DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum My oh My how the landscape of the AFC North has changed in 12 short months!

12 short months ago the talk of AFC North was who would win it the Rats or the Stilers and as usual who would the browns take at #1 and just how bad would we be again ... my oh my how things have changed since then ... lets take a deep dive into the changes the division has undergone .... I’ll save THE BEST FOR LAST ...

The Rats ....

- Ozzie retired ... WOOOHOOOOO ... big blow ... YESSSSSSS ...
-they’ve decided to totally embrace Peens’ theory of the NFL offenses bringing in more of the college concepts ... i dont believe Peen was reffering to going back to the 70’s and 80’s and running the wishbone but thats the tact the Rats have taken for some reason .. ...

If Lamar can become even a below average passer AND he can stay healthy it can be extremely affective ... he is by far the worst passer I’ve ever seen in an nfl game much less being a starter ... i am a firm believer in NEVER SAY NEVER so i won’t go there .. but its about as tough an uphill climb as theres ever been ...

And if they can do that then he has to somehow stay healthy over the course of a season ... he best learn how to slide .. a concept he didn’t grasp at all last year ... not sure he slide once ... if he did it wasn’t more than a handful of times ..

And they have to maintain that D .. it has to be DOMINATE ... they can not get more than one score behind in the 2nd half ... EVER ... game will be over if that happens ...

Right now the rats have 22 million in cap space ... with a total of 6 draft picks ... #22 in the 1st round and no 2nd rounder ...

They moved there run game coordinator to offensive coordinator ... thats about the only coaching change ...

With Ozzie retiring and the decision they made at QB there in a SERIOUS DOWNWARD SPIRAL ...

The Stilers

One of the killer B’s is gone and along with getting old the other two aren’t getting along well to say the least ... what a shame ... *LOL* ...

They have more than likely the best OL in football ... an aging QB that despite putting up his best numbers statistically last year is in the decline .. he’s still real good but he was not vintage Ben last year ...

The D has plenty of holes in the back end and at LBer other than Watt ... thatman can rush the passer ... hes SCARY GOOD at it ...

IF they somehow trade AB there O is going to suffer bigtime .. they went pass heavy last year and it wasn’t because they lost Bell ... Ben runs this O .. thats abundantly clear now and w/o AB there passing game is going to suffer bigtime .. i dont see him leaving casue of the cap hit and the fact there windows closing .. question is .. IS HE DUMB ENOUGH to sit out ... and if he does play ... how long before he becomes a locker room cancer ...

The Stilers could be coming apart at the seams .... my brother and g/f are stiler fans .. hate to say this cause of them but to me ... ITS A BUEATIFUL thing IF it is actually happening ...

They have 19.5 million in cap space along with 8 picks including the 20th overall pick in the draft ,,,

the bungles

It sucks to be them ... talk about a teamin the decline and they weren’t very good last year ... NO ONE wants to be there DC ... *LOL* ... again, what a shame ...

They have a brand new coaching staff and i’ve Never even heard of there HC ... some of u are worried about Freddie cause he was only an OC for 8 games .. well thats 8 more than the bungles new head coach has and he has NO IDEA of what his players can do .. he came from the other conference ...

They do have two young studs on O in Joe Mixon and Tyler Boyd along with an aging stud in AJ Green and an aging QB in Andy Dalton ...

There OL is not very good and there D is in SHAMBLES ... prolly part of the reason NO ONE WANTS THE JOB ...

They have 50.5 million in cap space ... there in such bad shape they need more ... *L* ... they have the 11th pick in the draft along with 7 others ...

Thre’s no way in hell they don’t STINK NEXT YEAR ... if King John didn’t blow up the factory of sadness last year we could ship it to Cinci as they may very well need it for the foreseeable future ... again, what a shame ... *L* ...

THEN THERES US

OH MY ... HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN A MERE 12 MONTHS ...

