DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Come One Come All .... Its Prediction Time ...

I've been very encouraged from what I've seen up to this point.The team seems to be taken to the new O fairly well and I believe (barring major injuries) that the team will start out strong and continue to get better as the season progresses.

I also see CF remaining the starter for most if not all of the season,because I think we'll have an outside shot for the playoffs.

I think we win a couple this year that we shouldn't have.....8-8

Record: 7-9

Stats:

Lewis: 1100 yds, 7 TD's
Edwards: 76 rec, 987 yds, 5 TD's
WInslow: 88 rec, 1024 yds, 5 TD's
Frye: 1526 yds passing, 6 TD's, 5 INT
Quinn: 1898 yds passing, 13 TD's, 10 INT
Wimbley: 11 sacks, 4 FF
Peak: 7 sacks, 3 FF

Suprises:

-Leon Williams fills in nicely for Andra Davis who goes out with an injury in Week 5. Williams paves the way to starter status in 2008
-Travis Wilson comes on strong towards end of season with Quinn at the ropes
-McGinnest plays 7 games and mostly ineffective
-Joe Thomas finishes 3rd in offensive ROY
-Pool is replaced mid-season due to ineffectiveness
-Bentley goes on IR after coming off PUP
-Joe J. has steady year - confronts Edwards at some point in season
-Browns go 4-2 over last 6 games to give fans hope for 2008 playoff push

Romeo is let go as Savage goes after John Fox of Carolina.
Lewis re-signs for 3 years at $14M

Draft:

Browns go heavy on D-line and WR.

Free Agency:

Browns sign Bryant Johnson (WR) from Arizona

I predict that the offense will look more like a professional NFL offense and be much less predictable than recent years.

The presnap movements and shifts alone will keep opposing defenses on their toes. This will enable the Browns to run both running and passing plays from either a run or a passing formation.

This should make both the run and the pass more successful than recent years.

Of course, along with confusing the opposing defenses, it will also confuse the Browns offense until they get used to it. Preseason has been an example of that with untimely time-outs and penalties cause by players not knowing their assignments. They will get better as the season goes on, but I believe, at least at first, they will struggle with this.

The O-line should be better out of the gate, but it may be missing key components such as Stienbach and Shaffer. With Tucker already out we could ill afford to start the season without those two. But, having said that, it seems the line play has been better than before even with key players out. It will be tougher in the regular season as defenses have a complete game to feel out the line and find the weaknesses. Still, it looks to be better and just may be enough to give some protection and open some holes.

Braylon is still dropping balls. That bothers me. We need a stand-out WR and I'm beginning to wonder if he will ever be that. Maybe I worry too much.

The defense will still struggle with the run but I believe it will be a bit better than we're used to. This is the third year in the same defense with the same coaches intact. Watch how the continuity helps this unit.

The young linebackers are in their second season in this defense and that will make them better immediately. The linebackers went from a liability to an asset so fast it's a bit incredible. The rookies played well last season. By years end this will be one hell of a group.

Barring injuries, we have some playmakers on defense. Wimbley, Jones and Bodden to name three. The rookie Wright will improve as the season goes on but look for him to take his knocks early on. I think cornerback is one of the toughest positions to step in an play as a rookie. He will be tested until he proves he can beat it.

Special teams has not lost a step from last season. Of course, those TD runs by Cribbs and Barkley were not against the first team special teams players, it still shows some serious ability. And with no penalties "bring back" the big runs it is a testament that even the backups are well disciplined. Dawson will be fine. Zast may be one of the better punters. Cribbs is a threat whether he is returning or on coverage teams.


The Browns have lost a lot of close ones. I look to take a couple of those this time around. Of course, we'll likely lose a few we should win and maybe win a couple we should lose so it will all even out.

The "watch" is not the win/loss column, it's the improvement of the team into a competitive group on both sides of the ball and rounding out into a conducive environment to succeed in which to insert Brady Quinn when he is ready.

There is finally a core of young players who have the talent to grow into a bona fide NFL team and eventually be competitive vs. anyone. Maybe not this season, although they should show real signs toward the end of the year.

I look for the team to look better at the end of the season instead of imploding into misery as has been their M.O. in recent years. I would consider that a real improvement.

I hate to predict the outcome of a season. Especially one in which a team is in so much transition. But for the sake of the thread I'll say that I'd be happy with a 6-10 finish with two or three very close losses that could have gone either way.

Romeo has too often said, "We needed to make a play, but we couldn't make a play". I'd like to see them make that play a couple of times this year and come away with an unlikely win or two.

If the team goes 7-9 I would be estatic! An 8-8 finish would not be a losing season and that would make for a really great offseason. I mean really great! An 8-8 season is my SuperBowl. A 9-7 season is my SuperBowl win!

But like I say, 6-10 is what I think is realistic.

You know its hard to be optimistic when speaking about the Brownies. For some reason the more I try to find negativity about the Browns I find positives around them too. It's tough to not count the Browns out and thats the way I see this season going. We are going to shock teams with how much better we are as a team. Theres just some positive feeling that I keep getting when I see our Brownies.


Sun 9/9 Pittsburgh 1:00 pm W
Sun 9/16 Cincinnati 1:00 pm L
Sun 9/23 at Oakland 4:05 pm W
Sun 9/30 Baltimore 1:00 pm L
Sun 10/7 at New England 1:00 pm L
Sun 10/14 Miami 1:00 pm W
bye
Sun 10/28 at St. Louis 1:00 pm L
Sun 11/4 Seattle 4:05 pm L
Sun 11/11 at Pittsburgh 1:00 pm L
Sun 11/18 at Baltimore 1:00 pm W
Sun 11/25 Houston 1:00 pm W
Sun 12/2 at Arizona 4:05 pm W
Sun 12/9 at NY Jets 4:15 pm L
Sun 12/16 Buffalo 1:00 pm L
Sun 12/23 at Cincinnati 1:00 pm W
Sun 12/30 San Francisco 1:00 pm W

8-8 is something I want to see and think we can get to. Romeo also needs this if he wants to see himself in a Browns cap and polo next year. Anything less will be a media and fan craze fest.

