Perry Johnson remembers his brother Gus, as the Akron native enters HOF
August 15, 2010Indians 9, Mariners 1: A Tail of Two Games
August 16, 2010While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com.
Hey! Improvement! “While one preseason game doesn’t ease all those concerns, hey, it could have been worse. Let’s take a quick trip back to 2009. The Browns opened the preseason with a 17-0 stinker at Green Bay. The offense couldn’t move the ball. The Browns’ three quarterbacks were a combined 14-for-26 with 152 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions. The Browns wore solid, brown pants. In all, it was an inauspicious debut and that lingered well into the regular season.
A year later, a different looking Browns offense — donning white pants — was on display at Lambeau Field. Throughout the game, the Browns’ offense executed.” [Don Delco/The OBR]
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The annual breakdown of the Indians at-bat music – who had Matt LaPorta pegged as a KiD CuDi guy? [CastroTurf]
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Rookie bumps and bruises: “To put it lightly, [Colt McCoy] looked awful. He actually reminded me a lot of Brady Quinn. Every pass he dropped back for, he would quickly look to the flat and throw to the back or tight end for a two yard gain. I expected McCoy to look bad, so I am not surprised. To add a little insult to injury, Jimmy Clausen looked pretty good playing the previous night. Granted this is just one game and hopefully McCoy can progress throughout the preseason. The great thing about it is that we don’t HAVE to have him play.” [No Logo Needed]
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The EPL primer for the “Ingornamus Americans” featuring a cameo by Sir Randall Lerner [Spencer Hall/SB Nation]
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“It’s odd to think of [LeBron] James as a secondary player next to [Dwyane] Wade. But to call [Scottie] Pippen “secondary” neglects his immense importance to the Bulls and his own unique stardom. With his considerable skills and athleticism, James can exceed Pippen’s accomplishments. If he does so, he might even help illuminate just what made Pippen so special and finally rid him of that “underrated” tag.” [Eric Freeman/The Baseline]
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And finally, chief concerns in Columbus: “Punting might still be a concern. Though Buchanan recorded a nice average Saturday, Erwin outplayed him in the spring game and we all know how important the play is to the head coach. But, if the offense is half as prolific as we think it will be, how important is the punt to this team? How important was it to the 2006 team? Which leads us to… kick coverage. If the offense goes Nintendo this fall, they will be kicking off a lot and the coverage exhibited in the Rose Bowl (and the Iowa game) leave a lot to be desired.
But is that it? Is kick coverage the chief among our concerns heading into this season? If so, I can live with that. The coverage is something that can and will be addressed in camp — there’s plenty of time still to sort that out.” [Eleven Warriors]
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(Photo by Tom Dahlin/Getty Images)
27 Comments
2 things:
1) Color me optimistic. I liked things I saw from the Browns this weekend (in highlights…). This is more than I could say about any preseason game last year.
2) There’s a reason Colt was projected as a 2nd to 3rd round pick and Clausen was projected a high-to-mid first rounder. I wouldn’t stress it. If all goes as planned, the kid won’t play anyway, and he can just learn.
Quinn – was in his 3rd season last year
McCoy – was in his first preseason game last night
Quinn – was taken in the first round
McCoy – was taken in the third round
Quinn – was a guy the franchise had a significant financial investment in
McCoy – has much less of a financial investment
All reasons I’m not at all worried about the way McCoy looked this weekend.
I loved the blitzing Ryan used Saturday (But I HATE his haircut). I just wish we would get out of that three man front. It gave Rodgers WAY too much time to pick apart our defense. I was impressed with Haden’s ability to stay with the receivers (CONSIDERING HE HAS 4.5 SPEED/sarcasm). He looked lost on one play, the corner blitz that led to the TD over the top.. He showed his blitz WAY TOO SOON, and Rodgers picked it up and exploited the one on one with Ward on the receiver. But, that’s why Rodgers is one of the best QB’s in the league.
I was intrigued by the play calling. There were only a few runs. But I guess Harrison and the line know each other pretty well, and they used this first game (with Hardesty out) to get the QB’s and the receivers on the same page. It was a good strategy.
But when Hardesty is back (if he plays in preseason) he better get at least 10 touches/game to get familiar with the line, and the delivery from Delhomme.
Mccoy was ehhh. But, first time against NFL defense in actual game speed, It could have been worse. That finger injury could be a lingering issue. Brady broke his index and it still may be affecting his throwing. The index is the last thing to touch the ball, that finger puts the spin on the ball. So, an index finger injury is a BIG deal for a QB.
I’m starting to question Mccoy’s durability. he has played in two of the most important games of his career back to back. BCS Championship and first NFl game. In both games he left because of an injury…. Not to mention his brain lapse in the Big 12 Championship game, when he threw the ball out of bounds with 1 second on the clock and the clock should have ran out…. But I ramble on… So, to sum it up.
Impressed with defensive calling and secondary play
Impressed with Delhomme and Wallace, receivers and Watson
Impressed with Special teams, returns were good.
Not sure on running game
Color me unimpressed on Mccoy (for now)
One thing I liked about McCoy, when the pocket broke down he didn’t hesitate to run. He was aware of his surroundings and the first down marker. He would scramble, and get down before he would get hit. That is a rare gift for a QB, the ability to think on your feet like that, AND be aware where you have to get to to get the first down.
I agree with No Logo, but also with dwhit. I told my buddy i was watchin with that it reminded me of Quinn… but it reminded me of Quinn playing last year. Im optimistic for his future, but in the end he’s just a 3rd round pick and we shouldnt expect him to be a franchise changer.
Color me optimistic too Ben. With all the usual preseason disclaimers, you have to be pleaseed by how the offense looked. Night and day difference from last year.
