sportsjabber.net

Although I could point to some positive aspects after the Bengals and Steelers loss, the aftermath of yesterday’s Packer loss has left me - and I suspect much of Browns Nation - with a peculiar sense of apathy. Or, in other words - either despite your vast optimism or polar cynicism, did anyone actually expect a Browns win?

Or, to feel any different about this team?

In keeping with the idea that nothing ever really changes in Cleveland, let’s take a look at my probing preview of yesterday - then you can decide for yourself which specific game I’m referring to.

Romeo Reincarnated
Although all evidence points to the contrary, I find myself yet again buying into our franchise’s latest rebuilding effort - which again affirms the following inconvenient truths regarding my Browns fandom:

1. I have infinite patience regarding the development of this team.

Which is good, considering that I - along with the rest of Browns Nation - will need it. Just look at the current state of this roster. At different times of the year, the Browns have featured six of their 2009 draft picks. Call it progress or even a validation of Mangini’s drafting prowess, but at least we’re getting an idea as to the abilities of these Browns of the future. And by the by, there aren’t many successful rookie-laden rosters around the league.

2. Considering the damage inflicted upon this franchise by the likes of Dwight Clark and Butch Davis, I find it amazing that we haven’t lost 72 straight games.

Just give Mangini some more time. In either case, something historical may happen. Mangini is either going to lift this franchise to a more stable ground – or leave behind one of the most spectacular displays of wreckage to be seen since the Butch Davis era.

3. Mangini may or may not be the answer in Cleveland.

True – but anyone who can make a logical determination regarding Mangini’s worth seven games into his first season is either a prophet or simply impatient. Consider that Mangini is still install a new system and philosophy, using mostly Romeo Crennel leftovers. And in case you’ve forgotten Romeo, just pay attention to the team’s inability to play man to man pass coverage.

4. Considering #3, really - what can you do?

Absolutely nothing. Except answer more questions.

The Pick
1. Readers of this site already know the first question. Regardless of the opponent, the question is simply this: which DA will show up this afternoon?

As I’ve stated time and again, the winner of this year’s quarterback derby will eventually become the loser in the end. So far in 2009 – considering the raw nature of the Browns skill position players and the porous quality of the offensive line – any Browns fan who passionately debates Mangini’s decision to stick with DA is missing the larger point. DA is not the answer, much like Brady Quinn or any other filler that is plugged into the position. Until the offensive talent is upgraded, both on the field and via the playcallers, this question becomes largely irrelevant.

And of course, DA struggled mightily – yet again.

And before Browns Nation starts howling for yet another heralded college quarterback to come be our newest savior - please remember that in many ways, DA is doing us all a favor by being the 2009 equivalent of a punching bag. Regardless of your fascination with the brittle Sam Bradford or spunky Colt McCoy, or whoever else is rapidly rising up the Mel Kiper flagpole of potential, just realize that simply adding a quarterback will not instantly turn the team around.

2. Can the Browns offense slow down an aggressive, blitzing team this week?

At least compared to last week’s second-half bloodletting against the Steelers, the Browns seemed to do a better job in picking up the blitz. At least in the first half of the game, DA got rid of the ball quickly, which seemed to lessen the effectiveness of the Packers’ scheme. However, getting rid of the ball and completing a pass are two very different things.

3. Assuming that the Packers jump out to an early lead, will the Browns feature Jerome Harrison, instead of relying on a series of two-yard stumbles via Jamal Lewis?

Harrison at least was somewhat featured, catching four balls for a passing offense that almost challenged the century mark in terms of yardage. And really, what more do you want from Harrison? In this offense, Harrison may have reached the apex of his production. However, you have to wonder what happened to the same running back who took advantage of the Bengals seemingly months ago.

