What were you REALLY expecting?

[DawgFan]

I remember during the off-season a number of discussions about our expectations for this year. For the most part, the vast majority agreed that this was a 5-7 win team, and that the only way we would go over .500 was if EVERYTHING went our way. We pretty much all agreed that our starters were about all we had, and that total lack of depth was likely what would keep this team below that break even point.

Now, here we are after week 9 and 8 games into the season and the moaning and gnashing of teeth has begun. Several people are calling for the coaches head, and even some have gone after the GM and Holmgren. Ladies and Gents, please. What were you REALLY expecting?

Look at it this way. As stated above, an 8-8 season was about the best we could hope for. Then the following occurred:

1. Our RG and #2 RB never made it out of pre-season
2. Our #1 RB has been injured for most of the season
3. Our #3 RB has been out for 2 weeks, and looks like more
4. Our #1 WR has missed numerous games due to concussions
5. Our #2 WR was waived (OK, so many believe he shouldn't have been #2 anyway)
6. Our NEW #1 WR is a rookie who didn't even play last year
7. Our best TE has missed playing time
8. Our starting RT has missed most of the season

and this is just on the offensive side of the ball.

9. Our PUNTER never made it to the season...in fact we are on #3 I believe
10. We dropped half of our ST with Sealy...see how that worked out

and then comes the defense

11. Haden has missed several games
12. Ward has missed games
13. Hell, just say it, our entire DB has been a walking wounded ward
14. The only LB that has stayed healthy is DQ Jackson...go figure

The fact is, the Browns are a very young team with a new head coach, a new coaching staff, a new defensive system, a new offensive system, and a ton of injuries to key players...especially the playmakers.

Now, with all that going on, and the original expectations, AT BEST, at 8-8...the fact that we are 3-5 is pretty surprising.

So, for me, I think it is time we take a step back and realize that CONTINUITY takes more than 9 weeks to create and this team had more than one draft worth of holes to fill.

I know it isn't the "in thing", but give it time. This team has a lot of talent in key positions, but they can't do it all alone. We need to upgrade the right side of the OL, our WR's, our RB's need to get healthy, and our DB's do to. With the picks we have next year, we should make a giant leap...that is if we don't scrap it after only 8 weeks.

[Riffer X]

John, the offensive game plans have been offensive. All teams have issues with personnel, but what we are seeing is not acceptable. Sorry, but I expected much more than this and it isn't going to get better this season, I'm almost positive of that.

[King of Kings]

I expected to see an NFL caliber team take the field and be "improved" from last season. That's why we made a change isn't it? To improve? To get the offense off the ground? Instead I get to watch an embarrassing display each week and some of the WORST offense i've ever witnessed.

[Sez.EJ]

I expected.... THIS..

Other than the OL complete failure and the resulting issues that feed off of that..it's about what I thought.

[SoCalBrownsFan]

As I have stated in chat many times....I now expect any Cleveland team, no matter the sport, to suck. I have been dissapointed too many times in the past to get my hopes up anymore. The Browns are what I expected, shitty football YET again. Ugh.

As I have said before.....when is a team in Cleveland going to be competitive again????? Anyone????

Hiring Shurmer as coach was a bad move, his offensive play calling sucks, and the Walrus does not seem to be the genius everyone said he was.

[Neo]

Originally Posted by SoCalBrownsFan

As I have said before.....when is a team in Cleveland going to be competitive again????? Anyone????

Deep down, everybody knows why this team is in the place it is every year. But it is taboo to even mention it. They don't call it the "mistake by the lake" for nothing. The only question is, can we ever get competitive football back to Cleveland?

[SoCalBrownsFan]

Originally Posted by Neo

The only question is, can we ever get competitive football back to Cleveland?

I'm having serious doubts about that.

You know what really pisses me off about the Browns sucking is this: Because of that asshole Modell, we had to start over....yet Baltimore inherits the old Browns, wins a Super Bowl, and now everyone is talking about how great the Ravens-Stoolers rivalry is. It's hard-nosed, blue collar, smashmouth football. That used to describe the old Steelers-Browns rivalry, but no more. Now everyone across the country thinks the Browns are a joke...it's pathetic what this franchise has become. It lost it's identity when the team moved, and hasn't gotten it back. It's just become the butt of jokes.

[Neo]

Originally Posted by SoCalBrownsFan

.yet Baltimore inherits the old Browns, wins a Super Bowl,

And the sad thing about that is, it only took him five years to do that. If the Browns were an orange, he took the fruit and left us the peel.

[Neo]

I been trying to say this, but nobody seems to understand. The Browns I used to love and watch ARE GONE. Everything from years and years of stability , the type of players we drafted, the style of play, the way the players played, the atmosphere in the stadium, the rivalries, are all GONE. If you look at the Ravens and the Old Browns, you can see a lot of similarities...........Let's start with the players

Cleveland always had good safeties and corners
Thom Darden
Eric Turner
Frank Minnifield
Hanford Dixon

The Ravens draft
Ed Reed
Chris McCalister
and bring in Samari Rolle

Cleveland always had good running backs
Jim Brown
Ernest Byner
Kevin Mack
Marion Motley

Who do the Raven draft?
Jamal Lewis
Ray Rice
and find Priest Holmes

The Ravens are a physical running team and have a physical defense, much like the old Browns had. And boy, Jamal Lewis sure reminded me of Jim Brown when used to run all over us, and drag people around. That is the stuff I am missing, and I don't see it coming back. At least not yet...... (edit) When you take all that away, and bring in idiots that don't have a clue what Cleveland is about, this is what you are left with. A team spiraling out of control every year because we can never get the right people to run the show. Holmgren is going to drive this franchise into the ground. I am sorry if you don't agree with me, but that's my opinion.

[DawgFan]

First off, we all need to stop trying to compare ALL of the teams since 1999 to other teams, the current regime has been in only since last year. Second, we got a lot of nice players in those two years. Third, name me one team that is WINNING THIS YEAR with the number of injuries to top level players. I doubt you can.

I understand the frustration. The offense looks hideous. But how do you gameplan around practice squad runningbacks, raw rookies, and a porous OL? Not sure even the greatest coaches can come up with anything consistent.

Anyway, sorry to rain on everyones pitty party. I just think I see a good core of players that with another year under their belts, and a chance to learn the system, and some key players added (RT/WRs), this team could make a huge jump.

I also think an OC is in order, but sounds like that is already in the plan.

[OzDawg]

I was expecting another year of crap... 5/11
so far expectations lookin great

[Jax Dawg]

Originally Posted by Riffer X

John, the offensive game plans have been offensive. All teams have issues with personnel, but what we are seeing is not acceptable. Sorry, but I expected much more than this and it isn't going to get better this season, I'm almost positive of that.

This about sums up my feelings on this year but let me add to it.

I expected the offense to look less like a caveman offense and be a whole lot more exciting. The game plans have been awful and the playcalling almost as bad. Seems the only time this team scores a TD is late in the 2nd and 4th quarters when the team is playing Shurmur's version of the snail pace hurry up offense.

I'm so fed up with the offense I'm to the point where I think I need to DVR the game then just fast forward to the last 5 minutes of each half to see at least a somewhat motivated Shurmur offense trying to put points on the board. The rest of the game the offense is really pathetic.