As for Colt, I’m not expecting anything out of him ever. Not that that I think he will fail but drafting a QB is such a crap shot. How can anyone have any real expectations out of him? Surely the last 10 years as Browns fans have taught us that. His chances of failure are just as great at success. I am of the belief that you should draft a QB in the 3rd round every year. Test them out and see who sticks.
Lebron, LePippen, LeWingman… Enjoy it now. I think as much as the next guy that Lebron is a punk, but he’s 1000 times the player that Wade is. All it will take is one fifty point game while Wade sits with a tweaked ribcage, and the whole “sidekick” thing will be dead.
Matty- Im gonna have to disagree about the playcalling. I like the blitzing but it wasnt working against Rodgers. They needed to mix/disguise it more then they did. Also dropping back into zone coverage after showing a blitz would have helped some. The defense just wasnt impressive to me, outside of TJ ward and a few other indiv. plays.
Imagine if Tebow would have fallen to the Browns in the second round.. WE could have all the ESPN coverage and all the jersey sales…..
@Mark- that seems a little drastic, a 3rd round pick QB every year? If its like 5 or 6 maybe… but 3rd rounders can have impacts year one if you get the right guy at the right position. Too valuable to take a rain check on random QBs in the 3rd round.
Stat of the weekend
Anderson – 45.3 QB Rating 1 TD 2 INT
Quinn – 25 QB Rating 0 TD 1 INT
Dellhomme – 106 QB Rating 0 TD 0 INT
Wallace – 120.8 QB Rating 2 TD 0 INT
Nothing needs to be said.
As bad as Brady Quinn looks on paper, it was even worse on television. Three-and-out, all pass plays. Then next drive commenced with a pick six for the Bengals on a simple five-yard out that could not have been more telegraphed by the CB. It was really bad.
@Bobby, I’m a believer in pressure on the QB and man coverage. You’re not going to pressure the QB with a 3man front. So you have to blitz. But if you’re blitzing with a soft zone, a good QB will eat it up. But Blitzing is better than not blitzing.
A CB can’t defend for more than about 3.5 seconds. So, if you’re only bringing 3 lineman the QB has all day to wait for a receiver to break free. Kind of like when Ben Roethlisberger rolls around the pocket waiting then throws it to a wide open receiver in EVERY game we’ve ever played Pitt, except last December. Even in that game the Steelers put a few good drives together eating up our zone and three man front.
It’s not the defender’s fault that Hines Ward is wide open around the first down, it’s the pressure we are not getting on the QB that allows Ward to break free. It was always Holmes who would break away from the coverage for wide open receptions.
And if you’re playing a zone. Good QB’s will eat that up. Look at Peyton and Dallas Clark. Clark finds the gap between zones, sits in it, and Peyton drops it in for an easy completion.
Yeah – as much as I have wanted to defend BQ in the past, I don’t know if he’s got it.
Whether that’s a product of being a part of a Cleveland team in upheaval (think David Carr) or if he never had it, I’m not sure.
Rex Ryan’s blitzes is what made Revis “the best Corner in the league” but you all know I don’t think Revis is the best. Nnamdi Asomugha is the best. But he doesn’t get the ESPN love.
Ben read my 3rd post about whether he has it or not. His finger is still not right from the broken index. He was never given a fair shake at the job. The only “chance” he had at starting was ruined by Brian Dabbol’s inability to call a game and the receiver core led by MoMass and Mike Furrey.. Until Brady Quinn has an opportunity I won’t write him off.
WFNY-
Have you started that Fantasy Football league yet? Because I’d like to get in it this year… My name with be either MattyFos, FuerGrissaOstDrauka or ILoveBreastonBush
Two things:
1. Can we PLEASE not obsess over our third-string quarterback? PLEASE?
2. Speaking of pleas, MORE KOOL-AID, PLEASE!
Scott @ #12 – “As bad as Brady Quinn looks on paper, it was even worse on television”
Disagree. He’s still a DREAMBOAT.
Matty- Im not saying every time you drop into a zone. But if your showing blitz every play you have to change it up and throw somethin else once in a while. Last year Rob did a terrific job and like everyone else it was his first preseason game and the LBs. They will get better but they did not hide their blitzes well at all.
And I did read a good article explaining the NYJ defense and how it makes you throw to Revis. Im sure we’ll see that in the near future with Haden, but Rob isnt up to his brother’s defensive guru status. And we dont have the LB quality that the Jets or Ravens have had and do have.
So yes, a 34 requires you to blitz, but do it creatively. Hide where its coming from. drop off sometimes. You dont send 6+ every play.
You buried atbat music in a WWW and it gets buried further by the Browns 1st exhibition game? color me disappointed.
anyways:
if Chris Perez becomes our ‘established’ closer, he should always come out to Kashmir. ‘Paranoid’ really isn’t a good song for a closer to come out to nor is Firestarter
Rob had a very underrated defense at Oakland. PLUS, he coached Nnamdi Asomugha up.
Im not saying Rob is bad. Is is a good coach. Rex is a great one tho… at least a great DC.
Give Rob Ray Lewis and Ed Reed and see how good his defense is.
The Jets D last year was great too, and exception of Revis they are a bunch of role players… maybe slightly better then in cleveland overall, but not a huge difference.
@bobby – Draft a QB every year (ok, 3rd to 6th rd depending on your draft board but not any higher) until you have established a top flight QB. There are too many guys that just don’t make it. And you can never have enough QB talent.
Look, the point is don’t count on Colt for ANYTHING. I’ve seen too many people describe him as the QB of the future.
Sorry, the last post got cut off. I hope the Browns aren’t counting on Colt to the point that they don’t continue to draft QBs.