#Cleveland #Browns 2011 record predictions. #NFL

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

9 wins 7 losses.

The past 2 years have been tough as Browns fans ...luckily we had a coach who put in a heroic effort in order to change the entire culture of our organization. The dirty work is done, and in year 3 of this major rebuild I expect to see improvement in the win/loss column.

Last year, we might have easily been on our way to 8-9 wins were it not for a few devastating injuries. We had a team coming into their own, forming an identity of hard hitting, hard working, leave it all out on the field ....character guys. Cleveland played literally one of the toughest schedules in NFL history, yet still seemed to be in nearly every game. A few things go this way or that way ..and you're looking at an entirely different season, which is nothing short of remarkable. With this seasons schedule being much easier, 9 wins is perhaps expecting too little.

Colt McCoy is obviously a huge piece to the puzzle, and now that the football czar has allowed us to play him for a full season, I believe.. providing the O-Line can keep him upright, that McCoy will put himself in the conversation regarding whether or not he is an elite QB in this league.

Completion Percentage

1. Drew Brees: 65.2
2. Peyton Manning: 64.9
3. Aaron Rodgers: 64.4
4. Philip Rivers: 63.7
5. Tom Brady: 63.6
6. Ben Roethlisberger: 63.1

Yards Per Attempt

1. Philip Rivers: 8.1
2. Ben Roethlisberger: 8.0
3. Aaron Rodgers: 7.9
4. Peyton Manning: 7.6
5. Tom Brady 7.5:
6. Drew Brees: 7.3

Quarterback Rating

1. Aaron Rodgers: 98.4
2. Philip Rivers: 97.2
3. Tom Brady: 95.2
4. Peyton Manning: 94.9
5. Ben Roethlisberger: 92.5
6. Drew Brees: 91.2

Colt McCoy will achieve close to, if not better than the lowest number in each one of the categories above. He will be in the conversation.

Some lingering concerns I have are as follows.


Depth - Although depth should have improved since last year ...I'm not so sure. Gone are the grisly vets teaching our young guns how to play the game. They could be here for depth, for support ...but they are gone. Now, when you have an injury at a key spot ...you're not just dropping off a cliff to a young gun, you're just hitting bottom and dying instantly. We'll see how it plays out, and I do believe in some area's we have improved depth wise ...but I didn't understand some off season decisions, or lack there of.


Discipline & Attitude - I have my concerns as to whether we might be returning to the "Club Med" approach that made former coach Romeo Crennel oh so beloved by his lazy, me-first group of players. Our discipline during the pre-season has been pathetic ...with far too many penalties in each game. Whenever I hear players thankfully singing the praises of their "players coach" while turning in scores of penalties ...it worries me. Some might say it's due to the lock-out and our long list of young players. I hope you're right.

Jabaal Sheard - Seems lost out there, has admitted as much, and shouldn't be starting simply to justify a high draft pick. We have guys like Benard and even English who have shown much more. Benard seems to be in the dog house, of which you would have heard the media screaming their collective lungs out had it happened last year.

Owen Marecic - I'm pretty sure most of us were clamoring for the Browns to re-sign Lawrence Vickers this off-season. Perhaps our drafting guru has an inflated opinion of his drafting acumen, but the difference between the fullbacks is night & day. Marecic has looked terrible ...in almost all facets of the game. Yah, he's a rookie, yah he needs time ...whatever. Our running game is going to take a hit due to us letting Vickers go and Hillis is going to take even more of a beating. Like it or not, Lawrence was a huge part of our running game last year, and Hillis was very good at following those devastating blocks. Clutts has shown more to me than Marecic by a long shot this pre-season & in practice. Far be it for me to question why this guy is penciled in as the starter.

Jason Pinkston - Are we noticing a theme here? He's surrounded by two perennial pro-bowlers, and still doesn't look good. He most assuredly will get better ...but is he really going to be our starter? Why?

In year 3 of a major rebuild, in a season which we have things very easy schedule wise ...we have a shot at making the playoffs. Are we starting some of these guys to appease egos or win games? I understand the sentiment to play your young guys and get them experience, but not in lieu of winning games. You play to win the game.


The best players play. Right?


I had more to add, but I am currently drawing a blank. I'll add more as it comes to me.

[Crow]

7-9, losing most of our early games and gelling as a team later in the season due to the lockout, ultimately setting up for winning season next year.

