By Dan Hanzus Writer Published: June 1, 2012 at 05:46 p.m. Updated: June 1, 2012 at 09:24 p.m.
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The last time the Cleveland Browns were in the playoffs, the Houston Texans barely existed, Tiger Woods was famous for being a golfer, and Ja Rule passed as a respectable hip-hop star.
Yes, times have changed, even if the Browns always seem to stink. Nine NFL postseasons have come and gone since 2002, and the Browns have not been involved in a single one of them.
Cleveland began the rebuilding process yet again in April when it used first-round picks to draft a new running back (Trent Richardson) and quarterback (Brandon Weeden).
On Thursday, Weeden discussed the P-word, and why it doesn't have to be a foreign concept in Cleveland.
"Obviously, you've got to take it one step at a time," Weeden told The Canton Repository, "and our goal is to get in the playoffs ... and once you get in the playoffs try to take it one step forward."
Weeden, who's the favorite to start for the Browns in Week 1, wasn't part of the Cleveland teams that averaged 4.5 wins over the past four seasons. Browns history starts now for him, and Weeden likes what he sees.
"I tell you what," he said, "our football team is really, really good. We've got a lot of great athletes. I'm excited to get going."
Every team has athletes, but do the Browns have enough players?
The thought of making the playoffs doesn't seem possible. I wouldn't expect a new QB to say anything differently (and if he did we'd all jump on him). But honestly I'd put $1000 on us NOT making the playoffs during Weeden's tenure ... and I'd be fine with losing that money haha.
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
I think Weeden and Richardson should help us win a few more games. I don't think our defense will be able to stop the best offenses, though. We have one solid corner with a bunch of other suspect ones. The jury is still out on our safeties, too. I like our Dline but we still need at least one more LB. At best we'll be 8-8 this season, I'm sure that's not good enough to get into the playoffs in the AFC North.
“Obviously, you’ve got to take it one step at a time,” Weeden said, “and our goal is to get in the playoffs ... and once you get in the playoffs try to take it one step forward.” web page
I love it. This team needs a guy that steps up and says jump on my back, I will get us to the playoffs.
Hell, I'm happy that he's shooting for the playoffs. He also has said that he wants to, and expects to, win the Super Bowl before he's done.
I want that kind of bravado from my QB.
I want a guy who the rest of the team can look to for direction and goals ...... and for that guy to be a guy who expects to take his team all the way to the top.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
Everyone is missing the big picture when the discussion turns to Browns and playoffs.
The Big picture is Schurmur.
End of picture.
Schurmur, Schurmur, Schurmur.
The Browns CAN'T overcome if Schurmur takes the gaspipe, and makes boneheaded gametime decisions, or if he is simply overmatched or unprepared, or unable.
Schurmur has not yet shown he can make game winning decisions, and Schurmur is just as big of a question mark as Weeden.
I'm trying to say, that the good teams, the playoff teams don't just get there because they have the players like the hopefuls we've seen in the draft, they get there with teamwork and coaching. Plus experience.
The coach is the orchestra leader.
Can Deshaun Watson play better for the Browns, than Baker Mayfield would have? ... Now the Games count.
This is one time that I actually agree with THROWLONG. Shurmer hopefully improves with Childress at his side. If he doesn't this team is going to struggle. Shurmer's poor game management hurt us last year. Plain and simple. A young team trying to learn to win can't be hindered by its coach.
Can u refresh my memory a little and give me an example of his poor game management?
Is it the management? or is it the play calling?
There were some head scratchers when it came to some plays and personnel choices, but to be a first time head coach.. he did okay managing the game. He was/is bound to make mistakes.. Every coach does.
Quote: Everyone is missing the big picture when the discussion turns to Browns and playoffs.
The Big picture is Schurmur.
End of picture.
Schurmur, Schurmur, Schurmur.
The Browns CAN'T overcome if Schurmur takes the gaspipe, and makes boneheaded gametime decisions, or if he is simply overmatched or unprepared, or unable.
