Last Year:
Having pocket Jacks in a hostile game of Texas Hold ?Em Poker can be one of the most detrimental hands to your bankroll if you can?t resist the low royalty, but look on the bright side, you could have a low pair of Cleveland Brown quarterbacks. As the Brownies went all in with Kelly Holcomb and Tim Couch as their starters last season they were hoping that playoffs were in the cards, but the only flop they saw was a 5-12 season. Cleveland was dealt many impediments on the offensive line and on the injury front, but they dug deep to river the Bengals in week 17 and fold Cincy?s hopes of a winning season. In a weak division the Browns have the shortest chip stack to work with but a good hand changes everything.
What we Learned from Last Year:
Do you ever look into the past and wonder what might have been? What if that apple of your eye didn?t turn you down as a prom date or the additional seven times you asked her out? What if you suppressed your hunger to overindulge at the all-you-can-eat last week? What if the Cleveland Browns would have succeeded in week one versus the Indianapolis Colts instead of failing?
Yes it is all in the past, but a win for the Cleveland Browns would have done wonders for such a young squad especially since they performed so capably. We know that the Colts placed in the top tier of the AFC and the Browns ended up in a gutter, but how would the tale of the Browns? season have differed if some confidence was reaped in the initial week opposed to a feeling of deflation. A win would have hushed the hullabaloo of the quarterback uncertainties, a win would have rewarded a young group?s hard off-season preparations, and a win against an AFC contender would have infused a Viagra dose of self-belief.
Instead, an admirable defensive performance was drowned out with a loss, and shortly after a flood of negative occurrences occurred.
The attendances of Kelly Holcomb and William Green, supposedly Cleveland?s essentials, were few and far between last season. Combined with the absence of Ross Verba and Jeff Faine from the offensive line and Cleveland played a significant part of the season devoid of its premier quarterback, running back, and offensive lineman. I guess now is an ideal instance to make an uneven comparison and utter, ?Well, you subtract the best quarterback, running back, and offensive lineman off any team and see how well they do? but the situation here is different. Tim Couch and Kelly Holcomb are as similar as Coke and Pepsi, and since William Green appears to have more misdemeanors than touchdowns, the drop-off to James Jackson is not colossal which means that Cleveland?s salient crisis last season was at a different position.
The offensive line played average at best last season as a mixture of injuries and lacking depth surfaced throughout the season. Allowing forty sacks is generally unwelcome to most football teams but Cincinnati conceded three less sacks, while their other neighbors Pittsburgh and Baltimore permitted only two more. What stressed this fracturing line doubly was the frequent requests for pass protection because Cleveland was deplete of an efficient ground attack. Through the course of the season the Browns developed Mike Martz symptoms as they summed up an extra hundred passes than running attempts and unless the Dawg Pound is fascinated with incessant first round playoff exits then they need to convert into a more balanced offense.
What Has Changed?:
?Trousersnake Did The Dirty on Diaz? was the tactful title (say that ten times fast) used by a London tabloid accusing pop celebrity Justin Timberlake of cheating on his girlfriend Cameron Diaz and while he and his Senorita try put this speed bump in the past, the Browns too will try to say Bye, Bye, Bye to their lapse in 2003.
Butch Davis and Co. have not made significant alteration to a shaky offensive line, but the return of Ross Verba and Jeff Faine, and the cooperation from other assets may camouflage the Achilles Heel.
Most yahoos are quick to blame Cleveland?s faulty line for the team?s misery and while they do share a piece of the pie, the running backs need to pull up their slacks as well. The Browns are banking on a revived William Green, a surprising Lee Suggs, or a moderate James Jackson to take a consistent amount of carries and lighten the line?s load. Just scraping three yards per carry will not pass as intimidation and the Browns need either Lee Suggs or William Green to make this offense a steady threat. Opponents need to fear the running game or the Browns and their 15.9 points per game can Cry Me a River once again.
