Commander of Awesome;1239101 wrote:Alex Smith, Armond fucking Smith swing on 4th and 1, etc..... so many HORRENDOUS play calls by patty boy last season. I'm hoping chilly takes over.

The Armond Smith call was more poor execution than anything. With his speed that should've been an easy 1st down.

BR1986FB;1239110 wrote:The Armond Smith call was more poor execution than anything. With his speed that should've been an easy 1st down.

That could be said on any play that doesn't work. Hillis was pwning that day, why we didn't give it to our battering ram is a joke. Patty boy outsmarted himself. Bad call regardless of outcome IMO. I understand what you're saying though, Smith going down that easily was a joke.

Commander of Awesome;1239129 wrote:That could be said on any play that doesn't work. Hillis was pwning that day, why we didn't give it to our battering ram is a joke. Patty boy outsmarted himself. Bad call regardless of outcome IMO. I understand what you're saying though, Smith going down that easily was a joke.

Exactly. Hillis was averaging about 3 yards a carry at that point in the game. Why the hell give the ball to somebody who hadn't touched the ball all year on a 4th down? SMH patty boy.

like_that;1239045 wrote:Did Shurmur bring the refs back for training camp this year, or is he still too stubborn for that?

Anybody?

Havent heard that he has, so my guess is no.

All about the Benjamin...

http://cle.scout.com/2/1207714.html

I'm saying 9-7 this year (or 7-9). call me crazy, but with our Defense and the possibilty that our offense actually scores some points... I see 4-5 games where we sneak out Ws and 3-4 other games that are very winnable.

ohiobucks1;1239172 wrote:I'm saying 9-7 this year (or 7-9). call me crazy, but with our Defense and the possibilty that our offense actually scores some points... I see 4-5 games where we sneak out Ws and 3-4 other games that are very winnable.

you are crazy.

I think we go 11-4-1. With that tie being to the bills.

[h=2]Manning-Haslam friendship could make things interesting in Cleveland[/h] Posted by Mike Florio on August 2, 2012, 4:11 PM EDT
ReutersFact: Tennessee native Jimmy Haslam will the next owner of the Browns.
Fact: Peyton Manning went to the University of Tennessee.
Fact: Jimmy Haslam and Peyton Manning are good friends.
Where it goes from there remains to be seen. If Haslam had purchased the Browns before March 2012, things could have gotten interesting.
Things could still get interesting, after Manning is done playing. Drawn to Tennessee as a potential destination earlier this year by the possibility of partial ownership and/or a significant role in the football operation after retirement, Peyton will now have a possible option in Cleveland, if he wants to try to run a team.
The chatter in Tennessee sports circles was that, if Haslam ultimately purchased the Titans from Bud Adams (or his estate), Manning would have been hired to serve as G.M. So maybe, just maybe, Haslam will try to get Manning eventually to come run the Browns.
The fact that John Elway has quickly had success as V.P. of football operations in Denver makes the proposition far less outlandish. Especially since no one will outwork Manning, regardless of what he chooses to do after his playing career ends.
The fact that the Broncos already have Elway means that Peyton will have to look elsewhere, if Peyton wants to be like Elway.
And so it could be that Peyton Manning eventually helps turn around the Browns. But not as a player.

For those who think 7-9 or 9-7 is crazy, look at it this way, if they DON'T get 7 wins, at a minimum, Shurmur and company are likely gone.

Now on to Ryan & Kirwan...listened to them from 4-5:05pm. They had Josh Gordon, Greg Little & Brad Childress on during the hour. As far as their take on the Browns in that hour....Kirwan was extremely pleased with what he saw in Weeden. He said in that 2:00 drill he really shined and took like a duck to water with that hurry up offense from the shotgun. He also tempered his enthusiasm by saying "but he doesn't have James Harrison trying to put him in a body cast."

When the Browns first took Gordon with the 2nd rounder Kirwan scoffed and said they should've offered a 4th and that the 2nd was "too much." After seeing Gordon in action today Kirwan said he was "wrong" and that Gordon was "well worth the 2nd round pick."

Also said McCoy looked "ok" but you could tell why they got Weeden.

They almost all Browns fan callers and a few "lowlights" were a pro-McCoy/anti-Weeden guy saying they should've taken Decastro and went that direction. Both Ryan & Kirwan asked "who's going to throw the ball?" to which the guy answered "McCoy." They laughed at him and said "you better embrace the Weeden pick because he's your guy." Also went on to say McCoy will be a "fine backup/spot starter."

And then there was the troll....some asshole calls in saying the Browns need to change the colors, logo & name to become the "Cleveland Bulldogs." They basically said he was an "idiot" before the guy revealed that he was a local bandwagon Steeler fan. Enough said about the "idiot" comment.

