DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Why Donte Whitner is so optimistic about the Browns

at these posts!

The only thing about this topic I am curious about is what kind of car Johnny has parked while Whitner comes and goes...

'Tis the season where HOPE is sold to the fans & the masses at wholesale prices.

I'm sure that a degree of what he says is true, but I definitely wouldn't read too much of anything into it at all, either.

Why Donte Whitner is so optimistic about the Browns

Because he plays for the team? It'd be weird if he wasn't.

j/c

I don't pretend to know whether it's hype, PR, or whatever, but it is nice to hear positive vibes...

There have been A LOT of off-seasons where I've had very little optimism about our team. We've had some VERY, VERY bad rosters in prior years. (Off the top of my head the 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2012 season and even last year in 2014). I can certainly understand the POV of the fans that are fed up with all of the frustration and losing that comes with being a Browns fan.

With that said.

I'm extremely excited for this team.

Since returning to the league in 1999 we've never had a core in place like we do now.

We have elite players: Joe Haden, Alex Mack, Joe Thomas.

We have borderline elite players: Donte Whitner, Paul Kruger, Joel Bitonio, Tashaun Gipson.

We have a young/talented nucleus: Isaiah Crowell, Terrance West, Chris Kirksey, Justin Gilbert, Craig Robertson, K'Waun Williams.

We have a very deep defensive line: Phil Taylor, Billy Winn, John Hughes, Desmond Bryant, Xavier Cooper, Danny Shelton.

We have veteran leaders: John Greco, Brian Hartline, Dwayne Bowe, Karlos Dansby, Tramon Williams, Randy Starks and Andrew Hawkins.

Young role players with big upside: Scott Solomon, Armonty Bryant, Taylor Gabriel.

Plus our 2015 rookies...(a few already named).

The two starters we have that I don't really care for are Barkevious Mingo and Mitchell Schwartz.

Point here is...

We have talent, a lot of it. We're deep at a handful of positions. We have veteran leadership, and we have a solid mixture of talented youth as well.

I know QB is a huge question mark, and we could probably use another good TE/WR added (which won't be til next year).

But I'm VERY excited about this roster, and about the up coming season.

I think Whitner and a lot of the other vets see this too. This team has talent.

This is the best team we have had top to bottom since Michael Dean Perry was wrecking havoc. I really dont understand why some folks want us to be negative about this team.

I see a defense that at the end of the year was reminding me of that 94 Browns team. We lost buster, Rubin and Sheard but Rubin had the worst year of his career, Sheard was injured pretty much all year and Buster had one great year in his contract year.

rubin was replaced by Shelton. imho this was a monster upgrade

big Phil will be back and if you watch the 2 bengals games last year you will see the difference he made.

Mingoplayed with one arm tied to his body all year

Gilbert has a year under his belt

we got nate coming in and replacing Sheard

Armonty should be back healthy as well

Desmond had really began to get his mind right by the end of the year.

Haden is top 3 in the league

Gipson may be the best free range safety in the AFC

Whitner has been amazing.

My big worry for this defense right now is Dansby a year older and we really dont have the big thumper in the middle if we lose him. WE have speed and tackling ability but not the intimidator.

Bottom line, a strong defense good OL and a solid run game will produce wins. Whatever we get out of the QB and receivers its a bonus at this point.

Mourgrym...

+1

And Jinx. You owe me a coke.

We both posted at the same time regarding our solid our roster looks ha ha.

lol great minds

One thing i want to add on Bitonio, I thought he was one of the best guards in the entire league last year and was better than pretty much all the guards elected to the probowl.

Exactly.

That's why I said borderline elite...

Another year like last year, and he'll be up there with the elite guards of the NFL.

I'm not negative, but I do recognize that without at least adequate QB play, our ceiling is very limited... and the QB position remains a big ????????

I'm a lot less concerned than others that we don't have a big stud top 10 pick at WR... but the QB position is still reason for concern...

Other than that, I'm pretty excited about the talent we have assembled.

i agree, he had a great rookie season.

remember, though, so did schwartz. his rookie season he graded out as one of the best RT in the league. he obviously had a sophomore slump.


can he rebound? will bitonio have a sophomore slump as well? these things remain to be seen...

I thought I remember Schwartz doing a fair amount of struggling his rookie season? Maybe I'm mistake. Personally, I don't really care much for him. He sticks out in pass protection, in a bad way. He's always the guy consistently getting beat. I read an article on PPF a few weeks ago before the draft basically stating the same thing, that he's inconsistent. He might make a better guard, I don't know.

Regarding Bitonio. Unless they move him, I don't see how he could falter playing between Mack & Thomas. (*Knocks on wood*). I love the kid and hope he's a Brown for a VERY long time...

yeah i dont actually think he will struggle, just making that devils advocate argument.

as for schwartz, yeah he had a really strong rookie campaign actually. im hoping he can return to that. having the line shift as much as it did last season, could have played in to his struggles, im hoping thats the case.

How can you be optimistic when the best WR is Duane Bowe and the best starting QB is Josh McCown?????????????????????????????????????????

bowe, hartline, hawkins. thats the best set of starting WRs we have had in almost a decade.

josh mccown is nothing to get excited over, but weve had charlie frye, derek anderson, brady quinn, colt mccoy, hoyer, etc at the helm for a good number of years. its not like we have much of a drop off there.

atleast the rest of the team is built up, and in better shape than it has been in a long long time. why wouldnt you be optimistic?

