |
Quote:
I'll just be happy if we don't fire a coach, manage not to clean house, and Jimmy escapes prison.
Sorry, one too many beers. 
Last edited by 1JohnnyG; 07/22/14 11:37 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 5,001
Hall of Famer
|
|
Hall of Famer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 5,001 |
For us its going to really depend on our our run game goes. hawkins and travis are can both take it to the house on any give pass. Can travis catch it though that's a fair question. A healthy Travis will at least make sure we have a few godo returns to allow us to have good field condition. That should at least allow some field goals. then if the defense can smother we get some wins.
With running game 7 to 9 wins. Without 3-5 wins.
It will be fun to see how they do. I spect we will start slow and then as the o-line gells and the HB's trust them more It will explode in time to give us hope for next year.
You can't fix stupid but you can destroy ignorance. When you destroy ignorance you remove the justifications for evil. If you want to destroy evil then educate our people. Hate is a tool of the stupid to deal with what they can't understand.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 40,399
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 40,399 |
Quote:
I've been hearing we have more talent, but so what, if it doesn't transfer into W's??
It certainly beats having less talent and you have to believe it will translate into wins eventually... we just haven't had a long term fix to the one position that has needed to be fixed for many years.
yebat' Putin
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 18,204
~ Legend
|
|
~ Legend
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 18,204 |
I see 8 wins with a competent QB and 10 with an above average QB. Everyone in the AFC North are overrated so we should take 4/6 games easily if the above requisites are met.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 433
1st String
|
|
1st String
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 433 |
I think this team has 7-9 written all over it.I could be completely wrong,and they end up 10-6 with a playoff birth,but I just don't feel like they have enough playmakers yet to take it to the next level.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,468
Dawg Talker
|
|
Dawg Talker
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,468 |
A lot depends on the first 3 games. I honestly feel as though 6 - 8 wins is realistic, but win those first 3 and everything changes.
The Cleveland Browns - WE KNOW QUARTERBACKS ( Look at how many we've had ... )
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,066
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,066 |
I agree, DC. I am fed up with reports that "we really practiced really well. Just swell!" Then go out and stink it up on game day. Getting results out of skill players, not using blitzers to drop into cover for example. Part of wins will be game planning on a more aggressive level IMO. Intensity. It feels different this year so far 9we ARE undefeated, after all). I am optimistic because of talent we are acquiring. Unlike Crennel, I resist going with my gut too much. I think maybe .500 and an outside shot at playoffs with a scattering of luck so a few fall our way. Improvement IMO would be solider football played and having more intensity and mental toughness for the 4th to close out more games. Waiting to see. 
"Every responsibility implies opportunity, and every opportunity implies responsibility." Otis Allen Glazebrook, 1880
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 40,399
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 40,399 |
Quote:
I think this team has 7-9 written all over it.I could be completely wrong,and they end up 10-6 with a playoff birth,but I just don't feel like they have enough playmakers yet to take it to the next level.
That's exactly how I feel. Unless something bizarre happens, I think the loss of Gordon (assuming he's lost) is worth 2 games.
I could see this team, at the end of the season, having 4 or 5 of those games we can all sit around and talk about that we "should have won"...
yebat' Putin
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,693
Hall of Famer
|
|
Hall of Famer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,693 |
I'm going with 9-7 and a wildcard birth, with an outside shot at 10-6 and the division.  (What the hell, one of these years has to not be 4 or 5 wins, might as well start with this one.)
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/hfMNC7T.jpg) "I am undeterred and I am undaunted." --Kevin Stefanski "Big hairy American winning machines." --Baker Mayfield #gmstrong
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,643
Hall of Famer
|
|
Hall of Famer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,643 |
Im going with our usual 5-11
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,066
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,066 |
"Every responsibility implies opportunity, and every opportunity implies responsibility." Otis Allen Glazebrook, 1880
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 28,171
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 28,171 |
Quote:
I'll just be happy if we don't fire a coach, manage not to clean house, and Jimmy escapes prison.
This kinda sums up my expectations.
Recent history sets the bar pretty low. Only a boatload of wishful thinking can raise it without us having proven a single thing.
"Oh, two or three" sounds fairly accurate, to me.
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 74,770
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 74,770 |
I don't see it being much better than last season. I mean we once again have a new HC, OC and DC. Our WR core looks weak at best and Tate hasn't shown a great ability to stay healthy even in a back-up role.
We once again will need to depend on a lot of rookie talent to develop. My main hope is that we see improvement as the season goes. That by the end of the season, we look much better than the beginning of the season.
At least that will give us hope moving forward. I want this team to succeed as I always do, however I don't see this as the year that happens.
My sig. says it best for me. Until we get some continuity in system and coaching, I don't see any long term success. And when so many key parts are new, I don't see that happening right away.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
#gmstrong
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 164
Practice Squad
|
|
Practice Squad
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 164 |
Quote:
Quote:
I think this team has 7-9 written all over it.I could be completely wrong,and they end up 10-6 with a playoff birth,but I just don't feel like they have enough playmakers yet to take it to the next level.