They were to have Fujita, DQ & Weeden on in the following hours but I missed it.

Heard some from Fujita about the move on NFL Network. All business. Typical NFL Union comments about ownership making the money, coaches are like the players in that they have no control over when they are told to move on etc blah blah. Nothing they can do about it blah blah.

After getting a billion for the Browns it looks like quite a good investment for Lerner huh?

For those who DON'T read the OBR, I'm stealing this from one of the posters and posting his recap of the rest of Ryan & Kirwan's show...

Childress joins them...

- Good to be back out there as a coach.
-
Anxious to see Weeden play against Detroit. Says he's not afraid to cut it loose
and he'll "keep shooting" in reference to Weeden.
- Ryan is impressed with
Brandon Jackson's physique. He's mentioned it a couple times.
- Kirwan again
raving about Weeden in no huddle, shotgun in 2-minute drill.
- Kirwan
rescinding an earlier comment about Browns wasting pick on Gordon after seeing
him in practice.
- Childress impressed with Gordon especially given his
limited time here.
- Chilly says Little is "cut up" this year as well as
MoMass. Says he wants to get both in the slot.

- Schwartz: Smarter than everyone in the room. Holding his own against Sheard in
both run and pass.
- Mack: Extremely involved in pre-snap calls. He'll be
better this year in 2nd year in the system. Chilly jokes about over/under on Cal
guys on the team.
- Thomas: Great pass protector. "A Big Dancing Bear" in
pass protection.
- McCoy: It's probably not extremely to his liking. See him
making strides.
- Weeden: Prides himself in ability to self-correct according
to Ryan. Childress says he won't stick his head in the sand. He can shrug off
hard times.
- On helping Shurmur: Came to work here because he trusts
Shurmur, Holmgren, and Heckert. Childress says he can handle running a room if
Shurmur isn't there.
- Jokes about not having to deal with non-football crap
since he isn't the head coach. "Good luck, Pat, I'm going to keep watching
film." (Not an exact quote, but the sentiment was there.)


Fujita...

- Been a tough offseason, trying to focus on football. Has to
be prepared for week one since he doesn't know what will happen.
-
Understands there has to be a plan B in place and that other guys need reps in
his place.
- Still optimistic about not being suspended. (Good luck with
that)
- Deflect questions about why they didn't talk to commish toward
NFLPA
- Kirwan now bringing up the CBA that gave commish all this power.
(Football, please.) Fujita basically says he agreed to CBA for younger players
in the league instead of taking hard-line stance on commish power. Believes he
over-stepped his authority with bountygate.

Ahh, back to
football..

- Says the DBs are challenging every single throw. Says for
the front seven it's about stopping the run, especially in this division.
-
Said the O is looking better and that QBs are starting to fit the ball in places
the D can't defend (i.e., fade route).
- Says TRich is a load to bring down,
although he hasn't hit him too much. Says he has good leg drive.
- On
Schwartz: He climbs to the 2nd level quickly and will either block you or run
you out of the play.
- On sale of Browns: First experience with sale. Says
coaches and players are hamsters or lab rats and they just need to block it
out.
- Says he'll be back in CA if suspended, away from the team. Says he'll
be ready to go week four, but will really miss opening day.
- Fujita has a
Master's in Education and says this bountygate development may have scarred him
in that area where he'd like to go after his career. (As someone who's worked a
lot in education, he has a good point.)
- Both of Pat and Tim say the
perception is not reality and the interview ends.

More...

DQ joining the guys...

- Says TC is going fast.
- Talking about new
CBA and TC regimen. It's good for veterans to keep their legs fresh. Hard to
evaluate rookies, but they don't really know what they're missing.
- On
Fujita and reps: Constant battle everyday. Says Maiava stepped up last year when
he went down.
- Defensive philosophy: "If they don't score, they don't win."
Not worrying about what offense may or may not do.
- Can't replace Taylor,
but hopes a few rotational guys can help.
- Compares TRich to MJD for size
and vision.
- Apparently Emmitt Smith said TRich is better than he ever was
according to Tim Ryan.
- DQ says TRich is a student of the game and has done
fine in pass protection, although they haven't thrown too much at him yet.
-
On Weeden: Great with his eyes. Says Weeden is naturally a full-field QB as
opposed to half-field. Says he hates that, but it's good for the Browns.
- On
what he would say to new owner: We have a resilient bunch from last year and now
is the time to turn the corner.

Weeden is up next...

