5 Things the Browns Must Do...

5 Things the Browns Must Do To Win….

For the typical team, it would seem almost guaranteed that a victory against a 1-7 Rams team was on the horizon today, but not for the Browns. A team this desperate for offensive production and identity can not afford to take any team too lightly, especially one who beat the New Orleans Saints only two weeks ago. The Browns should, and I predict will, win this game but they can make it a lot easier on themselves by doing the following five things:

1. Start Off Fast: This has been discussed over and over and over again over the last few weeks, but the fact remains that until the Browns can score in the first or third quarters of games then they will continue to lose. To this point in the season, the Browns have no scored a touchdown in either the first or third quarters all season long. That’s a total of 16 quarters or 4 WHOLE GAMES. That lack of production is too much for a team of this ability to overcome. Cleveland must come out fast and strong to start off the game, meaning not run the ball up the middle two times and throw a five yard curl on 3^rd and 7 to begin.

2. Stop Steven Jackson: Easier said than done, I realize. None the less, this defense has to begin to stop the run consistently. It’s real easy to rest on your pass defense ranks when teams only have to throw the ball fifteen times against you a game because they can run down your throats all Sunday long. Steven Jackson is a man amongst boys on most Sundays and will try to do it again this Sunday against a suspect run defense being put on the field by the Brownies. Injuries to TJ Ward and others will not help this problem, but Dick Jauron needs to find the answer and now.

3. Take it to the Cribbs: Get Josh Cribbs involved from the beginning and in many different faucets. We have watched Cribbs begin to blossom into a solid wide receiver while the rest of the offense is stuck in neutral. On a team with no other offensive playmakers that make the defense adjust, it is up to the coaching staff to figure out a way to get the ball into the hands of our one true playmaker. That means screens, punt and kick returns, line him in the wildcat, line him up in the back field, use his speed deep. Cribbs must be targeted or touch the ball on 20 to 25 plays total today for this offense to resemble any type of NFL quality.

4. Home-Field ADVANTAGE: Cleveland Browns fans are on of the best fan bases in all of professional sports and yet the Browns fail to use this to their advantage on Sunday. We all know the stadium will start loud and full, but it is up to the Browns to make sure that the crowd stays in the game and has things to cheer about loudly and often.  When used correctly, the Dawg Pound can make it almost feel as if its 12 vs 11 on most snaps. Let the Dawg Pound bark all day long.

5. Get in the End zone: Phil Dawson has been playing at a Pro-Bowl level and I hope that soon he starts to get the recognition he has deserved over the last few years for kicking in tough Cleveland. With that being said, the Browns have got to start getting into the end zone and not relying on 50 plus yard field goals by Dawson, particularly when the weather starts getting tougher. 

Will the Browns suddenly be able to do all of these things today and look like a Super Bowl contender? Probably not but if they can manage to come close, then should be able to handle the Rams and with the weak Jaguars on the schedule next week, so two very winnable games in a row, climb back to .500 after ten weeks, but I am getting ahead of myself. This week first.

Today’s Prediction:

Browns open playbook and find some success. Colt finds the end zone three times, 1 to Cribbs, Moore, and Little.

Browns: 27

Rams: 17

Your Team in 15 Words or Less

So here we are, half way through the NFL season and all teams have questions and issues but here’s a summary of each team in 15 Words or Less.

Cleveland Browns- On this episode of “As the Hillis Turns”, the Browns kick 3 Field Goals.

Cincinnati Bengals- Big Red and Green have the Orange and Black looking Golden for years to come.

Baltimore Ravens- Sweep of Pittsburgh: Good. The rest of their games: iffy

Pittsburgh Steelers- Quietly putting together the best young wide receiver core in the NFL, congrats Ben.

New England Patriots- Why is it so easy to hate the Patriots when they give no reason too?

Buffalo Bills- Fear the Bearded Harvard Alum: except against good teams.

New York Jets- If only their talent level was as large as Rex Ryan’s ego.

Miami Dolphins- Do you think Tony Sparano wishes his sunglasses blocked his view completely?

Houston Texans- I called Arian Foster a bust before the season. I was right, now way wrong.

Tennessee Titans-I bet they wish Chris Johnson was still locked out.

Jacksonville Jaguars- Ten dollars to anyone that can name half of their starters.

Indianapolis Colts- No Peyton, No Wins. Better LUCK next year, but why?

San Diego Chargers- In first place despite Rivers throwing more interceptions than any other QB. AFC West Only

Kansas City Chargers- This team could have been good, if they could only keep their ACLs together.

