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I thought that it would be a good idea at this juncture of the season to take a look back at what this team has been able to accomplish this season, and also take a look at the future direction as well.

WOW is about all that you can say about the transformation of the Browns from a 4-12 team, to a dare I say playoff contender, caliber team. Much work has been done and remains to be done but honestly had someone suggested to me that this team would be where they are now, I would have given them the name of a good doctor.

For the 1st time in many a year there is a spring to the step of the Browns fans not seen since the eighties. It may not happen this year for the Browns, but folks something special is brewing on the shores of Lake Erie. The future of this franchise burns brighter then perhaps it ever has.

The caliber of this team exceeds anything that I can remember outside the championship teams of the early 60’s, minus a few key players on the defense. And believe it or not with a few additions to the defensive side of the ball dare we say Super Bowl contenders next season. The transformation from door mat to playoff contender has been nothing short of AMAZING.

Got to give credit where credit it due. Well done Phil Savage, Romeo Crennal, coaches, players, and front office staff. Thanks to this point it’s been a blast. I could not have hoped for, or wanted more then what I have seen to this point in the year. Football is fun to watch along the shoreline again. These guys deserve all the credit. They have taken a 4-12 football team and turned them into a playoff team. And more importantly they have positioned this team for the future. By all appearances this team, looks like a team built to contend for the Super Bowl for many a year to come.

The additions of JT, and ES to the line where just what the Dr. ordered. You can’t look at the Browns offense of today and not give these 2 additions their due. The transformation from inept to elite has been dramatic if not miraculous. The emergence of DA as a viable starting QB, has played out better then anyone could have hoped for. Going forward the whole DA BQ thing has yet to play out, but what a huge positive for the team. The rise of KW2 and BE to elite star players, and their team 1st attitude has played a huge roll as well.

While the defense has continued to struggle they look to have improved to some degree at least. The invaluable experience that EW, BP, SJ, KW, DJ have gained, along with the additions of the Smith brothers has been a positive as well. This unit has begun to show signs of life, and again more importantly by all appearances the younger players have yet to reach their potential.

Because of the professional way in which the front office is now being run the Browns find themselves in position to make needed additions to the defensive side of the ball that will likely transform this unit from bottom of the heap to top of the heap come the off season. Much the same as was done to the offense this past off season from 32 to 4, a dramatic change, to say the least.

All and all the future of this franchise is off the charts in the coming seasons we are about to reach the very top of the NFL world. I can’t wait for tomorrow, next week, next month next year, and all the years to follow, when it comes to this team. Never really could but the light at the end of the tunnel is truly burning brighter then perhaps it ever has.

The biggest transformation or the biggest positive I see from this year is that the team has come together as a team. The game that we lost in Pittsburgh I will always look at as a transformation that has taken this team from a group of players to a team 1st group of players. That truly sets the tone for the future as well. From here the players will police themselves, if they see someone not holding up their end, or not working hard enough they will dog the guy. And more importantly when we bring in players there is a established core of players that will now set the tone. That has been and continues to be the key ingredient in the success of the Pats. It’s something that the Browns had hoped that RAC would bring with him from NE, and while it has been a long time arriving, it is finally here. In the coming years this will be the reason we will be a successful team, IMHO.

All and all no matter the outcome of this season, this team has FINALLY begun to re-establish the Browns as an elite franchise. I want to see this team continue to improve, gain experience, and set the tone for the seasons to follow. I look at this season as a positive move in the right direction, and while I hope for more, at this point with 75% of the season now behind us I am extremely happy and proud of this team and what they have been able to accomplish.

JMHO

Not many thought we'd be 7-5.
I said at the start of the season that I'd love to get into December with a shot at the playoffs, and here we are. We aren't winning a Super Bowl this year (likely not ), but it's been a fun ride.

I agree that Stein and Joe Thomas have done wonders, biggest impact payers we've had. this O-line is friggin awesome, especially compared to what we are used to...

DA has been great in some ways and awful in some ways... but it's been a nice surprise to see him make so many big plays with KW2 and Braylon.... our secondary is getting better lately, but I think we all figured it'd be stronger.