4. Based on #3 and Harrison’s tepid pass protection skills, can the offense even remotely count on the starcrossed back?

Until the Browns can present some remote threat of a downfield passing attack, the team’s rushing game will remain stagnant. Call it the Ghost of Rob Chudzinski, but the team’s offensive gameplan remains based on an ability to loosen up a defense, then poke through with a subpar rushing attack. Perhaps the only exception to this theory was found in the team’s lone win of the season, when Jamal Lewis ran the ball up the middle some 79 times.

5. This is where I would usually ask a question about Joe Thomas, but he has clearly answered all challenges so far this season. So how about this - can the right side of the offensive line handle the Packers’ overload blitzes?

I cannot wait for the day when I can refer to John St. Clair as an “ex-Brown.” Or, perhaps in a vision of things to come – let’s go ahead and call next week’s Bears matchup the “John St. Clair Bowl.” It seemed to work for Cedric Benson yesterday.

6. Considering the weakened state of the Packers’ offensive line, can the Browns finally get some pressure on an opposing quarterback?

Again, the stain of the Romeo Crennel era lingers. The lack of the Browns pass rush seems to be a culmination of all the damage done over the past decade in terms of player development. For example, the team’s inability to play man to man coverage limits the overall defensive scheme. Or, in other words, if the Browns can’t cover downfield, they certainly can’t send extra blitzers. And of course, as we have witnessed for the past half decade, this team can’t generate any semblance of a pass rush.

7. Will the Browns secondary give a repeat performance of their preseason effort against the Packers?

Or, the bigger question is this – which area of the defense do the Browns need to focus on in offseason? Should Mangini grab a pass rusher first, improve the overall speed at linebacker, or try to upgrade the corner spots? In most respects, the Browns overall defensive effort will continue to suffer until a top-flight cornerback is added.

8. Who will replace D’Quell Jackson’s immense contributions at middle linebacker? Will we see some of the rookies, or will David Bowens serve as a stopgap at yet another position?

Again, the fact that Mangini is playing some of his hand-picked rookies is a welcome sign, at least for those among Browns Nation who have been crying for a change in Berea. However, the downside to playing rookies is that they often prove to be overmatched. For example, while Maivia brings some much needed athleticism to the defense, his size offers some limitations. Going forward, I can’t envision Maivia serving as much more than a coverage linebacker.

9. Will anybody on this defense show even a glimmer of athleticism?

Perhaps the Cincinnati and Buffalo games allowed the Browns to hide their biggest weakness – team speed - at least considering that neither offense is very fast – however, playing consecutive games against sometimes dominant offenses has ultimately revealed that this defense is incredibly slow and lacks playmakers. With the exception of Shaun Rogers and the occasional presence of D’Quell Jackson, the Browns defense may be closer to an expansion unit than the much more publicized offense.

10. Will Josh Cribbs again be recognized as the team’s most potent offensive weapon?

I would assume that most of the Monday talk will revolve around the lack of touches Cribbs saw offensively. However, with the right side of the line in constant chaos and the passing game still entrenched in the 1930’s, can you really fault anyone for Cribbs’ lack of involvement? What could he have possibly done in this game to make up for the looming crisis currently occurring on defense?

11. Will the Ghost of Uncle Romeo rattle his chains yet again, or merely enter into a pork-chop induced slumber?

Despite the departure from the Uncle Romeo era that we all assumed we had entered because of the arrival of Eric Mangini, this current team is still largely a reflection of the past. While the Crennel era revealed a skeleton of a roster that achieved a fortunate run in 2007, the remains of the franchise inherited by Mangini are tarnished by a volume of bad personnel moves – which we obviously haven’t recovered from.

The Pick – Part Three

Am I sounding kind of repetitive here? Have I mentioned before that our beloved franchise is undergoing a process? And that if you are like me – and are thinking in the long term – then the present is going to extraordinarily painful – or at the least, leave you with a numb feeling. Or in other words, did the Browns even play yesterday?

When’s the draft? How about that Sam Bradford? Wait - nevermind.

More…

By Cleveland Reboot
Blogger/SJ Contributing Author