Terry Pluto's talkin' ... about Browns who need to rebound, the best choice at QB

[BernietheKid]

Terry Pluto's talkin' ... about Browns who need to rebound, the best choice at QB
Published: Sunday, October 31, 2010, 2:40 AM Updated: Sunday, October 31, 2010, 2:41 AM

Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer


John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer
Eric Wright is just one of several Browns who coaches believe will need to show improvement over the second half of the NFL season, says Terry Pluto.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns' bye week offers a chance for some reflection on the season at the midpoint.

About the Browns...

1. One of the reasons for optimism as the Browns enter the second half is they believe key players Joe Thomas, Josh Cribbs, Eric Wright and Shaun Rogers have all played well below their normal production. None are dealing with major injuries. They are challenging those players to simply play better -- and believe most can do just that.

2. Stepping in at defensive end for the injured Robaire Smith, Rogers had his best game of the season in the 30-17 win at New Orleans. He had two quarterback hits, three more quarterback pressures and was on the field for 44 of 81 snaps, the most he played this season. Rogers seems to be finally over his leg injury of 2009, and he is starting to get into shape. He could be an impact lineman if he sets his mind to it.

3. Wright finally had a decent day in coverage, along with his 62-yard punt run as part of the gimmick play with Cribbs. He has been rated near the bottom among all NFL cornerbacks by various services this season -- after being in the top half for the first three years of his career.

4. Yes, Joe Haden is showing promise. The Browns believe the rookie cornerback can have a much better second half, just as rookie center Alex Mack did in 2009. But the coaches say they need Sheldon Brown, Wright and Haden to all improve because they expect to face more multiple receiver offenses. The Browns ranked 13th against the run, allowing only 3.9 yards per carry -- and one rushing TD on the ground. They are No. 28 against the pass.

5. While the Browns are pleased with Cribbs' progress as a receiver and they do realize that many teams simply don't want to kick to him -- they still believe Cribbs can do a better job on returns. He ranks 37th in kickoff returns, 17th on punts. His longest kickoff return is 34 yards, his longest punt return is 17 yards.

6. Thomas has allowed three sacks -- as many as all last season. He also has drawn two penalties, and given up six quarterback hits. These stats are not a disaster for most left tackles, but Thomas is a far superior player than what he has shown this season. He did play well against New Orleans.

7. The Browns are very pleased with rookie safety T.J. Ward, especially when he is defending the run. But receivers are 15-of-21 (71 percent) in catching passes against him, averaging 15 yards per reception. That's too high -- the average is about 57 percent. Ward has the talent to raise up his pass coverage.

8. Veteran Billy Yates simply beat out rookie Shaun Lauvao to start on the right side of the line. Lauvao has not been the same since suffering a high ankle sprain early in the season, and the rookie needs to show more in practice if he wants to get into games. The coaches compare Yates to former Brown Hank Fraley. Yates can play several positions. He is a quick study when it comes to a variety of blocking schemes, and he has the respect of his fellow linemen. He also is not about to simply give up playing time to a rookie.

9. The coaches are doing a mid-season assessment of every player. They are extremely pleased with the linebackers. They believe Scott Fujita is turning in a near-Pro Bowl season, and Matt Roth is not far behind. Chris Gocong would be No. 3 on the linebacker list, and Eric Barton has come back from a career-threatening neck injury last season to be solid.

10. The depth at linebacker is encouraging. Marcus Benard has 4.5 sacks, most on the team. He needs work defending the run, but is turning into an elite pass rusher. Coming back from his knee injury, veteran David Bowens is making an impact. Jason Trusnik also can be a factor at linebacker, especially against the run.

11. The Browns' internal stats show that Peyton Hillis is the NFL's most effective runner in third and short yardage (two or fewer yards). I don't know exactly how that is measured. Hillis clearly is the MVP of the offense -- he leads the team with 460 rushing yards and is second with 27 catches. He also receives high grades for his blocking. Other than a couple of dumb penalties, Ben Watson has had a terrific season with 30 catches and solid grades for his blocking.

12. The Browns are running the ball well. It has a tight end in Watson who is a threat as a receiver. That means the receivers should be facing single coverage. The accuracy of quarterbacks has improved with Colt McCoy and Seneca Wallace taking most of the snaps. It's simply up to Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie to get open.
About the quarterbacks...

