DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Congratulations! You're the new coach of the Browns! What do you do?

First off , I would hope that I am the first experienced NFL Head Coach in Browns History and that I have had previous success in the league. Secondly , I would fill my staff with assistants with similiar experience and success....Third , considering that I have an Owner in Mr. Lerner who has and will spend money , I would encourage him to keep Mr. Savage as GM who I think is a Good evaluator of talent....Finally I would ask that each individual concentrate on their area of expertise....Mr. Lerner can fund it....Mr. Savage can build it....I would Coach it....Sticking your nose in the other guy's area IMO only leads to trouble....Of course there would be organizational meetings at which each guy would express their opinion , but each would have the final say in their area....

In the "AFC North" I believe you need to have the "ability" to be physical on O when needed. Now if "where I was" happened to be in Florida or California per say......



......That need would not be as previlant. But when you play in a division of bad weather cities and no domes, one must consider that ability to be physical on O when needed quite essential.

Now you'll enjoy hearing this while others won't. But sometimes the truth hurts. And the truth of the matter is, speed kills. And I know college isn't the NFL but the game is still football. Just look at OSU. Every time they play "good weather teams" who rely on speed and agility? In "their type of weather"? Tell me what happens?

And dominating D's are what has kept the Rats and Steelers going. Not their "potent O's". Simply put, the AFC North can't be won without a physical O and a very good D. The problems begin when we lack the versatility to switch up game plans.

Sure, every team needs an "identity". But if you're playing in the SB, and you're playing a high powered O. ( and they stage the things in "perfect" weather conditions whenever possible ), you'd better be able to put some points up quick!

So I say, given our division and weather, that we must be able to have a tough nosed O, yet enough versitility to change up and attack. Now if we were in the AFC South, my answer would be slightly different.

wearing out the d means running lewis at the center for 1 yard gain or loss. They only get tired from tackling the qb`s too much.

Cant a d get tired from chasing sweeps and screens and spread offense?

When you spread out a d that owns your line and qb and running back you give yourself a chance to change their philosophy. Its obvious that most other teams d`s own our offense.

Change? Ohhh its so scarry.

i think as a fighter. If someone is owning me with his left im taking it away. Some of you say na.. stick to rac`s gameplan. It will start to work soon.....Bammm!

Defenses get worn out from being on the field.. period. I don't care if the offense is getting first downs by running up the middle, around the ends, throwing short passes, none of it matters.. if you are moving the chains and their defense is on the field, they are going to wear down and they are going to get demoralized.

the flip side to that is ... our defense getting OFF the field. It doesn't matter if we have long drive after long drive after long drive... if our defense comes out and gives up long drive after long drive after long drive, then their defense is just as rested as ours...

The fix to the offense is rather simple IMO..
Draft a solid center who is physical and a OG who is athletic and a mauler and you ease them in to replace Fraley and Hadnot..

Those are the weak areas..you have finesse on the left side..and nothing on the right side..and something occured to me..Hadnot played center for the Fins..why not see if he is a better fit there and better than Fraley?

The new coach needs to look at these players and see where they fit better..I would.

ExLax lol! That's an old classic.

It's a message board I replied.

I believe wearing down defenses is a key part to the game....especially in the AFC North. I won't comment any further since it's self explanatory. If you don't think so then fine that's your opinion I was just giving mine. Reading your thoughts screamed lots of 3 an outs and alot of time on defense to me. I've seen that for 10 years now don't need it anymore. Especially with the group we got here which is what this thread is talking about taking over. I don't see 8 touchdowns a game coming from this team even if we got the best FAs available and we had a monster draft.

Exactly...agree 100%. When we have a more balanced attack we do well. We don't have to run every play..we don't have to pass every play. However when we do either we need to disguise it. We need to keep the defenses guesing so that way we can establish drives. We need to mix up the running plays and yes at times spread the offense out as well. If we can keep our own defense fresh then we can play a full quarters. This season we have seen several games where we dominated a half on offense and then stalled in the 2nd half which in turn left us with a tired out of gas defense at the end of the game.

I've been thinking about putting out a mock on some websites that i go on.

I think Anderson can give us another 4th round pick. Drafting a Center and Guard in both the 4th rounds... You can get good talent. Normally the top coming out aren't drafted til the 2nd round.

I think you are correct Attack. Many of us knew that Tucker was nearing the end of his career. Which greatly impacts the right side IMO. And quite a few of us felt Hadnot was just a temporary band-aid for a bullet wound in regards to the right side of our OL.

JMHO

good players = good coaches

I'm hoping Herman Johnson falls to us in the 2nd.