Schurmur has not yet shown he can make game winning decisions, and Schurmur is just as big of a question mark as Weeden.
I'm trying to say, that the good teams, the playoff teams don't just get there because they have the players like the hopefuls we've seen in the draft, they get there with teamwork and coaching. Plus experience.
The coach is the orchestra leader.
I hate to sound picky,, but if I put the entire weight of the teams success on a person, and I"m gonna name that person a bunch of times in one post..
I'd spell it right
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.” Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe." Damanshot
Bengals game snafu was the only real incident where I can firmly place blame on the coaches. I thought the team gave it all they had for 16 weeks, they just didnt have a lot.
Quote: Bengals game snafu was the only real incident where I can firmly place blame on the coaches. I thought the team gave it all they had for 16 weeks, they just didnt have a lot.
i blame that on the coaches and on Haden.. I can't really say its Shurmur's fault though.. especially if being the defense.
Quote: Bengals game snafu was the only real incident where I can firmly place blame on the coaches. I thought the team gave it all they had for 16 weeks, they just didnt have a lot.
i blame that on the coaches and on Haden.. I can't really say its Shurmur's fault though.. especially if being the defense.
FYI: I was furious with Haden before Gratkowski even threw the rainbow to Green...I later heard that S Brown was even MORE out of the play than was Haden...Gratkowski could have thrown to the other side and that WR was even more unmarked. I put that on the coaches.
Quote: Bengals game snafu was the only real incident where I can firmly place blame on the coaches. I thought the team gave it all they had for 16 weeks, they just didnt have a lot.
Even though there were other factors that contributed to the loss against the Rams. Playing for the FG at the end really bit him in the ass.
Quote: hey,, that's just the title of the article LOL
No matter the reason, doesn't "BROWNS and PLAYOFFS" in the same sentence sound nice? LOL
It sounds REAL nice - thanks for sharing the article! It seemed like the more I highlights I saw of Justin Blackmon the more impressed I grew with Weeden. When you think about it, his age might have been the reason the supply and demand of 1st round QBs was finally generous to where we were drafting in round 1. I am VERY excited about Weeden.
FWIW, I never thought McCoy looked any less than a 3rd round QB drafted by a franchise that was struggling the day he was drafted. I'll admit I probably liked him more than popular opinion did not like him. Having said that, I like Weeden way better than any of the QB alternatives we had to McCoy in the 2010 draft (Tebow & Clausen) and any of the 2011 QBs drafted after Newton. Bradford went 1st overall so he wasn't really in our supply of alternatives unless St Louis was willing to trade with us prior to learning he just needs better WRs and protection today. Bradford's team earned the right to be scheduled to draft ahead of us in 2012 before the same Daniel Snyder that front loaded a 100 million $ contract to Albert Haynesworth decided to trade for that position and throw all his eggs in 1 basket again. Essentially, St Louis has decided to go after the draft volume to help their QB of the future like the path we've chosen.
I'm looking at Weeden through rose colored glasses. First, if it is decided a la Bradford that he just needs weapons - we have our 1st and 2nd round picks in tact for 2013. Second, because we didn't trade away picks for a QB - we were also able to add Trent Richardson in rd 1 and a Right Tackle in rd 2.
As we have continued to see in Cleveland, 1 first round draft pick can get inured before training camp even starts (ie: Kellen Winslow and now Phil Taylor). Since we traded up to get KWII the harm felt compounded. Understanding RGIII blew out an ACL just a couple years ago - I like how our draft played out. Heckert did a masterful job of planning this draft around improving time of possession with RT, RB, 2 DTs and 2 LBs. Aside from that, he added a deep threat (Benjamin) and first round QB talent. Perhaps the best the gift of all is how Trent Richardson can be of similar blitz beat value as a guy like Marshall Faulk used to be. It was never easy to sack the QB of the offense Marshall Faulk played in. They say you beat a blitz with speed and Richardson can do that.
David doesn't beat Goliath without an accurate slingshot...