Hopefully, a couple 'D' additions will help us a lot in the off-season.

this year has been an ABSOLUTE BLAST ... for a MILLION DIFFERENT reasons and winning IMO is just a small part of them .... before I get into why I'm thrilled let me just shine a little reality on the winning part ...

We are a MUCH IMPROVED team from last year .. NO DOUBT ... but we still have more than one GLARING HOLE ... and thats OK .. we had alot of holes to fill .. we had A TON OF QUESTION MARKS coming into the season ... and manyof them have been answered positevly ... and thats HUGE and brings a big smile to my face ... HOWEVER one of the main reasons were winning is the same reason the Jets and Saints won last year .. it has alot to do with the schedule .. were 7 - 5 and have a very good shot at the playoffs .. and THATS GREAT ... unlike our last playoff run I think it is important for this team to make the playoffs .. unlike the last team we have alot of young players that would greatly benifit from the experience ..

Anyhow a big part of why we are 5 - 7 is the teams we've played so far ... actually the teams we've beaten so far .. the teams we've beaten our a combined 24 - 48 ... we've only beaten one team with a winning record and they play in BAY FAR THE worst DIVISION IN FOOTBALL ...

Schedule has played a big part in why we are where we are .. and don't take this as me not enjoying the season or having a blast .. its just a part of the picture most seem to ignore .. and it is a PRETTY BIG PART OF THE PICTURE .... we've beaten some really bad football teams ... The Fish and the Rams are both HORRIBLE HORRIBLE FOOTBALL TEAMS and the Bungles aren't far behind ... nor are the Rats ... their offense is truely offensive and the D is now a mere shadow of itself ...

Anyhow on to the good .(and man have I waited a LONG ASS TIME to make a post like this ... ) ... and these things i LOVE will be in no particular order ..

1. we have a bunch of GOOD GUYS that are fun to cheer for .. U mentioned we have a TEAM Bone and your right .. Opie has brought in QUALITY QUALITY PLAYERS ... and that is payig dividends now and will continue to for the next decade because the kids are learning how to work and win by example from guys like Willie (who takes a beating on this board but is a HUGE PART of our success just because of what he does in the locker room) .. and Joe and Tuck and Hank .. these guys are winners and have been winners and our teaching the kids how TO DO IT RIGHT ... these guys work hard and seem to geniunly care for each other .. what more could u ask for other than some talent ... witch we have ...

2. Chud .... this guy has a very good/smart pass blocking OL and some major major weapons in Brey and KW and a nice compiment in Joe ... and man is he USING THEM WELL ... every week he takes their strenghts and figures out how to best exploit the D were facing .. he GAME PLANS excellently ... I can't remember ever seeing a team having so many guys running so wide open so consistently ... its AMAZING .... he gives us a chance ... this isnt so easy when we play the good D's and teams but he sure is a good game planner .. he looks like he could be REALLY SPECIAL ... it will be fun over the next couple years to watch him develop as an OC ...

3. Opie ... hes brought in a GREAT MIX of YOUNG TALENT and VETS that can contribute that DO IT THE RIGHT WAY ...

4. watching the kids grow ... IF and thats a BIG IF Brey can keep his head on straight (this was the easy year as he wanted to prove everyone wrong ... next year will be KEY ... lets see how he reacts to success ... ) we have as good a TE/WR duo as their will be in the league ... these guys are GOOD and FUN TO WATCH ...

Brey has made more highlight reel catches by far than I have ever seen in a single season ... until he got the dropises 3 or 4 games ago i thought he was the best WR in the league .. he didnt have TO's or Randy;s #'s but he was making so many SPECTACULAR plays it was amazing ... and KW was right .... he is a better recieving TE at 90% than everyone else at 100% ..

Joe FREAKING Thomas ... WOW is all i can say ... alot of us said he would be a really good LT and upper echelon in a couple years .. Vers told us he'd be better than we thought right away .. and he was right .. Joe is just playing unbeleivable LT for a vet much less a rookie .. I can't even imagine how good hes gonna be next year after a year in the league .. he has a few minor flaws that are easily correctable ..