- Hue and dysfunction GONE .... WOOHOOOO ...
- FREDDIE IS READY ...
- we have a TEAM from the owner on down to the office cleaners ROWING in the same direction ...
- we have Bake ..
- we have talent out the ying yang and the needs are obvious ... its no mystery ....
- we have all ready added one of the top 3 or 4 RB’s in the AFC to all ready talented backfield ... ARE U KIDDING ME ... i see no one signing or drafting a player that will make a BIGGER IMPACT to a team than Hunt will us once he comes off suspension ...

We have 79 million in cap space .... that 29 million more than the bungles and more then triple what the rats and stilers have ... OH MY ... sounds good to me ...

We have the 17th pick along with 10 others ... that gives us the ammo to move up if we so choose in what is possibly the best and deepest DL drafts in the history of the NFL ...

Once again with our needs and it being a draft loaded with DLman the stars have aligned for us as if we got to place them where we wanted ...

My oh My how the landscape of the AFC North ahs changed in a mere 12 months ...

PARADISE ISLAND IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

LETS GOOOOOOOOoooooooooooo ...

It's gone back and forth, but I believe we only have 10 picks in this draft. Still a good position to make a move or two to move up, or trade a pick for an extra pick next year.

What picks do the Browns have in the 2019 NFL Draft? | cleveland.com
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2018/04/what_picks_do_the_browns_have_7.html

2019 NFL DRAFT

First round: Own pick.

Second round: Own pick.

Third round: Own pick; Patriots' pick (via Danny Shelton trade).

Fourth round: Own pick.

Fifth round: Own pick; Jaguars' pick (via Carlos Hyde trade); Patriots' pick (via Josh Gordon trade).

Sixth round: Own pick.

Seventh round: Jaguars' pick (conditional via Cody Kessler trade); 49ers' pick (conditional via Shon Coleman trade).

Dalton second highest?

As long as the Steelers have Ben they are the front runners.

First year coach who wasn't even a coordinator last year certainly draws skepticism.

Will Baker encounter a sophomore slump?

The defense despite having some players was absolutely terrible, especially against the run.

There is a gleam of hope for the first time in years, but we are still very young, very inexperienced and very shallow.

Still having trouble believing they can't find a DC.. It's a chance for a young up and comer to make a name for himself by taking a mess and making it respectable.

Why didn't they speak with Blake Williams

Where's the posters who were still claiming Baker wasn't very impressive even after week 12 or 13? smh

He always plays well first 10 weeks, then plummets. This year he got hurt before the cold, windy weather made him ruin his stats.

And then there is this:

https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/bro...-2019-nfl-draft

I'd like to hope the Steelers are crumbling, but I've thought it before too

Who were those posters? KOB and rasta? Who else?

Pretty much every time they have an issue at one position group, I say this. When Maddox was their QB, when their line was bad and their defense was old, when they lost their WRs, and their defense got older, when they lost their RBs and their defense got older, and then when James Harrison left, and when...

... But this time I think it's coming true

This is nice to read

But to me until we at least split with the Steelers they are still the top dog

I'm w/you on this one. I know you coached and it is a mortal sin to start bragging about your team and denouncing others before you win. Even then, you keep your mouth shut and respect your opponents when speaking about them......even if you think they suck. LOL

I think the Browns have a shot. A lot will ride on if Baker improves or if he gets figured out by defenses. It worries me that we play NE this year. BB has a way about him to expose young qbs. Another huge factor is the coaching staff. They are inexperienced in their respective positions.

I'm not dogging the Browns, but I just think it is wise to remain cautiously optimistic. I get that isn't much fun and I am sorry about that.

Just curious ..

In my analysis is there anything u disagree with ... well, i’m sure there is as this is a long analysis ... *L* ...

What parts do u disagree with and why ...

Based on your logic ... aren’t the rats the top dogs right now? ... we split with them last year ... ...

Nah, you bring solid points for the most part. Don't worry about it. Cautiously optimistic is what I feel, even though my sig says what it says (we're doing that .)

Taking the North, I mean.

Fun post to read, Diam. Initially I thought it should be moved to the Isle of Optimism thread, but I changed my mind .

