As the last moments of June slowly fade away, some familiar feelings are starting to return to Browns fans…those of fleeting hope. Looking at the past several days’ worth of blog and newspaper articles, there seems to be an emphasis on feel good personal profiles and an endless array of idealistic possibilities being forged by the new coaching staff in Berea.

Although I can only speak for myself…I have to admit that I am suffering from some serious football withdrawal at the moment. It’s gotten so bad that I actually considered watching the qualifiers for the World Cup soccer Champions League Cup…or whatever it was, before I came to my senses and realized that once again, I am a proud, soccer-indifferent American with a vested lifetime interest in a perpetually floundering franchise.

However, according to some of today’s posts, it looks like things are finally changing in Berea…at least in late June. Or, much like Cleveland Reboot, no one really has anything important to say at the moment.

Although you have to admire the enthusiasm shown by the OBR’s Rich Passan.

Ryan Brings New Intensity to Defense

Ever since the return in 1999, fans have been treated to marshmallow defense in a sport that almost demands aggression when the opposition has the football. Made no difference who the coordinator was. The result was always the same.

Rather than create problems for opposing offenses, the Browns always seemed to hire coaches who espoused more cautious approaches. From Bob Slowik to Mel Tucker, it was the same old, same old.

Keep everything in front of you. Gap integrity. The infamous bend and fracture defense.

That’s why it is refreshing to listen to new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan discuss what Browns fans can expect this season. If Ryan is to be believed, the days of conservative defensive football are over in Cleveland.

An attacking style of defense? What a concept. But will it work in the post-modern NFL, which sometimes resembles a co-ed game of flag football? (As Brady Quinn volunteers to be captain for the Skins team.)

He (Rob Ryan) brings to Cleveland, at least on the surface, an attitude and creativity so necessary to aggressive football. Slap the opposition in the face. Arrive at the opening kickoff with a personality that is more than just slightly bent.

Give opposing teams one look and then come with something entirely different. Keep them off balance. Make them guess.

Offense is all about rhythm. Mess with that rhythm and all kinds of things can go wrong.

It will be interesting to see how long it takes before Ryan can get his men to relate to that approach.

While it’s too soon to tell if Ryan has the right personnel to play a more aggressive style of defense in Cleveland, it is refreshing to at least hear a coach talk about such a needed culture change. Watching Romeo Crennel installed defenses of the past four years was the ultimate exercise in developing unhealthy blood pressure levels. It seems like it’s been decades since the Browns played their corners close to the line, and with the exception of last year’s Giants game, actually showed different schemes and blitz packages.

Frustrating may not even the right word to describe the recent defenses. Besides eternally playing zone schemes that allowed opposing wideouts to run unmolested routes, the Browns pass rush has been among the league’s worst. Opposing quarterbacks, many of whom are average at best, have carved up the Browns’ annually thin secondary solely based on the amount of time they have to throw the ball. And since this is the Browns we are talking about, I have to note how chronically weak the run defense has been for a decade now.

Obviously, Rob Ryan will have to channel every bit of knowledge given to him by his famous father in order to make the Browns’ D at least competitive in 2009. Certainly, you can tell that the passion is there, considering Ryan’s bloodline and his fiery sideline demeanor with the Patriots and Raiders. Let’s hope Ryan’s determination is contagious, as the Browns’ defense has to be considered the strength of the 2009 team, if only compared to the uncertainity on offense.

And speaking of uncertainity….and offense….back to my favorite topic…

Patten Still Enjoys the Grind

And here I was thinking that the article was referring to David Patten’s appreciation for the old MTV dance show. Which could totally make sense - Patten is kind of old. I wonder if Patten requests DJ Skribble when Mangini blasts the sound system during practice. Or perhaps Patten is more old-school. Anyway…

Patten is the new guy who’s anything but new. He’s a 13-year veteran who played with the Browns back in 2000, which was before Robiskie moved to the Cleveland area to play high school ball. Patten then moved on to New England, where he won three Super Bowls, and also played with the Redskins and Saints over the last four seasons before signing with the Browns in March.

It’s been a pretty good run for an undersized guy who played college football at Western Carolina and broke into pro football in 1996 with the Albany Firebirds of the Arena League.