I don't want to be the coach but I'll play team president and the guy Lerner put in charge of turning around this team. I hire Bill Cowher. I keep Savage with the GM title but I reduce his role to finding the talent that fits what Cowher wants. I sit down with Bill and I tell him I really like Albert Haynesworth to play next to Rogers on our DL, if he agrees I open up the checkbook. I tell him the draft is his, but I really like that LB out of USC who reminds alot of the kid he drafted from USC when he was with the Steelers. I assume he will agree. I tell Bill I'd like to ship both Edwards and Anderson out of here, if he agrees I shop em. The first team I talk to is Detroit and see if I can package both of them for Calvin Johnson even up. Then I sit back and let Cowher do his thing. I sign the free agents he wants and the rookies he has drafted.

I'm not sure what your reply is suppose to mean but I'm gonna assume you think giving up Anderson and Edwards for Calvin Johnson is too much.

I would do that trade in a heartbeat. I think Detroit would laugh at us.

Why do you think Detroit would laugh? They are 0-14 and have more holes to fill than we do. They need a QB badly and Anderson has upside, youth and a 10 win season under his belt. Yeah he didn't play well this season but neither did any of our players on offense except Thomas. The same goes with Edwards. He showed last season what he can do when he is focused. But hey, if they wanted more I'd throw in a draft pick.

Well I respect your opinion. I think the majority of the NFL world outside of Cleveland sees Anderson as a possible franchise type QB. He played well last season when our offensive line played solid. He had reliable recievers aswell. Edwards happened to be one of those recievers, who happens to be from Michigan. My guess would be that both players would consider renegotiating their contracts to get out of Cleveland. Both players would be given a mulligan for this season because our entire offense basically sucked excluding the play of Joe Thomas and Ryan Tucker (when he was healthy). Detroit is a team that is rebuilding. They have two first round draft picks and have a ton of holes to fill. Basically everything on offense except WR. With Anderson they get a young strong armed Pro-Bowl QB, the same with Edwards, possibly draft the LT from Alabama with the #1 pick. Funny thing is a lot of Lions fans I talk to (and there are a ton here in Toledo) think this would be a good deal and a step in the right direction for their team.

Ok, so what do you think the Lions would give up for Anderson if he is traded? Certainly not one of their 1st round picks. Or do you think Anderson would land there via free agency?

How is the union standing in the way of Edwards renegotiating his contract?

As Coach I do a thourough evaluation of the players, I find my Core, who could bring us more talent and have worn out their welcome, who doesn't fit the system and go from there.
Winslow..one question name a prolific tight end who carried his team to the superbowl? Now, name a one dimensional prolific TE who has done the same..Gonzo, Gates, Witten?
Winslow is a player, and he posseses the passion I crave(except the arm flap after not being thrown to). He will go elsewhere if given the opportunity and his knees and the two yearly offseason surgeries on them are reason to move him now, while you still can. Conventional TE's are more than adequate. They improve your YPC, by blocking, they get open easier because they are not as game planned for, so you can still be effective using one. Heiden is a perfect example. They run the ball better and he still makes key receptions and big gainers.

I openly look to trade Winslow for highest available draft pick, Use Rucker, Heiden, and Dinkens. Winslow could probably bring a second.

I now look to trade Anderson or Quinn, Wimbley, Schaffer. These are the only players left of trade value that we can deal besides Braylon and Stallworth and Stallworth would bring nill.

Detroit is the only team in top ten that needs a QB and a face to their franchise...If they play their cards right they could land Starks in Free agency, we could trade them Schaffer, Quinn and Wimbley for the number one pick and they still have a first a stud receiver and a stud RB. Quinn would be that marketing and face they need. They need all three badly. I then trade that pick to San Fran who needs a OT in a bad way and will all be gone by 8 for the going rate of a first and second rounder I believe.
Now we have picks..
First round.
pick 7 and 8

second round
a high for Winslow
#39 ours
#42 San Fran

Here is who I draft
1st
Maluaga
Wells (in that order for salary purpose)
2nd
Jason Smith - Tackle
BJ Raji - DL
Pat Chung -SS (this pick depends on the Jones situation) If Jones is signed I either go Lafell or Robiskie.
I try to sign Julius Peppers and a Jabari Greer and resign Holly.

My D looks like this.
DL
Williams, Rogers, Raji --Rubin, Smith?, Smith?, Leonard?
LB
Peppers, Maluaga, Jackson, Hall-- Bell, Williams? Peek? Orr?
CB
McDonald, Wright,--- Holly, Greer
S
Poole, Chung (I like Sean Jones, but I think there is some rift in the organization and I think they soured on him.) Mike Adams?, Sorensen? FA Jones?

