DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Where are we now?

Let's look at the units and see where we are really:

Specialty Teams: Dawson - check. Money dispute but that will be taken care of.
Cribbs same issue. Hopefully, he will be paid what he is worth. Great team player and key guy for specialty teams on both sides of the ball. Josh should be taken care of as an example of a guy who earns it.

More competition at DB and LB should provide an overall upgrade on specialty teams.

Defense:

The D-backfield - has been upgraded probably more than any other unit. Savage and Crennel were threadbare and did not address this unit with any depth. Wright and McDonald are good young corners but adding Hood, Poteat, Ivy and the rookies will push the starters and give us needed depth. Upgrade for sure.

Safeties - Pool and Elam should be ok. Adams and Sorenson are ok backups. I would like to add Mike Brown. Not really an upgrade.

Linebackers:
If more is better then we are golden. DQ is the best we got. Barton and Bowens should help because they know the system and Mangini. Wimbley and Hall will need to improve overall and apply pressure. Bell, my guess is he won't make the team. The rookies Veikune and Maiava we can only hope. Should be overall a better unit with Ryan as the coordinator and better competition within. Upgrade

D-Line: Adding Coleman and Mosley along with the hopeful return of Robeire Smith should provide better rotations with Rodgers and Corey Williams. Leonard and Rubin should be at the stage where their development kicks in.
This should be a better unit than last year, both in starters and depth. Upgrade

Offense:

Runners - Lewis returns at 30. He is a one dimensional guy. My hope is they spot him in situations. Harrison in my humble deserves to get way more carries. If he has improved in all the other areas I would like him in there for 2 out of 3 downs. Davis is a question mark. Maybe he will show something. Since we use the fullbacks as blockers they will get very limited carries. This unit is not going to scare anyone. Since we moved Winslow and will use the TE's as mostly blockers maybe are O-line will open the doors. Not a upgrade as a unit.

Receivers - We have a mix here. Brought in veterans Patten and Furrey. Have some left overs in Leggett, Steptoe, and Hubbard. Drafted two in the second Robiskie and Massaqua. Then there is Edwards and Stallworth. Stallworth will more than likely be released. Edwards needs to be the breadwinner. But can he catch the ball? This unit to me is a question mark. You can have hope but nothing is rock solid. Can't say this is an upgrade maybe, maybe not.

TE's - Added Royal, have Heiden, Madsen, and Rucker. Heiden is coming off an injury.Winslow was a clutch receiver. This is not a upgrade. You can debate all you want about Winslow. His blocking, health etc. He was a threat and he caught the ball. We will use this unit as blockers. They are pedestrian. Not an upgrade.

Offensive Line - We got rid of Shaffer. He was a turnstile. Fraley good effort, poor talent. Added Womack, St.Clair, Foster. Have Thomas, Steinbach, Hadnot, and the return of Tucker. Drafted a stud in Mack. And we have a couple of others who will fight to make the squad. Our offense is dependent on this unit. We need them bad with our runners, receivers, and QB. They will be the key to our offense. This is a good unit and a significant upgrade.

Quarterbacks - Enough said and discussed. Just my quick take on them. We need Quinn to be the guy I believe he can be. A leader, who can run the offense and not make mental errors. Anderson is what he is. He is both good and bad. I don't expect anything different. Quinn to me could be our silver lining. We have a good line. Runners are ok with this line. Receivers we can have hope. We need Quinn to be what we need. Not a franchise savior. Just a good solid quarterback who can move the chains and not turn the ball over.

We are not as bad as people have placed us. We are not a powerhouse either. If some people like Edwards, Quinn, Lewis, Harrison and the defense as a unit step up and play well we could sneak into the playoffs. That's a lot of if's but hey it's that time of year to dream big.

No way Harrison gets 2 carries every 3 rushing downs. He is not that kind of player. Proven to not be durable enough, proven he STILL cannot block. He is a nice situational back, draws, quick screens....maybe a Pro set?? That's the only way he sees the field as much as Lewis, much less MORE.

j/k

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We are not as bad as people have placed us

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nor do we deserve anything but that placement until we prove it on the field,

So were are we now :

Were still a very poor 4-12 team waiting until September for a chance to prove everybody wrong on the field, until then we are still 4-12 nothing mmore nothing less, an Mangini is still a unproven once fired head coach hoping to do better his second time around with another team, he must also prove himself on the field.