I can't believe we have him as our LT .. WOOOOOHOOOOOO ....

also DQ, Wimbely, Jones and even Pool is showing some flashes ... Wright, McDonald, Shaun Smith (robbaire is a vet I forgot to mention that also is playing pretty good) ..

and how could we not mention the Devon hester of the AFC .. Josh Cribbs .. WOW ... and hes even better than Devon cause he is a MONSTER ON COVERAGE ALSO ... he should go to the Pro Bowl in 2 spots ... returner and cover guy ...

WOW .... Dennis who????? ...

5. The play of DA ... I'm not going to get into it as its been beaten to death .. hes done things that will hopefully net us a 2nd rnd pick or two of them ... that would THRILL me to no end ... and please dotn turn this into a DA is this or that or we need to keep him .. its been beaten to death a million times no need to do it again ... i am just going to state my opinion and move on .. PLEASE DO THE SAME ...

Good Job DA .. you;ve played better than I thought U ever could ...

6. RAC .... hes done a nice job this year ... I still have no clue if he is the right man or not .. but even the biggest naysayers have to admit he has really done a nice job with the kids .. their learning and getting better .. last year he was ripped for how he handled Brey .. well HOW DID THAT TURN OUT??? I thought he handled it we'll last year and he was told at the end of the year meetings to grow up and he did ... well so far anyhow .. we'll see how next year goes ..

weather or not we make the playoffs this year .. it was a REALLY REALLY FUN YEAR .... and i thouroughly enjoyed it ..

I guess if one thing told the tale of this year for me its this ... for thelast 3 or 4 years when I talk to my friends after they got through *L* at me they would pretty much give me their condolences and try to cheer me up saying stupid things like were young or on the brink ... well this year I've had to tell them were not as good as we look but that I am THRILLED and HAVING A BLAST watching the kids grow and winning a few games to boot ...

THE FUTURE SURE IS BRIGHT !!!!!!!!!!! .. I supsect next year we'll have the same or a better record with much more impressive wins .. were not going to be quite ready for the SB run most will talk about .. but were going to be a REAL GOOD FOOTBALL TEAM compared to this year in witch we are an OK team with an easy schedule ..

and i cant wait to talk to my friend and get their congrats for having a GREAT TEAM and wishing me well in our quest for a SB ...

WOOF WOOF WOOF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope you guys had as much fun writing your posts as I had reading them.
Usually at this point in the season, we're whining on about the wholesale changes that need to be made, and debating which top 5 draft pick could help this team stop limping through yet another season.

Gotta admit- this kind of takl makes it a LOT more fun to be a fan.

I wouldn't begin to predict what our final record might be either this year or next... that's for me to wait and see. What I can predict is thet the growth will continue... and we'll finally (whew!) be able to expect quality football from these guys every week.

I think I'll close this post now... and just smile for a minute.

OMG ..... I forgot my FAVORITE PART ....

THE OL .... ,,, not only do we have NFL Caliber players at every position ... a few spots are still below avg. but its NFL caliber .. we have a BONAFIDE STUD and a WELL ABOUE AVG. player and we have QUALITY DEPTH ... thats right we have QUALITY DEPTH ... McKinnie went down and Tuck stepped right in .. we used to not even have 5 NFL caliber OLman and now we have QUALITY DEPTH to boot ..

one thing I relaly like about this group is they appear to BE SMART .. they pick up pass blitzes and handle stunts like they been together for 3 or 4 years ... hats off to Hank if hes making the line calls and hats off to them all for working together ..

are the perfect?? far from it .. but there LIGHT YEARS AHED of anything we've ever had ... and ther buety is ... they SHOULD GET BETTER ...

WOOOOOHOOOOOOO ...

God that felt good to say for a change ..

Only thing I can add are two things...
Bentley's return next offseason and if he can actually play..if he can...that should really get interesting ..

Phil will not have to make Oline a priority next offseason.
Defense and RB should be the focus among other things..
I won't go into the QB spot..it'll take off to 8 pages..

