DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum "The change"

I have come to a conclusion, this team took a dramatic change for the good, when John Collins was fired and Phil Savage was given ultimate control of this football team, and now we are seeing the benefits of that move. People want to give credit to other people, ie... DA, Crennel, Edwards, etc... but I see it all stemming from Savage, he's made some savy moves and barring some injuries, just think where this team could be now.

This teams infrastructure seems to be intact for the next few years, and seeing how we are playing this year, trading our first pick in the draft next year seems a bit more digestable when we have a potential stud/trade bait in the making with Quinn, depending on what the outcome of DA is, but this thread isn't about QB's, it's about Phil Savage and his decision making, right now I think he is ahead of his schedule and is in a position as a GM to make us contenders earlier then others give us credit for.

Kudos to Phil, he's making the right overall moves.

This will be fun...

Savage is God.

/thread

Quote:

---

"I have come to a conclusion, this team took a dramatic change for the good, when John Collins was fired and Phil Savage was given ultimate control of this football team"

"Kudos to Phil, he's making the right overall moves."

---

There will be some who will argue with me, as is their right... but in my mind, Randy Lerner should be getting the "Strategic Vision Award" instead of Phil Savage.

I'll put it this way: Randy had this team dumped in his lap when his father died. At the time, he was basically just a fan like you and me (well- maybe a little wealthier...), and knew very little about the nutz&boltz of his Dad's pro football venture. After the shock and grief of his Dad's passing wore off, he did what any smart Administrator would do... he kept the present personnel in place, and evaluated.

When Butch did his "Amazing Disappearing Coach" act, Lerner once again made a smart choice, based on little more than his short hands-on spell as our new owner and his background in Buisiness Admin... he looked at that dark time as an opportunity- instead of a problem. And he brought out The Broom, six weeks later.

More evaluating... this time, not with present personnel- but with brand new prospects. Unknowns.

Enter Savage/Crennel, and the "New (New) Browns era".......

Despite all the crying, losing seasons and hours of thinking "wtf?" while watching games, I could always see what the basic picture was, once Randy cleaned house. (- and let's not forget- Collins was only the last scrap of garbage to be cleaned out once Al passed- many others had been shown the door prior to JC's ouster...or read the handwriting, and jumped.)

I agree that Savage [professional status at position: rookie] has done a fine job in his 3 years as GM. He's brought in (and shipped out) players who have gotten us to the cusp of respectability. No small job, considring the clusterfudge he inherited. Phil Savage: Young, savvy, good talent evaluator. Good knowlege of the biz, because he learned it from the bottom up.

I also like the choice of Romeo [professional status at position: rookie ], as I always have. An even-keeled, consummate professional who's been in winning systems before. Romeo Crennel: Old-School. Head screwed on straight about the fundamentals of Real Football. Good knowlege of the game, because he learned it from the bottom up.

Interesting little mix, eh?




When his father died, Randy Lerner decided to make a lemonade stand in Berea... because all he had to work with was his fandom for the Browns... and a bushel bag of lemons. And his ability to put the right people in the right jobs, and then get out of their way.

I understand your PhilLuv, Fletch- I really do.

But I think in all the euphoria about not being sub- .500, seeing better personnel on the field, and seeing/hearing better national press about our team, we need to take a minute, and think about who actually engineered this (potential/apparent) trunaround.

Maybe we could give a few props to the boy who assembled the big parts.

That's all I'm really sayin'...



.02

Good post Clem. I hope everyone sees it.

I have always enjoyed Clems posts over the years. When he talks, people should listen.

I can't describe my feeling of relief when Collins left. I shudder to think where the Browns would be today if John Collins had won that power struggle.

Two of my happiest moments...saying so long to John Collins and saying hello to Joe Thomas. Thanks Randy Lerner and Phil Savage!

Clem and Fletch,,, I know your intentions are honorable,, but frankly, we've won 4 games out of 7 this season.. It's too early to know if any of what you guys are saying about Savage and Lerner is accurate.

I say that, but then to a point, you both seem to be right thus far.

Phil wanted 5 years, let's see where we are then. So far, he seems to be making a ton of right moves and maybe some that aren't so good. All in all,, good job.

It was reported that Randy visited many teams and team owners (with Collins in tow) and he supposedly garnered info from all these different owners.. He was like Johnny 5 wanting Input,,, more and more Input! That was pretty smart.

I thought he was gonna blow it over the Collins/Savage thing but I think he made the right choice then with keeping Savage.

So yeah, at this moment, they both are looking good, but the race isn't even 1/2 the way over.. it's way to early to hand out any "kudos" to anyone.

Just remember,, when it's time to hand those out, RAC should be considered as well.

Quote:

---

it's way to early to hand out any "kudos" to anyone.

---

No it's not. You don't have to be finished a job to get some credit. You don't wait until your kid has graduated from college to assess the effort and the interim results. Lerner/Savage/RAC have all done well and stuck to the plan... the plan that most of us knew was in place but many had lost confidence in....

Savages next test will be to go get us a Joe Thomas caliber player for the DL side this offseason either in FA or the draft.

I agree with DC.. it's not early at all to assess the progress we have made. We've won 5 out of 8, we have a very, very nice OLine, some great offensive weapons and we are OBVIOUSLY much improved from last year already.

I think both Fletch and Clem are correct. And no, thats not fence sitting. Randy made some very good core decisions, letting Collins go, keeping Savage and letting Savage do his job.

Savage in turn, has worked hard at giving his coach the tools he needs to win. For the most part he has succeeded. It's not a finished product yet (I suppose it never will be) and I'm interested in seeing what Savage can do to re-work the DLine (Hopefully a FA stud in his prime entering his 2nd contract like Steiny)

As far as RAC goes.. I'll be honest, I'm not sold on him, but it is looking better for him.

** After further thought.. about that FA stud for the DLine.. Cleveland is certainly becoming a more attractive team for FA studs wouldn't you all agree?

Quote:

---

"The change"

---

Are you having hot flashes?

I have to agree with you. A lot of people would have fired RAC and Savage after last season. But Lerner stuck by his guys and trusted them... it now seems to be paying off. I'll admit that I wanted Cowher in here as coach bad... and saw the writing on the wall that he was poised to take over here. But now I'm singing a completely different tune. There is a lot of football left to be played this season, but I don't see any of our coaches going anywhere (Grantham included). I sure am glad they stuck to their plan when a lot of us wanted to give up on it. Continuity and a little bit of good fortune have gone a long way in beginning to turn my beloved Browns around!!

I agree with your assessment, and enjoyed Clem's post as well. I give Randy Lerner credit as well, but I was thinking more on the lines of football decisions, and I don't have this mad Phil love going on as well, I know it takes alot more then one person to make a football team a good/great unit.

Quote:

---

And clem, I know you ain't that old.

---

They tell me "you're as young as you feel...."


Nowadays, I gotta answer that question on a 'day-to-day' basis....