[DawgFan]

I don't know, but this schedule looks pretty favorable...
1 Sun, Sep 11 Cincinnati Bengals vs Cincinnati: Cincinnati is a mess, and Dalton doesn't scare anyone. Likely win. 1-0
2 Sun, Sep 18 Indianapolis Colts @ Indianapolis
Indi may be without Manning, and I am not sure Indi can win without him. Collins has been out of football, and the other guy...meh. Likely win. 2-0
3 Sun, Sep 25 Miami Dolphins vs Miami
I live down here, and the best they have is Henne at QB, no RB to pound the rock. In other words, no offense. The defense will keep it close, but don't be surpristed: 3-0
4 Sun, Oct 2 Tennessee Titans vs Tennessee
Key here is getting to Hasselbeck, but I just don't think the Browns can hang with this group. 3-1
5 Bye
6 Sun, Oct 16 Oakland Raiders @ Oakland
OK, I may have been wrong, Cinci may not be the biggest mess. 4-1
7 Sun, Oct 23 Seattle Seahawks vs Seattle
Starting QB is Tavaris Jackson guys and gals. And they didn't get over 750 yards in one WR last year with Hasselbeck. RB is also iffy with Lynch. 5-1
8 Sun, Oct 30 San Francisco 49ers @ San Francisco
Another QB issue...ALEX freakin SMITH!!! Number 1 WR is Braylon freakin Edwards!!! Contain Frank Gore and you win. Period. 6-1
9 Sun, Nov 6 Houston Texans @ Houston
Thump....that was reality smacking us in the face. 6-2
10 Sun, Nov 13 St. Louis Rams vs St. Louis
Ba-Bump....that was the rebound. 6-3
11 Sun, Nov 20 Jacksonville Jaguars vs Jacksonville
Lot of people high on Jax...not me. I have seen this show before. 7-3
12 Sun, Nov 27 Cincinnati Bengals @ Cincinnati
Return of week 1, answer is the same. 8-3
13 Sun, Dec 4 Baltimore Ravens vs Baltimore
Thunk...did you see the number to that bus??? 8-4
14 Thu, Dec 8 Pittsburgh Steelers @ Pittsburgh
Da-thunk...bugger backed back up over us!!! 8-5
15 Sun, Dec 18 Arizona Cardinals @ Arizona
Kolb is NOT the steal they thought he was. 9-5
16 Sat, Dec 24 Baltimore Ravens @ Baltimore
Scrreeech...slam. SOMEBODY STOP THAT DAMN BUS!!! 9-6
17 Sun, Jan 1 Pittsburgh Steelers vs Pittsburgh
Son of a freakin'....THE BUS!!! 9-7

I know what you're thinking, I am crazy, but seriously. There are a lot of games here where the other team is in a bad way at QB.
Cinci x2 with Dalton
Indi with Collins (out of football and no practice time)
Miami with Henne
Seattle with Jackson
SF with Smith
Ariziona with Kolb (OK, I just don't think he is good)

The above games represent 7 games of the season where the opponent has serious QB issues, and games we could, maybe even should, win. Throw in some other troubled teams like Oakland and Jax, and the Browns may be one stolen divisional game vs Bal/Pitt from the playoffs. Yes, I said it. There are reasons some MSM guys are getting on the bandwagon that the Browns may surprise, and the above are just a few of them.


I go 9-7 (8-8 conservative, 10-6 if we get lucky)

[Brown Warrior]

I like our schedule, especially with Manning out.

What were those stats from the original post? Career numbers? Because there were guys over 100 in passer rating last year.

Again... check all the teams over the past 3-5 years with over a 90.0 QBR and see what percentage were .500 or better (basically all) and what percentage went to the playoffs (nearly all). With very, very few exceptions, you pass at that level or watch the playoffs from home.

I'm the last guy to ask on record. I always say the same thing -- 9 or 10 wins. I can't go into a season shooting for 7 wins.

[Brown Warrior]

I think we'll start fast. We can easily start 2-0 with Manning out. 4-0 into the bye isn't all that crazy. Playing the Ravens and Steelers 4 times in winter weather? Yikes.

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

Originally Posted by Brown Warrior

What were those stats from the original post? Career numbers?

Yes.

[nickers]

8-8 its a safe pick..untill seen otherwise...we are what we are....

[OzDawg]

I'll go 8-8 (but I secretly told my wife we're 10-6)

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by TheBestPlayersPlay

9 wins 7 losses.