One of the few major free agent introductions into the AFC North was former 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia. With his arrival onto the roster the Browns have finally casted their role of top-tier starting quarterback which was a task that neither Kelly Holcomb nor Tim Couch were able to fulfill. More importantly, Garcia?s shiftiness will lighten the sack statistics, and will aid his own cause in case of emergency. His favorite target is likely to be first-round draft pick Kellen Winslow Jr. (assuming he eventually signs) as this Miami standout is known for his intensity. Adding Winslow should spark an already talented group of Quincy Morgan, Andre Davis and Dennis Northcutt and if they live up to the mandatory consistency, they will definitely deter secondary blitzes. If the coordinators can devise a number of quick release plays where Garcia gets rid of the ball on three-step drops then keeping defensive lines offbeat will maintain the o-line?s minty freshness.
Defensively speaking, the Browns may want to avoid topping the league in penalties as they continue their maturity. It was comforting in the hearts of many Browns fanatics to see former first-round draft picks Gerrard Warren and Courtney Brown finally donating some effort. Orpheus Roye and Kenard Lang rounded out a fairly underrated line that did a good job last year. The line-backing unit grew as Andra Davis, Kevin Bentley and Ben Taylor were adequate, and with the new addition of Warrick Holdman expectations will expand. The secondary has always been competitive and was anticipating a pleasant bonus from second-round draft pick Sean Jones but a severe injury will keep the safety sidelined most of the season. This defense doesn?t exactly tempt one to sing Justin Timberlake?s ?I?m Loving It? but they will keep within striking distance as long as the offense holds up their end of the bargain.
Butch Davis signed a two-year extension in the off-season and finally has complete jurisdiction over this team but one has to wonder if his prolonged contract is Justified if the Browns don?t take steps forward this year.
O/U 6.5:
It seems that everyone in this division is taking steps to improve, and so have the Browns. The way these teams battle in this division, the Browns may be able to snake three wins as everyone underestimates them. That leaves them only four more to go against: @DAL, @NYG, WAS, PHI, NYJ, NE, @BUF, SD, @MIA, and @HOU. Seven wins for an apparent .500 club may not be a reach.
Fantasy Sleeper:
A quiet player on this squad has been former Virginia Tech standout Andre Davis. He enters his third season with the Browns and although only had 576 yards and 5 touchdowns bear in mind that he only started 8 games. With a more accurate quarterback on the roster and a full season?s worth of starts will benefit his fantasy production.
Having pocket Jacks in a hostile game of Texas Hold ?Em Poker can be one of the most detrimental hands to your bankroll if you can?t resist the low royalty, but look on the bright side, you could have a low pair of Cleveland Brown quarterbacks. As the Brownies went all in with Kelly Holcomb and Tim Couch as their starters last season they were hoping that playoffs were in the cards, but the only flop they saw was a 5-12 season. Cleveland was dealt many impediments on the offensive line and on the injury front, but they dug deep to river the Bengals in week 17 and fold Cincy?s hopes of a winning season. In a weak division the Browns have the shortest chip stack to work with but a good hand changes everything.
What we Learned from Last Year:
Do you ever look into the past and wonder what might have been? What if that apple of your eye didn?t turn you down as a prom date or the additional seven times you asked her out? What if you suppressed your hunger to overindulge at the all-you-can-eat last week? What if the Cleveland Browns would have succeeded in week one versus the Indianapolis Colts instead of failing?
Yes it is all in the past, but a win for the Cleveland Browns would have done wonders for such a young squad especially since they performed so capably. We know that the Colts placed in the top tier of the AFC and the Browns ended up in a gutter, but how would the tale of the Browns? season have differed if some confidence was reaped in the initial week opposed to a feeling of deflation. A win would have hushed the hullabaloo of the quarterback uncertainties, a win would have rewarded a young group?s hard off-season preparations, and a win against an AFC contender would have infused a Viagra dose of self-belief.
Instead, an admirable defensive performance was drowned out with a loss, and shortly after a flood of negative occurrences occurred.
The attendances of Kelly Holcomb and William Green, supposedly Cleveland?s essentials, were few and far between last season. Combined with the absence of Ross Verba and Jeff Faine from the offensive line and Cleveland played a significant part of the season devoid of its premier quarterback, running back, and offensive lineman. I guess now is an ideal instance to make an uneven comparison and utter, ?Well, you subtract the best quarterback, running back, and offensive lineman off any team and see how well they do? but the situation here is different. Tim Couch and Kelly Holcomb are as similar as Coke and Pepsi, and since William Green appears to have more misdemeanors than touchdowns, the drop-off to James Jackson is not colossal which means that Cleveland?s salient crisis last season was at a different position.
