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Terry Pluto's Talkin' ... about the Browns' West Coast fit, the Cavaliers' draft options and Tribe's emerging young Michael Brantley
Published: Saturday, May 14, 2011, 11:45 PM
Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer




About the Browns...

1. At first, I was rather non-committal about the Browns switching to the West Coast offense. I know that Mike Holmgren likes it, and Pat Shurmur knows how to coach it. So that seemed like a plan. But then I found two fascinating articles on profootballfocus.com by Khaled Elsayed about NFL quarterbacks.

2. The first dealt with who throws deep -- a pass of at least 20 yards. Some of the Browns' recent offenses relied on a QB's ability to throw downfield. Last season, Peyton Manning threw the most times -- 95. Then came Joe Flacco and Aaron Rodgers (86) followed by Matt Hasselbeck and Drew Brees (76).

3. Colt McCoy threw "deep" 32 times, which doesn't sound like much. But he played only eight games. If he played all 16, that's 64 deep throws ... right in the middle of the pack.

4. Here's the problem: Throwing deep is not McCoy's game. He completed only 31 percent (10 of 32) of those passes, ranking him 21st of the 31 QBs considered by Elsayed. More alarming, he had 22 percent (seven) picked off, by far the highest percentage. Next was Jay Cutler at 12 percent. Seven of his nine interceptions were on those throws.

5. You can put an asterisk by some of this as McCoy had six interceptions in the final two games -- losses by scores of 20-10 (Baltimore) and 41-9 (Pittsburgh). The Browns got behind. Peyton Hillis was banged up and not running well. McCoy had to throw long to try and get the offense going.

6. But McCoy did complete 62 percent of passes in the 11- to 19-yard range. That is in the upper half of the NFL. He was at 65 percent in the 1- to 10-yard range, slightly below the NFL average of 67 percent. The point is McCoy can be an accurate passer, assuming he throws the right kind of passes.

7. Welcome to the West Coast offense, which should underline his strengths and not force him to throw deep that often. It's an offense based on short, quick passes. It is designed to hit receivers on the run and to help a QB counter a blitz.

8. Which brings up another issue -- McCoy against the blitz. According to Elsayed's article, McCoy was blitzed on 45 percent of his passes. Only Bruce Gradkowski (58 percent), Joe Flacco (49 percent) and Ryan Fitzpatrick (49 percent) faced more pressure. Against the blitz, McCoy had only two TD passes compared to three interceptions. That 2/3 ratio ranked 29th. Manning and Mark Sanchez (13 TDs, 3 INT) were the best, followed by Flacco (12/4) and Matt Ryan (14/5).

9. McCoy completed 56 percent of his passes against the blitz, ranking 23rd. The best were Brees (66 percent), Chad Henne (64 percent), Rodgers (63 percent) and Philip Rivers (62 percent).

10. Former Brown Derek Anderson ranked the worst against the blitz (41 percent) and the worst ratio (1/5).

11. McCoy ranked 14th in percentage of deep throws -- even higher than the likes of Manning, Brett Favre, Tom Brady and Ryan. That makes no sense, other than he's trying to make big plays downfield -- and doing it with receivers who are not especially fast or known as deep threats.

12. Maybe these numbers are why the Browns believe the offense will improve. Perhaps they think short routes will lead to more catches. Certainly, they will help McCoy do what he does best -- make a fast read of the defense and deliver the ball on target.

13. In this offense, the receiver needs enough strength to get off the line not be bumped around by the cornerback. Then he must catch the ball. As the Browns will tell their receivers, "We don't drop passes." Second-rounder Greg Little impressed the team at the combine and in workouts with his terrific hands, his strength and ability to run after the catch. Watching film, the new coaches really do believe that Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi can do more in this system.

14. All of this is guesswork to an extent, but it's why they didn't spend much time worrying about their quarterback situation. Instead, it was who will make this offense work. The tight ends also are important, and they believe in Ben Watson, Evan Moore and rookie Jordan Cameron they will have more guys who can catch the ball.

15. The Browns believe the new offense has a lot of flexibility. Quarterbacks ranging from deep-throwing Donovan McNabb to the scamper and throw short Jeff Garcia have been effective. So they sincere believe they can make it fit to McCoy.

About Joe Haden...

This e-mail came from Ryan Kelber, a Brooklyn High social studies teacher:

"As I sat through an hour-and-half rain delay at Progressive Field on Tuesday night, I noticed someone familiar sitting next to me in the picnic plaza behind the Indians bullpen. It was Joe Haden.

"Dressed with a Tribe hat and a few friends, the Browns cornerback stood out with his friendliness and openness to all the fans. Numerous kids and adults approached Joe and he did not turn down one single picture or handshake.

"It was amazing to see an athlete be so friendly and responsive to fans while at the ballpark enjoying the game. He remained in the picnic and Rigid Bar area for most of the rain delay and continued to talk with fans and take pictures.

"He really represented Cleveland and the Browns well. We sometimes criticize drafting players based on character and talent, but Joe Haden showed me Tuesday night that he definitely has both."

web page

The Browns have about 60 years of history, and if they have to throw it deep or short, they better be able to do it, no matter who the Qb is, that is just football.