On paper, IMO, it looks like this:

Upgraded running game due to (potentially) improved run blocking by the O-line, particularly the right side.

Upgraded secondary due to depth.

Upgraded LB play due to depth, system change, Defensive Coord. & D-line Depth.

But honestly, at this point, it's all just pure speculation.

Come on Dawgs!

Agree or disagree. It's hard to write stuff now.

You should have some opinions on the status of this team. We have not made roster cuts but hey this the team the cuts will be made from.

We have a pretty good idea of who the starters are. Where are we now?

Are we better or worse?

I forgot the one key Position - Coaches


We have all new Coaches:

I was all over Romeo. I hard time believing with all his experience he could be that bad. The combination of Romeo and Savage did not work out. Both had strengths and both had weaknesses. As a team they did not function well.

Mangini and his two coordinators will be better than we were. I believe we will be more matchup specific in our game plans. We will be better prepared, and make better game day adjustments. My hope is we will utilize the strengths of our players better. Mangini has brought in more players to compete and in doing so improved our depth. Training camp will be no picnic and I believe we will better coming out of the gate. You still need the players on the field but coaching counts. This is an upgrade.

While you were bumping your own thread people were responding....

I really don't know if this is what you mean, but I am not sure a "where are we now" assessment could be anything but reiterating the depth chart.

New staff, new philosophy, lots of questions of how former, new and rookie players will fit in that system to say nothing of the concern of how they will perform.

This is, IMO, a question best asked in October.

Where are we now???

We are in mid-June with a new coaching staff and lots of player turnover, coming off of a 4-12 season. The sky is the limit but we need to see what the guys look like in camp instead of OTAs and find out who wins the QB competition and why before getting freaky with thoughts on who stays and who goes.

I agree 100%.its only June, we will see how everyone buys into the new systems and adjusts to them. With a new coach and coaching staff the one place I see us improved (even in the slightest) is the mental errors..

IMO with any new regime usually the question marks dont even begin to get answered intill the 3rd or 4th pre season game...

there is only 1 thing to do untill then wait, watch, & hope

We are now entering the Black Hole of the NFL. This is 7 weeks of nothing as far as the NFL is concerned.

Last season is over and been discussed. Potential picks are then discussed, then the actual picks.

Then mini camps, and now.....now.

Time to enjoy baseball, girls in their swimwear, the golf course, and cooking out on the grill.

I'm in my den.




I think we're somewhere between 2007 and 2008. We have better depth, better CBs, a better OL, a better DL, and a more disciplined coaching staff than last season.

Our WRs, TEs and possibly S spots took a hit, though. Everything else is still about on an even keel.

That's the short-short version.

Good thing I love baseball just as much as football. Well, maybe not, but close.

Where are we? Shoot, it's summertime, time to watch baseball. Time to go to the pool, go fishing, camping and all that good stuff. Football will be back in August.

It's summertime. Time to stay inside the A/C. Need a shower after just going to get the paper from the driveway here in the summer.

I don't think we know enough to determine where we are right now. We've shipped some guys out and replaced them with other guys (many of them being ex-Jets). Are the guys we brought in any better than the ones that are gone? Maybe... maybe not. Until the pads come on, all we have to go on is comparing last year's roster to this years' training camp roster.

I will say this: I'm looking forward to seeing Camp Mangini and comparing it to Camp Crennel. I'm guessing the differences between the two will raise more than a few eyebrows amongst those of us who are lucky enough to be able to attend.

So... where are we? I'm not sure, but I'm cautiously optimistic.

"girls in their swimwear"

A felony in most states...

Where are we NOW? Just laying the foundation of a new system a new Mantra and hopefully a new direction for this team ONE going to prominence!

I just wish we would end the facade of a QB competition and name our starter so that all can rally around him and believe in him 100% unconditionally. Every thing I have read has hinted that one is taking on the role - BE giving the biggest clue as we head into this impasses before training camp and BE opting to go work out with BQ at his secret Boot Camp.

I hope the light will turn on for George Foster who was so out of place ONE MILE UP in Denver and the only Big Man on the OL I ever saw Denver invest in. Big Bodies simply lose their juice one mile up and why Denver succeeds year after year since I remember with tough as nails smaller than the norm OLmen. And always had a commanding Home field advantage. GF can be big time for our team as RT is one of its weaknesses and if his potential can be reached...Tucker at RG and Foster coming on strong at RT can be an amazing turn around for the team coming together as a dominating UNIT!

