DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Optimism: Why this time it’s DIFFERENT!!!!!

I'm cautiously optimistic, and excited to see how we do. I think having solid QB play will keep us in games, I worry about the DL interior (the OL not so much but it's a concern) and there's question marks at DB, even though I think we're better there.

I know Tyrod never had a receiving group like ours, and that's without factoring in Josh. Landry is a godsend.

So many changes, on offence especially. Can we threaten for a playoff spot? I guess I'll need to see it before I truly believe it.

no optimism here... just not pessimism as has been the case for the past few years.

Not overly optimistic.

I guess it's a wait and see.

what was the reason for optimism last year??

Haha. Same thing as this year.

I'll be honest: I had zero last year at this time. It was basically a lost cause with those QBs

Same here, but I had a little more after the 4-0 preseason and bought into Hue saying we had a different mentality.

Man, there's some TOUGH cookies to crack here.

Dawgs, join in. Let it out. Our troubled past is quickly approaching the rear view mirror.

If you need to, take a Dip in Lake Erie for the cleansing of the stench.

QB alone is going to take this team to respectibility.

Gonna be a FUN year on Sundays.

I'm not saying I necessarily disagree with you whip ... or anybody who's optimistic. I share some of your same thoughts, although I'm more cautious in letting myself get too excited.

BUT, I can't help but feel curious about how this board will be when we're 0-2 ... let's face it: Pittsburgh and at New Orleans is a BRUTAL way to start the year.

I mean, we very well could play GOOD games and not be competitive in either one.

IMO, that week (short week against the NYJ in primetime) is THE deciding week for Hue and this team.

How bout this scenario?

We pop Pittsburgh week one.

We then catch a 1-0 Saints team looking ahead to Week 3 at Division Rival Atlanta and Shock em.

2-0 Baby! Could happen.

We are undefeated. I am almost giddy. Broke string of losses. Looked fairly solid. Two QB's did well.

I am more optimistic now during my usually self-blinding phase before "real" ball kicks in. We Had a number of folks held out. I have penciled in two days of unabashed optimism for direction of the Browns. I would love to sting those Black-and-Gold stinkers right out of the chute.

i want to see more (may the Pigskin Goddess have mercy on my soul).

A picture of my face would crash the Board !

I hope we see a few more series with Taylor under center in the next couple of games .. I feel really good about our Talent level for the start of the season with the exception of the OL and depth through out the line-up . A couple more good drafts and we will be in the Game .. I real think this will be a fun season to be a Browns Fan , and at 70 I could use a pick me up .. lol

If we win 1 of them, I'll buy you a meal. If we lose both, you buy me one

Let's keep it real ... Pittsburgh boast boast one of the top 3 WR's in the NFL. The best or 2nd best RB in the NFL. Their 2nd WR is a hell of a WR and might be a #1 on 1/3 the teams in the NFL. Their QB is old but still playing at a top 10 level based on many games from last season.... Beating them week 1 would be more fluke than Browns turn around imo

and I looked at my season predictions (without noticing it before) and I predicted PIT vs NO in the Super Bowl .. our first two games

I understand your optimism and the reasons for it, but it isn't different until it shows on the field. Until then, it is just potential and "on paper". We've seen oodles of unrealized potential here.

When they prove it on the field with something approaching consistency, then it's different.

Perhaps, just perhaps, all those bums are a bunch of pencil-pushing-loud-mouthed-know-nothing-limp-wristed-clown-faced-nancy-boys!

(Sorry, always hard to temper my enthusiasm in the pre-season.)

Honestly though, is there any reason in the world to rank the Browns any higher before they actually show something on the field?

NFL.COM ~ RANK 31
"The Browns are going to be better, there's no doubt about that. Whether that means winning five to seven games or something even more modest, the AFC North stacks up in such a way that Cleveland can be reasonably expected to split in its division."

Sounds like they expect us to move towards, and finish, much higher than 31. Most rankings start the beginning of the new season close to where you left off in the previous. I don't read those rankings and put any stock into "the Browns are doomed to fail". Besides, any moves the Browns make are generally part of a punch line whether they turn out to be good or bad. It's what all the cool kids do.

Nancy boys.

Mac, this comment sounds like you believe that the events that transpired (drafting Corbett, not signing a LT) were PLAN A all along, rather than the best that Dorsey could do when everything settled out. The Browns tried to sign Solder, but he signed elsewhere. There really wasn't anyone else in FA. This draft was pretty weak at LT. The top choices were taken by the time #33 came around. Dorsey could not create a LT out of thin air, so he drafted the OL he had rated highest in an effort to give the team more pieces to work with in patching together a line that will make do until such a time as a legitimate LT becomes available.

Again, I highly doubt he drafted Corbett in the belief he had solved the LT problem. I believe he drafted a good player to add to the mix in finding a temporary solution because a permanent fix was simply not available at that time.

This team lacks depth at almost every position. Injuries are life in the NFL. This team will play tough until injuries mount and they will bottom out at the end. We've seen this before.

I'd love to be wrong but history suggests it's unlikely.

We beat up a team that in all honesty was worse than we were last year. I am excited to see more especially on defense but we got a long way to go in the next few weeks.

A number of those same sites had the Jaguars ranked 27-28 last year, too.

We seem to have more talent, and at first blush our QBs seem legit.

So, I'm cautiously optimistic.

this is where I am too. I'm still weary because we have such a poor losing culture ... and IMO our schedule appears tough

i see talent and some confidence but damn near 20 years of this crap has worn me down.

Man, you guys are a TOUGH CROWD.

Let it LOOSE. You guys aren't gonna DIE if you're disappointed.

RISE UP, Dawg!

I think anyone who believes this team has been rebuilt in one off season is setting themselves up for disappointment.

We're on the right track. We're headed in the right direction. But Rome wasn't built in a day.

We have better talent and a good OC but I feel 4-5 wins and solid competitiveness in our other games is the best we can hope for. If we can grow together and gel as a team it's cause for future optimism.

I don't believe many believe we are totally rebuilt I certainly don't, but I do believe the last part of your statement "We're on the right track. We're headed in the right direction. But Rome wasn't built in a day."

No kidding?

Enjoy the ride cause I see the reincarnation of the 80's on our doorstep.

The RIDE starts NOW.

I'm Onboard, DIAM.

Dawgs. You gotta LET LOOSE and lose the who has what agenda BS.

ENJOY this. Each year is gonna be better.

Kosar and Sipe is gonna be Proud.

If you believe feeling we're headed in the right direction, and considering our schedule and lack of continuity making six wins a reasonable expectation, then I'm right there with you. If you're looking for blind optimism I can't help you.

This.

We have been one of the worst teams in the league for quite some time. Until we show otherwise on the field, then I do not expect to seen as anything else.

Looking good on paper is ... nothing. Standings are determined by results on the field. Until we are better on the field, we will not get respect. We need to earn it.

I agree w/this take. I defended mac earlier because he got scolded, but I think Dorsey's hands were somewhat tied this year in regards to fixing the LT position.

I agree. We can't fix everything at once ... PLUS there were really no viable options outside of Solder. The draft sucked for OT ... but next year's looks better

Agreed again.

I pointed out that I'm concerned about the OL, but that doesn't mean I'm blaming Dorsey. He went out and got guys at other areas of need. It was reported he tried for Solder.

I agree w/you about the draft. Can someone name a LT that Dorsey should have drafted in the first two rounds?

Threepeat me on this one and I'm thinking that drafting Corbit as a guard was having Bitonio in mind as a plan B LT.

Not much he could have done.. this year lets watch Trey Adams OT Washington and Greg Little OT Ole Miss.

Bingo !