The Browns Front Office is Doing Well (So Far)
Written By: Craig | Category: Cleveland Browns | Comments: 20
With the history of this team since 1999 it is so hard to get over our extreme suspicion. Every time we allow ourselves to get emotionally invested in this team it seems another couple people are fired and another rebuilding project begins. Sometimes it is difficult to find any positives at all on a team like this, not because there aren’t signs of progress, but because we are all constantly waiting for another shoe to drop. It is so bad that I feel like I have written that opening paragraph in several minor variations about 100 times since the Giants pre-season game last season. Given my customary disclaimer, I think things are actually going well for the Browns so far.
Don’t be confused into thinking I am predicting a Browns Super Bowl appearance. I am definitely not. I wouldn’t even predict a Wild Card berth for this team at this point. There are way too many question marks. For once, though, for every question mark there is something positive. What am I talking about? Glad you asked.
- For all the questions in the running back department, this should be the best offensive line since 1999. Joe Thomas and Steinbach are still there. Mangini and company got Alex Mack signed and ready to go to compete for the starting job. The Browns have many more options on the right side than ever before. Pork Chop, Ryan Tucker and the rest of the motley crew might not amount to anything, but at least the new regime didn’t stand pat with Kevin Shaffer, Lenny Friedman and Rex Hadnot.
- For all the questions at quarterback and with the unpredictable #17, the Browns tried to get depth at receiver. Granted the two 2nd rounders, Robiskie and Massoquai remain unsigned, but the Browns still have more options than they did last year at receiver. Steptoe is back, but he might finally be looking up at Patten, Furrey, or even Paul Hubbard, Josh Cribbs or either one of the 2nd rounders assuming they get signed soon. Again, all these experiments could fail, but it is an interesting mix of potential and experience that the Browns didn’t have last year between drops (Braylon,) injury (Stallworth,) and inexperience (Steptoe.)
- For all the questions surrounding Shaun Rogers, the Browns front office found a way to seemingly make up with him. Rogers will be in camp and hopefully will get some help on the defensive line this year with all the additional options like Kenyon Coleman, a healthy Corey Williams, Shaun and Robaire Smith.
- For all the questions surrounding Josh Cribbs, he has been a good soldier this off-season and even told WKNR last week that he wouldn’t be skipping camp.
Take all these things, add in the fact that you would have to think that Mangini is going to be a better coach than Romeo and that the Browns have a cupcake schedule and it could be a decent year for the Browns. But then again, I wouldn’t go so far as to predict it. There are still way too many question marks. At the same time considering the doubts surrounding the way these guys were hired and all the negativity surrounding the team since Phil Savage blew up at the fan and fought with Kellen Winslow, it doesn’t feel too bad right now. In Browns Town as it exists today, that is kind of a victory in itself.
Author: CraigLyndall
Craig Lyndall has been writing about all the Cleveland sports teams at WaitingForNextYear since September 2008. When he isn't, you can find him selling insurance or playing music. Follow WFNYCraig on Twitter.Craig Lyndall has written 338 articles for Waiting for Next Year.
Needs less kool-aid!
I think the Indians’ lousy season has all of us (myself included) drinking the Browns’ Kool-aid. Just wait until the annual rash of injuries and incompetent QB play hits during training camp. I’m still betting the “under” on the Vegas over/under line for wins, 6.5.
Well I’m excited. Eventhough the outcome is 90% horrible for the Browns. I still get excited every preseason and crushed after week 4. So when you’re not looking forward to much any year it’s not that bad. Unlike last year when I really did thought they would be good, they just ripped out my soul.
Brady Quinn and all ex-Jets reportedly already in Berea… No D.A.
Kool-aid or not I am ready for anything to be on Sports Center other than 45 min or baseball highlites and 10 mins of Bret Farve reports!!! Browns football can not come soon enough..Go Browns
@ Growner
Not only Browns football, but football in general. I know it signals the end of summer, but I’m so ready for pro football!
@Don… unless you are a schoolkid that has to face another long school year, the end of summer doesn’t mean much! Bring on football. I am working the same workweek now that I do in the dead of winter.
Hope springs eternal….