Joshua Gunter / The Plain Dealer
Terry Pluto believes the Browns will eventually decide that Seneca Wallace will get the bulk of the playing time in the second half of the season.

1. Perhaps the most important meeting that must happen during the bye week is between President Mike Holmgren and coach Eric Mangini as they decide how to handle the quarterback situation in the second half of the season. Do they stick with rookie Colt McCoy, or go back to a veteran. If it's a veteran, which one ... Seneca Wallace or Jake Delhomme?

2. Holmgren's original plan was for McCoy to sit, Delhomme to start and Wallace to back up. Five games and two ankle injuries later, McCoy was starting Game 6 in Pittsburgh. He has shown poise and promise in his first two starts, but is that enough to change the plan and go with the rookie from Texas?

3. If the Browns decide to find out about McCoy, then they have to stick with him when the inevitable bad game comes -- and it will. That will where he throws an interception in the end zone, or a a pick-6. For McCoy to succeed, the organization must be committed to him.

4. Can Holmgren admit that Delhomme was a $7 million mistake, that at 35 and with a bad ankle, it doesn't make sense to go back to him? He is not the future, and probably not the best quarterback for the present.

5. The quarterback who probably gives the Browns the best chance to win now is Wallace. He's 30, so he can be a part of the future -- certainly as a backup. His ankle is close to being healed. Odds are that McCoy will start the New England game next week, but Wallace could be ready for the Jets on Nov. 14.

6. It's no secret Mangini is coaching to keep his job. Going with McCoy will probably mean fewer wins than playing Wallace. If the plan is McCoy, then Mangini must be judged partly on how he is developing the young quarterback -- not strictly on wins and losses.

7. In the past, the Browns have not always had the coach/front office in the same book, much less on the same page. All of that has to change now. How the quarterback question is handled is critical to putting things in place to become a playoff contender in 2011. Holmgren has to clearly communicate to the coaching staff (and the fans) what the plan will be for the second half.

Terry Pluto's talkin' ... about Browns who need to rebound, the best choice at QB and Byron Scott's big challenge | cleveland.com

[Flugel]

Thanks for sharing the article BTK! Most of it made sense. However, I never understand it when a columnist says coaching to keep his job.

1) The very 1st goal of this new regime was to compete for 60 minutes because that wasn't happening in 2008. Comparing what we're seeing in the 2nd half of & first half of 2010, we have been in just about every game (with an exception or 2).

2) Teams that are winning can score on defense (ie; last week). Teams that are winning consistently can score on defense and are supported by a talented passing game. Our defense is significantly better than it was in 2008 while many fans are hoping McCoy is the light at the end of the long dark tunnel.

3) Problem solving injuries and talent deprivation in the form of Roth, Benard, Hodges and Bowens in 2009 was a start. We're beginning to see Coleman is pretty freakin good and various other 3-4 style dlinemen are all upgrades to competing on Sundays that Savage just didn't understand. Brian Schaefering and Derreck Robinson came to us in 2009 as well. Both VERY solid in rotation with the starting lineup.

4) And luckily Holmgren understands this one best of all - QB situations for losing teams don't always take the form Atlanta had with Matt Ryan. You see, there was no Roddy White here with polished receiving skills or a Tony Gonzalez or a RB ready for 1500 yards on the ground. That said, if we can bring in a playmaker at WR while guys like Stuckey and Cribbs show some improvement - we don't have to define Mangini and the new regime by round 2 of a 2009 draft where Savage only left us a draft volume of 4 guys. You see, we can remember that a draft of 4 was turned into a draft volume of 8 plus several NY Jet defenders coming over from a 9-7 team the year before. We didn't hire David Copperfield and who wants to tell me Marcus Benard takes a back seat to David Veikune or Kam Wimbley in flats coverages or rushing the passer?