Hank was such a great pick up. Things on the line started to turn around for the better when he got here. It was a mess when he got here. Now its a strong point and if Bentley comes back WOW. I think we could get 3 yards whenever we want.

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OMG ..... I forgot my FAVORITE PART ....

THE OL

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I was waitin' for it in the last post...I was like Damn Diam's out there now...lol...

The beauty of this whole thing is FOUR RETURN...FOUR...

When was the last time we had that???...I don't think we've had that since the Cap came into play...lol...

When Bents comes back we've got a major decision to make...And fully EXPECT him here next year from Day One...

What do we do???

Bentley/Tucker/Shaffer???

Fraley/Bentley/Shaffer???

Damn man...#1 sure looks good...

This OL is THE part of this team that's making this Offense go...It ain't the QB...

By the time next year rolls around we SHOULD be able to run at will...Right now we can't run at all...That will get better...Then watch out...

Quinn's being set up to SUCCEED in a big way...Thank You Anderson...

With the young OL we have we no longer need to be #1 in line for the #1 FA OL...THANK YOU SAVAGE!!!!!!

Now we can attack the defense...We won't NEED to throw up 30 to even be CLOSE...

1. Kellen Winslow is a man among men, and if anyone should be a role model on how to turn your life around, listen to Winslow talk after his accident. And on the field, Kellen takes so many hits and gets right back up no matter what happens. I'm so glad that we have him.

2. An undervalued point...Jamal Lewis and Willie Mac are a reason a lot of our players are acting more mature...along with Joe J. While Mac can't play as well as he used too, Lewis and Joe still have some left in the tank.

3. O-line has been out of this world. We have the best left side in football and i'm not sure anyone can debate that right now. Maybe the Vikes but still, these guys are flatout beasts. As always, Hank is awesome and plays so freaking hard. Tucker and Shaffer have been pretty good so far this season.

4. DA has played better than anyone could have thought. He still has his bad moments but it's a lot better than having to watch Chaz, Kelly, Jeffy G, Timmah or any other QB we've had. Still have to say...I can't wait to see BQ, who I think is the next Elway *pardon my french *

5. Braylon is playing like the #3 pick we thought he might be *most of us anyway*. 2 years after his knee injury and he has looked as good as he did at the end of his rookie season. I can't wait to see the rest of his carrer unfold.

6. Shaun Smith is giving me a lot of hope and encouragement for our D-line. He has a motor that won't stop and he gives us what we want in a NT. If we could get two DE's that can play the way he plays NT, we'll be set.

7. DQ Jackson is going to be the next great ILB in the league...but no one in the national media will notice. If Savage gets another OLB rusher that can get pressure then I think Wimbley will be VERY good.

8. Sean Jones and Brodney Pool sure do know how to hit...and Pool, to me, looks like he may become the better of the 2. Eric Wright and McDonald look to be the future at corner.

9. I think if you look in webster for the word OMFGAMAZING~! you'll find Josh Cribbs next to it. I can't say anything that any of us don't know, so i'll leave it at that.

OMFGAMAZING~! = Josh Cribbs.

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Bentley/Tucker/Shaffer???

Fraley/Bentley/Shaffer???

Damn man...#1 sure looks good...

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I like #2 better.

I think that Hank is plenty good and then some in the middle and I like the idea of sandwiching him between two Pro Bowl Guards.... both of which can be absolute beast pulling.

[Steinback-Fraley-Bentley] looks better to me than [Steinbach-Bentley-Tucker]

The true beauty is the flexibility the team will have.
Whether forced by injury or perhaps we just want to give the opposing D a funky look like we do with Thomas on the right side, we can line em up a bunch of different ways and not have a drop off in talent or miss a beat.

Another positive for me, (and i don't know what we're doing different from seasons past.) is that half our starters are not on Injured Reserve this year.....hope i didn't jinx us.

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[Steinback-Fraley-Bentley] looks better to me than [Steinbach-Bentley-Tucker]

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Oh man, I do like the look of that... Heck even it if's Stienbach, Fraley, Bentley and Tucker... I'd have no problem with that at all.. or sub Shaffer for Tucker.. Good to go,,

No matter how you slice it, with or without bentley, we are really sitting pretty on the OL...