Our QB situation is the same for now. Chuck vs Anderson. Is Frye better than last year? Not sure didnt look so in the preseason. Anderson may have degressed. Quinn may not start depending on how they others play. He did look great in the PS though. If he does come in chances are good he will come in during November.

Our RB situation is much much better. Unfortunately we lose him and we lost many games this year. If he stays healthy and our line does too we have something special with him this year.

Our WR pretty much the same for now. Edwards still drops the balls. JJ doenst get many throws his way. Carter brings speed but was on the field half the time in the PS. Cribbs may have possibly improved. Wilson cant catch either.

Our TE same for now. Depends on how healthy Winslow is. Heiden is a starting caliber NFL TE. Dinkins can block.

Our OL much more improved than ever. Nothing more needs to be said. lol

DL is still putrid but better WOW Roye is back hopefully healthy now. Teddy makes decent depth if he isnt starting to congest the lines. Robair is an improvement.

LBs are better. Our youngins have exp under them and are learning. Peek is a monster. Hopefully Willy Mac sits this year.

CBs are better. Wright was the right choice in round 2. Great pickup. Bodden is back healthy. Holly is going to be a heck of a nickel. We got a nice young lineup

Safteys are better IF Baxter comes healthy and takes over Pools role. Pool to me still hasnt really gotten it and is hard to trust Jones is outstanding. We lost our vet guy tho in Russel. Though the guy wasnt that good he was the leader of the unit. Hopefully if Gbax is back he can take that role.

I can see us go 8-8 and I can see us go 3-13 just depends on health and how everything fairs out. I just hope we see a more competitive team that doesnt give up anymore. Im sick of watching us just flat out give up. I want to see the entire team still have their motors running during the entire game. Not one half of the team trying to carry the latter.

Not all that great at predicting....Still haven`t won a lottery game yet.......

After hearing B.Edwards comments tonight about the practicing situation..It made me think that...this team isn`t worn out before the opener.....The last few yrs of heavy practicing...May have been the cause of injuries....And the lack of thought..

Edwards stated that the new coaches are teaching a winning way...unlike the past few yrs....when all they did was bust butt on the practice field...He claims this has helped with other players along with himself....to learn more..with out the exhausting of all the practicing......

Maybe the new coaches are where I`ll look to.... as seeing a better prepared and less tired team.....Hopefully a little more spunk...

Im reaching here ....But I say we surprise and go 9-7

If we do that I am bound to see a win!!

Yeah peen....whats nice about it ..is I`m sitting with you at one of those wins..

i have 2 viewpoints, one good (homer side), and one not so good (pessimist/realist side from experience of seasons past here goes

here's the optimism

Sun 9/9 Pittsburgh 1:00 pm W the players really want this
Sun 9/16 Cincinnati 1:00 pm L we don't match up well against criminatti
Sun 9/23 at Oakland 4:05 pm W this team is still in disarray
Sun 9/30 Baltimore 1:00 pm W the ratbirds are aging and Jamal wants blood
Sun 10/7 at New England 1:00 pm L we're all pretty much agreeing on this
Sun 10/14 Miami 1:00 pm W aging defense, not much offense
bye
Sun 10/28 at St. Louis 1:00 pm L steven jackson will have his way
Sun 11/4 Seattle 4:05 pm L we still aren't there yet
Sun 11/11 at Pittsburgh 1:00 pm L romeo is feeling the heat...
Sun 11/18 at Baltimore 1:00 pm W players are playing for Romeo's job here
Sun 11/25 Houston 1:00 pm W i still think we're a better team
Sun 12/2 at Arizona 4:05 pm W they have some talent but aren't ready
Sun 12/9 at NY Jets 4:15 pm W i think we match up well against them
Sun 12/16 Buffalo 1:00 pm W Buffalo is in shambles
Sun 12/23 at Cincinnati 1:00 pm L Cinci still has our number
Sun 12/30 San Francisco 1:00 pm W another team i think we match up well against, as long as we stop frank gore

okay, that's 10-6 (see the homerism ) if everything goes perfect, this is how the season could look, however we lose in the first round of the playoffs

okay now for my realistic season prediction

Sun 9/9 Pittsburgh 1:00 pm L
Sun 9/16 Cincinnati 1:00 pm L
Sun 9/23 at Oakland 4:05 pm W
Sun 9/30 Baltimore 1:00 pm W
Sun 10/7 at New England 1:00 pm L
Sun 10/14 Miami 1:00 pm W
bye
Sun 10/28 at St. Louis 1:00 pm L
Sun 11/4 Seattle 4:05 pm L
Sun 11/11 at Pittsburgh 1:00 pm L
Sun 11/18 at Baltimore 1:00 pm L
Sun 11/25 Houston 1:00 pm W
Sun 12/2 at Arizona 4:05 pm L
Sun 12/9 at NY Jets 4:15 pm W
Sun 12/16 Buffalo 1:00 pm W
Sun 12/23 at Cincinnati 1:00 pm L
Sun 12/30 San Francisco 1:00 pm L

6-10 but competitive throughout, next year w/ a good FA and draft class i think we're a force and either make or barely miss the playoffs

10-6.

Starting with this sunday...Browns-27 Squeelers-10
As for the season record...9-7 with a possible Wild Card.

Before Sunday I thought we had an outside shot at 9-7...

Now I think that 7-9 is a REACH for this team. I'm going with 5-11.