It's gonna feel like a long off-season but free agency is almost here.
I don't feel quite comfortable saying Pittsburgh is in decline because we've thought that before, as others mentioned. And we know a lot if things can happen quickly, but I'm excited for September.

Baker Mayfield. He's in the dawg house now. He has rejuvenated the team, the organization and, what was most desperately needed, the fans.

I absolutely love that guy.

Can I play? Or, are you just asking king?

Yes, you may contribute.

LOL...........I was asking Diam.

Yes, but I feel comfortable giving you the green light.

U need permission now? ... *L* ...

Please ... feel free to reply to any of my posts or questions regardless of who there addressed too ...

lamp the isle of optimism is on page 63 ... *L* ... this is a summmation of where the teams in the division are at and what assets they have to improve in the way of cap space and draft picks ...

Wait til i start with the optimistic threads .... PARADISE ISLAND BROTHER ...

Thanks bro, but it's Diam's thread. I hate when people hijack my threads. Just trying to be respectful.

I dont necessarily disgree with any of it

My point is that until we can actually beat The Steelers at least once in awhile we cant act like we are superior to them in any way besides on paper

I will begin by saying that I agree w/you that the Browns are on the upswing and there are issues w/the other teams. I somewhat agree w/you on the pecking order of the teams.

I said all of that because I don't want it to get lost w/what I am about to say. I know that certain posters will isolate some of my points and not consider the entire post. I don't think you will do that, but others will. So again, I think the Browns are on the upswing and a case can be made for us perhaps winning the division.

Some issues I have w/your comments:

The Rats:



Yet, they beat the Browns when the "passing qb" threw an off-target pass in the final minutes to Landry and then threw a pick because he got flustered and his feet were out of whack.

Diam, they beat us w/that qb.




Doesn't that make sense? They have committed to be a running and defensive team. Not sure why that is a negative?

Also, you didn't mention their defense. It's the best in the division. By far.

The Squeelers:



That is an oxymoron. He put up his best numbers, but he is in decline? I don't know, bro.............he's older, but he is still the best qb in the division by far. And in my world, that means a lot.



Our D has plenty of holes, as well. Sacks are huge. So our turnovers. They are both huge in regards to importance of statistical evaluation. I recently saw you post something about yards allowed. LOL bro...........that is about the worst stat EVER.



AB is a great WR, but the Steelers are loaded w/receivers. And having an excellent qb, the league's best OL, a good RB, all help the receivers look better.

The Bengals:

No arguments here. They are a complete mess.

Can I start with 3 of your first 4. (Ill agree the Browns have a pretty good young Qb, and it's understatemnent on steroids)

one. Freddy is ready

two, We have a TEAM top down to the cleaners, rowing in the same direction

Three, We have talent out the ying yang.

sigh. (I disagree, with these, do I have to explain, it takes so much effort.)

Freddie is a question, until he shows the preparation and all else on gamedays, and that the D, won't regress without Williams anymore, until they prove it in Sept, I won't buy it till then.

The team, rowing in the same direction, (Ya, they always are in the offseason dude, every year, till they , till they don't or they do something beyond explanation, like cut the best guys on the team, and stuff.)
(It's about as mythological, as thinking the Browns have,... (this is so hilarious, if not disheartening...

as thinking the Browns are in a good position with a lot of cap space.

BAR NONE!!! There has not been a year since 99, (ehh maybe when Al Learner was near death, ok, Bar that year)

That the Browns didn't have tons of cap space, and they never use it, and it's meaningless to a fault.

(So thinking the Browns have the plan all figured out, on the same page, in February, Right before they screw things up for themselves in March, April, May and June, as they've done multiple times,... is about as full of meaning, and as much a myth, (because I've seen it, felt it, so many years, ... as the myth that the Browns having a lot of cap space is going to benefit them in , talent, or win total.

sigh.