Great post. I agree with the statement saying that we have more recieving options than last year’s team. But I feel our offense will improve simply because it can’t get any worse. We were decimated by injuries to QBs, OLs WRs and TEs. Our last 6 games we failed to score an offensive TD with point totals of 6, 6, 9, 10, 0 & 0. Our best offensive player was arguably Phil Dawson. In 2007-08 WR/TE/RB with 20 or more receptions included the aforementioned #17, Winslow, Heiden, Lewis & Harrison. Stallworth was injured but when he was healthy his was invisible. This year with Winslow gone and Stallworth most likely on the way out, it figures to be Edwards, Heiden, Robiskie, Lewis, Harrison, Rucker/Dinkins & possibly Cribbs with 20 or more receptions. Other options include Steptoe, Massaquoi and maybe some James Davis sprinkled in. The success of our offense lies with the reliability of the O-Line. That, more so than Chud’s gameplanning, was responsible for our offensive success in 2007.
I agree with just about everything Craig wrote here. I think the real question deals with the character of this team. How will they respond to adversity as the season goes on? When things fall apart in some games, how will they react? Obviously, talent is important as well as game plans. But I really want to see how they hold up under pressure.
God bless Josh Cribbs. whether or not hes reporting just because of his show, that is a solid dude.
ESPN Power Rankings are out! Browns are at 28….yeahhhhhhhhhhh
how does that fence feel on your fanny?
I don’t know why, but I’m always… ALWAYS optimistic about the upcoming Browns season! Actually, it’s more like I’m just happy and excited about it, even if I realistically think they don’t have a chance.
With so many new pieces including a brand new coaching staff, I think you would be crazy not to sit on the fence. Predictions with a team like this are a 50/50 proposition. Even if they look “good” you will be able to look at the schedule and use that as an excuse.
Craig, seriously-you must have real low standards. As for drafting receivers in round two, both went WAY higher than any other team had them on their board. Before you grade this a win…….let’s see how Beanie Wells and Ray Malaluaga (I know I’m butchering his name) do-both could have been had by the Browns, and they STILL could have picked either of the receivers with their second pick.
While you’re lathering the invisible front office with praise, I have a question for you:
Where is George Kokinis? Is he alive? Does he work out of the Browns faciulity in Berea? Is he the GM of the Browns or just working at the beckon of heir Mangina? Is he anything more than a AP/UPI two sentence presser? Is he the reincarnation of the Invisible Man?
@ Isis-
“Both went way higher than any other team had them on their board”
Do you know this for sure? Like, have you asked every GM in the NFL? Because you’re throwing out a lot of crap. Why don’t we just wait and see in 6 years if ANYONE who got picked lower than Robo and Massaquoi produces more. Then we can just mock, mock, mock – because Mangini and Kokinis got it wrong!!!!!
And do GMs really need to be out there saying something all the time? I have no problem with Kokinis being in the background right now – because NOTHING IS GOING ON. If it’s the same way during the season, or if there’s a big injury, etc., then I’ll have a problem (I think). For now? Meh, so what?
We get it – you think Mangini isn’t a good coach. You think Kokinis is a patsy. But really, we could be sitting much, much worse off. Could we be doing better? Maybe – but honestly, they’ve gotten almost everyone signed before camp. That’s a good start.
Denny, I was thinking just about everything you just said when I was reading 16. I feel like I have commented a lot the past couple days how I feel the browns are an 8-8 team right now. The OL should be the best we have seen in 10 years. Even though we downgraded talent at TE (and I am not a fan of Royal at all) we should be alright without getting key O pass int. on every first down thrown to a TE. Jerome will hopefully be used more, and I would still love to see Cribbs used as a RB every now and then (this means having DA or BQ take the snap and either passing or throwing to Cribbs).
Overall I think the offense will be better/more consistent. I don’t think it will win many games for us, but they shouldnt be losing too much either. I am looking at a much simpler and disciplined offense. The defense is where the main question marks are on this team. Do they get better under Ryan? Will Wimbley solve his ineffectiveness problem? can the LBs at least try to make a tackle at or behind the line of scrimmage? how will the safeties be without Jones?
I love how everyone reads the same article and I get accused of being too negative, not negative enough and a fence sitter all in the same round of comments.
The offensive line has the most potential since 1999. T/F?
The receiving corps has more options than the one last year. T/F?
The defensive line has more options than the one last year. T/F?
Josh Cribbs said he is coming to camp. T/F?
Shaun Rogers is coming to camp. T/F?
The Browns have a cupcake schedule. T/F?
As I said previously, it could be worse. We could be in Denver where they at least had a solid QB and the new guy flushed it down the toilet. The Browns aren’t a playoff contender by my count and I don’t think I said anything of the sort.
As for Maualuga, I am not going to have this debate right now. Anyone can criticize a team on draft day. When and if the next Ravens, Steelers or Colts draft room shows up here in Cleveland we won’t know until much later than this time after their first draft.
I don’t think the record will be all that great, but this is the first time since ‘99 I truly feel for a long-term show, the Browns are going the right way.