2011 Predictions...

[hiwaygal]

Just watched a segment on CBS with all the talking heads giving their predictions for the season...

What are some of yours?

Mine:

1 - Mangini is retained as HC, but we get some new staff (OC most likely)

2 - DA is NOT on a team

3 - There will be a new CBA in time for games as "scheduled"

4 - We'll have a great draft and FA and definitely finish above .500, unless we switch coaches and then I don't see us doing better than 6-11, maybe 7-10, or 8-9 at the outside.

[Jax Dawg]

Originally Posted by hiwaygal

I don't see us doing better than 6-11, maybe 7-10, or 8-9 at the outside.

Are you also predicting a 17 game schedule next year?

[hiwaygal]

Originally Posted by Jax Dawg

Are you also predicting a 17 game schedule next year?

isn't that what we played this year??

[DirtyDawg]

I've been a Mangini supporter... but...He sealed his fate today. He's gone.

And we could use upgrades at somewhere in the range of 8-12 starters.

Here's what scares me about next year... possibly switching to the 4-3. We have like NO people who can play the 4-3 up front (almost none that can play the 3-4 either, but that's another story.) Our defense could be in one of those... uh... "transition years" next year.

As far as offense... well, that can't get much worse than it is now.

[YtownBacker]

Originally Posted by DirtyDawg

I've been a Mangini supporter... but...He sealed his fate today. He's gone.

And we could use upgrades at somewhere in the range of 8-12 starters.

Here's what scares me about next year... possibly switching to the 4-3. We have like NO people who can play the 4-3 up front (almost none that can play the 3-4 either, but that's another story.) Our defense could be in one of those... uh... "transition years" next year.

As far as offense... well, that can't get much worse than it is now.

I agree, anybody Holmgren brings in most likely will install a 4-3 defense. Coleman, although average could play at DT, Rubin is really not a 4-3 DT. Roth, if we can resign him, could be a very good DE. Fujita is a nice 4-3 OLB which Gocong could play well also. I always said the DQJ was a 4-3 ILB stuck in a 3-4 defense. There are some parts but still a lot that would need to be had. One missing ingredient is a FS. We have two SS. Maybe Brown could be a nice FS but that makes CB thin. So, there is a lot of work that needs to be done on defense. but, we also have a lack of playmakers on offense.

To think a new coach could come in and reshape this team into a winner in year one is a big stretch. Our record is as much to do with a lack of talent as it is with the coaching.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by hiwaygal

Just watched a segment on CBS with all the talking heads giving their predictions for the season...

What are some of yours?

Mine:

1 - Mangini is retained as HC, but we get some new staff (OC most likely)

2 - DA is NOT on a team

3 - There will be a new CBA in time for games as "scheduled"

4 - We'll have a great draft and FA and definitely finish above .500, unless we switch coaches and then I don't see us doing better than 6-11, maybe 7-10, or 8-9 at the outside.

We're gonna get a brand new coaching staff and be told by the newcomers we just need to be patient while they have to fill countless holes. That person will be thinking 3 year plan - the media has other plans for him. Only THEN will our fans accept what they won't accept today about thre necessity of good successive drafts in order to win consistently. I've got 20 years of experience witnessing this so unfortunately I speak from that experience.

I'd LOVE for you to be right except for the record. I truely believe the BIGGEST enemy of this team in 2010 was injury to the guys we were counting on to change us from 5 wins to a 3-4 win improvement. We pissed away 3 wins IMO where I'll agree some coaching and game day personnel decisions could have been better. That said, I think this is correctable rather fire-worthy like Pluto wrote in his article in another thread.

Anytime Mangini has had healthy and solid veteran QBs - he's won 9 or 10 games as a Head Coach. Any time he didn't, he's been like every other Head Coach wishing his team was healthier at the key positions.

My best predicition: there's going to be more Champagne celebrations tomorrow than New years Eve had in Cleveland. For that, I feel bad for Mangini. I wish we could solve the offense without firing him. In addition, people FORGET New Engalnd actually ran a 4-3 when BB and Mangini first began there. Injury volumes up front forced them to move into a 3-4. Ted Johnson was an All Pro MLB when they were in the 4-3 early on. He actually got phased out when they moved into the 3-4 believe it or not. I bring that up because we COULD change to a 4-3 and it's not as difficult considering we still have a 1 gap guy in Rogers. Maybe that would excite him. I think Rubin could be more like a Haloti Ngata where he's the 2 gapper like Jerry Ball was when he was "Crush" and Michael Dean was "Rush." Mangini was here then if you can believe that.

I think it's easier to upgrade the LBers if there's only 3 to worry about. Free agency can find us an End and then we can have Coleman duke it out with Robaire, who once played in TN's 4-3. It's more doable than we think.

[PlaygroundLegend]

Predictions...

John Gruden

Robert Quinn

10-8 record

A top 3 round QB being brought in to compete with Mccoy

at least one draft day trade

Brian Robiskie's continued development

Exciting season, the return of former Barking Hard posters

[hiwaygal]

I said PREDICTIONS PGL...not a wish list!!!

[PlaygroundLegend]

haha, my wish list looks more like the other thread when they asked, where do we go from here

[Masters]

A reminder of the actual IR list for CLE:

62	Adams, Titus

54	Costanzo, Blake

88	Estandia, Greg

99	Fujita, Scott

86	Haggerty, Johnathan

31	Hardesty, Montario

52	Jackson, D'Qwell

56	Maiava, Kaluka

89	Moore, Evan

79	Pashos, Tony

98	Smith, Robaire

21	Wright, Eric

68	Yates, Billy

Now out of that, you have what, 3 maybe 4 people who were actual significant contributors on the team during their time healthy this season. The loss of the other 9 guys is not why CLE struggled this year, lost so many close games, and finished with a 5-11 record for the second season.

[hiwaygal]

I'm feeling especially clairvoyant tonight (must be the alcohol)...

Here's my prediction:

Holmgren works some magic and make sure that Daboll gets the job in KC and Ryan gets the HC job in Carolina.

Now, Mangini stays and between him and Holmgren, Heckert and Haskell they decide on new DC and OC.

[DirtyDawg]

Originally Posted by YtownBacker

I agree, anybody Holmgren brings in most likely will install a 4-3 defense. Coleman, although average could play at DT, Rubin is really not a 4-3 DT. Roth, if we can resign him, could be a very good DE. Fujita is a nice 4-3 OLB which Gocong could play well also. I always said the DQJ was a 4-3 ILB stuck in a 3-4 defense. There are some parts but still a lot that would need to be had. One missing ingredient is a FS. We have two SS. Maybe Brown could be a nice FS but that makes CB thin. So, there is a lot of work that needs to be done on defense. but, we also have a lack of playmakers on offense.

To think a new coach could come in and reshape this team into a winner in year one is a big stretch. Our record is as much to do with a lack of talent as it is with the coaching.

Agreed... we do have a few pieces here and there that could play better in a 4-3, but none that will be great pro bowl caliber regardless. I'd be real intrigued to see Roth in a 4-3 now that you mention it, if only because it'll mean I won't have to see him in coverage anymore.

Your last point is one that I've been harping on all year. Lack of talent, lack of talent, lack of talent. Unfortunately, Holmgren's mismatch with Mangini coupled with this debacle today has, I believe, sealed Mangini's fate.

Lets just hope for another good offseason and for whoever we get in here to have this team competing next year. We do have SOME real bright spots spattered in with the badness on the roster.

It won't feel like a complete restart, with H and H having been year one year and all.