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It’s really important that we can beat Cincy and Washington. Being 2-1 after 3 games is what we need after last year.

Week 1 did us no favors

I think purp said in another thread that it’s gonna take a while for the team to get back in the swing of things. I agree.

However, doesn’t that apply to every team?

That’s what I’m battling with with regards to how I predict how this season will go or what to expect. Every team has the same excuse the browns do.

I’m going to assume that nfl defenses are gonna find it easier to adjust than offenses, but....

Baker still needs to be able to read defenses. That ain’t Rona’s fault. All the talent and protection is there for him to make the jump.

I’m hoping he will. But I dunno.

Every team has some nominal amount of turnover. No doubt. Cincy has a new QB.

But not every team has new coaching staff, systems, etc. That's the part that puts us (and only a few others) at a distinct disadvantage that's only exacerbated by the weird offseason.

This.

We are likely losing to Baltimore.

Cincy and Washington are must wins for the team to build some confidence.

Yeah, it’s a tough spot for us. We’ve read about our big struggles all training camp so I expect a slow start

Yep. Losing to either Cincy or Washington would be brutal and suck the life out of excitement for the season.

at this point i give 3pt advantage to home team, and additional to 3pt to any team not experiencing coaching change or major turnover.

At least through the first 4-6 weeks.

Yup. These are the conditions I was speaking of when I said that I expected the first half of the season to be like a very rough idling engine.... lots of hit-n-miss. We should smooth out a bit as we warm up into the season, but it will likely be too little too late. Then again, if enough other teams struggle in the same way, it *could* actually allow us to sneak into contention late in the season.

I wouldn't bet a dime on it happening, but it is possible.

I'm happy there is no over the top hype this year. It might be a good year with our low expectations.

I don't think expectations are low.

If Baker doesn't perform (and win) we are likely looking at a new QB next year.

The Browns cant afford thinking they can just show up and beat the Bengals and Redskins.
How did that mindset work last year?

Brand new head coach about to be thrown to the EXPERIENCED HEAD COACH WOLVES again.

This current roster is horrendous at the LB core. Joe where are you??? Why didn't these FO idiots re-sign you?????

The corners are very suspect and very injury prone, and the safeties are horrible.

The only bright spot is the defensive line.

Mayfield is a BIG question mark.

The only thing we know for sure about Mayfield is that he plans on KNEEING our flag.

The offensive line will start out slow due to the Tretter injury and the new LT position will be a rough place for Wills.

Where there is Chubb there is always hope. Nick is by far my favorite player on the Browns and this is coming from a Georgia football hater.

I predict 3 or 4 wins.

I learned my lesson last year. I will never go into a new season optimistic about the Browns EVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know, the truth hurts.

I don't agree with it.

I just have a sinking feeling Baker is going to play poorly and that's the way it is going to turn out.

Some battered fan syndrome stuff for sure.

Baker should only be judged on the things Baker has control over and that has nothing to do with wins and losses. Even confusion on his part shouldn't all fall on his shoulders. There is going to be a lot of confusion by many players, especially early on.

As to the thread title "Ready Or Not", with all new coaches and systems, combined with the limited time they've had to work together under Covid, the answer is "Not". It would be totally unrealistic to expect them to be ready.

What we can hope for is progress as the season progresses. And even then, if their record is terrible, that has a way of making progress hard. When you find yourself dug into a hole so deep, it's very hard to dig yourself out of it. Hopefully we won't be seeing that.

Some people call my line of thinking built in excuses. But seeing the reality of a situation isn't an excuse.

The Browns could finish last in the AFC North.
The run defense is a weakness.
And the Browns 1st 2 teams they play they can run the football.
This offense will have to put up 26 a game in order to have a chance to win.
And whats up with drafting a guy to play LT Whos not a natural LT? Makes no sense

R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Respectability. I expect us to battle. Win some.

Week 1 we likely get destroyed. I expect the usual fumbling, bumbling, stumbling embarrassment associated with opening games with a new head coach. In other words, most opening games. The Ravens are polished and that will show. We are not and that will show too.