5) If Savage invested in the RIGHT character at WR - we wouldn't be reading about Braylon getting just as arrested in NY as he was in Cleveland. He may have some talent but its way overrated at a #3 overall draft pick. People can hate Robo or MoMass all they want but it's not their fault he's an idiot. The OTHER gypsy in turban and flip-flops is over in Baltimore with, and get this, Sore Hammy IX. Geeee, that comes back more often than Michael Meyers, Jason, Freddy's Kreuggers and Rocky on another steroid cycle. The SAD truth there is character does indeed count. When Braylon was Calendar Boy's age - he was ambitious to show the world his football skills. Once he did, he was like Calendar Boy (Dez Bryant) at Ok State fulfilling that scholarship exchange value on the sidelines. The WRONG players get bored when the carrots are done dangling. I'll admit I grow just as impatient with MoMass and Robo; BUT its not like they've had any kind of continuity at QB throwing to them since they arrived. In just 2 years, they've been QB'd by DA, BQ, Delhomme, Wallace and now McCoy. Not exactly the same as working with Peyton Manning all summer just yet. And we haven't had a Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne openning favorable matchup doors for the youngsters either.

6) Lastly, while injuries are a part of the game that 31 other teams also have to contend with - how many of those teams have 1 pick remaining from a 2008 draft today? How many of those teams had a low percentage of reliability from high paid FAs on game day? Again, we might need David Copperfield in so many places here. The point is - I read ZERO excuses from the Cleveland Coaching Staff. In the process, I've seen players busting tail for this staff (not JUST Mangini for the record). When I stick up for Mangini, I'm saying I LIKE Bryan Cox, George Warhop, Brad Seely and others. This won't be popular; but is Brian Daboll struggling with Xs and Os or Jimmies and Joes? When he knows what he has - he stays with what our strengths are. You get into trouble when you try to make a pawn into a Bishop, Knight or Rook on game day as we saw in the first half of 2009. I think if we had 1 or 2 more x-factors in our passing game - we'd see a more balanced attack. SOME of that is experience, some injury and an overall lack of depth at WR. Teams going places are usually only as good as their QB (way moreso than the Head Coach - see BB with Philcox and Bledsoe as his starters vrs Tom Brady and it's amazing how much different his cred became).
- Tom F. (If you made it this far - God bless ya)

[Enigmatic Evil]

I do agree with some things about the article. The team will need to chose someone at QB, and flip flopping between the QB's when one has a bad game is not the way to do this. If Colt plays and has a bad game you gotta keep him out there, let him play through the bad games and rebound with another afterward. If we play him, he has a bad game, and we take him out and put Seneca or JDH in the game then that would be tantamount to the same dice roll format we've seemed to employ the last decade of management this team has dealt with.

I think there are a number of 'veterans' on the team who need to be pushed forward and asked more of their play. The article pointed out; Joe Thomas, Josh Cribbs, Eric Wright and Shaun Rogers but I could add to that list Sheldon Brown who we brought in to be a x factor type player to our defense and I would say he's played rather inconsistently this season. Abe Elam has continued to be anywhere from a non-factor to a liability on our defense as well and the fact that we only seem to hear his name creep up whenever he doesn't do something inspires a ton of confidence in me.

There are a ton of differentials between this year and last years team, and one of the big things is how players don't exactly stand out like they used to thanks to the talent we've brought in. T.J. Ward deflecting attention from Elam. Haden's positive play (along with Wards for that matter) has helped overshadow the mediocre play we've gotten from Wright and Brown. Hillis' explosive running has overshadowed (moderately) the complete lack of production we've gotten from our WR's. The active TE's we have have also helped solve that.

There is lots of room for improvement but I think those kinds of improvements we will continue to see with personnel change. This team will have its ups and downs for the rest of the year but hopefully as the team continues to grow together we can keep playing tough games and maybe still squeak 6-8 wins out of this season. It was a slow start but I think we've established that we're playing to win games here, not just playing to keep in games.

[kydawgfan]

When I stick up for Mangini, I'm saying I LIKE Bryan Cox, George Warhop, Brad Seely and others.

I hear ya, i think our assistants are some of the best in the nfl regardless of what i think of daboll oor mangini in general, im not a mangini hater as much as i prefer creative and explosive offensive coaching which of course we pretty much lack the talent and or coordinating to truly have either...
But im just looking to see this team play to win and will leave the judgement calls up to holmgren for now..

As for the starter after bye week i believe it will be seneca wallace not because they dont like colt but he overall offers the best chance to win..

