Adding 1 More Piece of Shit to Savage's Resume

[samoth]

I've been watching this team since 1999 (wasn't interested before college in sports). Other than the freak 2007 season, this is definitly the best Browns team I've ever seen. We aren't getting blown out, we aren't hilariously weak or pathetic at any position, and we aren't sitting here after week 3 having scored zero points.

The Browns have scored at least 2 TDs in each game so far. Go back and look at the last two years and tell me that's not impressive, based on the level of talent we have had. I remember when our starting defensive line had nobodies like Ebenezer Ekuban and Kenard Lang and we were wondering "why can't we stop these guys??" I remember hanging all our hopes on Willie Green, and then Lee Suggs, and then being amazed when SloMo Droughns broke 1000 yards rushing in a year (with 2 TDs mind you).

It wasn't so long ago that we were wondering WHY Romeo wouldn't play Travis Wilson, or Jerome Harrison, or Isaac Sowells, or Brady Quinn, or Leon Williams. Maybe Romeo knew these players didn't have the talent necessary to compete in the AFC North, and he trusted the supposedly old and slow vets who really did give him the better chance to win.

Breaking down Savage's drafts, let's see who we have left:

Joe Thomas - #3 overall. No brainer. It would have been either him or Adrian Peterson, both great picks.
Josh Cribbs - undrafted
Athuba Rubin - Late round pick, he's worked out very well.
Lawrence Vickers - late round fullback who is very good
Eric Wright - 2nd rounder who is inconsistent at best and if I remember correctly, we had to trade up to get him.

I believe that is everyone still on the team, from four drafts. The rest of the roster was overpaid vets and scrubs who wouldn't start on any other team in the league. Look at the team Mangini inherited and tell me that ANYONE could turn those guys into contenders.

[King of Kings]

Let's also not forget UDFA gem Leigh Bodden who Savage proceeded to package in the trade for Rogers. While not a Darrell Revis type Bodden was growing into a solid CB and proved better than any of the others on our roster.

[Sez.EJ]

I did not know Phil Savage drafted our DC Ryan?

The last defensive coordinator (The NY JETS) who was dumb enough to single cover Boldin also got smoked... If we doubled Boldin instead of putting Wright on an island AND got caught blitzing.. we win the game.. Boldin is a beast.. I don't see ANYONE not getting burned by this guy if left on an island.. It's Ryans screwup.. (Wright was not good.. i'll give ya that).. But it's a team game.. and he did not get the help he deserved for a player of Boldin's caliber..

It's was dumb defense.. THREE TIMES!?!?!?!! Come'on Ryan..

[Vegasdogg]

Originally Posted by samoth

I believe that is everyone still on the team, from four drafts. The rest of the roster was overpaid vets and scrubs who wouldn't start on any other team in the league. Look at the team Mangini inherited and tell me that ANYONE could turn those guys into contenders.

On MNF I heard that the Packers tie for the league lead with 36 of their 53 players having been drafted by the team. How many first round draft picks are still with us after 10 season? Haden, Mack, Thomas?

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Sez.EJ

I did not know Phil Savage drafted our DC Ryan?

The last defensive coordinator (The NY JETS) who was dumb enough to single cover Boldin also got smoked... If we doubled Boldin instead of putting Wright on an island AND got caught blitzing.. we win the game.. Boldin is a beast.. I don't see ANYONE not getting burned by this guy if left on an island.. It's Ryans screwup.. (Wright was not good.. i'll give ya that).. But it's a team game.. and he did not get the help he deserved for a player of Boldin's caliber..

It's was dumb defense.. THREE TIMES!?!?!?!! Come'on Ryan..

Do we have any popcorn or peanut vendors we can blame from the upper decks while we're refraining from holding our players the least bit accountable? In some worlds, the players never seem to take the field and it's only the guys playing Madden videos on the sidelines that people want to blame for players laying an egg. I normally compliment most of your posts Sez but that last opponent you spoke of didn't have a TE breaking their back the week before so there were other land mines to work around. Are we STARTING to see why 2 DBs were necessary in rounds 1 and 2 all of a sudden folks? It's a start but there's more Savage garbage to purge as well as the unsuccessful problem solve of Abram Elam.