Oakland Raiders- Only team that could make Mike Brown look like a genius and good owner.

Denver Broncos- Tebow is a goldmine for the Broncos marketing team, just not a good QB.

New York Giants- Eli said that he was in Brady’s class: I’m starting to believe him.

Dallas Cowboys- A mediocre team with decent talent who we are forced to watch weekly on Fox.

Philadelphia Eagles- Who would’ve known the “Dream Team” would’ve won as many as the Browns and Broncos.

Washington Redskins- Does Mike Shanahan even know who he is starting at running back this week?

Green Bay Packers- Aaron Rodgers changes before games in a phone booth.

Detroit Lions- Wins make them cocky, arrogant, and annoying - handshakes make them angry.

Chicago Bears- The once scary defense, now looks old and slow.

Minnesota Vikings- Well the McNabb era lasted all of what? 4 games

New Orleans Saints- Because Brees wasn’t good already; give him the best young tight end. Super Bowl Bound.

Atlanta Falcons- Matty Ice has just been cold.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Blount truth? They have zero wide receivers that are NFL worthy.

Carolina Panthers- Cam Newton appears to be the real deal, in fantasy football. Not in win column.

San Francisco 49ers- They only win because of the sharpie that Harbaugh wears around on his neck rope.

Seattle Seahawks- Tarvaris Jackson or Charlie Whitehurst? Score 6 points or 3 points?

Arizona Cardinals- Now understanding why Andy Reid was so willing to let anyone but Kolb start for him?

St. Louis Rams-What if Steven Jackson was on a winner?

Rob Ryan needs to stop trashtalking, this and other scribbles from Sunday Night

Firstly, a few pre-game thoughts

-          Once again I have one fantasy team putting a mark in the win column and one in the lose column, how do you have one team that’s going to be 7-1 and another that’s 1-7?

-          Talk of snow during football games? Love It

-          Nothing is better than when the weather forecast become important because it will effect football

-          Why do Collinsworth and Al Michaels still have to use those giant microphones with the oldest looking NBC Sports logo on them? It looks like they are broadcasting the game from 1992.

1^st Quarter

-          Two UC Alums starting for the Eagles offense, have to love that. Might as well be the UC East Eagles

-          I’m surprised with every starting lineup how many starters in the NFL come from Mac Schools (Abe Elam, Kent State tonight)

-          How do all of these HUGE coaches have the gull to make their players run non stop and condition in the offseason?

-          Al Michaels just tried to pretend Abe Elam came on the blitz by saying he came from the opposite side when replays showed he was wrong, crafty.

-          Sidearm wide receiver screen to Maclin. Only the Eagles have the team speed to do those kinds of plays.

-          7-0 Eagles

-          I have Miles Austin on both of my fantasy teams, hoping for 125 yards and 2 TD. Too much to ask for?

-          How can professional kickers not keep the ball in play?

-          Dropfoot? I have never heard of that but it sounds like a terrible injury for your PUNTER

-          I heard Dez Bryant played the Vick role throughout practice this week; so far it looks like he did not play it well enough. Cowboys D is getting sliced in huge chunks.

-          Touchdown McCoy (I traded him this week for Brady, Green-Ellis, and Brandon Jacobs, I miss him already)

-          Note to Rob Ryan: Your defense looks like you are still coaching in Cleveland

-          DeMarco Murray just may be the real deal

-          It bothers that me that Tony Romo is wearing his Starter hat in his intro, free plug but tacky

-          Interception thrown by Romo: Karma for the tacky free plug

-          Stupid penalty Vick.

-          14-0

2^nd Quarter

-          Best thing that could have ever happened to Jerome Harrison was getting traded, incredible that it uncovered a brain tumor

-          Wow. Terrible snap by Eagles but Vick appeared to be shot out of a cannon diving forward to recover it. Unbelievable athleticism on display.

-          Eagles unstoppable. 21-0

-          I enjoy seeing a Rob Ryan defense getting destroyed. Bitter Browns fan here.

-          Where are you Miles Austin?

-          Out of this world catch by Laurent Robinson, but I think that he stepped out of bounds. Replays prove me correct.

-          Does Jerry Jones’ luxury box not have heat? He is dressed for a blizzard and sitting indoors.

-          Sean Lee hurt is huge, he is a blossoming superstar.

-          It is becoming increasingly difficult for Miles Austin to win me both of my fantasy games if the Cowboys never have the football

-          Eagles’ fans should be happy that Michael Vick lost in the Madden finals to Peyton Hillis because he is not cursed tonight.  Halloween connection not intended.