We have seen a big upgrade in our DB situation, OL situation, WR situation, LB situation as well as our DL.

What we have done in personnel has been overlooked by the rest of the National media but its there. I'm an optimistic type of guy but the confidence in my optimism hasn't been this high since our re-birth!

Now we have to start hitting....remain relatively healthy. Get our QB named and then trim the fat.

32 guys will be Cut!

Baseball...stopped watching closely since they went on strike and didn't play the World Series. If they didn't care...then I don't. Don't coach anymore although I've been sucked into some coaching on a Semi-Pro Football team. Got to hook up with my Godson over the summer as he is a big time Pitcher in a Div. 1 program and work with him. But will adhere to most of Peen's Summer activities.

BBQs, Although I started a new diet so that Sucks
Golf...loads of that as I came back from my Myrtle Beach Golf Vacation with Wife and fellow Golfers...9 rounds in 6 days. Usually kicks off my Handicap to change from its double digit rankings (currently 11.7 index) to my single digits (never got it lower than 8 ) .

Baseball...might go to some L.I. Duck games, refuse to pay $100's to go see MLB game live. Girls in Bikini's gosh, just coming from Myrtle Beach makes my wife proud of her body...lol I didn't know so many Husky Women existed? Believe it or not they far out numbered the Men in Beer bellies. We go for golf and the Girls enjoy the Ocean and nightlife. But the locals tell me Myrtle Beach is the Redneck Riviera...there words not mine. So unfortunately all the knockouts in Bikini's seem to be ILLEGAL so I turn my head as not to ogle...

Dead zone I see less and less posting. How much can we talk about the same old same old.

But I truly am excited about the upcoming year. I hope we come out Kicking Butt as I'm sure the entire media will be there due to the Vikings and Favre which I think is an inevitable thing. Send a message to all...The Browns are BACK!!! Woof, Woof!!

JMHO

Well we know Django didn't write that ...

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I think we're somewhere between 2007 and 2008.

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I disagree .. I believe were a different but BETTER and possibly MUCH BETTER tea than we were in 07 ...

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That's the short-short version.

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mine won't be a long version .. more like the mini series version where we take a quick look at what u said as opposed to an in depth breakdown of each position ..

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We have better depth, better CBs, a better OL, a better DL, and a more disciplined coaching staff than last season.

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we have all of the above in regards to 07 also .. and the DL is a LANDSLIDE IMPORVEMENT ...

Rogers vs what was left of Mt. Washington (he was more like a pebble in the shoe in 07) and whoever spelled him .. especially the importance of a NT in the 3 - 4 ... we went from an over the hill blob and a bunch of never were's to one of the top 5 interior lineman in the game regardless of scheme ..

HUGE HUGE HUGE UPGRADE ...

add in Williams who could be a very good one when healthy and Coleman and Mosely .... compared to Roye and whatever BUM we played in 07 not named Robbaire Smith and U have another pretty good jump ..

our DL in 07 STUNK .. this DL's downside is BELOW AVERAGE ... and it could be above average if we stay healthy ...

plus we can have an AFFECTIVE ROTATION if we stay healthy ... in 07 after our starters we were DONE ...

our CB's will be improved .. Wright was a rookie .. hes now in year 3 ... McDonald vs Bodden .. draw?? .. Bodden was not enar as good as folks thought he was .. hence why he was let go last year ..

Hood is a HUGE IMPROVEMENT over Holley or whoever else we brought in ... our 4th and 5th CB's will be better ...

the upgrade in depth U reffered to ... HUGE HERE ..

OL will be better also ... Joe was a rookie, he's now in year 3 ... Stieny has 2 more years playing with Joe ... mack will be an immediatte upgrade over Hank .. he was never very good .. physical skills were just not there to be good in our diviision ... the right side .. who knows ... the good news is that Shaff is gone .. the bad news is that we donlt know who's gonna play there .. *L* ..

but overall its going to be an upgrade just from joe's experience and mack .. we could make HUGE STRIDES here also .. the downside is we'll be just as good as we were in 07 ...

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and a more disciplined coaching staff than last season.

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Coaching will be huge .. we have an experienced DC .. we have a plan on O and are AQUIRING PLAYERS to fit into it .. we wanna run the ball .. so we get rid of Shaff and draft a replacement for Hank .. our two weakest links (and i mean that literally .. ) are now gone ..