[Thaid_Up]

What to do, what to do. I've said before that Colt's steady play has earned him a home start but then what? If he and the team plays well and wins do you keep rolling with him or do you go back to the plan of of starting vets and letting McCoy watch some more. The decision will be easier if there's a loss but I refuse to consider that. There are so many things to consider with the QB position for this upcoming game that it hurts my brain so I can only imagime what the coaches are contemplating. Do you start a vet so you won't be put into a situation where you have to keep playing McCoy when you want him learning from the sidelines?? AAAARRRGGGHHH!! I'm in the just ride the McCoy wave but that's another thread.

I liked the ending statement in the article that Holmgren must make it clear to the staff (and fans) what the 2nd half plan is. If the fans aren't sure we will be filling up this forum with our opinions like crazy(like we already don't!!). I will say this is sooooooo much more fun that talking about which QB sucks more. I'm a Browns fan through thick and thin but this is getting fun.

[Danamal]

In my humble opinion I was always of the belief that McCoy was drafted to be Seneca Jr,a serviceable backup capable of solid "fill in" play but not the franchise.
Delhomme was supposed to be the tweener until injury struck but based on his pre season play and leadership qualities I would still like to see if he can be that hold the fort type of guy while we go after skill players this off season.
Wallace may very well end up being that guy but he isn't the franchise either and for Colt to get real game time as a rookie while still learning is great but there should be no rush just yet to watch him play every game unless he is the best chance for this team to win each week(we still have eight games to play) and I do believe the franchise isn't currently on our roster.

[sofakingwhat]

Originally Posted by Flugel

Thanks for sharing the article BTK! Most of it made sense. However, I never understand it when a columnist says coaching to keep his job.

1) The very 1st goal of this new regime was to compete for 60 minutes because that wasn't happening in 2008. Comparing what we're seeing in the 2nd half of & first half of 2010, we have been in just about every game (with an exception or 2).

2) Teams that are winning can score on defense (ie; last week). Teams that are winning consistently can score on defense and are supported by a talented passing game. Our defense is significantly better than it was in 2008 while many fans are hoping McCoy is the light at the end of the long dark tunnel.

3) Problem solving injuries and talent deprivation in the form of Roth, Benard, Hodges and Bowens in 2009 was a start. We're beginning to see Coleman is pretty freakin good and various other 3-4 style dlinemen are all upgrades to competing on Sundays that Savage just didn't understand. Brian Schaefering and Derreck Robinson came to us in 2009 as well. Both VERY solid in rotation with the starting lineup.

4) And luckily Holmgren understands this one best of all - QB situations for losing teams don't always take the form Atlanta had with Matt Ryan. You see, there was no Roddy White here with polished receiving skills or a Tony Gonzalez or a RB ready for 1500 yards on the ground. That said, if we can bring in a playmaker at WR while guys like Stuckey and Cribbs show some improvement - we don't have to define Mangini and the new regime by round 2 of a 2009 draft where Savage only left us a draft volume of 4 guys. You see, we can remember that a draft of 4 was turned into a draft volume of 8 plus several NY Jet defenders coming over from a 9-7 team the year before. We didn't hire David Copperfield and who wants to tell me Marcus Benard takes a back seat to David Veikune or Kam Wimbley in flats coverages or rushing the passer?

5) If Savage invested in the RIGHT character at WR - we wouldn't be reading about Braylon getting just as arrested in NY as he was in Cleveland. He may have some talent but its way overrated at a #3 overall draft pick. People can hate Robo or MoMass all they want but it's not their fault he's an idiot. The OTHER gypsy in turban and flip-flops is over in Baltimore with, and get this, Sore Hammy IX. Geeee, that comes back more often than Michael Meyers, Jason, Freddy's Kreuggers and Rocky on another steroid cycle. The SAD truth there is character does indeed count. When Braylon was Calendar Boy's age - he was ambitious to show the world his football skills. Once he did, he was like Calendar Boy (Dez Bryant) at Ok State fulfilling that scholarship exchange value on the sidelines. The WRONG players get bored when the carrots are done dangling. I'll admit I grow just as impatient with MoMass and Robo; BUT its not like they've had any kind of continuity at QB throwing to them since they arrived. In just 2 years, they've been QB'd by DA, BQ, Delhomme, Wallace and now McCoy. Not exactly the same as working with Peyton Manning all summer just yet. And we haven't had a Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne openning favorable matchup doors for the youngsters either.