The offensive line played average at best last season as a mixture of injuries and lacking depth surfaced throughout the season. Allowing forty sacks is generally unwelcome to most football teams but Cincinnati conceded three less sacks, while their other neighbors Pittsburgh and Baltimore permitted only two more. What stressed this fracturing line doubly was the frequent requests for pass protection because Cleveland was deplete of an efficient ground attack. Through the course of the season the Browns developed Mike Martz symptoms as they summed up an extra hundred passes than running attempts and unless the Dawg Pound is fascinated with incessant first round playoff exits then they need to convert into a more balanced offense.
What Has Changed?:
?Trousersnake Did The Dirty on Diaz? was the tactful title (say that ten times fast) used by a London tabloid accusing pop celebrity Justin Timberlake of cheating on his girlfriend Cameron Diaz and while he and his Senorita try put this speed bump in the past, the Browns too will try to say Bye, Bye, Bye to their lapse in 2003.
Butch Davis and Co. have not made significant alteration to a shaky offensive line, but the return of Ross Verba and Jeff Faine, and the cooperation from other assets may camouflage the Achilles Heel.
Most yahoos are quick to blame Cleveland?s faulty line for the team?s misery and while they do share a piece of the pie, the running backs need to pull up their slacks as well. The Browns are banking on a revived William Green, a surprising Lee Suggs, or a moderate James Jackson to take a consistent amount of carries and lighten the line?s load. Just scraping three yards per carry will not pass as intimidation and the Browns need either Lee Suggs or William Green to make this offense a steady threat. Opponents need to fear the running game or the Browns and their 15.9 points per game can Cry Me a River once again.
One of the few major free agent introductions into the AFC North was former 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia. With his arrival onto the roster the Browns have finally casted their role of top-tier starting quarterback which was a task that neither Kelly Holcomb nor Tim Couch were able to fulfill. More importantly, Garcia?s shiftiness will lighten the sack statistics, and will aid his own cause in case of emergency. His favorite target is likely to be first-round draft pick Kellen Winslow Jr. (assuming he eventually signs) as this Miami standout is known for his intensity. Adding Winslow should spark an already talented group of Quincy Morgan, Andre Davis and Dennis Northcutt and if they live up to the mandatory consistency, they will definitely deter secondary blitzes. If the coordinators can devise a number of quick release plays where Garcia gets rid of the ball on three-step drops then keeping defensive lines offbeat will maintain the o-line?s minty freshness.
Defensively speaking, the Browns may want to avoid topping the league in penalties as they continue their maturity. It was comforting in the hearts of many Browns fanatics to see former first-round draft picks Gerrard Warren and Courtney Brown finally donating some effort. Orpheus Roye and Kenard Lang rounded out a fairly underrated line that did a good job last year. The line-backing unit grew as Andra Davis, Kevin Bentley and Ben Taylor were adequate, and with the new addition of Warrick Holdman expectations will expand. The secondary has always been competitive and was anticipating a pleasant bonus from second-round draft pick Sean Jones but a severe injury will keep the safety sidelined most of the season. This defense doesn?t exactly tempt one to sing Justin Timberlake?s ?I?m Loving It? but they will keep within striking distance as long as the offense holds up their end of the bargain.
Butch Davis signed a two-year extension in the off-season and finally has complete jurisdiction over this team but one has to wonder if his prolonged contract is Justified if the Browns don?t take steps forward this year.
O/U 6.5:
It seems that everyone in this division is taking steps to improve, and so have the Browns. The way these teams battle in this division, the Browns may be able to snake three wins as everyone underestimates them. That leaves them only four more to go against: @DAL, @NYG, WAS, PHI, NYJ, NE, @BUF, SD, @MIA, and @HOU. Seven wins for an apparent .500 club may not be a reach.
Fantasy Sleeper:
A quiet player on this squad has been former Virginia Tech standout Andre Davis. He enters his third season with the Browns and although only had 576 yards and 5 touchdowns bear in mind that he only started 8 games. With a more accurate quarterback on the roster and a full season?s worth of starts will benefit his fantasy production.