Jeannie so far seems to be very organized, runs a sharp, crisp practice and holds folks accountable and disciplines them ..

ALL VERY VERY GOOD SIGNS ..

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Our WRs, TEs and possibly S spots took a hit, though.

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Wr's I will give u .. JOE WAS HUGE ... HUGE ... but hes the only hit .. so i wil give u that the WR's are down .. and its a pretty big hit .. like I said .. JOE WAS HUGE ...

TE's .. just like the team .. there gonna be different but not neccesarily worse .. in the passing game .. HUGE HUGE HIT .. in the running game .. HUGE UPGRADE ... in the Locker room .. HUGE UPGRADE ... penalty wise .. HUGE UPGRADE ... lining up in the proper position and knowing what to do .. HUGE UPGRADE .. having TE's that can ACTUALLY PRACTICE is HUGE ...

different .. yes ....... worse .. we'll see .. KW was like a new shiny toy .. very glamorous and a GREAT RECIEVING TE .. now lets see what the old, reliable, GI joe can do .. personally I believe were BETTER OFF without KW ... but i could be wrong ..

Safety took a hit??? .. u need to give the long version here cause i just do not see it .. our safeties did not play well in 07 .. they couldn't COVER ANYONE ... and a run stuffing safety is NICE ... but there main job is to COVER PEOPLE ..

I see us being a BETTER TEAM THIS YEAR ... we should definetly compete for a playoff spot ..

U know .. i just looked at what u said .. and I could ahve summed it up in 1 paragraph ...

U said the OL and DL IMPROVED .. thats HUGE and where it all starts ... U also said DEPTH and COACHING IMPROVED .. two more big areas ..

then U said the WR's, TE's and safeties took a hit .. two GLAMOUR POSITIONS on O and a NON TRENCH POSITION ON D ..

so how u could say that is a push from 07 - today .. I am not sure ..

want the long version .. cause i don't agree the rest is a push either ..

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want the long version ..

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Hell no! we...er you would take all day!

We won't KNOW where we are until we start winning and then we won't know where
we are until about week ten. Sooner if we lose.

Sorry Diam, can't give you the long version- on my way to Progressive Field as soon as my wife finishes getting ready!

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Safety took a hit??? .. u need to give the long version here cause i just do not see it .. our safeties did not play well in 07 .. they couldn't COVER ANYONE ... and a run stuffing safety is NICE ... but there main job is to COVER PEOPLE ..

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Basically what I meant to say, and notice up there I said 'possibly'' took a hit, is that we still have Pool, and yes, Jones was a better run stopper than in pass D. But we have to wait and see with Elam. Elam will probably fill in just fine, but we'll miss some of Sean's great stops in the running game. So the jury will be out here. Hence the word "possibly."

Maybe tomorrow after work I can appease you. It's dollar dog night, I haven't eaten all day, ended up with a flat leaving a meeting going back to the hospital, and hope the cheap hot dogs and good baseball can straighten up my day.

Hopefully we will have a playoff team,but I have been saying that every year since we got our team back.Maybe this is the year we go all the way,who knows?

Where are we now...

After careful research, I have determined 100% without a doubt...

We're in the off season after a 4-12 year with yet another regime change and a team most of us barely recognize.

How will we play this year... Only God Knows... and I think I heard him laughing.

where are we now?

We're undefeated!

Sounds like the first day of school...

Everybody starts off w/ an A+...

no, school was horrible....

everyone started off with a F (0%) and had to climb uphill.

that's why sports are so much better.

We start out with A's.

Bell Curve?

I agree.

It's not how it starts....it's how it ends.

The steps you take to achieve the desired ending are what are important.

And what the score is still means nothing - if you take care of the things you are supposed to, everything else will take care of itself.

true.

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ahhh....but then when you are at the beginning, it is the here and now.

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-and... wherever you go- there you are.

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A failed perspective. Where you start means absolutely nothing, all that matters is where you are at and what you are doing. Do that and the rest takes care of itself.
Focusing on where you start merely takes your attention off of where it should be - the here and now.

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"My whole goal is not really worrying about where I'm at," he said. "It's setting my eyes on where I'm going."

I can't quite remember who said that ..... anyone know ...

White Spy said it while standing on Black Spy's 'X' mark?