-          Jason Peters (Eagles OT) just made the best defensive play of the night for the Cowboys.

-          This is getting out of hand quickly. It is like watching the Big Red Machine play against the local high school team.

-          This Nike Basketball commercial is the coolest commercial on television right now, with the exception of the parts involving LeBron. Again, bitter Cleveland fan.

-          Orakpo: Another word for sack. Well done Geico

-          Sack by Trent Cole. Another U of Cincy product producing for the Eagles.

-          I hate watching a losing team run 40 seconds off the clock at the end of the first half, yet alone a team losing by 24!

-          I wonder if we will ever get to see a competitive game on SNF again?

-          Dream Team: 24  America’s Team: 0

-          Please stop doing the overdramatic pieces by Bob Costas. I’d rather watch the local high school band performing at halftime then listen to him overinflate some sport event. Plus, I hate the Cardinals so I do not need to hear Costas discuss their World Series victory.

3^rd Quarter

-          Miles Austin sighting, I only need about 8 more of those

-          Shady McCoy is quickly ascending into the top 3 running backs in the NFL (Peterson, Foster, McCoy)

-          Al Michaels basically just said what I wrote.

-          That pass was clearly forward. No idea how 6 officials missed that call and force Andy Reid to use his last challenges. It did not even seem close enough to discuss.

-          Dumbest rule in football, why should Philly only be allowed one more challenge after being successful with the first two. A team should be allowed to challenge until they are wrong.

-          Another field goal and this game is becoming harder and harder to watch. I bet NBC is really disappointed in how their games have turned out this season.

-          Why is Al Michaels putting his thumbs up and down rather than using words like an adult?

-          Bailey is not doing a bad job punting as an injury replacement.

-          Vick really needs to start focusing on the fumbling issues that he is having this season.

-          McCoy still destroying the Cowboys Defense, I bet Rob Ryan is second guessing his “All Hype Team” comments now, maybe he should spend more time preparing his defense and less time calling out the other teams.

-          Howard Mudd shoulder bumping LeSean McCoy is one of the coolest things you see occurring on an NFL sideline.

-          This game is so out of hand right now, that its forcing me to learn what other channels show on Sunday nights

4^th Quarter

-          Finally….

-          McCoy again with the score, I think Rob is going to see LeSean in his nightmares tonight

-          I have decided that LeSean McCoy seems like he would be a fun dude to hang out with, these are the thoughts this blowout has forced me to think about.

-          I do not understand why Roethlisberger’s photo has him in a camo hat? Is it just to prove to all of us how truly redneck he must be.

-          70 yard TD… Laurent Robinson… of course it’s not Austin. Wonder what Austin and Bryant must have said to Romo to make him completely disregard them as players this evening.

-          No onside kick? What do the Cowboys really have to lose at this point

-          When is the right time to pull your starters to avoid injury, I would say about after this drive. It’s almost Vince Young and Ronnie Brown time!!!!!

-          DeMarcus Ware has four sacks tonight, and no one noticed

-          Romo plays QB like he is playing Madden, I could tell you who he is throwing to the minute the drops back. He locks in immediately.

-          Dez Bryant reaction to the no call on the pass interference is amazing

-          To further prove my point, Romo missed a wide open receiver across the back of the endzone because he was locked in to the left side

-          Being an offensive tackle would be so much fun, your entire job consists of you running into other people and trying to push them backwards, plus you get to eat a lot!

-          Eagles look very tough out of bye, something you would expect from an Andy Reid coached team.

Hillis Cursed?

Could Browns’ fan really have jinxed their team this season by voting Peyton Hillis onto the cover of Madden 2012? First the first time in a long time, Browns’ fan finally had a reason to celebrate as the Albino Rhino outlasted Michael Vick in the finals to get the “honor” of being the Madden cover boy. Hillis is certainly not the first person to have the jinx of the Madden cover, the Curse goes all the way back to 2000.

-          2000  Barry Sanders

Barry was put on the cover of the game and then retired one week before training camp, thus introducing the Madden Curse to America.  Then again, it may have actually been the Lions who were cursed, as the 2000s Lions were one of the worst franchises in history of sports.

-          2002 Daunte Culpepper

Culpepper started the season off at 4-7 and finished at 6-10 while throwing more interceptions than touchdowns and fumbling an absurd 21 times.

