DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Keys to success in '08

Here is a list of things needed for the Browns to have a chance at a successful '08 season

1. Build the Defense...Said it before and I'll say it again, "Defense Wins Championships". At the very least, we need a T. Suggs type player opposite Wembly and at least one stud D-lineman. I know we cant have everything, so this will do for now!

2. Get J. Cribbs more involved in the offense! Cribbs has the potential of being a "Hines Ward" type of player. I know how important he is to special teams, but can you imagine him lined up with Winslow, BE, and J.Lewis??? Can you say UNSTOPPABLE?

3. Get a #2 receiver that can help streach the field. Looking at the schedule for '08 and the level of competition, were going to need a reliable, faster # 2 receiver to complement BE. Joe J is probably playing 1 more year, and he's a possesion guy . We need a burner that can streach the field. Dont know if T. Wilson is the answer, but would love Donte Stallworth, but not his contract. We may already have the solition on the team. See #2

4.Sign J.Lewis and get a young back in the draft. Give J. Lewis a 3 year deal, draft a RB ie Joanthan Stewart, Felix Jones, Rashard Mendenhall, etc. Let the young RB get most of the carries and regulate J. Lewis to 3rd Down and the 4th quarter when we need to put the game one ice...alot like the "Bus" was used late in his career.

5.Sign D. Anderson long term, but with incentives. This is not to start another DA DEADBATE, so please dont. After listening to Phils radio interview several times and all the other information provided, this is how I came to my conclusion. DA was a 1st year starter(not to be confused with being a Rookie, he's been in the league 3 years), with a new offensive coordinator(who's playbook had to be cutback because it was so difficult). When you look at the WHOLE body of his work, the good with the bad, he had a really GOOD year, border line GREAT year. For that reason alone, I think they will sign him long term, but with incentives, much like B. Quinns contract. Business wise, it make the most sense. Because he didnt have a GREAT year, his agents cant ask for the BIG bucks. Sign him long term now at a reasonible price with incentives, and if he has a breakout year, you got him at a bargin and he earned his money, and if he doesn't, no harm no foul and we press B. Quinn into duty. I think the BIGBRAINS in Cleveland are thinking...If we name this guy the starter, and he has the whole offseason and training camp to prepare as the starter, Chud opens up his playbook more, we add some more weapons on offense and especially on defense, He will improve as a QB...and if he doesnt, we have a more than capible backup in Quinn...ITs WIN WIN BABY!!

show, welcome to the board, and i think you're right on with the defense.

Right now, our defense is doodoo. Its improved from the beginning of the year though. I dont think we need any help in the secondary. Maybe one additional safety because if Pool or Jones were to get hurt we'd have Adams and only Adams and thats not enough depth. Our corners, with the emergence of McDonald has been solidified (providing Bodden can regain form).

Its been stated we need another LB or 2 (one on the inside and one on the outside) but its quite possible that some of that could come from within with a new scheme.

Its also been stated we need DL help, but I think that with Purcell, Pittman, Leonard, and Shaun Smith all being under 26 years old, I think we're in better shape than we think. Robaire Smith is also a keeper, so providing these young guys progress and continue to improve, we may be in better shape than we thought.

I agree with signing DA, Just like all of our young guys, he's going to improve. With our offense's emergence, we owe DA another year.

Sign Jamal absolutely. but I dont think its time to make him a 3rd down/late game back. He still has a lot in him, and if you ask me. We're fine with Jason Wright and Jerome Harrison. When you have a back thats considered another OL when he's in (Wright) you're doing well. Vickers and Ali are good. I think we're fine in the offensive backfield for 2 years at least (depending on what Harrison and Wright do, remember these guys both have under 4 years in the league, theyre going to continue to improve).

To your point on Cribbs. Around here (and im not gonna weigh in because I dont know) the general consensus on Cribbs is that hes a doodoo route runner to this point. Maybe he'll improve this offseason.

Thats i think a good set of keys to set us up for success in the fall.

the keys to success in the fall.

1. Improve the short passing game. Thats Derek Anderson's biggest thing. He needs to improve his checkdowns, his field vision, and his touch and accuracy. But those things will improve our short passing game. Until he shows he's improved those, the deep ball wont be there. If he improves those, we'll be more successful next fall.

2. Improve the run D. If we cant stop the run in the fall, we're not gonna be in any better shape than we were this year. That comes with the new DL additions or the improvement of the guys we have here. It comes with improved LB play.

3. Improvement of the pass rush. Yup, we all know it, the more we press the QB, the better off we'll be. you can bet our DBs will be playing tougher on WRs this year, because we have a DB guy running our D. Theyre our biggest strength right now, and hopefully theyll be utilized as so. But, with the pressure from the DL, our DBs can make the plays that our D will be geared up for.

4. Improve. A lot of teams finish a year and win 10 games and think theyll be fine next year. AKA the NYJets. It's important to improve every year. Thats what we need to do, obviously. The key to being successful is for everyone to come in better than they were last year. Hopefully being snubbed in the playoffs will give us extra motivation even to our Pro Bowl guys (especially Braylon...he seems to have his head on straight, but i could see him thinking he's good and getting soft since hes a pro bowler now...I hope not though).

Whatever happens with DA I don't care right now... but I noticed you said his agent can't ask for the big bucks because he didn't have a GREAT year.... well he can still ask for Schaub type money. If so... DA is playing for another team next year and we'll be in the 1st round. Just my opinion. DA and his agent have to be willing.

next season will be rough, with the teams we play i expect us to do decent but probibly narroly miss the playoffs unless the steelers get notacabley worse and out division ends up being very weak.

so my keys are . . . win as many ball games as this year.

Immediate: Defense! Any and all. We could use another CB, S, OLB, DE, NT.

Urgent: Another WR. JJ has basically said after next season he's done. But behind JJ, BE, and KW2; no one really stepped up. Wilson possibly (doubt it), Carter is gone. A good WR in FA would be great.

Something to think about: RB. Even if we sign JL again (which we will) how many years does he have left? 2-3? If we are there in the 2nd round and a good RB falls to us (its a heavily stocked RB class) do we take em and have em sit behind Jamal for a bit? Is there a FA out there? just think about it.

Also, DA. Do we sign him long term or tender him? If we do and a great trade offer comes up, do we take it? Are we sold on Quinn?

Plenty to think of in the future.

Purcell and Pittman have not sniffed the field

they are this years Baba.

I would rather have a high draft choice or more FA that to hope a late round project will pan out.