If you listen to Mangini talk about it - they tried quite a few things to try to help Wright because we ALL know our issues with depth in replacing him. It''s also understandable for a Coordinator to say I bleieve in you before prematurely benching a guy that's started for a couple years here. But now that we can't blame the offensive coordinator - we jump right for the head of the defensive coordinator. It's not always the coordinators KILLING this team on game days. That's the difference between video worlds and real life football.

Bottom line: the Ratbirds saw a very disinterested Eric Wright on film in preparation and he validated it each and every time. YES, I could say there were plays Flacco had more time than he should have but the 3 step drop in the red zone was a plant and fire to the post. Eric Wright gave a Bob Slowik type of cushion that welcomed 6 points from anybody. I'm not SOLD that was by design of a DC that conveniently lost his mind so we can blame everyone but Eric Wright. The CLOSER you get to the end zone, the more 3 step drops become timing throws to an area. Meaning? Get your head outta your ass Eric and get into a competitive stance where you can at least attempt to jam him or position yourself in a place where you can detour the route and mess up the timing. You gotta be interested first.

After 4 years of Savage - we have Cribbs and a #3 overall pick of the litter Joe Thomas as the only olineman Savage ever drafted here good enough to start. A nice FB in Vickers. And Rubin, who looks like the only dlinemen he ever drafted that was good enough to start. Of course that was because he already got the following guys wrong: Jason Fisk, Andrew Hoffman, Babe Oshinowo, Ted Washington, Shaun Smith and it's time to include Shaun Rogers (who could give a shit about game days in Cleveland if we're just being honest)... That's alot messing up and trading away valuable draft picks from a guy here to draft better.

And what amazing LBers did he bring here or draft? Leon Williams, Beau Bell, Kam Wimbley, Antwaan Peek, Matt Stewart, Shante Orr. Before you quickly blame the dline again, it was Savage signing dlinemen from 4-3 (one gap) schemes to man down our 3-4 (two gap) schemes so the square pegs to round holes were just so appreciated by all those coaches trying to overcome it. I say such a thign and give these examples: Corey Williams, Shaun Smith and Shaun Rogers all played in 4-3's while Robaire played in both alignments so he's been the most reliable of that bunch. Wasn't it strange how many takers D'Qwell Jackson had in the offseason in terms of trade value. Now that we can add "fragile: handle with care" - his overall value isn't anythign significant. So, what Savage LBer recruit is here taking us to new heights? What corner? what Safety? what WR? what QB? When I mentioned Cribbs was improving at WR - I had entire message board full of people telling me he hasn't at all so I'll hold the masses to that one firm stance.

Yaaa, let's just fire the coordinators playing chess with pawns; because it couldn't possibly be the chess pieces like QB, CB, WR, Safety, etc keeping us from the 1 or 2 big plays in games were losing by 2 points, 3 points and 7 points. And please, nobody blame Dawson for missing a very makable 42 yard FG in that game we lost by 2 points. Don't do that when we got 2 easy Coordinators to fire. I'm still waiting for the undefeated football to follow firing coordinators. I havenm't seen it after the first 38 got fired but this time is much different right? Yaaa, this time we all have Madden video games so we know the difference between fictional and non fictional football. And your buddy Flugel has land for sale in alligator alley...

- Tom F.

[Sez.EJ]

Sorry.. I know Wright had a bad game. He did.. But Wright is not a terrible cornerback..... but after he get's burned not once, not twice, but three times all by Boldin in single coverage..... I have to start looking at the DC who did not seem to change the strategy to cover Boldin. The guy pretty much single handedly demolished us. I give this team great credit for being in it at the end..This was still the most complete game we have played to date.