-          2004 Michael Vick

Vick proceeded to break the fibula in his right leg during the preseason and did not play until week 11. His troubles post-Madden were just the beginning of his troubles as he was later found to be running “Bad News Kennelz” which funded and organized dog fighting which landed him behind bars.

-          2005 Ray Lewis

Lewis broke the mold by being the first defensive player to ever grace the cover of Madden, but his defensive skills did not keep him from getting sacked by the curse. Lewis played six games the following season and did not make the Pro-Bowl for the first time

-          2006 Donovan McNabb

McNabb actually faired a little better than most of the covers because he made it all the way to week 11 before suffering his season ending injury, a torn ACL.

-          2008 Vince Young

Began the season suspended and then proceeded to throw nearly twice as many interceptions as touchdowns when he returned. He seems to have the ultimate curse and brought it with him to the “Dream Team” this season.

-          2009 Brett Favre

The first of too many comeback attempts took place as he joined the Jets and played like an old and man. Also he had that whole cell phone picture taking incident take place while on the cover.

-          2010 Troy Polamula

Managed to only play five games the following season because of multiple knee injuries.

-          2012 Peyton Hillis?

Through six games Hillis has already missed two games, one with strep throat and one with a sore hamstring. When active in games, he has been unproductive.

Good Luck to whoever gets chosen for the cover next season, may I suggest a Steeler or Raven?

Jared Allen didn't kill Jay Cutler: this and other scribbles from the Sunday Night Football Game

Now that my beloved Browns, one fantasy team , the incoming 5-0 Favre Dollar Footlongs, and quite possibly my winless fantasy team, The Kardiac Kids, have all fallen all the short side of the scoreboard its time to sit down and see how long Jay Cutler can survive this Sunday. Cutler, whom I’m putting all my faith behind to help the Kardiac kids notch one in the win column, will be lucky just to leave this game without Jared Allen’s imprint tattooed on his body.

Pregame:

I get that Tony Dungy was an amazing catch and a great motivational speaker but is any pregame show more boring than this. Between him and Rodney Harrison, king of making a statement without saying anything of importance, the only thing interesting about this show is seeing Peter King rock a tie almost as crooked as the leaning tower of Pisa itself. Thank God its 8:20.

Brian Wilson taco bell commercial slays me every time. I think if I could hang out with one famous person for an afternoon, it would be him. Also, Tim McGraw is a lucky guy.

1^st Quarter

-          Julius Peppers playing is huge for the Bears and I love Al Michaels attempting to stir controversy

-          One of my favorite things about SNF is men saying their grade schools and peewee teams, “Jason Strine, Batavia Falcons”

-          HUGE Touchdown Pass from Cutler to Hester, does anyone love primetime more than Devin Hester?

-          Thank you big play bonus in fantasy league, The Kardiac Kids have new life, 10 point play

-           Al Michaels just said “Thrice”. Classy

-          Safety. Did it look to anyone else like Donovan McNabb just laid down as opposed to trying to escape the pressure? It may be time for Christian Ponder Minnesota.

-          Major Wright is a cool name. I wonder if I can talk my future wife into letting me name one of my kids Major.

-          How good would Adrian Peterson be if he were on a team that could consistently throw the football?

-          16-0 Bears after one

2^nd Quarter

-          Getting hit by Lance Briggs must be the equivalent of getting hit by a mid-sized Sedan

-          Ryan Longwell, best named kicker ever, drills 37 yarder to get Vikes on the board

-          I’m convinced that Jay Cutler throws the best falling backwards half jump 6 yard lob pass in the game

-          Cris Collinsworth just said the left tackle could block the sun, hands down my favorite announcer

-          17 yard punt, NFL Punter is a lose/lose job, either no one knows you are there or they know you did something terrible

-          Play action to the endzone would be nice right here from Cutler

-          Touchdown Chicago! Sanzenbacher reminds me of Ed McCaffrey

-          The Bears defense looks much faster tonight than they did last Monday, then again last week they were playing Matthew Stafford and tonight its McNabb

-          Who calls a timeout coming out of the two minute warning? Then follows it up with a false start? Then misses the field goal? Microcosm of Minnesota’s season, O Leslie

-          Gould down the middle. Chi town up 23

-          Donovan spins out of a sack, flash back to the his heyday

I hate these stupid Bob Costas monologues. They are overdramatic and corny. I would rather watch … well anything

3^rd Quarter

-          Cutler fumbles, I should’ve known I could not trust Jay Cutler all night to not make a costly mistake.