Two losses to the Bengals - one because of defensive gaffe / gadget play, and the other due (largely) to a ridiculous - and unlikely - circus catch by AJ Green. A loss to Oakland from a fake punt / TD pass by Shane Freaking Lechler. A loss to St Louis from a bad snap on a chip shot, gimme FG. A 4 point loss to a gimpy Roethlisberger, his 3rd string RB, and the Steelers to end the season. All were winnable games, IMO. Browns could easily have finished 9-7, with a 3-3 division record. But that is often the difference between good teams and bad teams - finding a way to win as opposed to finding a way to lose.
Very true Dave. We aren't as far away as some people like to paint the picture to be.
A couple of plays here and there combined with a little attitude (which I think TRich and Weeden will bring to the table), and we are a competative football team.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
Not saying what Weeden said is going to change anything, but I'm just saying it's gonna take a guy with an attitude like to change the culture of the Browns and the way the Browns are perceived.
Quote: Very true Dave. We aren't as far away as some people like to paint the picture to be.
A couple of plays here and there combined with a little attitude (which I think TRich and Weeden will bring to the table), and we are a competative football team.
I don't think we're as bad as the boys in Vegas have us pegged to be, but the Wise-Guys who make a living by betting money have us as the worst team in the league.
***Gordon, I really didn't think you could be this stOOpid, but you exceeded my expectations. Wussy. Manziel, see Josh Gordon. Dumbass.***
Quote: Not saying what Weeden said is going to change anything, but I'm just saying it's gonna take a guy with an attitude like to change the culture of the Browns and the way the Browns are perceived.
In every successful business turnaround, there is at least one leader who believes that it can be done, and who makes others believe as well.
Call me crazy, but I think that Weeds is one of those leaders.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
J/C As I've gotten older my short term memory,or is it my long term,I forget which,has faded.But,I seem to recall that the Browns where one of the most totally inept football teams I've ever seen last year. There will be no playoffs this year,as for catching up with Steelers,who knows. Unless there is some kind of monumental upheaval,5-6 wins seems about right.But I wouldn't bet the farm on that measely total.
Quote: Man, the over/under at the Hilton right now is 4.5 wins.
The over is paying at -120 ($120 gets you $100).
I'm thinking of going big on this.
I mean there's no way we finish with less than 5 wins, is there?
I would never bet huge on futures like that, but I think taking the Browns over 4.5 at -120 isn't a bad bet to put a little something down on.
I don't care about the tough schedule crap. Last year we were supposed to have a cakewalk schedule. It turned out to be a little tougher than we thought. There were more teams on that schedule that were better than we thought than there was teams who were worse than we thought. It's the NFL every game is tough. If you bet games, you know exactly how this thing works.
The Browns had everything working against them last year. No offseason, rookie coach, no true starting QB, a running back who turned into a diva, and a bunch of bad bounces in games. On top of injuries (which all teams deal with)
Every year some team gets picked to be a bottom feeding top 5 worst team in the league, and comes out with a good record and sometimes even playoffs. Some years ago it was the Bears. San Francisco last year. Arizona the year they went to the Super Bowl. It's becoming a common thing.
I still think more than their total schedule, the biggest thing working against them is that they are in bar-none the best division in football. Good coaches, good quarterbacks, good defenses.
Quote: J/C As I've gotten older my short term memory,or is it my long term,I forget which,has faded.But,I seem to recall that the Browns where one of the most totally inept football teams I've ever seen last year. There will be no playoffs this year,as for catching up with Steelers,who knows. Unless there is some kind of monumental upheaval,5-6 wins seems about right.But I wouldn't bet the farm on that measely total.
Yeah, they were totally inept last year.
Poor play at RT, poor QB play, poor RB play. Beat up TEs, and WRs who couldn't get the ball thrown to them.
We addressed the QB, RB, and RT spots ..... added a player at WR ...... get our TEs back healthy ..... have a second year in the system, and should have a QB who gets the WRs more involved.
I'm not predicting Super Bowl or anything ..... but i think that we're going to be better this year than last ..... by a fair margin.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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