Holmgren Seems In Control, Not Controlling
November 4, 2010Game Preview: Blue Jackets vs. Thrashers (Game #12)
November 4, 2010Fresh off of yesterday’s berating of Washington’s John Wall and all things “Dougie,” ESPN’s version of a shock jock Colin Cowherd wrapped up an NFL segment earlier today by heaping praise on Eric Mangini and the Cleveland Browns.
Yes, praise. On Cleveland. From Cowherd. Crazy, I know.
Discussing fireable offenses, mostly lead by chief of all underachievers in Dallas’ Wade Phillips, Cowherd went on a brief tangent that claimed Cleveland is only a few player away from being at the “top of the league.”
“Everybody buried Eric Mangini,” said Cowherd. “That team, give Mangini some credit. They play hard. Cleveland thinks I hate Cleveland, but they are about four players in the right spot from being, like, excellent. Like top of the league. Cleveland is close, man.”
Audio of the quick-hitter is below.
Naturally, many will point to the fact that the Browns have not exactly been among the league’s best in drafting since their return in 1999. Thankfully, with the addition of Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert at the top, it appears that Cleveland has a team with youthful contribution in the form of TJ Ward, Joe Haden and Colt McCoy. Unfortunately, at least for McCoy, I would assume that quarterback is still one of the positions which Cowherd feels could use an added bump in the talent category.
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30 Comments
Are we that desperate?
Seriously… this guy’s a joke, and he doesn’t know anything about the actual games.
We still need…
WR (2)
RT
RG
QB(?)
DE
Pass Rushing OLB
Safety
Corner
I’m kind of upset that Scott was actually listening to Colin Cowherd.
Yeah but every team needs a couple of upgrades so the Browns may be only 4-5 away from being up their with the elite. No team has every position covered with All Pros.
My concern is to get these spots filled before new spots open up and need to be filled.
Have to agree, though perhaps more than 4 players, unless he means top players.
We need:
DE
WR
WR2
OLB
We could use upgrades at:
DE2
QB?
RB?
OLB?
ILB?
CB2
FS
Can we give Cowherd a refund on his two cents? I appreciate positive comments for Cleveland but I can pass when they come from Cowherd.
Come on people! No team has pro-bowl caliber players at every position! Learn to take some positive criticism!
@Shawn – I’d take a Pro-Bowl player at ANY position! How’s that for positive criticism.
Put our receivers on the Colts and they would be superstars. Look what Manning has done with Collie and even Blair White. I don’t believe for a second that White is better than Robo or MoMass. I think it is more the QB and the system.
Yeah, I have to agree with Shawn. I strongly dislike Colin Cowherd and the way he bullies your average caller but has no spine when it comes to breaking the ESPN company line. But he’s absolutely right. We are fine at RG, whether it ends up being Womack or Lauvao as the starter. We really just need a RT. We need a #1 WR. I think Massaquoi is a great 2 and I think Chansi Stuckey can be a solid 3 slot receiver. We’re still evaluating Colt McCoy as our future QB, so we don’t know if we need to go get one or not. We need a pass-rushing LB. We need a safety upgrade from Abe Elam to someone good. I think that’s it… assuming Joe Haden can develop into a #1 CB, which I think he can. I would argue that’s all we need to be truly successful… there are other upgrades on our wish list, but like Shawn said, there isn’t a team in the league who doesn’t have to overcome a few average players.
….and the four players are Jerry Rice, Lawrence Taylor, Ronnie Lott and Dan Marino.
Otherwise, we need like 12 good players.
On the subject of a “need for 2 receivers”…
Imagine for a moment if the Browns were to draft a top-notch receiver, a legit #1 option, in the first round of the draft. At that point, I think the Browns receiving corp goes from below average to top half in the league. Please humor me by following my logic.
Here’s the current roster as they matchup against defenders in the league if they were all on the field at once.
1. MoMass – Best CB
2. Cribbs – 2nd Best CB
3. Robo – nickel back
Now, here’s the Browns’ receivers with an added legit #1.
1. #1 Receiver – Best CB (with safety help over the top)
2. MoMass – 2nd Best CB
3. Cribbs – Nickel back or linebacker (imaging Wes Welker…but bigger)
All of a sudden, you’re not depending on MoMass to be a premiere pass-catcher. You’re only asking him to beat a team’s 2nd best defender. Plus, in this scenario, each team the browns play would have to game plan for Cribbs running short crossing routes and routes out of the backfield. And I still think you could use him as a third down running back.
In a sense, as much as I’m not a fan, Cowherd might be right. With just one great addition at receiver, the matchups immediately get better.
I forgot to include Stuckey, but you get the picture.
Does Cleveland really have such an inferiority complex that we can’t handle a compliment without backlash?
Also +1 to c-bus kevin’s comment.
AJames: cmon. you’re comparing McCoy – no, wait – go ahead and compare ANY QUARTERBACK IN THE HISTORY OF FOOTBALL to Peyton Manning and more than 99 times out of 100 you will be disappointed in the other guy. That’s a retarded statement.
@15 – no inferiority complex here…I just don’t like Cowherd at all. Coming from a more reputable and less obnoxious source I’d be diggin’ it.
@C-Bus – taking your comment one step further, take a look at Atlanta.
If you spot us Roddy White, then are the rest of our WRs really much worse than what they have?
MoMass vs. Jenkins
Robiskie vs. Finneran
Cribbs vs. Douglass
Stuckey vs. Weems
Watson vs. Gonzo
Moore vs. Michael Palmer
Really, the only spot I think they would really have us on is at TE1 (and Gonzo is getting older).
Of course, they have Matt Ryan as well, which helps.
I am +2 to C-Bus Kevin’s comment.
@ Chris – yes.
@Mark,
Did you forget about a 3x Pro Bowler named Joe Thomas?
@MP34 – and Thomas has led us to how many playoff appearences?
Seriously though, Thomas is obviously great but that’s about it. I’m not asking for a whole team of pro-bowlers but how about a couple? We have some nice “role players” but it is the top line talent we are missing. As C-Bus Kevin & mgbode have noted, if we have a Roddy White type reciever, look how much better our WRs look?
Colin who? Another ESPN created celebrity who thinks he knows sports – pass. We rail against people who chide and make fun of Cleveland lets not attach ourselves to another schlep who happens to show some love.
Btw is Coward I mean COW-herd his real name?
Dude is a hack and who really cares what he says either way
@mgbode: you forgot to mention michael turner – who certainly keeps the linebackers from dropping back into coverage or blitzing on every down. just a small point, you know, having a real running game….
oh – and i think the thing we need to upgrade most is not WR, RT, RG, Rwhatever…it’s OC – Offensive Coordinator.
Right on C-Bus Kevin…I’ve been preaching the same thing!!! I am hoping we use one of our first two picks on a WR this draft.
Glad to see that McCoy is going to start…
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Funny…. 27 comments on a topic that was allegedly “desperate.”
I don’t see the point in giving pub to some west coast homer that threw a bone Cleveland’s way.