-          He has expanded my fantasy lead to 15 though so if that’s the only turnover, I will take it

-          This drive has McNabb looking like old Donovan as opposed to just old

-          TD Peterson, Minnesota looks like a different team

-          Devin Hester KO return for touchdown, again Does anyone LOVE primetime more than Devin Hester?

-          2 Primetime games this season for the Bears, 3 Hester touchdowns. 3 Non primetime games, 0 Hester touchdowns

-          Thank you Brig. Gen Mark Brown. Really cool Chicago Bears.

-          Cutler yelling at Sanzenbacher for dropping high pass between two defenders over the middle of the field: I don’t know if I like his intensity or hate his whining?

-          O….. Bears add 3 more points, game getting out of hand

-          The Vikings offense has decided to stop playing, McNabb is taking a beating

-          I’m loving that Marion Barber is getting goal line carries so far. I am playing against Forte in my comeback attempt.

-          Bears 36  Vikes 10

-          I think the 4 fingers in the air should translate to the NFL

4^th Quarter

-          With a game this out of hand and class in the morning, I would be lying if I said I was not hoping for this quarter to go very quickly.

-          Christian Ponder has entered the game.

-          He looks more like a kicker than a quarterback

-          Is McNabb sleeping? He looked as if he was just napping on the sidelines, it is kind of late for the old fella

-          Ponder is impressing, but I’d guess the Bears defense is about as focused on this game as I am right now

-          I think Jim Harbaugh and Jim Schwartz should have one of those Fox Celebrity Boxing matches or at the very least they should compete in World Strongest Man type competitions. (Can you tell the game is a 29 point blowout?)

-          Vikings owner is way to cheerful and wavy for my liking with his team getting embarrassed on National Television

-          Michelle Tafoya killing it on the stadium information front

-          Meanwhile, the Cardinals just went up 6 runs in the 8^th making them a near lock for the World Series. Makes me sick.

-          My prediction of Jared Allen going crazy tonight was way off, I can admit my mistakes. I have to give it up to the Bears offensive line.

-          I hate Art Modell. I feel bad that his wife passed away but I still hate him.

-          Finally, game is over.

-          Bears trounce Vikes 39 - 10

Browns Defense: Young and Tough

The combination of Tom Heckert and Mike Holmgren have the Browns drafting with a new philosophy which focuses on speed and athleticism as opposed to size and bulk. After years of draft busts – Courtney Brown and Gerard Warren to mention a couple- the last two drafts appear to have landed the Browns some potential big time playmakers to the defensive side of the ball in their attempts to be a contender in the vicious AFC North.

Joe Haden, 22, the 2010 first round pick out of Florida has all the makings of a shutdown cornerback in the NFL. Haden had a slow start to his rookie campaign but became a starter midway through the season and excelled to the point of being the number one corner. During the breakout season, Haden started the final seven games and was able to record six interceptions and a fumble recovery while also marking 18 pass deflections. This season, through only four games, Haden has continued to take strides towards becoming one of the leagues elite corners as teams have began to throw away from him on a regular basis. In week two of this season, Haden had a ludicrous five pass deflections against the Cincinnati Bengals. Look for Haden to be heading to Hawaii multiple times during his career.

Haden is not the only youthful playmaker in the Browns’ secondary, as he is joined by fellow 2010 draft pick TJ Ward of Oregon. Ward has proven himself to be a hard-hitting safety that led the Browns with 123 tackles last year and has brought a new kind of toughness to the secondary that hasn’t been seen since the return of this beloved franchise. Ward has laid the groundwork, in only a season and a third, to become a legitimate playmaker for the Browns, all at the young age of 24.

The strong drafts appear to have continued into this season, albeit only four games. As opposed to improving the secondary for a second straight year, the Browns front office decided to attack the defensive line and drafted two athletic and high energy players that have already made a difference for this Browns defense in 1^st rounder Phil Taylor and second rounder Jabaal Sheard.

Taylor, the defensive tackle from Baylor, has been a force in the middle of the line for the Browns this year already amassing twenty tackles and one sack. The most impressive aspect of Taylor’s game to this point has been his ability to continuously pressure the quarterback.

Sheard, the former Big East standout from Pitt, also has recorded one sack on the young season but seems to be in the backfield on every play. Sheard’s sack against the Colts was Dwight Freeneyesque as he recorded the sack-fumble and recovered the fumble on his own.

This four pack of young Browns, teamed together with other defensive standouts D’Qwell Jackson (AFC September Defensive Player of the Month) and Ahtyba Rubin (2.5 sacks) have the Browns’ defense on the upswing and potentially becoming a force over the next few seasons.