[Masters]

Originally Posted by Sez.EJ

Sorry.. I know Wright had a bad game. He did.. But Wright is not a terrible cornerback..... but after he get's burned not once, not twice, but three times all by Boldin in single coverage..... I have to start looking at the DC who did not seem to change the strategy to cover Boldin. The guy pretty much single handedly demolished us. I give this team great credit for being in it at the end..This was still the most complete game we have played to date.

Right with you Sez. The coaching staff can tell me they "tried to get Wright help", but the film of him in man coverage against Boldin over and over again tells a very different story.

Tom, this all goes back to what I harped on after the pre-season games with this D. They have to bring a big blitz in the hopes of getting heat on the QB (CLE had zero sacks Sunday and rarely pressured Flacco), which leaves these corners out on island far too much. Good QBs will beat that all day long. Brown could have easily seen the same thing happen to him week 1 if TBs QB wasn't Freeman. Those same plays for big gains were there, but Freeman missed them. As CLE continues now against better QBs on their schedule, each of the CBs are going to likely have days like Wright just had.

[Sez.EJ]

Thanks Masters.. I would rather take my chances with double coverage and having to cover the recievers another second with TWO guys..than continuing to whif on blitzes that leave our corners exposed one on one to HUGE plays..

Look at what we face coming up... We will get lit up like a pinball machine if we don't change this defensive strategy.

.. This week Palmer: Ocho Stinko and TO, followed by Matt Ryan with Roddy White and Tony Gonzales, followed by Pigben, Mike Wallace and Hines Ward, Followed by Drew Breese and his 99 receivers, followed by Tom Brady with Randy Moss and Wes Welker.

Ya see where this could get real ugly if DC Ryan does not smarten up? Think Pinball machine for the opposing offense as they ring the scorboard off the wall.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Sez.EJ

Sorry.. I know Wright had a bad game. He did.. But Wright is not a terrible cornerback..... but after he get's burned not once, not twice, but three times all by Boldin in single coverage..... I have to start looking at the DC who did not seem to change the strategy to cover Boldin. The guy pretty much single handedly demolished us. I give this team great credit for being in it at the end..This was still the most complete game we have played to date.

Sez, I'm sorry about unloading alot of my post game frustration your way. You were just sharing your take on it all. Since he got burned multiple times in single coverage - you really didn't have such a bad point. At least we understand WHY we needed to draft Ward and Haden for all those that didn't understand.

And Masters - I'm seeing what you've been saying more and more every week about that blitz.

- Tom F.

[Sez.EJ]

Flug's its all good. I can take it... besides your not coming after me..but my position..that's what should happen here.. I'm glad to see you can see there is some merit to my position regarding the way the defense was called.. I agree with you.. it does show the amazing need and smart drafting in getting Haden and Ward..and bringing in Sheldon Brown. Hopefully these guys will become dominant and be there for many years. It's understand hard not to be frustrated with Wright for getting owned by Boldin; so I feel your (and everyone's pain) I am not excusing him out of hand.. He certainly bears some reponsibility in this loss.. I'm very frustrated with our coaching adjustments during the games this year.. both on offense and defense.. I'm just hoping Wright has a short memory and can bounce right back and take it out on the Bungles and help us get our first win this week.

[Enigmatic Evil]

What I don't get is, (thinking about that Mangini presser that TBPP posted in the other thread) if Mangini "Knew" what Eric Wright needed to do out there, how come neither he NOR DC Ryan had the sense to make the change DURING the game. Our Head Coach is supposed to be some kind of defensive ... well intuitive, I can't see why he would be head coaching in the NFL otherwise. Ryan comes from a family with rich football history. You're trying to tell me both of these "esteemed" coaches couldn't figure this out during the game?

What the hell are we paying these guys for?

Eric Wright is basically getting hung up to dry because the coaches couldn't think to make an adjustment in the middle of a game to back him up.

That being said, the coaches experience is key here to help the players move on, and if Wright can bounce back and have a good game. This week will be an afterthought before long.