- Says today was probably his best day.
- Kirwan
again praises him for 2-minute, no huddle work. Weeden said today was good. A
couple days ago, not so much. Watched some film and made some corrections to
improve.
- Talking about Gordon being a big guy. Gotta sit on the back foot
and wait for him to get in the hole on slant routes.
- Ryan said he did good
job anticipating throws today. Weeden said he's getting better at that as he
becomes more comfortable.
- Weeden corrects Ryan as he said Weeden was
picked. The pass was deflected. Weeden still said it was a bad ball. Can't be
late down field with these DBs.
- Weeden asked if he's getting enough throws.
Says as long as he can run every play on the sheet, it's OK. He says this is a
lighter load that that at OK State.
- Says Benjamin runs some routes in which
he's uncoverable.
- Relationship with Colt: It's been good. Picking his
brain as well as Seneca's. Everyone's a pro.
- On Trent the receiver: He's
been better than anticipated as a receiver.

Haden on next...

- Happy about TJ being back.
- Praised Hagg for
improvement in understanding the defense.
- Brown is a pro
- Patterson is
one of the best nickel backs he's seen. Times blitzes really well.
- Likes
how Weeden can throw 20 yard comebacks. If he sees the receiver even, he doesn't
see that as being covered.
- Kirwan thinks Weeden is mirroring Flacco or Ben
with how he's throwing.
- Weeden does a good job of throwing the receiver
open speaking about fade routes and back shoulder fly stops.
- Says Gordon is
really, really strong. Gotta get his legs under him. Fades later in
practices.
- Benjamin has so much speed. You miss him on the line, he's
gone.
- Talking about pressing receivers and trying to prepare them for
they'll face in a game.
- Said Little is doing everything better after
offseason conditioning.
- It's been tough losing like this. Thinks the
atmosphere is the problem. Players saying "here we go again" at the end of
games. Guys think "we're up three, how are we going to lose this?"
- We're
starting to get the guys in here that will change that.
- What would you say
to new owner: You got a group of fighters. Really could defense. Great
secondary.

Finishing up the show (I'm behind as you can tell)...

- Talking about how
poor the Browns were in the red zone last year.
- Kirwan thinks Shurmur has a
lot more freedom with Chilly here.
- Weeden has what it takes. Is tall enough
to see shallow crossing routes, which is a problem for Colt. Kirwan thinks he
has all the tools and can be successful.

Fujita today


Conversely, linebacker Scott Fujita, who is likely playing in his final season, talked about the amped sense of "urgency" on everyone.

"The urgency was already there for this team because we hadn't won a lot of games the past few years, now it's even moreso," said Fujita, 33, who wondered aloud if he and his $3.5 million salary this season would become a target for possible cost-cutting. "That sense of urgency just goes up with a new owner.
"What's the mindset in terms of how we use certain guys? Do the coaches feel we have to win a certain number of games or do this or that? You wonder how it's going to play out in people's heads."

Say what you want about Fujita, but I like him. He is a good guy, minus the bounty hunting. How many professional athletes actually want to teach after they retire?

Mr Miyagi;1239306 wrote:Fujita today


Conversely, linebacker Scott Fujita, who is likely playing in his final season, talked about the amped sense of "urgency" on everyone.

"The urgency was already there for this team because we hadn't won a lot of games the past few years, now it's even moreso," said Fujita, 33, who wondered aloud if he and his $3.5 million salary this season would become a target for possible cost-cutting. "That sense of urgency just goes up with a new owner.
"What's the mindset in terms of how we use certain guys? Do the coaches feel we have to win a certain number of games or do this or that? You wonder how it's going to play out in people's heads."

Not to mention that if they like Shurmur there had better be "urgency" or we could be looking at another blowup.

like_that;1239307 wrote:Say what you want about Fujita, but I like him. He is a good guy, minus the bounty hunting. How many professional athletes actually want to teach after they retire?

I personally think Fujita is a class act as a person. Physically, I think the game may have passed him by. I like him for depth/leadership but they need speed/fresh legs at his position.

BR1986FB;1239305 wrote: like this. Thinks the
atmosphere is the problem. Players saying "here we go again" at the end of
games. Guys think "we're up three, how are we going to lose this?"
- We're
starting to get the guys in here that will change that.
.

Out of all the positive notes, I like this one the best. They may not win this year, but I genuinely think these guys are working very hard to turn this franchise around. IMO, in the NFL talent can only take you so far. Everyone in the NFL is so damn athletic and talented that talent alone won't get it done. Yes you need the talent, but the mindset and attitude of the team is a much larger factor in the NFL imo. Most people "LOL" at me when I tell them the browns are moving in the right direction, because all they see is they won 4 games last year. The team still had fight in them last season even late in the season. If they could just make 3-4 more plays go their way instead of their opponents way, good things will start happening. Hopefully 1 more year of experience, the new players, and this mentality can flip those plays into their favor this season.

