I Don't Even Know...

I am just gonna focus this one on the Browns game versus the Ravens today.

-I don't even know anymore about this team anymore. This is probably almost as bad as the first game the Browns played since game 1 of the 1999 season. The defense is slow, out of position, and cant tackle. The offense is too predictable, short, boring, and fringe.

-When Brady was in, he threw a horrible INT because the cornerback knew Braylon wasn't going deep. I said this last time, when teams know you won't stretch the defense, they will be able to pick off your short passes. Once DA came in at halftime, his turnovers came back as he threw 3 INT's. He tried throwing the ball deep, but its not easy to complete passes with 3 defenders surrounding Braylon. This is because you don't have a true #2 receiver to take pressure off your #1 receiver. I guess the Browns are kind of screwed, they can't throw the ball deep because of a lack of playmakers, and they can't throw the ball short because teams will just pack the box. This is why we need to play Mo Massaqoui and Brian Robiskie more, the season is over, we have nothing to lose, lets see what our 2nd round picks are made of.

-I was watching the game with one of my best friends today and we both noticed how every time the Browns threw the ball, a Ravens defender was right there to tackle him. Anytime the Ravens threw the ball, the Browns would be 3-4 yards away from the defender, and could barley tackle. We just stared at the TV in amazement asking ourselves why? Also, after the Ravens would score or hit a field goal, we would hope Cribbs would return it for a TD. Never once did we mention a big run by Jerome Harrison, or a bomb to Braylon Edwards. When your counting on Josh Cribbs to be your main source of offense via special teams kickoffs, thats just sad......

-The Browns defense was on the field for 31 minutes, over half the game again. Even with that said, 2 of the TD's scored by the Ravens, the runner went in the endzone untouched. This tells me the Browns D did not hit their gap assignments and were out of position. With 11 guys on the field coming after you, its hard for one of them to not touch you. Also, Derrick Mason' TD pass was just horrible, it was a case of a missed coverage assignment and horrible tackling. I've seen both Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald get tossed trying to tackle players, and its just sad.

-Eric Mangini really disappointed me today. I really gave him the benefit of the doubt from the minute he was hired, but I am starting to believe what most people said about the team. He did a solid job with the Jets, and he seemed to instill a sense of discipline with the team, but it has not translated to the regular season. Sports Illustrated's Peter King said he got he worst vibe from the Browns Training Camp. They predicted us to go 2-14, and I don't think they are that far off. The team looked like they just quit today. Earlier in the week rookie CB Coye Francies punched a Browns player in the face after a prank, 3 Browns players filed grievances for fines levied by Mangini, Mangini's opening day starter Brady Quinn was benched at halftime after he completed 6/8 passes, and the team isn't showing any improvement in play. I am not sure, but I feel like the team could be jumping ship sooner or later.

-The QB controversy will linger all week, and honestly I have no idea who should start next week. Mangini doesn't seem to trust Quinn fully, and Anderson proved he is the same quarterback he was last year with the 3 INT's. Mangini needs to pick a QB, use him to the best of his abilities, develop a gameplan that will put him in the best situation to win, and stick by him. If you keep switching QB's, you shatter their confidence, and the team as a whole will not be able to trust the coach because they will see that the coach doesn't have enough confidence in his QB, 3 games into the year.

-Another thing that shocks me, is that the team lost TE Kellen Winslow, and RT Kevin Schaeffer on offense, LB's Andra Davis and Willie McGinest, and S Sean Jones, and replaced them with somewhat serviceable players, but the team looks so much worse than it was last year. LB Eric Barton is a definite upgrade over Davis, Abe Elam is comparable to Sean Jones, but this team just looks awful. I don't know who to point it on except the coaches. They are the ones who are supposed to establish an identity for the team, put players in the best situation to win, develop gameplans to attack opposing teams and utilize players to the best of their ability. I have seen none of this so far.

-Where do the Browns go from here? Honestly, I don't know. You really can't get much worse. We haven't scored a meaningful TD since my last Business Stats exam last November. The defense has yet to get an interception this season. If I am Mangini, I play Mo Massaqoui, Brian Robiskie, David Veikune, James Davis, and Coye Francies. It is obvious the people in front of them aren't cutting it, so why not give them a shot.

Well that does it for now. Lets hope the Browns can keep the game competitive versus the improved Bengals. At least the Indians swept the Orioles today. Did I mention Cavs training camp starts tomorrow? awoof awoof. Go Cleveland.

-Raz