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Welcome Back Vers! I agree that this team is something "Special", and fun to watch! It has been a wild ride, and I believe it will only get better! JMHO Go Brownies!!!

I agree with what you said about Braylon, very good point about hand-eye (I'd add: the brain sometimes gets in the way. when a receiver has no time to think but lets his hands do the work, he's usually better off....)

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He is actually better on the more difficult catches because he has to get his hands away from his body---and he actually has very good hands. His problems come when the pass is right into his chest or stomach. He doesn't extend his hands and he uses his body to catch the ball and then cradles it w/his arms. That doesn't work.

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As for DA: I have enjoyed his won-loss record this year. He does make us scratch our heads at times, but sometimes he's a very dangerous QB who makes big plays. As long as we win, I'm good with his drawbacks.

WTF u been????????????

It would be crazy insane if we can win out...Be 11-5 and have Pukesburgh LOSE to Baltimore next week...Talk about scoreboard watchin'...lol...

How crazy would that be...Not only winning the North and turning the tide for the near future...But to have a HOME PLAYOFF GAME IN JANUARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We'll have plenty of time to breakdown Anderson and what we do with him after the season...I also wanna see wtf we can't run to the right side and what's needed to fix it...Sumptin's wrong over there...Is it Shaffer?????????????????????

Vers, it's so good to have you back. Is it selfish to say I hope you stick 'cause your football knowledge has been a constant source of learning for me.

Good post as well.

It may be a tall order to ask QB deadbates to cease since that's all we've known for so long. A lot of us have definately been looking a gift horse in the mouth.

But no doubt DA has done a miraculous job. Actually I think it's his great play that makes his mistakes and shortcomings stand out so glaringly. You've heard the "Good DA, Bad DA" thing. What is odd about that is that each of them is on extreme opposite ends of the spectrum. For a time he'll be one of the best QB's in the league playing with poise and precision and then he'll surprise you by being a chump who rattles easy and makes stupid mistakes. Let's hope experience evens that out.

Celabration is in order. I haven't felt this good about the Browns since before the move. We have only two games left and a win over the Bengals Sunday week puts us solidly in the playoffs by our own hand rather than backing in by someone elses demise.

That's the cake and the icing is that we could still win our division!

It just can't get more exciting than that.

For the first time in forever I have confidence going into each game. I've always had hope and had expected to win, but this is different. Now, I know we can win if we don't make the mistakes that beat ourselves.

Savage has done a near perfect job of rebuilding the Browns. A couple of posts Diam make a year and a half ago opened my eyes to the fact that Savage had a plan. In a moment of clairity I saw that plan and not only did it make sense but it has played out, so far, almost exactly as I'd envisioned it. That doesn't make me smart, just observant as to what was going on while keeping my emotions in check.

What is most surprising about his approach is that he nearly spells out his plan to us, and the rest of the league, and then goes out and accomplishes it in a big, big way. I think in the past, the Browns regimes were secretive in what they hoped to accomplished and kept us in the dark as to what they might be doing for fear of tipping their hand to the league. But the fact is, everyone in the league already knows what we need so it's no secret. Savage doesn't have to spin anything. His draft strategy and free agent moves have been stellar to this point.

Savage took over this team in 2005 and by 2007 we have this team that we're all celebrating over! That is no small feat as witnessed by not only ourselves but by many teams who found themselves in the same situation we were in and continue to struggle in the cellar for years.

RAC is the epitome of calmness and consistantancy. The man knows what it takes to win. His main goal has been to translate his knowledge and understanding to his players and coaches. He has done that remarkably well. This team has taken on the character of their head coach. A short study of the attitude adjustments of Brayon Edwards and K2 is testament to that. And when you think of how much those two matured, just imagine how much more improved other players have become who might have already been mature.

RAC has been the right coach at the right time for a team mired in a losing mentality. He has taken the "woe is me" attitude and corrected it into an attitude of maturity and a team first mentality expecting to win.

I think too little credit has been given the head coach who is responsible for the mindset of the entire team including coaches as well as players on to the rest of the assistants and the overall orgaization as well.

I think a little too much credit has been given to Chud for the turnaround as no one coach on one side of the ball can have that overall effect on the entire team. And it's obvious, that it is the entire team who share in the team-first mentality and the willingness to sacrifice individual goals for the good of the team.