We have the defense DL, LB and secondary we have some terrific pieces for the offense, top 3 OL, run game, I actually like this group of receivers even though I thought signing Bowe was a waste.

QB is the billion dollar question. If we cant get atleast competent, we are a 6-8 win team. We get competent we are a playoff team. we get good and we would be having other discussions lol

+1

Besides all of that, let's face it... we're the Browns. This franchise's history is literally built on a bedrock of hyped offseasons rolling into unsettling depression before Thanksgiving.

A solid defense playing a weak schedule last year doesn't really have me firmly believing all the good vibrations knowing that we have a tougher schedule this year and still several unresolved issues at key positions.

Lastly, my comment about HOPE is literally that.... this time EVERY YEAR is when we get these articles whose sole purpose is pumping up the volume on the feel good vibes. It's just the same old-same old, and every team's beat reporters are doing the same thing for their team at this time of year. It's part of the NFL machine.

I understand your lack of optimism....BUT

Brian Hartline, Dwayne Bowe, Andrew Hawkins and Taylor Gabriel should be a very capable cast of receivers if our running game is working. Factor in Rob Housler (unproven but extremely athletic), and then Duke Johnson both into the passing game, and we certainly have the skill players capable of scoring points. Does our cast of receivers look like a group of studs? Nope, absolutely not. With strong offensive line play, a strong running game, and an equally strong defense. I think whoever is under center will be setup for success.

All McCown has to do is not suck, and we should be in each and every game....

It's a big "IF" as a lot of domino's have to fall our way, but I certainly don't think success is out of the question.

Kelso you may not know it but you just described the guys career.... Thats why I have been so down on the dude.

At this stage of his career he would be bucking his trend in a huge way if he didn't.

Now the Browns fluff mongers are telling us how well he spins it. Correct me if I'm wrong here but haven't we had quite a few QB's that could spin it??

You can never say never but McCown not sucking is unlikely.....

If circumstance means anything, I think McCown will have the strongest supporting cast he's ever played with.

Our offensive line, running game and defense all should be MUCH better than Tampa Bay's were last year. Plus, McCown will have a real offensive coordinator that he's familiar with. Tampa Bay spent much of last season with a rookie offensive coordinator, and reports from the sideline said the whole situation was a mess.

Our offensive line and defense should both be much stronger than Chicagos were in 2013.

I get the point you're making.

It's kind of a long shot that we catch fire with McCown.

I just I'm just hoping for the best much like many of us are. The team on paper has a lot of talent on both sides of the football. Running the football, and a stout and opportunistic defense could really go a long way in helping WHOEVER our quarterback is to be efficient.

Success is a long shot, you're 100% right in terms of McCown, but it's only May right now, so it's still at least a little possible.

This is no question thee most superior offensive line that McCown has likely played behind ever in his entire life.

He doesn't need to be the focal point. He doesn't need to handle everything. Not all the weight will be on his shoulders. Josh just needs to be a pocket passer when he's asked to pass, deliver catchable balls and see the field, both pre and post snap.

For an older vet as he is, you'd think all that would just be expected. We'll see is all I can say. This offense, if it's to be successful, will need to ask as less as possible from whoever is at Qb.

Keep repeating it and maybe your dream will come true...

Perhaps you could elaborate? Two pro bowlers, Bitoni should've went to Hawaii and a solid right guard. Greco isn't "elite", but very solid and if we were to axe him today, he'd be signed by tonight.

Schwartz is the weakest link, and even at that, I'd never consider or classify him as below average.

What has McCown been given that's superior to our offensive front?

Our OL should be absolutely incredible.

Obviously Thomas is a Hall of Fame guy. Bitonio was an exceptional rookie LG. Greco was our best overall Guard last year. Mack is a top 3 Center in the NFL. That means that Schwartz and Erving should battle it our for the RT spot.

The OL should be a top 5 unit, and has the potential to be the very best in the NFL.

McCown had solid protection in Chicago, but he should feel like he's under Secret Service protection with this unit around him.

So...he should feel like he's surrounded by a bunch of drunk guys having sex?

Seems like an odd mix for football.

/purple

OK .... you got me there ....

Hahahaha

Well played, sir!

doesnt matter. he holds on to the ball so long he will make any o-line look bad.

McCown has always managed to suck through it all. Sure we have a great O Line no question but we have had a solid line for years now and how remind me again has that helped the QB throw the ball accurately, or on time, or to the open guy, or make good decisions. All things McCown has struggled with his entire career.

Oh I see, I thought you were doubting the oline, which I'd disagree with, but 100% fully understand having doubts about McCown, or any of our current array of qbs.

Oh boy...

j/c

An interesting read would be one that breaks down McCown's successful year with the Bears before going to purgatory-in-the-sun. Why did he have so much success that year...then such lack-of-success the very next year?

I don't follow the Bears and am nowhere near enough of an Xs & Os guys to create such a debate...but it would be very interesting.

Too bad we don't have a beat writer with that talent.

For what it's worth, and in case you didn't see my post stating this already, Tampa Bay didn't have an offensive coordinator in 2014. The guy coaching, had some kind of medical emergency during training camp and from what I remember reading McCown was doing a lot of the coaching himself on the sidelines. Not to say that's an excuse for the guys poor play, but it probably made the job A LOT more difficult.

Johnny Rehab, Thaddy-Lew, Connor Shaw, Josh McCown to name a few reasons...

Right you are Tab Hoyer is the only QB we have had that made it pay off, well said.