That's exactly how I feel. Unless something bizarre happens, I think the loss of Gordon (assuming he's lost) is worth 2 games.
I could see this team, at the end of the season, having 4 or 5 of those games we can all sit around and talk about that we "should have won"...
I guess I'm not as doom and gloom about missing Gordon as some because I think having a good QB can more than make up for missing a superstar WR. I mean just look at the Jax game last year, Gordon had a huge game and we still lost.
I also think having a running game changes a lot too and I think our backfield is lightyears ahead of where it was last year.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 17,438
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 17,438 |
jc The only thing that will be different this year is that we will have a media circus. I would like to say that a QB controversy would be different, but we always have those. 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 13,205
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 13,205 |
Quote:
Is it going to be different this year??
No, I'm sorry, its not going to be different. Its going to be exactly the same as last year, right down to the flipper passes and the second-half defensive pratfalls.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 19,136
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 19,136 |
New head coach? Check
Niew coordinators running different systems? Check
Unproven quarterback? Check
New running backs? Check
Defense looked promising the previous year? Check
Receiver issues? Check
Inside LB questions? Check
FS questions? Check
Look familiar? All indicators point to another 4-5 win season. Prove me wrong.....PLEASE BROWNS.....prove me wrong.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.
- John Muir
#GMSTRONG
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 12,635
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 12,635 |
Our win/loss column may not reflect the improvements, but I think this staff here is by far better than those of previous regimes. I got faith in this staff which spawns from Ray Farmer on down. I think we are already an instantly improved team this season as compared to last season IMO. Superbowl or playoffs, doubt it. But clear cut improvement of the team I think will be transparent and visible. I do it every year though, get excited, get worked up... then 4-12 comes LOL. 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55,499
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55,499 |
I don't know............I thought that Chud, Norv, and Horton were excellent hires and I was so excited about that coaching staff. They failed and I was wrong about them, but man, going into the season............I thought they were excellent. Come on, you did too............didn't you? 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 13,478
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 13,478 |
I do agree with you on your line of thought, Vers. I was happy with the Chud, Norv, Horton hires. I was skeptical of the front office, but they were slowly winning me over with some of their moves. Strictly speaking about coaches however, it's hard to match the level of excitement from last year. I was excited about Chud, Norv, and Horton... and look how that turned out. And now we're marching (largely) unknowns out there? Shanny Jr. is the closest we have to a "sure thing" in terms of coaching. I do believe the talent level is better, though (due to additions as well as subtractions). At the end of the day, however, I figure I really don't have much of a choice to be anything other than optimistic. 16-0, here we come!
There is no level of sucking we haven't seen; in fact, I'm pretty sure we hold the patents on a few levels of sucking NOBODY had seen until the past few years.
-PrplPplEater
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55,499
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55,499 |
I think we have to hope that Pettine is a far better leader than Chud.
Norv is a very smart OC, but his insistence on abandoning the running game did get old. I think Shanny will run the ball. I know it is a passing league, but you have to have some balance. My worry is that we won't be able to pass the ball effectively and you aren't going to win big in the today's NFL w/JUST a running game.
Defensively, I think the schemes are similar. It should not be much of a transition. I do think we upgraded the talent on defense and improved our leadership by bringing in Whitner.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9,433
Hall of Famer
|
|
Hall of Famer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9,433 |
Chud operated as best as he could under the handcuffs of tweedle dee and tweedle dumb.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 12,635
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 12,635 |
No doubt, I did and I too ended up being wrong. 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55,499
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55,499 |
Sure he did. 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 5,001
Hall of Famer
|
|
Hall of Famer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 5,001 |
I don't think Chud did anything bad last season. By all accounts the players loved him.
I think he got screwed by a front office that refused to get him the players he wanted. Norv is on record that Banner refused to get them real WR,HB, or FB help. They played some players they would not have normally to see what they would have for 2014.
Our HB were horrible so of course they gave up on the run. I mean they at least wanted a chance to win...
I am not saying chud is a some HOF coach but with Norv backing him up he would have made a fine coach. We know they sure made our TE blossom! Banner just wouldn't do his job and the players the coaches wanted.
This year we have Farmer as GM. This alone is a huge improvement IMHO because he is a football guys through and through and we KNOW he is going after players his coaches want AKA Gilbert.
Not saying I love how our draft went BUT our GM went and got players that his coaches wanted so that is a HUGE difference from last year. It might not show up in the wins this year but I will bank that it pays off huge next year. I know this much ... in 3 years from now when we truly evaluate Petine he wont have an excuse because Farmer is getting him players he wants.
Just still don't know who is gonna catch the ball with out Gordan ...
You can't fix stupid but you can destroy ignorance. When you destroy ignorance you remove the justifications for evil. If you want to destroy evil then educate our people. Hate is a tool of the stupid to deal with what they can't understand.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,859
Hall of Famer
|
|
Hall of Famer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,859 |
It got to be different one of these years. Hopefully this year.
I do not have any idea what the record will be but what I wanna see is
1) A franchise QB start to develop. Either Hoyer or Manziel. That will be the first sign that the fortunes of this team will change.