Four days later we play the Bengals and Burrow will likely pick us apart. This is tailor made to be a Cinderella dream game for the rookie, and we are always willing to accommodate those types of scenarios.

Washington, who knows? They have some young talent, we may be spiraling, looking past them to Dallas, whatever. You can't put anything past this team. We may get our first win here, or not. Anything is possible.

LB's and backend are banged up. We're loaded with talent but the offense hasn't had time to gel. Tho O-line is patchwork with a rookie at LT. Baker has yet to step up. We're breaking in with OJT yet another new rookie HC. At this point, barring some miraculous transformation, I'll be shocked at anything over five wins.

I think in the world of Covid, Defenses have the advantage early on. Even experienced offenses need to get back in sync a little.

So a good disciplined defense is King in a Covid season start.

The good news is we play Baltimore first because they’re so unlike every other team preparation-wise ... so we get more prep time

Im more worried about the Bengals game then the Ravens.
There is no game film on Burrow at the this level. Woods has no idea what kind of sets the Bengals will run. From all reports Ive heard
Burrow is very comfortable in whatever offense they have installed.
I think Cincy will spread the field. Burrow has alot of weapons to choose from.
Mixon trucked the Browns run defense last behind
A awful line. Now Williams is healthy at LT.
The Browns have questions at LB.
National TV. Recipie for a loss for the Browns
The Bengals will run Mixon all night if Cincy wins TOP battle

Why do u think Cinci is improving? What have they done to lead u to believe that ... just curious as I have no clue what they did this off season other than draft Burrow ....

Did not our Browns improve in Mayfields rookie with that dimwit Kitchens calling the plays?
I think Burrow will inject energy and a winning culture into.the Bengals.
I drafted Mixon in my fantasy league.
Williams and Burrow make their offense better.
Green is healthy.they drafted Tee Higgins.
Didnt they spend a ton of cash in.free agency
On top.tier FAs like Reader and Daniels?
At 2 14 you cant get worse.

The 2017 Browns thought the same thing before the season started.

So its basically the evolution of a 2nd year coach and AJ Green hopefully staying healthy ... am i understanding that correctly or is that too simplistic?

Ill take your word on Burrow as u know way more about that then me ... with him for this year he’s not replacing a slouch .. IMO Dalton got a bad rap ... he wasn’t all that and a bag of chips but he was also more than serviceable so I’m not so sure how much a difference Burrow will make this year ...

Wasn't Dalton also benched for a good part of the year. Burrow, when all is said and done, might actually make for improvement at that position.

The Bengals also spent big in free agency. They also got their LT back who was injured all of last year.

Cincinnati Bengals make 8 free-agency signings official
CB Mackensie Alexander.
CB LeShaun Sims.
CB Trae Waynes.
DT D.J. Reader.
LB Josh Bynes.
S Vonn Bell.
G Xavier Su'a-Filo.
WR Mike Thomas.

Your correct.I can see the Browns beating the Ravens but losing to Cincy.both close games.
Joe Mixon has done well vs the Browns
I think losing Billings hurts the interior run D.

Primarily, I happen to think Burrow is a generational talent, but I could be wrong. Believe it or not, there's been a couple wrong assessments of QBs on this board before.

On top of Burrow, getting AJ back to pair with him will obviously help if he's healthy. They also get Jonah Williams back to help with what was an AWFUL offensive line. He was their first round pick and out all of last year. Took the number 73 after Joe Thomas...

Burrow to me is the great factor and I think he's going to have an awesome career and big impact on the Bengals' performance. Similar to the '11 Colts compared to the '12 Colts.

Thanks P and to the rest who replied ...

other than us I didn’t pay much attention to what others did this off season ...

It’ll be interesting to see if AJ can stay healthy this year ... he’s basically missed the last two years ...

AJ's been missing practices with a "tweaked" hammy already. Even if he plays the whole year, I'm not sure he'll be able to open up all the way.

I don't think your last comment is true. I believe that Wills was a RT in high school, as well. I also believe he was playing RT when Jalen Hurts [righty] was the QB for Alabama.