I know we always hear about how they are working hard, but it seems like they are working harder than they have before.

BR1986FB;1239310 wrote:I personally think Fujita is a class act as a person. Physically, I think the game may have passed him by. I like him for depth/leadership but they need speed/fresh legs at his position.

Pretty much my thoughts on Fujita as well. I remember standing outside the team hotel when the players were coming in before week 1 last season. He was very friendly with all the fans, and took the time to sign autographs.

like_that;1239322 wrote:Out of all the positive notes, I like this one the best. They may not win this year, but I genuinely think these guys are working very hard to turn this franchise around. IMO, in the NFL talent can only take you so far. Everyone in the NFL is so damn athletic and talented that talent alone won't get it done. Yes you need the talent, but the mindset and attitude of the team is a much larger factor in the NFL imo. Most people "LOL" at me when I tell them the browns are moving in the right direction, because all they see is they won 4 games last year. The team still had fight in them last season even late in the season. If they could just make 3-4 more plays go their way instead of their opponents way, good things will start happening. Hopefully 1 more year of experience, the new players, and this mentality can flip those plays into their favor this season.

I know we always hear about how they are working hard, but it seems like they are working harder than they have before.

This isn't wrong at all. Generally, I look at the Browns with a jaundiced eye but there is genuine reason for optimism.

You have young, hungry players who aren't old timers just playing for that last paycheck.

We are starting to see depth/competition at various positions. T-Rich is the man but Hardesty has come in here in incredible shape and he and B-Jax are fighting it out tooth & nail. The WR corps are young and we actually have some speed now (see Weeden's comment about Benjamin being "uncoverable" at times) and we have some depth/competition on the O-Line (Ryan Miller).

Add in the fact that the frontrunners in the division are aging. Yes, the Steelers/Rats draft well but some of their game changers/ superstars (Polamalu/Harrison/Ray Lewis/Ed Reed/Suggs) are aging/oft injured/on the downside of their careers and, as I said, they draft well but they aren't really replacing them with superstars/impact players of the same caliber. By the time these young guys start to peak, the frontrunners will be on the downhill slope and the main rival will likely be the Bengals.

There's reason to be optimistic more than ever before. The thing that could derail it would be another total blowup with a switch back to the 3-4 defense.

lol. Always so much optimism during training camp.

They're professional athletes. I hope they would look good in training camp.

Mary Kay Cabot‏ @ MaryKayCabot
BREAKING: Former # Eagles president Joe Banner will be joining Jimmy Haslam in
Cleveland once the sale is approved, league sources told PD.

Pretty much seals Holmgren's fate.

Alex Mack rockin the porn 'stache...

BR1986FB;1239338 wrote:Mary Kay Cabot‏ @ MaryKayCabot
BREAKING: Former # Eagles president Joe Banner will be joining Jimmy Haslam in
Cleveland once the sale is approved, league sources told PD.

Pretty much seals Holmgren's fate.

And Holmgren probably sighs in relief. I am one of those that thought he never really wanted to be here. Now he can go back to Seattle and still collect a fat paycheck.

A little something about the replacement refs that I brought up earlier today.



[h=2]Replacement refs in camps calling “only what is obvious”[/h] Posted by Darin Gantt on August 2, 2012, 8:09 PM EDT
The annual rite of officials rolling through training camps has commenced, even without the real refs.
And as the replacements disperse through a number of camps, there’s a growing sense they’re in over their heads.
Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune quoted a veteran scout who had seen the replacements as saying they were in “awe” and thought they’d “call only what is obvious.”
And offensive linemen in particular know what that means, since they operate in the closest quarters that don’t allow room to reflect.
“They’ve been around the game,” Bears center Roberto Garza said. “They know what they’re doing. But we might be able to get away with more. That would be good for us.”
The league has made efforts to fill in; working for two months to find, assemble and train crews. And with the exhibition season starting Sunday, it’s increasingly likely the replacements will work some games.
That means cast-offs from lower levels of college football, retired officials and others not involved in major college football will be working the highest level of the game.
“These guys do that for a living so they know what they are doing,” Garza said, though that point’s very much up for debate. “I don’t know that they can affect the game that much. It’s up to us to go out and play anyway. Obviously, you want the guys that have been around the game to go out there and officiate our game. . . .
“You know the crews that will let you play and the guys that don’t put up with anything. That’s kind of nice to know what crew is working and what you’re going to be able to get away with.”
But if the replacements take the field, no one has any idea what to expect, or whether the hastily trained subs will be able to enforce the safety measures the league holds so dear.