2) A nasty defense. If the defense can shut down opposing teams run game, get after the QB, and force turnovers. That has seperated us from the Steelers and Ravens for over a decade.
3) A team that consistantly wins line of scrimmage battles.
4) .500 or better team in the division
5) A competitive team that shows promise of a bright future. Something to look forward to instead of spending he season thinking about who we can draft. I hope that the Bills pick is the talked about pick next off season.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55,499
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55,499 |
I realize that you are not aware of this, but if I try to answer your post logically, I will have Purp, PDR, cfrs, Daman, etc all over my butt for not letting things go. You know..............it's so terrible to have different points of view on here. Let me just say this.....................do you really think that the talent was so bad last year and if so, who was responsible for bringing most of it in? Do you really think that the FO coached the players? Do you really think the FO is the reason why guys quit late in games and late in the year? Seriously?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55,499
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55,499 |
Yeah, I hope so, too.
Lord knows we are due.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 18,204
~ Legend
|
|
~ Legend
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 18,204 |
JC
Turns out if you don't have a good QB then throwing 50 times a game is probably not going to win you any games.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 118
Practice Squad
|
|
Practice Squad
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 118 |
j/c Recently I watched the Direct TV short cuts. We basically dominated three games we somehow lost. Even watching the replays I was like we lost this game? So easily with a little better defense at the end of half/game these are victories. That translates to a 7 win season this year which could easily turn to 9 with avg/good quarterback play. Some notes of interest, Josh Gordon dropped allot of balls. Not to mention an easy over the middle pass which Hoyer later hurt himself. Shouldn't even been on the field. Then made some great plays for big yardage. Quite inconsistent. Surprisingly Greg Little caught most thrown his way, he just wasn't very effective getting open. Baker was more than adequate at running back, he is my sleeper pick to make the squad in some capacity. 3rd down defense down right sucked.  Campbell wasn't very consistent either. Appeared the team lost there will last 4 games. There is no reason we shouldn't expect this team to rise from the ashes As usual we will have to wait & see if this season actually has a different feel. Heres to the start of football season 
If I only knew then what I know today...
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 17,024
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 17,024 |
Quote:
Chud operated as best as he could under the handcuffs of tweedle dee and tweedle dumb.
Chud was a dud. Knew it half way through the season when his teams continued to fold like a wet paper bag.
LOL - The Rish will be upset with this news as well. KS just doesn't prioritize winning...
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55,499
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55,499 |
That's a pretty darn good post w/many solid observations.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 50,423
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 50,423 |
I think that Chud was operating under the belief that he had more than one year to work and develop players ..... not that the team was in "win at all costs" mode.
A team without any RB is going to have a hard time winning, especially when they go through 3 QBs, and those QBs are named Weeden, Campbell, and Hoyer.
There were reports that Norv was mad because the team traded Richardson without ever giving him a chance t get him going ...... but only unnamed sources and such. Take those for what they are worth. I have a hard time believing that a long established guy like Norv would act in any way except the most professional.
Oh well .... the past is past, and it's on to the future now. I am hopeful that we have quality people in place.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55,499
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55,499 |
I don't know how you are building for the future by losing 10 out of your last 11 games including your last 7 straight.
The team quit on him. Period.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 39,562
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 39,562 |
Quote:
I don't know how you are building for the future by losing 10 out of your last 11 games including your last 7 straight.
The team quit on him. Period.
I agree, and that's why he is gone.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn. GM Strong ![[Linked Image]](http://www.dawgtalkers.net/uploads/small-gator-chomp.gif)
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 17,475
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 17,475 |
j/c...
It seems we made a good young team better in personnel that seem to fit.
2014 will have to depend on how quick we adjust to a new scheme on O n D. The D will catch on quicker. Still, the lack of continuity can hold a lot of things back as in results.
Hopefully this staff can get the much needed variable "FINISH" not just a word but a team character that has to be built. Pettine has the persona to build this. I've adapted Mangini's philosophy to my own but the formula for winning games is not that difficult. COMMUNICATION, TRUST & FINISH. Mangini had one more but I've simplified it to make it mine...lol 
I truly think and have been saying so for a while now.
WE finally got a team with DESTINY in it. The Browns have finally arrived!
jmho
Defense wins championships. Watson play your butt off!
Go Browns!
CHRIST HAS RISEN!
GM Strong! & Stay safe everyone!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 18,990
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 18,990 |
j/c:
Not sure if it is going to be different but certainly hoping so. And actually, I'm rather pleased with the overall talent on this team and the hopeful talent of others. We'll see-- it all comes down to QB play.
One thing to note-- It is possible that we end up starting five rookies in Game 1 in Bitonio, Gilbert, Kirksey, West, and Manziel (also in my order of likeliness). I added West in case of an injury to Tate and/or he just blows everyone away early on.
That's rather aggressive for a team wanting to significantly increase it's win total and make the playoffs, especially if one of those rookies is at the QB position.
At DT, context and meaning are a scarecrow kicking at moving goalposts.
|
|
|
DawgTalkers.net
Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Is it going to be different this
year??
|
|