6) Lastly, while injuries are a part of the game that 31 other teams also have to contend with - how many of those teams have 1 pick remaining from a 2008 draft today? How many of those teams had a low percentage of reliability from high paid FAs on game day? Again, we might need David Copperfield in so many places here. The point is - I read ZERO excuses from the Cleveland Coaching Staff. In the process, I've seen players busting tail for this staff (not JUST Mangini for the record). When I stick up for Mangini, I'm saying I LIKE Bryan Cox, George Warhop, Brad Seely and others. This won't be popular; but is Brian Daboll struggling with Xs and Os or Jimmies and Joes? When he knows what he has - he stays with what our strengths are. You get into trouble when you try to make a pawn into a Bishop, Knight or Rook on game day as we saw in the first half of 2009. I think if we had 1 or 2 more x-factors in our passing game - we'd see a more balanced attack. SOME of that is experience, some injury and an overall lack of depth at WR. Teams going places are usually only as good as their QB (way moreso than the Head Coach - see BB with Philcox and Bledsoe as his starters vrs Tom Brady and it's amazing how much different his cred became).
- Tom F. (If you made it this far - God bless ya)

Great take.

[Sez.EJ]

"3. If the Browns decide to find out about McCoy, then they have to stick with him when the inevitable bad game comes -- and it will. That will where he throws an interception in the end zone, or a a pick-6. For McCoy to succeed, the organization must be committed to him. "

Can the barking hard crew handle this?? or will the naysayers start crying the minute he makes a few bad plays.. or will people man up and give the kid a chance to make some bad plays that will inevitiably come?
So.. what will you do people???

[Crow]

i think we banned everyone with contrary opinions so we should be ok

[golfer704u]

Originally Posted by Sez.EJ

"3. If the Browns decide to find out about McCoy, then they have to stick with him when the inevitable bad game comes -- and it will. That will where he throws an interception in the end zone, or a a pick-6. For McCoy to succeed, the organization must be committed to him. "

Can the barking hard crew handle this?? or will the naysayers start crying the minute he makes a few bad plays.. or will people man up and give the kid a chance to make some bad plays that will inevitiably come?
So.. what will you do people???

but you see while I agree with Terry that Colt earned the right to start THIS WEEK, I do not agree with that statement. IF Colt struggles a bit, I'll trust Holmgren and Mangini's judgement on whether it's just typical rookie struggles he has to play through, or something that he might benefit more from going back to the bench to watch film and study the vets.

The difference between me and the other naysayers on McCoy is that I won't be saying that it means Colt sucks as a QB, I'll be saying it's time for him to get some more time on the bench to see things from a different angle.

So again, one pick 6? you won't see me calling for him to sit. IN fact you won't EVER see me calling for him to sit likely. But I will trust the judgement of the management and coaching staff if they decide to sit him back down.

[OzDawg]

random thoughts from the southern hemisphere

Fans across the board are tired of losing.
I think we'd "all" like to see what Colt has and determine for ourselves wether or not he can or ever will be a very good NFL QB.
I think that the coaches and management has a way better grasp on the above question , and its answer.
I think the above mentioned people are also way more qualified to assess said situation .
If they say sit Colt if either JDH or SW are healthy and we say.."hell no! start him WE need to see if he's got it!" we are saying.."we don't trust you Holmgren or Mangini and think we know better than you !"
If they say "we're starting Colt because no one else is healthy enough, we get the upside of seeing more(against yet another very highly ranked team).
If they say SW is healthy and we're starting Colt I'm gonna say wtf?? What happened to you saying he needed a year to sit n watch?
I agree circumstances can't be forseen week to week and starting Colt was a blessing for some of us because the rook didn't look "bad".

If I were a betting person I'd say Colt starts against the Pats ONLY if SW and JDH aren't healthy enough . I would bet Holmgren and Mangini stick with their plan for him....which was to let him sit and learn(which btw has turned out ok so far simply because Colt exceeded and surpassed all expectations of him in his past two starts..no one really thought he'd be any good...perennial backup was the moniker given him by most people.)