Our O looks like this
WR
Edwards, Stallworth, Jurevicious, Robiskie, Cribbs
TE
Heiden, Rucker, Dinkins
OL
Thomas, Steinbach, Fraley, Hadnot, Smith
FB/RB
Vickers, Wells, Lewis, --Harrison, or Wright
QB
Anderson, and I draft or sign Boeckman. I liked him as a QB. He has a great arm, good size, makes good decisions, throws a beautiful ball, and played in big games.


Now I wake up and turn off Madden.

a jugs machine has more upside than dorsey. at least it can throw the ball

My left pinky toe has more upside than Dorsey.

I can almost guarantee he's at home, worried about his future. Why? Because, he has to tell his wife and family "I've been found out. It's out, that I can't play a lick. I thought I was in a great place, making a great paycheck, but they found me out. I can't play any better than some grandmas. The free ride is over. I'm going to have to get a real job."

resign S.Jones
resign Holly

Get any draft picks I can for Winslow & Anderson (via package deal or whatever... IMO individually is best)

dont know how much cash we are under the cap but......

FA
focus on Dansby and Suggs in Free agency....would be a dream to get them both but look at other LB's and CB's also

Draft

Mauluga at 7

Take a RB with my next pic, where ever it maybe (Jamal's replacement)

Then CB

QB

G/T

If you are intent on those two positions in the first two rounds...the way the depth of the draft pans out, you are better off going RB first, then backer...you are probably going to end up with better overall talent on the team.

I am beginning to think that if Wells is on the board, that is the route we take...then look for a guy like Matthews Jr or Ellerby in round 2.

I think the 2nd round backers are going to be better than the 2nd round backs...and overall, that is the best way to draft as it stocks you with better players faster.

Thought about this for a bit..

FA: Get Karlos Dansby if possible then get Nnamdi Asomugha. Immediately you solve a lot of things. LB is solid and you add depth by our starters this year. Nnamdi.. what the hell, he's good and I think darn near pro bowl.. again you create a position of strength by having depth..

Then and only after FA you decide what the draft board looks like.

I was just naming some names that came to mind...think of it more as an illustration than the pimping of specific players.

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Karlos Dansby if possible then get Nnamdi Asomugha. Immediately you solve a lot of things. LB is solid and you add depth by our starters this year

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Man...U sure u wanna do the Corner thing in FA???...Mugha's gonna get some serious jack like Clements and Samuel...FA Corners are tough on the cap nowadays...Especially with it being so damn high...I'll tell ya' why here in a sec...

Dansby...One of these LB's had a clause that does not allow him to be Tagged again...I THINK it's Dansby...Again...Will Zona let him go even tho the cap is so high like they did Pace last year???...Same thing with Suggs...Same with Crowder...

As much as I want Maualuga in here...I don't think any team is gonna be taking him in the Top 5...Maybe 6 or 7 even...He's gonna be like Merriman I believe...Top 10-12...We'll prolly have other guys ranked higher and won't pass one just for a LB...

We'll know where we stand Sunday...As far as where we pick goes...This Curry kid from Wake is the one that needs determined...I don't give a damn about any Scout sites rankings right now but some have him as #1 overall already...Barring the QB's and top Offensive Tackles...I see 3 guys of which one should be there for us at 5-6-7...

Kiper's got Curry at #1...He don't show Jr's until they declare...Scouts Inc at 3...That's real high for a LB...

The 3 guys are Curry LB...Crabtree WR...Jenkins CB...

With the 2 QB's and 2 OT's being ranked so high and teams needing those spots...One of those 3 should be there for us...MY guess right now it will be BOTH Curry and Jenkins...So therein lies the question...U talk Dansby and Asomugha...LB and CB...

Well there u go...Who do we take???...Either would be a TOP PICK...FA will determine it...As always...

We go Jenkins and we just solidified our Corners...And get McDonald into the Slot...Holly can be resigned and we no longer have the embarrassments we have now in Cousin and Daniels...Jenkins would be a wise pick...I understand but don't like it as much as a LB in Curry if he's still ranked this high when we pick...

Here's another thought...Last week Cincy...1st quarter I believe...3rd and 11 in those conditions with a BACK-UP QB in there in Fitz...WTF do we do???...Rush a panzy ass FOUR...NO PRESSURE and 16 and a 1st down...Way 2 go yet again Tucker...That my friend is SCHEME...Not the PLAYER...