I've said this before, I know, but I'll say it again for a much different reason: Wait 'till next year!

Everyone agrees with you on Joe Thomas. In a way that was the easy part in building the O-line. What was not so easy was bringing in players who matched up so well with each other and seemed to gel quickly. And the truth is, they ain't even gelled yet! Next season this line is going to be even better.

And I agree also that Savage can't rest on his laurels regarding the offensive line, but must look to the draft to bring in at least one lineman for the future. And not the sixth round token.

When you have the time, if you're so inclined, would you elaborate on your statement that the Browns haven't played a prevent all season. I think I know what you mean since there's a difference between playing soft-coverage vs. a schemed prevent but I need a little education on your take.

RAC, and Grantham (known as Dr. Evil by some), have taken a beating on the sub par play of the defense this season. In fact, they've done so bad early on that the stats they put up in the first half of the season haunt them still today. But in the second half of the schedule they have been stellar in stopping third and fourth down conversions. Mary Kay Cabot said on The Browns Red Zone show here on STO that teams have converted only 21% of their third downs vs. the Browns defense in the past 5 games, (where's soup and Mensa when you need them?),

The run defense has been much better and to see gang tackling as we have in the past two games has been impressive. The D-line has been playing pretty well as of late and the DB's are doing a much better job than they did early on. I think you're right about needing two defensive linemen.

Not yet sure on your take of Pool. This is his first season as a starter. I'm not so sure we can judge him that quickly. His play has improved a lot since the beginning of the season when he looked confused and out of position most of the time. He still gets out of position but has lately been in position to make some big plays. We'll see.

Well, I gotta go work as the world really doesn't owe me a living.

Glad you're back. Stick around.

I was hoping you would get fed up with the Browns board and come back here Vers. They gave me the boot for calling out yet another clueless twit on the fire RAC crowd, you remember that bunch. They are still here, just waiting to be reborn.

I agree, I even put up a positives post, and while everyone didn't take part, most of the better posters did. EO even called it a fun thread. Much the same as this thread. It is about the positives, and there are plenty.

I was a CF supporter as well, and you can throw me in with you. I will eat crow, cold or hot on that one. I have no problem with admitting I was wrong there. I also didn't think the Browns would win more then 5-6 games as well. I will say this though in defense of my position. Anyone looking through that schedule, and knowing where the Browns were coming from it would have been impossible to honestly say that they were going to win more then 5-6 games. A lot of things went the Browns way. 1st the division leaders from a year ago chit the bed, and by all appearances are rolling in it. Then comes Cincy, another team that was actually picked to make some noise this year, they chit the bed as well. There are 3 wins and most likely 4 from just that bunch alone. I could go through the schedule game by game, but to think of all the teams we played this season, and how they did a 360 from where everyone, myself included thought they were headed is a story unto itself. Again though I will eat my crow here too. Hot, cold, or otherwise, I have no problem eating crow. I am more then glad to be wrong actually.

I sense you feel as I do this team has overachieved no question, and hell it's near impossible not to be thrilled to death with their efforts.

There is one thing that I know though Vers, and that is this. You cannot stop people from being stupid, and you can't stop them from complaining while being stupid. I admit to being stupid at times, after all I am human, but I take lessons from everything I am wrong about, and I don't think you will get a lot of folks that were wrong about a lot of things to ever admit they were wrong. To me it's impossible to learn, if you can't admit you were wrong. So I admit I was wrong about CF, I was wrong about DA, and I was wrong about the Browns not winning more then 6 games.

The lesson that I take from it all is this. We have a great GM and a great HC, and they are great at making decisions when it comes to this football team, period. My roll has become what it should be, a fan that is absolutely thrilled to death with what the present holds and over the top trilled with what I see the future holding for this team. Will only get better from here, as I see it, it's not possible for us to do anything else but get better.

So Vers I join you in celebrating the true re-birth of the Browns. They have indeed arrived, and I too, am thrilled for the great ride we have had this season, nothing, I mean nothing will ever be as thrilling or as heartwarming to me then to see this team finally rise from the ashes and once again take their rightful place as one of the premier franchises in football. And guess what they play in front of the greatest fans in all of sports. I am satisfied and more then proud to say I am a fan of the Cleveland Browns...

