DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns in new light as playoffs unfold

Tuesday, January 16, 2007
By Steve Doerschuk REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

Although I don't agree with Steve in seeing how our team improves itself by counting on the unfortunate things happening to divisional opponents, I thought I would post it anyway for discussion sake. I think Steve is far off on this one though. JMHO. Please don't shoot the messenger.

BEREA Phil Savage came off a lost season pointing to ways the Browns might fix problems that left them with an 0-6 record against AFC North rivals.

One theory: Cleveland gets better; Baltimore, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh get worse; the gap closes. As the playoffs unfold, proving the theory becomes more plausible.

The Ravens, who nearly fell at Cleveland during their 13-3 regular season, came away from Sunday’s playoff game with a loss and a daunting personnel scenario.

Their franchise left tackle, Jonathan Ogden, suggested he might retire. Star linebacker Adalius Thomas can be a free agent. Wideout Derrick Mason, who will turn 33 Wednesday, talks as if the Ravens are wasting his twilight. Quarterback Steve McNair, soon to be 34, wasn’t the answer at quarterback, in the end.

Pittsburgh arguably lost a Hall of Fame Head coach when Bill Cowher quit. Now the Steelers have lost Offensive Coordinator Ken Whisenhunt to the Cardinals.

Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau will turn 70 in September, coming off a season of slippage by his unit. Joey Porter’s mouth and roster spot may go to Lee Flowers.

The Bengals’ 2006 win total matched the number of team members arrested in the last year. Young offensive lineman Eric Steinbach could change the balance of power between Cincinnati and Cleveland. The Bengals expect to lose him in free agency. Expect Cleveland to pursue Steinbach as a guard who can play left tackle.

The Browns aim to get better by:

• Using a healthy salary-cap situation toward signing free agents of Steinbach’s caliber. Buffalo cornerback Nate Clements is another target.

• Looking at the bright side of LSU quarterback JeMarcus Russell and Wisconsin left tackle Joe Thomas being gone before they pick at Nos. 3 or 4. QBs and tackles need more grooming than running backs. Indications are the Browns are all about fleshing out reasons to pick Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson. Reason No. 1: He can help the team win now, which would impact regime survival.

• Injecting creativity and ability into Head Coach Romeo Crennel’s staff. The Browns haven’t announced who will run the offense.

The weekend’s playoff games got Browns fans talking about Marty Schottenheimer’s future. One brainstorm has the Chargers firing Schottenheimer despite a 14-2 regular season. Schottenheimer, 63, comes back to Cleveland and expunges assorted evil spirits by leading the Browns to his — and their — first Super Bowl.

This isn’t dreaming: If Schottenheimer is dumped, his offensive coordinator, 45-year-old Cam Cameron, would be an attractive candidate to run Cleveland’s offense. Cameron was Indiana University’s head coach from 1997 through 2001.

Cameron would be in demand. Browns owner Randy Lerner might have to give him a salary not far behind Crennel’s.

Former Mount Union player Dom Capers warped the coordinator market this week, agreeing to a three-year contract worth a reported $8 million to stay as defensive coordinator of the Dolphins.

Capers’ contract is instructive regarding how expensive it will be to win a bidding war for Cowher next year: $8 million a year might not be enough.

I think nearly 100% of us here desperately want to sign FA Steinbach including moi. I also want Clements and/or London Fletcher-Baker, LB, Bills as much as Steinbach. If we could fit Schottenheimer in the FO somewhere and he could persuade Cameron his OC to join him and I can see us moving ahead more than we have ever been to being closer to being a playoff team. JMHO

Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail: steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com

London Fletcher stabber?

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One theory: Cleveland gets better; Baltimore, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh get worse; the gap closes. As the playoffs unfold, proving the theory becomes more plausible.

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While that might actually happen, that's not how I want it.. I'd like our division to be the toughest and best in the league,,,,with us earning the right to sit at the top..

Who could beat us then?

Considering Romeo is 1-11 against this division, I dont have a great deal of confidence that will improve anytime soon. The Bengals and Steelers both took a serious setback this year and they embarrassed the Browns in 3 of 4 games. Also Ben and Carson wont be coming off of a broken leg and a trip through a windshield.

The Ravens arent going anywhere either. Counting on the division to somehow suck so bad the Browns can win is foolish.

Something else no one has talked about to much is the fact that Cowher sucked this year. I thought this was the worst job of coaching in the league. Passing in the red zone over and over and taking the ball out of the RBs hands. It wasnt Pittsburgh football.

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Looking at the bright side of LSU quarterback JeMarcus Russell and Wisconsin left tackle Joe Thomas being gone before they pick at Nos. 3 or 4.

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Holy crap....the options that would be there at 3. A lot of talent left - the WR, RB, DTs and Quinn (who would be hard to pass) - hopefully the phone is ringing.