The biggest positive about this season was the offseason signing of Eric Steinbach and the drafting of Joe Thomas.

More than a few of us had been saying for years (since 2000 at least) that our OL was holding us back...dragging us down...and making us look like a circuis act.

In Diam's prediction thread I had us finishing at 8 & 8 because our OL would prove to be improved, but that our D would be weak. Of course now, 8 & 8 seems conservative. - gotta luv it.

Aside from the OL, the #'s that Brey and KW2 are putting up are quite the positive. DA has done surprisingly well. Eric Wright's athletic ability and sure tackling is another thing to be happy about.

Another important positive is the feeling of respect others have for our favorite team. It's been a long time coming...and we hope it stays.

Josh Cribbs! I forgot to mention JC.
He has been unbelievable.

one of my favorite positives is how the Browns have made absolute FOOLS of every sports pundit in the media..

They spent years dissing all over us, and now they're tripping all over themselves with gushing praise. To be honest, it makes them look even more foolish because NOT ONE has stood up and admitted how wrong they were.


tools.

Thanks for what I think has turned out to be a great thread, every single person to this point has added to the original post and expanded on it. And hey to the very last person you have all been positive. You have all stuck to the subject, Thanks and lets continue to expand on it. It truly has turned into a feel good thread as someone said. And I praise you all for your contributions. Well DONE DAWGTALKERS, WELL DONE.

2

I'd like to put in my thanks for the unsung role players we have in (1) Daven Holly ( the mishap on the punt notwithstanding), because when one of our DB is out injured, he steps right in & takes up the slack! (2) Dinkins on special teams, because he is one of the mainstays in coverage & usually has a key block on a big JC return. JMHO Go Brownies!!!

I will add a couple more, and echo the thoughts of others.

OLine, yes Virginia, Santa Claus granted our wish and the Browns are competitive with an OLine.

Chud. What a great hire. I think that Chud would have been the San Diego OC if the Browns had not hired him. But no one is questioing the playcalling any longer. In fact it has been solid.

Cribbs, Anderson, Vickers and McDonald, A measure of a good team is the late round draft choices that become part of the team. We all know about Cribbs and Anderson. Vickers has been a solid contributor. I know that McDonald has not played much as of yet, but I expect that to change.

I have to laugh about how badly the season started, versus where we are now. It was a bold move to insert Anderson and trade Frye, but it was the difference.

One more thing, the Browns are in good cap position, so I don't think we will see the purge ala the 2002 season. This team will get better.

I have to agree with almost all that has been said about individual players. What I want to focus on is the team as a whole.

We have a coach who the players respect so much that they want to win for him as well as for themselves. The players take each loss very hard, believing that they should win each game. There has not been any of the usual in fighting that we have become accustomed to. Our players are giving every last ounce of effort, while many are playing above where most think their talent level is. We have true leaders on this team who worry more about others than themselves and their own stats. The young kids are growing up and getting better each week.

In short, we have a team instead of a bunch of individuals playing together.

To expand on the last post, I knew this team was eventually turn it around and start looking like a team. As Savage said "It's not about 'if' it's about when".


Personally I saw that happen week 2 against Cincinnati... in fact the very moment I saw this team click was right when Braylon got in front of those 2 defenders, tipped the ball and had the presence of mind and concentration to roll over and the ball out of the air. Right after that play, everything looked like it started clicking... we were catching breaks, we were making plays, and most of all... we were scoring.

I have been saying all year that that play broke the jinx. The monkey has been off our backs ever since.

The "turning point" if you will.

The Biggest POSITIVE to the season is we CANNOT end the season with a losing record. The win in NY insures we will not have a losing season. The Browns have finally turned the page on losing seasons. The biggest postive to be sure..