I don't think you can take too much from last year anyway, because the team will have a different make up this year.

The comparisons above should have been made rookie vs rookie and not comparing Colt the "rookie QB" to seasoned veteran QB's, that's my only complaint about the number crunching above. I do agree that our new offense should be one that suits Colts talents and with talent (???) surrounding him he should have a successful career here in Cleveland.

But when you take into account these are rookie numbers compared to vet numbers, it gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling........no?

I thought it was funny that no where in that article mentioned Ben Roth.. I would have thought he would be a top performer somewhere in there.

Note: all these stats should be put into context...a rookie QB running the "Brian Daboll" offense and a subpar receiving corp.

Roethlisberger only played in 12 games last year.

In those 12 games he had 53 plays of 20+ yards, and 8 of 40+ yards.

What I got out of those stats is WTH does anybody blitz Flacco?

Add another asterisk or two: First is quality of receivers (speed is part of deep routes, so it is a measure of separation AND QB). We were not strrong here and saved it until clearly desperate and despicably predictable wgich made the chosen routes (deplorable — up against sidelines in many cases) more prone to picks and favoring defenders. A different OC, or Shurm, can help the cause by play mix, route selection, and being less predictable. McCoy under center with straight dropback is not our most edged weapon IMHO. I hope this clicks.

I agree! This was like having to wear TWO pairs of handcuffs and a leg iron. Could you limit the QB any more?
Daboll was part of the output problem.

Jerry Butler has been fired .

Good link. I am surprised. I thought this was a strength for our organization. Have any explanation as to why he was fired?

I doubt it has to do with contacting players due to the lockout because we would see every other team "cutting ties" with personnel because it's naive to believe it's not happening, but from reading the article one could take it as a cost cutting move, and if you look at his job description, it sounds as one that MH and TH could handle taking on. Not much to read into if you ask me, front office movement happens all the time, and this sounds as a economical move more then a he did something wrong move.

Disagreement in player character philosophy, perhaps?

Unfortunately, what we see on the field isn't the entire story, or the only factor involved in NFL team play.

What we see on the field is ALL that matters.. .it is the entire purpose for any of this.

It doesn't get more "bottom line" than that.

Could it just be that they didn't see any player development under his tutelage?

Winslow and edwards were two deemed expendable and were involved in brilliant three beans for a cow trade giveaways by mangini..Kokinis said he heard about the edwards trade on the radio.

As for prognosticating what Colt will do...
1) had we not jettisoned Shaun Rogers we would not have had to trade a #3 to move up for taylor. then we could maybe have used the pick where we were and snagged Gabe Carimi and be set at RT for a decade. As it is we have a front office that has "pencilled in the oft injured and lead legged Tony Pashos for RT. Holy John St. Clair, have we not learned anything. three QBs in boots with high ankle sprains and our front office still has no clue. I am sure Harrisson and Suggs love we did that.

To BEST help your QB keep him upright.
2) I am glad the front office delusions that we were set at WR are over. I am hoping for a solid veteran to go with the newer prospects as no one fears Robiskie, MoMass and while the system MAY help, they are avr at best.
3) a solid Running game helps a passer and again we left hillis alone as we drafted no RBs just a FB to replace what was NOT a hole in the manner of the Shaun Rogers dump. I think I read at the ravens boards Ozzie is licking his chops to get Vickers. I read a blip the front office caught a clue and will release Bell who was a Booby prize trade n dumping Harrisson. Depending on major Injury Risk Hardesty is in the DQ, Pashos sphere of delusion.

$) I think Colt is a smart QB, has a decent arm. he needs runners, blockers and recievers. Until he does there is no way to evaluate him among his peers as the browns have the least talent around this QB as any.
having Daboll gone as OC is a HUGE plus. How he got another job in Miami is as mystifying as Arizona deluding themselves about DA as a QB.

No, they wouldn't because neither one wanted to even be here.

I don't remember KWII ever saying anything about not wanting to be here...

He wanted to be the highest paid tight end in the history of football. He wasnt going to get that here. He got that in Tampa. Dumping Winslow was one of the smartest things Mangini did.

Winslow, Edwards, Rogers those guys just arent worth the money and headache. I would rather have TO, atleast he will outwork everyone on the team.

I never once thought Winlsow didn't give everything he had on the football field. I don't know his practice habits, but his issues were merely injury related unlike Braylon and Rogers (though his mouth could be annoying)

Winslow was another that very rarely practiced.

The Bull clap vs. Staph infection situation would have gotten Winslow canned if Savage had stayed lol.

he showed up on game days, no one can argue that. I like KW2.

Why do so many worry about what we shoulda, coulda done. It's yesterdays news. I'm guessing it's a way to thump chests or something

Box "o" rocks may be another "ham sandwich"

What they wanted or didn't want is irrelevant, and did not factor into management's decision to get rid of them. It was off the field antics that ultimately cost them their jobs in Cleveland. The idea that the only thing that matters is what happens on the field is a delusion.