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One theory: Cleveland gets better; Baltimore, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh get worse; the gap closes. As the playoffs unfold, proving the theory becomes more plausible.

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I agree that this is a warped theory! We can't and won't be a S.B. team by waiting for this too happen. Now we could bring in talent via FA and draft that allows us to get better while the others stay pretty close to the same level.

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• Looking at the bright side of LSU quarterback JeMarcus Russell and Wisconsin left tackle Joe Thomas being gone before they pick at Nos. 3 or 4. QBs and tackles need more grooming than running backs. Indications are the Browns are all about fleshing out reasons to pick Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson. Reason No. 1: He can help the team win now, which would impact regime survival

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I think this is too much speculation as to who will be taken 1 and 2, plus, are we really considering Peterson? I don't dislike Peterson at all but if Thomas is there we have to go with him.

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The weekend’s playoff games got Browns fans talking about Marty Schottenheimer’s future. One brainstorm has the Chargers firing Schottenheimer despite a 14-2 regular season. Schottenheimer, 63, comes back to Cleveland and expunges assorted evil spirits by leading the Browns to his — and their — first Super Bowl.

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this seems very ridiculous too me, Schottenheimer; been there done that, no thanks. (sometimes the Cleveland media and/or fans take the Kardiac Kid underdog thinking too far) Now Cam Cameron is a very good choice for OC, if we could get him. I have my doubts about that.

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Using a healthy salary-cap situation toward signing free agents of Steinbach’s caliber. Buffalo cornerback Nate Clements is another target.

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yes, I like....

Although I don't agree with Steve in seeing how our team improves itself by counting on the unfortunate things happening to divisional opponents

i do agree with that to a degree. that's why i don't worry about SOS at the beginning of the year. teams lose key players, key players arrested, key players retire etc......... that levels the playing field for weaker teams.
the steelers and cinci took a step back last year. for whatever reason we couldn't capitalize. the steelers will start over next year and it will be the perfect time to jump all over them. you can be all honorable and want to play thir best teams, but a win is a win and they don't come often around here anymore.

The Browns aim to get better by:

• Using a healthy salary-cap situation toward signing free agents of Steinbach’s caliber. Buffalo cornerback Nate Clements is another target.


every team in the league has a hunk of change this year. we may have more than some, but those teams may prefer to use it on a single player whereas we need quantity. i can see us getting outbid for a player by a team with less money.

Indications are the Browns are all about fleshing out reasons to pick Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson.

INDICATIONS? riigghhtt. thos time of year you can believe everything you read and hear.

Reason No. 1: He can help the team win now, which would impact regime survival.


we are building for the long haul, which is the way it needs to be built. the win now players we brought in were the big ted's and the willie M's. they plug the holes until the new kids can be moved in. i think it would be stupid as hell to draft a "win now" type of player instead of one that will benefit the long haul. i don't really think rac GAF about regime survival anyway. he doesn't come across like that at all to me. he's gonna build it his way or what's the use?

Capers’ contract is instructive regarding how expensive it will be to win a bidding war for Cowher next year: $8 million a year might not be enough.


as far as i know, coaches don't count against the salary cap, and randy has a few bucks to spare. he can outbid anybody he wants.

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The Bengals’ 2006 win total matched the number of team members arrested in the last year.

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SAD but............

Carson has proved to be a good if not great QB

I think Carson's among the top 5 of QB's in the League...but not number 1. I'd put Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Peyton Manning in front of him but he's a helluva player.

I agree 100% about your assessment of Big Vag...he's bad.

I would LOVE to have Schottenheimer back with the Browns.

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This isn’t dreaming: If Schottenheimer is dumped, his offensive coordinator, 45-year-old Cam Cameron, would be an attractive candidate to run Cleveland’s offense. Cameron was Indiana University’s head coach from 1997 through 2001.

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I would think that Cameron could become the next head coach of the Chargers if Marty is fired. For that matter, Cameron's name is mentioned on the HC circles, so I don't know if he'd be here long as an OC. Of cours, he could be a coach in wating here if he came.

I really think Marty is a pipe dream for many at this point. A lot of people seem to forget that his stubborn refusal to hire an OC was the reason he left in the first place. When he left, I said good riddance. Has he learned from those mistakes? Likely, but the man is 63 years old. If this team changes coaches, it needs an infusion of youth.

I remember reading this last year...the names have changed, but the story is the same. WE NEED TO IMPROVE!

I don't necessarily agree with his comments about the Ravens. McNair did an excellent job at QB for the Ravens this season. The team is getting older - but, it is far from safe to say the window has closed on the Ravens.

The Bengals, will be better next season. Palmer was coming off of major ACL reconstruction. He looked out of sinc for the first half of the season. I expect him to be playing at a high level all season in 2007. The bigger issue for the Bengals is avoiding any furthter off field altercations. Let's not forget the the Bengals won the division in 2005. The Bengals were a 'sexy' Super Bowl pick this season. They could rebound next season and win 11 or 12 games.