In that situation u send SIX and don't let anything develop...4th down PUNT...It boils down to being AGGRESSIVE on D...Especially in certain circumstances...And that's one of em'...This "Passive" Defense BS has got to go...And it better go right with Crennel and Tucker next week...Cause I'm tellin' ya' right now...If we take Jenkins but KEEP this type of D...It ain't gonna help SQUAT...I don't care how many Pro Bowl Corners u put out there...With no aggression UP FRONT u accomplish zilch...U GOTTA HELP YOUR CORNERS IN THIS LEAGUE...

We need an immediate impact CB...No doubt...But we need the immediate impact LB also...We might end up too high for Maualuga...But Curry should be within range...WE GOTTA GO LB...There can't be that damn much separation between a Curry and Jenkins...Take the damn LB and beef up this damn front 7...We'll NEVER control a running game until we do...And this is the year that the VACANCIES will be there with Davis and MGinest history...

Sumptin's gonna be done...No doubt...Regardless of who's callin' the shots...Just a matter of HOW we go about it...We do this the right way and this entire team turns around...Cause there's ALOT of talent on this team...A few players and an ATTITUDE will turn it around...

We go Jenkins and we just solidified our Corners...And get McDonald into the Slot...Holly can be resigned and we no longer have the embarrassments we have now in Cousin and Daniels...Jenkins would be a wise pick...I understand but don't like it as much as a LB in Curry if he's still ranked this high when we pick...


We need an immediate impact CB...No doubt...But we need the immediate impact LB also...We might end up too high for Maualuga...But Curry should be within range...WE GOTTA GO LB...There can't be that damn much separation between a Curry and Jenkins...Take the damn LB and beef up this damn front 7...We'll NEVER control a running game until we do...And this is the year that the VACANCIES will be there with Davis and MGinest history...

Sumptin's gonna be done...No doubt...Regardless of who's callin' the shots...Just a matter of HOW we go about it...We do this the right way and this entire team turns around...Cause there's ALOT of talent on this team...A few players and an ATTITUDE will turn it around...



While I aways advocate drafting a corner..I think right now the more immediate position is LB..has to be..but again I go back and say if we don't get a FA stud..and stud doesn't mean BIG NAME..it means dude is a hammer..if we don't we have to use the draft to get one.
Then it depends where we pick.

Curry seems to be the only one to be in the top five but he could slide.
If he's gone before we pick and we can't trade down..then you go BPA...for us that is..

Fortunately for the Browns there are a few QB's and left tackles in the top ten and some teams who need them, which will give the Browns their pick of the linebackers, running backs, and corners..
The find a way to manuever around and get a LB in round two, or try to move up back into round one..

We say this every year...but we really need to try to trade down this year..and garner some extra picks.

U realize how complicated this draft will be for the Browns?
Usually I have things pretty much nailed down as far as needs..
But looking at this list it's impossible without a full round of picks to address the biggest needs .
We lack a 3rd/5th/7th..
We need:
1-ILB
2-OC
3-WR
4-OG/OT
5-CB
6-RB
7-Pass rusher

Now the third rounder is the one we really need to aquire unless we can get another 1st or 2nd..
FA should yield in one of the positions of need..but I'm not counting LB , because we've never aquired a solid one in FA...forget corner..they're too expensive..

Plus these guys are wasting a roster spot..or are just bad fits..
1) Shaun Smith -mouth..
2) Andra Davis-backup
3) Terry Cousin-see below
4) Travis Daniels-waste of a trade.
5) Hank Fraley..not a bad player..but needs to be upgraded
6) Jamal Lewis-maybe not this year but needs a replacement
7) Willie McGinest-should become LB coach
8) Isaac Sowells..Why is he even here????????
9) Dainty Stallworth..absolute waste of a roster spot
10) Syndric Steptoe
11) Jason Wright..needs to be upgraded..I find little value in him

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Plus these guys are wasting a roster spot..or are just bad fits..
1) Shaun Smith -mouth..
2) Andra Davis-backup
3) Terry Cousin-see below
4) Travis Daniels-waste of a trade.
5) Hank Fraley..not a bad player..but needs to be upgraded
6) Jamal Lewis-maybe not this year but needs a replacement
7) Willie McGinest-should become LB coach
8) Isaac Sowells..Why is he even here????????
9) Dainty Stallworth..absolute waste of a roster spot
10) Syndric Steptoe
11) Jason Wright..needs to be upgraded..I find little value in him

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I think you have to add Ryan Tucker to that list based on the fact he turns 34 years of age prior to camp in 2009, and his injuries.