Here are 10 suggestions for the Cleveland Browns as they head to the second half of the season:
1) Run the ball. The one thing the offense did kind of, sort of well the first half was run the ball. Jerome Harrison and Jamal Lewis each had 100-yard games. There have been some good runs. This could be one element the offense could build from, assuming they don't try to force the issue by mixing in too many passes. We all saw how THAT worked.
2) Run two or three or four basic defenses and run them well. The Browns lack too much talent on defense to run a free-wheeling, blitzing style. If it means going to Cover Two and playing that every play, so be it. It can't be worse than what happened the first eight games.
3) Remove the play-calling responsibilities from Brian Daboll and give them to Carl Smith. Daboll has looked overmatched. Yes, Bernie Kosar keeps saying on his many radio shows that Browns receivers are running wide open and simply not catching the ball, so the problem isn't merely the plays. OK, let's give Kosar that one. The problem is the knee-jerk reaction, the amateurish thought process. It's the focus on one thing that doesn't last — like opening with the quick passes against Baltimore, then giving up on it once Brady Quinn threw an interception, or opening with the Wildcat in Pittsburgh, then giving up on it once Josh Cribbs threw a pick. Formulate a plan on Tuesday, stress it during the week and stick with it on Sunday. Smith is a veteran coach who has been around. He knows what he's doing. Let him call plays and see what happens. It can't be worse.
4) Play Quinn. Find out what the Browns have in him. It seems that we know about Derek Anderson. Or at least what we know from the previous few games is decidedly not pretty.
5) Call some plays down the field for Quinn. He has to be able to throw the ball 15 yards. That being said, one concern expressed to me about Quinn is that he has developed the very bad habit of focusing on the rush as soon as he sees it. This takes his eyes from his receivers and puts them on the rusher, which is a key reason he throws so many dumpoffs. This is a hard habit to break, and why it happens is kind of inexplainable. It's comparable to a golfer getting the yips. So … who knows … perhaps we may see more of Anderson.
6) Quit micromanaging. Coach the team, forget the insanity like making every non-playing and non-coaching member of the travel group get on the bus to the airport 45 minutes early so they don't cross paths with the players. Let everyone board the bus together. Forget the nitpicking like water bottles and that kind of thing. Coach the team, concentrate on winning the game. Just. Go. Win. The. Game.
7) Make whoever decided that these receivers could play in the NFL coach these receivers personally. Because to me they look overmatched by average NFL corners. They don't get off the line, don't get open and when they do they don't catch the ball or fumble it away. (Other than that … ) No NFL team should have receivers who play the way these do. Then enact a corollary to this rule and enforce it: Announce a starting quarterback and quit playing games with the announcement.
8) Eliminate the stinking players valet parking lot. It's a perk that this team bestowed on players well before it was earned. Now it's an offensive reminder of the way these guys are treated. Park in a lot where they can shake hands with fans and greet people and maybe sign an autograph or two after the game. Walk 20 feet in the rain, or wind, or snow, if need be. Fans do it. Players can do it.
9) Abandon the blitz, drop deep and make teams use 15 plays to score. If they score, they score. But there have been too many big plays. Play the ultimate umbrella defense. Make the other team earn it. If they score, then so be it — but chances increase that on one of those 15 plays the other team might make a mistake.
10) Start devoting many resources to next year's draft. At this point, that's the most important thing in the world to this team. However many people are studying college guys, add another one or two to the list.
And … because it's the Browns … a bonus 11 …
11) Here's a unique idea: Pretend the Browns are an actual NFL team with actual professionals on the roster. Treat them that way, and maybe, just maybe, they will play that way.
This will be no quick turnaround; in fact there might not be any turnaround. But some fundamental notions could make the second half of the season a tiny bit more palatable than the first. And isn't that what everyone wants?
Three and Out will take a break this week due to the flu's invading my being. Besides, we all know the nature of the letters.
I actually agree with all of your points. Maybe you should e-mail this list to R. Lerner. How can there be a blackout on Monday Night Football, if its on ESPN?