The Steelers are the team with the most question marks. With Cowher stepping away, the team will change. Roethlisberger should be 100% next season. Willie Parker is more experienced. The Steelers have plenty of talent. A new coach could furthter energize the team. They could win 10 games next season.

The Browns MUST be a contender next season.

Peen, 2007 is put up or shut up time for Romeo. Two years is too quick to pull the plug on a first time head coach.

I like the talent level of the players on the roster now more than any time in the past 3 or 4 years.

This whole strand is a weird insight into our hunk of the AFC, and it is truly odd and quite a reach by Doc Savage. Our division didn't build a bridge by having talent abandon the game; they lowered the river instead.
Da Browns: Turn the corner! Mercilessly crush opponents! Maybe in Madden . . .

Probably so.

Only if he starts winning. Romeo posts 6 wins next year, he hits the road.

My bottom line with Romeo is I don't think he is a good HC. It isn't really about the wins......it's about the way he acts and talks. I think he is a classic example of a good asst. coach thrust into a head position when he really isn't ready or able to handle the job.

But that is just my opinion.

If our talent level within the next 3 years is in fact amazing, I hope our coaching talent is up to the task.

I hope the HC's health is good...I hope his ticker is great 'cause he is going to have a LOT of pressure to perform this September and every game from now on.

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cmon man... LOOK AT HIS RESUME!! He was ready.. HE IS READY!!

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His resume shows he's a good defensive coach. It doesn't speak about the daily grind of running a team. Things Peen mentioned above are valid points. I just wonder if Crennell is in over his head.

Yes and it's till a very dim light @ best... The Browns are approaching, actually they might be @ the Lions, Bengals, Stoolers and Saints level of futility when they all sucked...

Sniff... Sniff... "Browns you stink"...

Merth i agree. 8-8 or bust.

Guys,

I don't see 8-8 as of right now... The Browns have no identitity, no 0-Line, NO QB, no WR's that can't catch other than JJ, HUGE questions marks in the secondary, no shut down corner, 2 or 3LB's that are young and have PO, and few viable player leaders... The Browns only have 10 or so players that would/could start on any other team and 4 of them are STer's... And not one player approaching Pro Bowl status...

To say the Browns are in a world of hurt is being kind... Of course you never know... Look at what the Saints and Jets did this year... I'll start praying more...

I really don't think the Browns are THAT far away from success.

Even the best teams in the NFL have holes. With Bob Sanders missing, the Colts looked like the 32 ranked defense in the league. With Sanders on the field, they have been lights out.

BE and K2 are both coming off of ACL injuries. The standard belief is - 2nd season following surgery is when the player hits stride. Both of them should have increased production in 2007. JJ is productive. Heiden is productive.

With a stable QB/RB situation and blockers up front... the offense could jump up and be rated 15th in the NFL.

Defensively, I like Bodden, Holly, Russell, Jones, Wimbley, Leon Williams, and McGinest has some gas left in the tank. The Browns need a playmaker on the d-line.

I think the Browns are only a couple of players away from being genuinely competitve.

When one piece improves - the other pieces will look even better.

Ohh... and I neglected special teams... Cribbs is a solid returner and Zastudil is an excellent punter. Dawson had been automatic until 2006. Let's hope he returns to form in 2007. Special Teams are in good shape.

Winning teams do something well.

Unfortunately, we cannot run, nor can we stop the run. We cannot pass, nor can we stop the pass. We have nothing to hang our hats on, and no identity.

This team has a couple of players to build around, but no real foundation yet to build upon.

Unfortunately, we cannot run, nor can we stop the run.

but that can change overnite by getting a vet DE to go with roye and ted. get another vet LB and we will stop the run.

We cannot pass, nor can we stop the pass. We have nothing to hang our hats on, and no identity.

we did pretty good on pass D until the injuries hit. even with only the original starters that rac and the DC started with, we were at least respectable in that department.

How many things did the Saints do well last season?

The Bears are in the NFC Championship game and they have an extremely sporadic offense. Do they have any consistent playmakers on offense?

The Jets were awful last season. They did ok this season.

The pats lost their franchise kicker, top wr, veteran olb, etc and they still won. Of course, they are all about foundation.

But, if the Browns can get a decent d-line, the rush will make the DBs look better against the pass and the LBs better against the run.

Fixing the o-line will make Charlie, RD, BE, K2, JJ all look better.

With Bob Sanders missing, the Colts looked like the 32 ranked defense in the league. With Sanders on the field, they have been lights out.

Don't U think that has more to do with their front seven getting the run stuffed more than a FS helping out?
Granted he brings eneregy to the defense but he does not improve their run-D.
It starts upfront.

From week 14 to the playoffs - What changed in Indy's defense?