“Blessing — that’s the operative word,” Patten said. “That’s the word. I’ve been very blessed. This game is so grueling, so physical. (Lasting this long) comes down to doing the small things day in and day out.

While I may have fun with Patten’s age, I have been a fan of his since his first go-round with the Browns back in 2000, when he caught 38 passes…no small feat considering the caliber of players on the roster at that time. Speaking of which…Patten again finds himself in Cleveland during a down cycle at the receiver spot. Admittedly, the past decade as a whole could be considered a receiver down cycle in Cleveland, just in varying degrees - kind of like a wet dog chasing its tail - then stopping occasionally to lick itself.

However, the play of Patten is crucial to the team’s offensive fortunes in 2009. If Patten can stay healthy and contribute, it could allow one of the rookie wideouts some breathing room in adjusting to the league. Also, the production of Braylon Edwards, which will be hampered by constant double-teams, will improve based on the caliber of help he receives. Anything Patten can contribute on the outside or underneath on passing downs will be essential, especially in the first month or two of the season.

Of course, the best contribution Patten can make for the team is to pass on the knowledge and experience he has acquired over the past 13 years to an entire unit filled with young, untested players. As reports like this have suggested, let’s hope the likes of Robiskie, Massaquoi, Leggett, Steptoe and Hubbard take advantage of having what amounts to an extra coach playing alongside of them.

And speaking (again) of receivers…

Purely in the interest of race-baiting, and coming on the heels of yesterday’s Supreme Court decision regarding some white New Haven, CT firefighters, Cleveland Reboot would like to yet again revisit what is now being affectionately known as The Curious Case of Mike Furrey.

As readers of Cleveland Reboot may know, I like to have some fun at the expense of people who use cliched stereotypes. One such injustice involves the labeling of white wide receivers as “sure-handed”, “possession receivers”, “intelligent”, “crafty”…you get the idea. Now, before going any further (and in the interests of continually being accused of reverse racism, which is just hilarious), let me state that I fully understand the following items:

1. Regardless of race, any player who becomes an NFL wide receiver is a tremendous athlete.
2. There is such a thing as a “slow” white wide receiver. However, the slowness is not solely derived from the player being white.
3. Mike Furrey is a white guy.

So, having applied the above disclaimer, Cleveland Reboot now offers the following reader comments, regarding Mike Furrey. In an attempt to better understand what qualifies as a racist characterization, if you will, of white NFL athletes, read the following and offer any comments.

“Furrey is solid, close to a Joe J.”

“I like Furrey a lot. He is a good chemistry and good possession guy.”

“In his prime he reminded me of Brian Brennan… a guy I loved to root for.”

Which is worse…making a dumb joke about an aging white wide receiver, or comparing the same receiver to another white wide receiver…assuming that the comparison is based solely on skin color…and familiarity?

For example, Jurevicius outweighs Furrey by some 45 pounds and played a much more physical, traditional type of receiver role throughout his career. Furrey, who is also five inches shorter than Jurevicius, has made a career out of playing in Mike Martz spread attack style of offenses. How do these two possibly compare, other than they are both white and have an association with the Browns, either presently or in the past?

To further the example, while Brennan and Furrey have similar builds, it is very hard to compare these two players, based primarily on the gap in years between the two, which reflects the different styles of offense each player participated in. And to add more fuel to the fire, what is it about Furrey that makes him a “good chemistry guy?”

While I’m not suggesting that he is a troublemaker, I would love to see some type of evidence that supports this claim. Hopefully, Furrey will be able to teach the younger players at the position in 2009, but considering his total number of games is only 20 more than Braylon Edwards, I have to wonder where such evidence would come from.

Anyway, I’m hoping that readers can shed some light on this topic…and more importantly, let’s hope that Patten, Furrey, the rookies and anyone else will be able to step up for the Browns in 2009.

Until then, I leave you with the Reader Comment of the Week:

“answer for the retard you have three vetern recievers and two first day picks,what a dumb a$$”

I don’t claim to understand the comment, but I think I just won some money!!

By Cleveland Reboot
Blogger/SJ Contributing Author

CLEVELAND REBOOT

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