JMHO

Brown to the Bone

BTW How about the 2 new Cleveland Browns Fans (Bellow). 1 month old and they already know who the best team in football is !!!!

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Hey guys; long time--no talk!

I'm making this post for two reasons:

[1] out of respect for all of you who asked me to come back;
and
[2] I need to come clean about the team.

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First...who the heck asked Vers to come back?

Or is Vers just making stuff up again?

Second...come clean about the team...BS...try admitting you were wrong, Vers.

Third...just kidding...I think...

Vers...welcome back...I think...at least until the next time you start ragging on Browns management or pick a couple of players to vent "your" frustration on.

In the past, your positions have been all over the place...for the Browns, against the Browns, depending on your mood for the day...depending on whether the team won or not.

Try being consistent...try to be a Browns fan through thick and thin.

BTW, we still have fans like you "used" to be ...if the Browns should lose on Sunday, you will see them out in force. Try to avoid joining the crowd that sways in the wind...its really beneath you to "follow".

There are a lot of positives on this team to focus on but there is also alot that is to be questioned by Browns fans..primarily on defense.

I hope you do enjoy what the Browns management and coaching staff have put together and as you know, they are far from done and the Browns are far from a finished product.

Welcome aboard, enjoy, celebrate all you want....damn it's great to win..

Just speaking for myself now, I'm smiling, but not celebrating yet. When the job is done and the Browns are "IN" the big dance....then I will join the rest of you "celebrating" ...WOOF...mac

Just clicking

I gotta say this.. I've been accused of being too much of a homer,, always looking for the bright side of whatever the Browns managment did and didn't do.

I've argued with people that thought that RAC should be fired and with those that thought that Savage (often referred to as Opie) was doing a horrible job.

I quite often thought that we were judging the cake before the baker got a chance to complete the recipe so to speak....


This is about the only 2 things that I ended up being right about,, I said I didn't know for sure if RAC was the best man for the job, but I felt he needed better talent on the team so that we could evaluate him properly,,, Savage gave him that talent from FA and did a damn fine job of drafting as well..

So, again, just about ever other position I took turned out to be wrong... but these two,,, well, let's just say, I'm eating a ton of Crow, but it's not because of my thoughts on RAC or Savage!

Funny thing,,, did you ever notice how robust and juicy Crow tastes when the Browns are Winning

I'm lovin all the positive energy going on around here,,, I truly am!

Thanks to all of you who welcomed me back. To the rest of you.....keep sucking on your sour pickles--*L*--but I really don't want to talk to you.

A couple of things.

---I'm positive because the team is giving me something to be positive about. I try and call them as I see them. When the team is bad....I say they are bad. And when they are good.........I say they are good. This team is playing well and while they have benefited from an easy schedule and some fortuitous bounces, they are on the right track. They may make the playoffs, but I still think they are a little ways away from being a serious contender. I still think we need a FS [first and foremost], two defensive linemen, and a 3rd WR. But, that isn't that much.

---I'm not really telling anyone what to think. I'm someone who has taught and coached for the majority of his life. I have a tendency to write in second person. I yi yi yi.

---The Prevent. My comment was fueled by a caller to a radio station I heard while trying stuck in traffic after Sunday's win against the Bills. He said that Buffalo drove down the field because we were playing prevent defense. He went on to say that we lost every game, including the Arizona game, because we played prevent defense. Then, he said that RAC needed to be lambasted by the media for this. Guys, this was an hour after beating Buffalo in one of the most exciting games I have ever seen. We did NOT play the prevent defense. I have seats that are high and right on the 50. It's very similar to the camera angle you see on coaches tapes. Believe me.......we were not in prevent. In fact, we were blitzing like crazy. On the long pass, we were in Cover Zero. That is straight man-to-man w/no safety help. The blitzers got picked up and Edwards had an easy throw. The old saying is true.........live by the blitz--------die by the blitz.

---DA: I ain't going to get into that debate now. I was thinking of posting a couple of weeks ago, but after reading the BS about DA, I just couldn't get myself to respond to the lunacy. I would like to remind you that he is very inexperienced.