3. We have talent out the ying yang. ...

Ya! They cut players every possible day of the calander year, including if that particular player was their #1 receving option, at WR, TE, or RB, sometimes multiple times in the same year,

somewhere between 4 and 8 times in a row, cutting their #1 guy, ending in the 2017-2018 offseason, So there's no telling they might not do it again.

And so, I think they had talent too, in the past, so your statement of talent "this time" doesn't invoke as much excitement, because they still haven't had a winning record or made the playoffs, since...

( an exaggerated reference, y'all get the point.)

I think the Browns have a lot of uphill climbing to do, and the team, I don't think it's ready.

Calling this team good, before it is, so they can read their press clippings, be overconfident, and lose dramatically,

nobody wants that.

There is a lot of work to do.

:edit: what do I mean not "ready", I mean not "ready" to "win" that playoff game they'll need to.

I agree. In 12 months we could be picking #1 again.

Lets have a playoff birth, or a division title before making these type posts.

Ok then.

we will wait until December for further discussion on this topic.

Nah brah..............discussion is cool. No one is calling anyone names yet. We're just discussing.

I must be in the minority.

I'm ok with 2 losses to the steelers and being 14-2.

That was great lol.

I can agree with that ... i THINK were going to be better than them and I EXPECT us to PROVE it when the time comes ... i been wrong before and it’ll happen again ...

But deep down inside ... u know WERE READY to prove it ... we got some talent kingo ... like we’ve never had before .... and the stilers have issues like never before .... Big Ben is not getting any younger ... and if they trade AB ... u don’t replace players like that ... that’ll hurt bigtime ...

Its OUR TIME ... were ready ... come on kingo ... i get what your saying and agree with it ... but deep down inside theres a part of u saying ... DAMM IT DIAM ... quit it ... *L* ...

Hey guys, we've got a long time before the whistles blow again. I'm just happy that we've gone from the bottom of the dumpster to knocking on the door of the penthouse. I understand those that insist we haven't properly showered yet... or found a nice set of clothes. They're right.

At the same time I have concerns, I'm also embracing the journey, step by step. This is a big year: The year we find out if we "belong".

Vers is 100 with his cautionary advice though. Just as possible as winning the division may be, going 9-7 would have fans calling for heads. Why? Because the expectations are becoming so high.

Don’t bother replying to me ... i don’t read u or Rasta ... i could care less what u have to say .. you’ve proven to be .... other than a waste of time .. i’m not sure what ...

I have NO CLUE why anyone reads or responds to U or Rasta ... to each their own ...

Vers ... not ignoring u ... i’m beat and need to get my 4 or 5 hours in .. will get back to u sometime tomorrow ... looking forward to the discussion ...

U have something against FACT FILLED POSTS with some opinion thrown in? ... i went over coaching changes, cap space and draft picks and where the 1st rnd pick is ... i gave credit to each team even the bungles and there two young studs ...

I didnt talk crap and didnt predict us to win the division ... witch i believe we will ...

I’m not sure what type of post u think this is that we shouldn’t be making ...

FACTS ... PLENTY OF THEM with some opinion thrown in ....

IMO .... FREDDIE IS READY ....

What do u think the odds are I’ll hold off that long ... *LOL* ...

Wait til he reads my upcoming PARADISE ISLAND is under construction thread ...

Don't skimp on the pier. They might be bringing in cruise ships by week 10.

LETS GOOOOOOOOoooooooooooo ...

It's all opinion. Some think we will be very good, others take a wait and see.

For me, I think we are going to be pretty darn good. I think we have a better than good chance to win the division.

The problem is some are taking what we have done the last 2-3-4-5 years and somehow think it carries over to this year. It doesn't. We had two teams last year. One with Greg and Freddie and one that didn't. We saw marked improvement out of the gate.

I am excited about our future.

Go Browns.

This is exactly where I'm at. There were too many seasons since the return where I've been "cautiously optimistic" and seen this team let me down....to the point where I just expected them to lose. The last time I felt anything positive going into a season was when Hoyer was returning from his injury.

It's different now, and I'm all in. The pieces are there, it's do or die.