JMHO

Phil Savage

Now that he has had his hands in the mix for a few years you can see the shift occur. Our young players are good AND ready to play at the pro level very quickly. We have depth at positions where some teams (much like the Browns in past years) don't have quality starters. I know we haven't seen BQ much yet here, but just this past draft has produced real NFL talent. Thomas, Quinn, Wright and McDonald. Phil is setting the table for a competitive Browns team for years to come!

Everyone who know me, knows I'm an avid Browns fan and for years (like Diam) they would offer sympathy when the Browns played poorly and ask how I can support such a lame team. Now they are genuinely excited for me - which is kinda funny.

Meanwhile in Baltimore, a team ages and there is no young talent to step in. Think they miss Phil (and Jamal & DA) there?

gobrowns!

Another milestone we will end the season with a winning record with the win over the Bills.

Health, hunger, swagger

I am accepting good with the bad. Most of my two cents' worth has been about glaring bad football stuff and questions about the philosophy driving the coaching and skill sets (like where did our lousy excuse for a 'prevent' come from and why does it persist. But I said that I would be overjoyed at 8 &8 so overjoyed am I.
I am most pleased about fewer injuries and clean jerseys and the late season Jam-all Lewis. And the emergence of DA as a too long neglected talent. And the ongoing message sent concerning BQ and the potential consequences of being stupid late to camp. But I love the wins and especially Mighty Joe T. and Braylon going thru the NFL equivalent of puberty. I could also be happier with Jurevicius if we bothered to use him more.

Lots of positives,, that's for darn sure..

I wonder what those guys,, you know, the media types, are thinking now about the Browns..

I have a new recipe for Crow,, do you think any of them would like to be a taste tester

I don't see any positives. Since we have been contending I am suffering panic attacks, ulcers and cold sweats. God I wish I could go back to rooting for a team that didn't have a chance.

Pdawg, you are a very strange man!

Of course I was joking...at least partially. I always root for victories but am happy when the team just plays the best they can. Until this year the best really wasn't very good. Now that we have a chance at the playoffs I worry whether we will win or not. I know this team has what it takes to win and I want it almost as bad as the players. I don't think I'm alone in having a little anxiety over these games.

Yes P,, I knew exactly what you meant by that..

It's almost like them being good enough to win now,, But will they. It's torture But in a good way

Pdawg...

I hear you about the worrying part... now that there's more at stake in the season, there's more at stake with every play. Welcome to The Show, I guess.


The difference between then and now... every now and then, I'll just start smiling in the middle of the day, after some random thought about the Browns crosses my mind. That didn't happen a year ago.

I'll take the worry on Sundays, dude... because Mondays through Saturdays are just so much better now.

Pdawg I absolutely live for this type of football. Yes we have begun a run that should last well into the future. I am certain will have a set back here or there, not that I can actually think of one this season. For the most part we came into this season with so many question marks that it was impossible to think that every one of them would come out on the positive side. Again being honest, I can't think of one question mark that hasn't turned out to be a positive, it truly is amazing.

To think that this team now stands on the doorsteps to the playoffs after the season we had last year is just unbelievable.

We are far from the perfect team, but God we have made so many strides this season in the right direction alls you can say is WOW..

It's funny because, most of the time the threads turn into a bitchathon. It's nice to know that at least some of you guys realize how great a season we have had, and can actually find something positive to talk about. I think of the crew that has posted here as the cup half full crowd. It makes me smile to think that at least some of you share my joy over what this season has brought. It's to bad everybody can't and doesn't share the joy that this season has been. I wished all would take the time to reflect on where we came from, and where we likely are headed, and enjoy it to it's fullest. God when I think about where we are likely headed in the not to distant future I can't find anything to bitch about alls I can do is smile, because I know my dreams are about to come true. I won't die without having seen my beloved Browns win a Super Bowl. God I can't wait for the future, it only gets better from here folks. Enjoy the ride...

We ended the season a winner, and we are moving into elite team status. With a few adjustments to our defense will be a great team next season. Thanks to the Browns players and coaches for a great ride. Special thanks to RAC, who has had a pretty tough couple of years here in Cleveland. If not for his steady hand were nowhere near the TEAM we are now, "Thanks RAC", well done.

Brown to the Bone