---The celebration. I really want this team to make the playoffs, but mostly because I would like to see them rewarded for their hard work and I would like to see the town go nuts again. Cleveland deserves that. However, I will not be too upset if they don't get in. This team has overachieved in my eyes. They are further ahead than I thought they would be. They are on the right track. I'm happy w/the team and I am celebrating the success that they have had this season. No sour-pusses can take that away from me.

I love watching this team. They are never out of a game, and by the same token, the other team is never out of the game. *L*

This team is fun to watch!

So yeah...............I'm gonna celebrate!

welcome back.
i don't see you mention LB anywhere on the need list. is that not a big concern for you?

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This team is playing well and while they have benefited from an easy schedule and some fortuitous bounces, they are on the right track.

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I bet if you go back to just before the season started and base your thinking about the difficulty of our schedule on last years records,, I bet you wouldn't think it was that easy.... Just a thought.

I think I mentioned OLB on my second post. But, it's not a glaring hole like FS and the d-line. You don't need studs at every position and we can only make so many upgrades per year. I think if Savage gets us a new FS, two d-linemen, and possibly a 3rd WR [although Cribbs may work out], this team should be very good next year.

But, I would really rather talk about that on another thread. I'm just so happy that this team is doing as well as it is and I want to enjoy it while it lasts. As you know, there are no guarantees in this league.

What's wrong with our safeties,, have to admit, had you said we need safety help about 7 or so weeks back, I'd have agreed with you, but they seem to be coming along.

I wonder if the loss of Russell wasn't felt more severely than Savage or RAC thought it might be. He really seemed to keep the players in position to do thier jobs, Jones worked better with him in there than he did the beginning of this year without him and with Pool.

But now, it seems as if Jones and Pool are coming of age TOGETHER..

SO, what's the problem with the FS? I guess I may be missing something.

We definately didn't play prevent in this Buffalo game - although we have in the past. What was odd was that I was hoping we would as in that weather if you don't have an open track to the QB its hard to force your way in. Not the best conditions to blitz/or rush more than 4. No complaints from me...but I was doing a why now? Other games...here get in a nice Cover 3 Man.

But yeah...whoever that caller was - he's a dolt it was the first time we blitzed constantly in a game.

I'm sure we'll have a good debate in the future about our thoughts of FS.

btw - who has started more games...DA or Pool?

They are fun to watch...and our D is a lot closer than many think...I got it down to 3 more starters and some depth. We make a lot of 3 n outs...I've seen more this season than maybe all the rest combined! Heck we held the Pats to 6 3 n outs.

And Goal Line, one of the best I've ever seen. Reminds me of some really great Defenses when we play that goal line Defense...How these opponents simply don't play action pass behooves me they keep trying to run it in from 1 yard.

Well welcome back...I might be on the verge of getting expunged from the Brown's board - as there is one poster who constantly insults me within the rules of the board and just irks me...More than Corpus ever did...

enjoy the honeymoon but when the debates start...do me a favor and don't take it personal. Get a temper but don't get mad.

JMHWish

Welcome back Vers. Glad to see you posting again.

Welcome back Vers.... I don't think that the people on here are trying to be negative, I know that I am having a blast and I am sure that everyone else on here is as well. I just think that we are trying to look at areas in which we can improve and we will be even happier about our team.

Bout time Vers ....good to read you again

I agree with most of what you wrote, most of all the celebration and overachieving parts

I somewhat disagree on the need list...

2 DL? I think the Smiths are playing very good? Do you have 2 because of DL-rotation or 2 starters? I´d like to know who of the Smiths you´d like replaced and why?

I don´t see FS as a bigger need than OLB, even though I´m on the fence on Pool....both Pool and McGinnest have their drawbacks and are playing subpar at their respective positions....but McG is on the decline and with Pool there´s at least hope he can get better....that´s the way I see it....otoh the OLB depth is better than the S depth...so yeah, an experienced FS could help, our S-backups are (very good) STeamers (Adams, Sorensen)

I´m also curious why didn´t you list MLB as a need....Davis played a great game vs. BUF but overall has disappointed....Jackson is solid against the run, but this group is weak in pass coverage AND blitzing and not stellar at run stopping....I´d like us to sign Dansby or pick a ILB in round 3 or 4 (deep, good class...and good ILB do last in drafts) and move L.Williams to OLB....we have nice depth at LB overall but I´m not sure we have 4 solid starters in that group

Anyway, welcome back and keep posting....and celebrating