The past 2 years have been tough as Browns fans ...luckily we had a coach who put in a heroic effort in order to change the entire culture of our organization. The dirty work is done, and in year 3 of this major rebuild I expect to see improvement in the win/loss column.

Last year, we might have easily been on our way to 8-9 wins were it not for a few devastating injuries.

We weren't allowed to excuse injuries last year as 5-11 was 5-11. Unfortunately, we only have 2 good drafts back to back since the early 90s so we're counting free agents to give us more than the most $ of injured reserve this time around. Let's take a quick peek. Usama Young injured (hard to blame Mike Adams for remaining healthy), Chris GoCong (hard to blame Kaluka for remaining healthy), Tony Pashos (another guy in a walking boot - you don't say), Eric Steinbach (all those informing me/others how much money we wasted on this guy can't wait to leapfrog pro bowl alternate in 2010 for told ya so today. Joe Thomas & Alex Mack disagreed with the average Barfly Bob take on him. He will be missed EVERY time a planned 3-step drop from McCoy translates into scrambling out of the pocket).

In a passing game that predicates its success off the quick throw from short QB dropbacks - we are filling BOTH offensive guard spots with brand new starters here. In the Philly game, Robo broke open on a slant PAST the first down marker; BUT Mccoy had to run for his life to the left which meant Robo had to come all the way back into traffic to catch the ball 5 yards BEFORE the 1st down marker on 3rd down. That's HOW significant OG is to the timing of this pass offense. Trying to be honest with concern.

I expect this team to turn the corner for good in 2011. What I can't do is predict undefeated football in September when/where our schedule seems to be most merciful. The dress rehearsal vrs Philly showed me too much slop on all those little things that add up to win or lose football games. Too many NEW things to accomplish overnight without OTAs. I want to be 10-6 this year just like I want to win the state lottery. I suck at predicting records so I'm not about to tarnish that reputation now: 7-9. If you don't have 2 braincells on speaking terms - book it!

[Enigmatic Evil]

OFFICIAL: No takesies backsies, no looking back either

Keeping it real pick: 7-9

Glass half full pick: 9-7

Pessimism pick: 6-10

Yeah I'm just covering all my bases, anything better than 5-11 AGAIN. I think 9-7 could happen if we fire on all cylinders. If injuries plague us again this season things could look pretty grim. I'm not going to worry about that until we have to cross that bridge. The keeping it real pick is my 'official' pick, I think we're not a .500 football team yet but we're so close. 7-9 would show some improvement, some big wins and some tough losses overall. I think, circumstances pending, it would be a season I could be proud of if we see some true growth. Colt stepping into his role, players on offense and defense stepping up and emerging as starters on this team.

[Riceloft]

I think we can get out of this season with a 9-7 record.

Our early season schedule looks fairly weak. If we can get to December with 7 or 8 wins, i think we can pull of a couple more in the last 5 games. (vs Pitt x2, Bal x2 and Ari)

[Vegasdogg]

As I look back on the two previous regimes, I am stunned at the absolute incompetance by those 2 head coaches.

Dumping the 4-3, then trying to convert Kenard Lang to LB?
Trying to fit 4-3 players into a 3-4 scheme?
Practicing 50-60 plays a week when 90% of them never made it to gameday?
Drafting a project DE (and converting him to LB) in the 2nd round when starters were needed?
Hiring idiot OC's who could not develop plays to sustain drives?
Trading away all of the talent for guys who are no longer in the league?
Playing vets instead of good, young players (hello Jerome Harrison and Joe Haden!)?
Not developing young players at all, signing washed up vets instead?
Playing junior high games with the starting QB position because the coach thought it "gave him an advantage"?

We have been subjected to some pretty shitty coaching. You CAN clean up a team and be a competant coach at the same time. We have a team in place now that is on the same page, doesn't see the need to run 70 plays in practice that will never see gameday, and is starting young players.

I said 10-6 before the season started and we were in lockout mode. I say it again now because of the coaching this team is providing to its young players. When Joe Thomas comes out and says he signed because of the head coach and the front office, that is a pretty HUGE indictment of the previous regimes, specifically the last one.

Coaching and players. I think this team needs to be smarter not just tougher. You draft tough players and you make them smarter! It is obvious when a guy like Shawn Rogers played like a wimp that you can't coach tough.

The defense could be the reason we don't win 10 games because I do not like our LB's.

We'll see. But the coaching we have now is light years ahead of what we have had.