ESPN will either have alternate programming in cleveland market or the screen will simply be blank.
re: point 1 – didn't the solid running game coincide with Hank Fraley playing RG? I may be mistaken, but even though he isn't the strongest run blocker, he is crafty and more importantly solidifies the decisions made by the rook Alex Mack.
I have an idea, and please don't say I'm crazy: Michael Vick next season. Screw political correctness. I mean, we've actually got the local media writing about a former prison inmate in the Browns' current backfield making $6 million who is a "true professional." Just a hunch, but $6 million for seven months of work could rehabilitate Jack the Ripper and put him on the righteous path.
Vick has no future in Philadelphia, he'd come relatively cheap, and he could plug a quarterback hole for a couple of years. Neither Anderson nor Quinn will be back, so why not? It's better than throwing some poor sap draftee to the wolves. The cerebral intellectuals in the Dawg Pound would luv him.
The Browns could do all the things that you listed, or they could just…
1. Fire Mangini.
Pat, I think you should stay home tonight and not spread your swine flu to 20,000 others. I'll gladly take your Springsteen ticket so it doesn't go to waste.
So, Pat, to summarize, the Browns need to do everything that they've been doing differently.
I'm as down on the Browns as anyone else, but I remember the old saying: "When you're winning you're not as good as you think you are, and when you're losing you're not as bad as you think you are." That said, I still think this team is worse than its 1-7 record would indicate.
Nothing is going to change until we get a coach in there that the players want to play for. Half the players now don't like Mangini and won't play for him!
All these guys have incentives in their contract, they'll play. Especially since they'll be playing other awful teams. That is going to be a problem. They're going to get wins, Mangini is a great salesman, and Lerner would have bought a used car from William H. Macy's character in "Fargo."
Maybe they should bring back Cornheiser as guest announcer on MFN. Maybe even pair up Pat and him, lol.
What are the current odds in Vegas?
Looks like that hard-working Marla didn't break another story. Why is a national guy employed by ESPN, citing two of his sources, reporting that Quinn is starting the next game? Isn't that a local beat writer's job?
Don't points 8 and 11 conflict?
And humor me here, but if they took away the valet parking, and forced players to, as you describe, "Walk 20 feet in the rain, or wind, or snow, if need be" wouldn't the first article on this blog be bemoaning the way we treat our players and talking about how no agents will steer their free agents to Cleveland under this regime?
I'm as down on Mangini as the next guy, but it really seems like some people in the media *cough cough* will twist the facts however it best fits their argument to make the guy look bad. Almost makes you wonder why Lerner would prefer talk to Peter King over the local guys.
Oh, please, dwit. What, you think valet parking is the reason a free agent signs with another team? How quaint. It is unfortunate that Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards were pawned because their demands for silk napkins during the team's pregame snack of tea and crumpets was too extravagant.
all well and good remember most of these guys will last on avg 4 yrs they want pampered as much as we would before going out and getting real jobs ….that said being on a LOSING team is no fun, anyone that has played even at the high school level will admit there is a different mood and constant LOSING will wear down even the best of the best ..point in the last 24 games they are 5-19 last 13 ..1-12… even the PROS have emotions and a lil hitler as a coach with all the losing must feel akin to hard time in prison on players who have made it to this level only to have this much futility the past 1 1/2yrs…… remember last years losers played a heck of a monday nighter and a very good thursday game ….only coaching has made them this inept looking
also Pat your ASS-U-MING the coach will be flexible this is the same guy the NY media called everything but a coach.. as the commentator said Sunday the 37 JETS that came to say GOODBYE just wanted to make sure he was GONE!
finally, Alan! I just loved that "Fargo" movie!
I'm sure there'd be a roster-full of players, a training facility full of staff, and most of the population of NE Ohio lined up to say "Good bye…no, good RIDDANCE" when Mangie is dismissed. Most of those well-wishers would also have two hands full of rotten tomatoes…a parting gift of sorts.
I am with Alan on this…time to think outside of the box!