Since the Browns returned to the league I have always been optimistic. That is because I wanted to see growth. However, at the same time I was realistic about expectations.
Under Anderson that one year I started to get excited until the Cinci game. It was then I knew it was false hope.
Since that time, again only my perspective, it has been about the quarterback. When we started the season with Cody Kessler I was at a all time low. One of the worst teams I have ever seen in football.
It was not until the Jets game when Baker took over and won the game that a spark ignited. I felt hope again. Knowing as all of do that without a quarterback it is hopeless.
Since last season ended and the announcement of Freddie as head coach and then the Beckham deal that is when for me I went to a new and unexpected place.
I started thinking wow! We are for real.
The other deals this year Richardson, Vernon, and drafting Greedy. I sat up and said "I have got to see this." This Greedy kid when I started watching him. I got excited.
As camp opened and each day ended. I have listened to the coordinators pressers. Listened to Freddie. Listened to the players. Tried to get a feel for the camp. What is Freddie doing? What kind of camp is it? I wanted to hear it was tough. Wanted to see if I could tell from the players if they were all in. Wanted to try and glean if chemistry was building.
So far, everything that I have been able to see has been encouraging.
Back to being realistic. I know the league is tough. I understand the heightened expectations. I have a sense of history. I have looked at the North rosters. I know what has changed from a year ago.
Yes. I am optimistic. I do believe we have a good team. I feel strongly that we can win our division.
After that I have no expectations. First the 16 game season. For now it becomes the Titans. Start strong. Win the first game.
After that it is week by week. Lots can happen. Many unknowns.
As I sit here today I am thrilled to feel the way I do. It is so refreshing to enter a season with high expectations that you truly believe.
I accept that I could be dead wrong. But I am a happy man today.
The two most important positions on the line are LT and RG and we are uncertain on both. You could throw an uncertainty at RT into the mix as well.
I am hoping that we get surprising growth from someone or Dorsey pulls something out of his hat before game 1, but o-line is probably our biggest weakness in my opinion.
What makes you say RG is the 2nd most important? I'd say C because of line calls, snaps, and most of the time the fastest route to the QB.
RG's never get any help. They may give help from time to time, but these guys are usually on an island. Also unless you have a left handed QB, the tackle next to you is not as good as the tackle next to the LG. I've played both tackle spots and both guard spots and to me, the order of difficulty is LT, RG, RT, LG.
Center is a wild card because it really does depend on the offense. Some centers are asked to be nothing more than be a fireplug in the middle of the line and some centers are asked to do darn near everything. Speed usually never lines up over Center though. It may be in the gap in which case you either have an easier block or you have help. Usually it's a big ole bull rusher lining up over Center. Just don't get stood up. Stay low and you can impede even the strongest rusher long enough for the QB to get the ball off or get on the run.
What do u expect bro .... of course were optimistic
I don't mind people being optimistic. I'm just saying that it doesn't strike me as fair to say that we have to wait to speak a concern before we play a game and also proclaim our greatness before we play a game. LOL.....I am making sense, right?
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. VERS IS OPTIMISTIC ... i believe he’s just being cautious and playing “devil’s advocate” sort a speak
I am optimistic. More so than at any other time since our rebirth. I was optimistic after the 2007 season, but probably not as much as I am this time.
And I think debate and discussion is healthy. It helps us learn more if we examine things from all sides. Everyone agreeing on every topic is boring and not very intelligent.
I liked the Zeitler/Vernon trade at first because Edge rushers are more valuable than RGs. But, Zeitler was ranked something like first, second, or third in the entire league at guard and Vernon really hasn't been that productive since the one year in Miami. Plus, I think he's been hurt a lot.
I love John Dorsey. Hiring him was the best move this franchise has made since the rebirth. I'm not criticizing him. I'm just saying I am not so sure about that trade, especially because it seems like all three RG candidates have some issues. And I don't see why talking about it now is such a no-no.
I doubt it offends anyone. The problem is that it seems some take offense if we voice an alternative opinion.
vers...your opinion is based on what?
In my case, I'm willing to withhold my opinion until I have "something" to base an opinion on. I'm not about to judge management's decision to make the Zeitler for Vernon trade based on an "uneducated guess". I have to see how the players involved perform on the field before I can give an opinion rooted in "reality".
So tell us, what are you basing your opinion on?
