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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,531
Legend
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OP
Legend
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,531 |
This time of year is like football hibernates.
Nothing happens until Camp opens.
I thought it would be worth discussing the North. As a new season begins the first objective is to win your division.
Something the Browns have not done since 1989. Wow that is an eye opener to how bad we have been.
Ok. Ravens, Bengals, Steelers. Have we made enough gains to get in front of any of the teams in the North?
The Bengals are the only team with the same head coach. They have Burrow, Chase and Higgens. Have they gotten any better on defense?
The Ravens have Lamar. They won 8 games last year. Are they better?
The Steelers won the division which seems impossible. Rodgers has returned for his last gasp. His old coach Mike McCarthy is now the head coach.
Honestly, the North does not look that great. Every team has question marks. Naturally the quarterbacks are the first place you look.
Burrow and Lamar are both great qb's. Rodgers has seen better days.
The Browns are still in the category of who is our quarterback?
Even though that is the case the Browns should be better than last year.
The Ravens and Bengals have the edge. I could see the Steelers slipping. Tomlin saw the future.
I think the Browns could split in head to head games in the North.
But I see them ending up third or fourth.
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,880
Hall of Famer
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Hall of Famer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,880 |
Third or fourth place seems realistic. I had posted awhile back that if everything came together for us we’d have a shot at winning the division because the teams in the North, after being so good for so long, have regressed. It’s wishful thinking on my part and a long shot but we’re due for some good fortune. I feel we’re going to be good enough to go .500 in the division.
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 9,711
Hall of Famer
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Hall of Famer
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 9,711 |
As usual, it will probably come down to which team stays the healthiest at key positions.
![[Linked Image from i.ibb.co]](https://i.ibb.co/fkjZc8B/Bull-Dawg-Sig-smaller.jpg) You mess with the "Bull," you get the horns. Fiercely Independent.
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,848
Hall of Famer
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Hall of Famer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,848 |
Third or fourth place seems realistic. I had posted awhile back that if everything came together for us we’d have a shot at winning the division because the teams in the North, after being so good for so long, have regressed. It’s wishful thinking on my part and a long shot but we’re due for some good fortune. I feel we’re going to be good enough to go .500 in the division. Every year a team emerges ahead of schedule. Maybe that will be the Browns this year. Maybe Sanders proves to be the long-term QB or Watson finds his Texans magic. It happens. More than likely the Ravens and Bengals fight it out for 1 and 2 and the Browns and Steelers fight it out for the basement but there is always hope. I think Sander's development is the only hope for 2026.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 79,634
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 79,634 |
Two teams, the Bengals and Ravens have legitimate QB's. The other two teams do not. Injuries can not be predicted. We can only make projections based on the facts at hand. What ifs and maybes won't change that.
Advantage? The two teams that have a QB.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
#gmstrong
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 2,243
Dawg Talker
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Dawg Talker
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 2,243 |
Time will tell if we have a legit QB.....news today- Bengals CANCELLED last two days of their OTAs....we, Browns fans hang on every throw/ interception, dang, he looks good....AND Bengals could care less- one day's enough in June......how different- Go Browns!!!
"You've never lived till you've almost died, life has a flavor the protected will never know" A vet or cop
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,058
Hall of Famer
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Hall of Famer
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,058 |
If there was a year for the Browns to gain ground this is it .
The Browns have some high ceiling players going into year 2
Fanin, Swesinger, Judkins, Graham . Its gone from a old roster to young
On paper the oline looks better . Warhop has the most important job
Of the preseason.
Monken likes to run the ball. I think he will lean on it heavily
I dont think the QB matters this year . Neither are proven winners
I think both will be game managers .
But the Browns QB room is better than the Steelers .
Rodgers has nothing left in that arm . 8-9
The Ravens are going through a HC change . Their oline lost talent
Derrick Henry is a year older . As is Mark Andrews .
Their depth at TE took a hit . Lamar Jackson simply cant win when it
Counts . Hes just like Tony Romo , Andy Dalton Baker Mayfield and Dan Fouts .
They wilt in the playoffs . Jesse Minter is a 1st year HC
He will be exposed . 8-9
The Bengals did things not common in the past and actually
Spent alot of money . Dexter Lawrence alone will make that front 7 better. Then you Johnaton Allen.
They wont miss Hendrickson. Their secondary got better with Cook from KC and
Duggar from Pittsburgh .
The only team In the North to retain there HC and oline . Best offense in the AFC
12-5
The Steelers have a ancient artifact for a QB . Overhauled coaching staff on
Offense . Traded for Michael Pittman who is a big target but isnt a end zone threat
Revolving door at RB as usual. Harris and Gainwell out
Rico Dowdle in . Defense could keep them in some games . We will see how many wins McCarthy
Can win on experience. 7-10.
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