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As I said before, there are plenty of posts saying how great we will be this year. Y'all aren't waiting to see how they play in those discussions....LOL....
vers...as for the claim you made above...find me one post where I stated how great the Browns would be this year.
Before I start making predictions for the W/L record of the 2019 Browns..I have to see them perform on the field. Even after seeing them perform, I doubt I start making baseless predictions.
I prefer to take a "show me" approach based on team performance.
mac, I am not going to fight w/you. I don't care that you disapprove of my opinion and I sure as hell did not say that you were saying the Browns are great. Have a nice day.
I think in todays NFL with mobile QB's, the interior 3 are more important than the tackles.
Maybe 12 years ago I told you the QB position was going to change. It has. Now the OL position is going to change.
If the front 3 can form a wall, a nimble QB only has to step up a foot or two to put his OT back in to good position and totally wreck the DE's rush angle.
Give it another 5-10 years and Centers and Guards will be the top O-line picks in the draft. Todays QBs can get outside the DE's if need be.
Todays QBs aren't all that worried about the edge rush. It's the rush up the middle that wrecks their day.
People can disagree all they want. I was right about the QB position 12 years ago, and now that that is in full swing, the O lines will have to change as well.
Up the middle is the fastest way to the QB. Up the middle O-line strength will become the premium.
You have to forget the "old" mold. It doesn't fit in todays game.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
I have the same feelings Vers. I am cautiously optimistic. I like Dorsey but I am unsure about that particular trade. If it took that trade to get the OBJ trade done though, I'm all for it.
I'm not into crowning this team before they hit the football field either. I do see question marks. It still all has to come together. I am excited, but it's cautiously excited.
QB's still haven't evolved to the point they've grown eyes in the backs of their heads. The most devastating hit in football is the one you don't see coming.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
Seems like he’s not overly impressed with any of the 3, but maybe Kush’s experience pushes him ahead
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
Didn’t realize he was from St. Ed’s ... he’s definitely in the mix. At the worst, he’s probably got a spot on the roster
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
Corbett is the #1 RG on the new depth chart for the Thursday game.
Which means absolutely nothing.
I seem to recall that the PR people put the preseason charts together.
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.
Practicing three days in a row with the first team seems like a pretty good indicator of the order of things. Especially when they have been rotating a day at a time prior to these last three days.
Can't get overly excited about it considering the entire starting DL is out. Wish he was stonewalling those guys.
A lot of the OLine play is going to depend on Baker and Kitchens/Monken. I think the only way it becomes a huge problem is if Baker is slow to process and holds the ball too long.
LOL - The Rish will be upset with this news as well. KS just doesn't prioritize winning...
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
Who gives a crap ... if u think getting first team reps 3 days in a row after a 3 man rotation before that doesn’t mean more than a depth chart ... well god bless ya dawg ...
I’ll go with first teamr eps ,,,
I don’t know who got the reps today ... i also don’t know who made the depth chart but i highly doubt it was Freddie ...
Yeah, i’m Thinking the coaches have done that for a reason
Originally Posted By: lampdogg
Agree with you. Two weeks into camp, three days now in a row with the 1s....
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
Its now 4 in a row ... but Corbett’s #1 on the depth chart and that’s what matters, just ask Pitt ... Freddie must not be looped in about the depth chart ...
In preseason, the best use for the scouting reports is toilet paper.
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.
I just read what Freddie said yesterday after practice. As I expected, "It's a fluid situation". As it is with many positions that aren't set in stone, setting those positions is a work in progress.
We see it every year. People jump to conclusions and get excited over things that by the beginning of the season actually meant nothing. And it wasn't "a scouting report". It's the depth chart. That too means very little concerning how it will look by the beginning of the season. So who is penciled in there is simply a progress report of where we are so far.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
I'm saying that nothing done in practice from contested position means jack right now. And I'm quite sure you have no say in any of it.
Oh, and BTW, Freddie himself said that it was a "position in flux" yesterday after practice. So it seems you seem to believe you know more about it than he does. Good luck with that one MenZa.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
Yes, except on the draw it appeared that Hubbard got beat and Chubb made the DE miss (I could be wrong though)
It also helps when the QB is so decisive obviously
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
I am going to reiterate. I thought the OL played extremely well last night on that first drive. Baker had a ton of time to throw the ball. Bernie Kosar said the same thing during the telecast.
Yes, I understand your post lol. I’m agreeing. Except on the one play, in which it APPEARED Hubbard was beat. That’s why I was wondering/asking if that was true.
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."