Despite it all...

[DawgFan]

...the Browns are just a few plays from having a winning record.

Follow this:

Cinci game 1: The defensive mind lapse...until that, the Browns led 17-13, had them 2nd and 11 outside of FG range, had their backup QB in, and had held them to just over 200 yards in total offense. Without that slip up, Colt have to start throwing the ball every down and the game goes pretty fast. Doubt the D gives up the game.

Oakland: 101 yd kickoff and 35 yard fake FG...otherwise are dead in that game and quite possibly win it. Again, without the big return and trickery the Browns have almost the same yardage and aren't playing from behind.

St. Louis: How often does a team miss a 22 yard FG because the snap gets kicked. REALLY???

Cinci game 2: Another muffed snap, and at least 4 (I counted 5) dropped passes by Little. Those drops cost the Brown at least 3-7 points, and the muff again...add it up.

So, even if we split those 4 games, it would make the Browns 6-5 and on the winning side, even without playing great football.

Anyway, I know this is all just fantasy, but I just felt the need to say how really very close this team is to having things go a lot better than they did. Considering this is a team that is extremely young at the skill positions, and has been hit pretty hard by the injury bug (yes, I know all teams get injured, but not many are on RB#4 and relying on a rookie WR who has been out of football for a year AND lost 2/5ths of their starting OL).

So let the wet noodle whippings begin...I just see a positive future for this club. (finally)

[hiwaygal]

Originally Posted by DawgFan

So let the wet noodle whippings begin...I just see a positive future for this club. (finally)

LOL...I'm not quite there yet Dawg, but I see why folks might feel that way.

There is a lot of potential upside to a team that is young. Youth allows time to grow and improve and also allows the personnel gurus to find other guys that complement the strengths of our key players (playing off some of the stuff said in the other Colt thread).

We were close all last year too, weren't we? Unfortunately, even that positive view somehow doesn't quite make me feel better. LOL. They're still losses...close or not. And at the end of the day (season) all that matters is the W-L columns.

Many of the games over this season and last show stats that reflect a team that isn't as bad as it's record might indicate. And that is a positive. But we need to build on it.

And I guess that's where I'm not so certain. I like Heckert and think he is a good talent evaluator. Holmgren is supposed to be some football god and I have to admit I'm disappointed in some of the decisions he's made because the don't seem to make sense. Of course, we don't need to know the reasons. We just hope to see results. Shurmur has absolutely disappointed me. He's like a dead fish (or your wet noodle) in my mind. I think that was a VERY bad decision...but we'll see how it all plays out, I guess.

I'm not confident that we are building on our skills and talent and strengths as well as we should be. I don't think we're coaching these young guys the way we should be and I think it's really hurting us.

[next2nothing]

Even though I hate playing the coulda, woulda, shoulda game... I really like this post Dawg.

I admit, I was very hard on Shurmur at the start, especially in October when it looked like this offense couldn't drive it's way through a paper bag. As of late though... I'm starting to see why there have been so many struggles. Young team, injuries across the board, no off-season, new system, etc. Shurmur has made some bad playcalls in the past but he's a rookie HC so I can let it slide. I think the team is starting to finally gel together and I think Shurmur is finally trusting McCoy enough to go deep in the playbook and start giving him opportunities to show he can be the QB of this team.

I'm not sold on this regime yet but I will still be a fan no matter what. This coming off-season is vital and if they do a lot of things right, the Browns could be one of those teams that does a complete turn around from the year before.

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

Originally Posted by DawgFan

So let the wet noodle whippings begin...I just see a positive future for this club. (finally)

Coming from you this actually means something, as you are one of our more astute football minds here.

That being said, I think you are hoping beyond all hope that this is the case because your thread could have just as easily been titled "Despite it all ...the Browns are just a few plays from having ZERO wins against the easiest schedule we have played in the past decade."

[Greythan]

I'm too exhausted at seeing this team find ways to lose to be optimistic.

I get its Shurmur's first year. Its why I'm not screaming to can the guy.

I like a lot of what we've done in the past 2 drafts. Not all, but a lot.

I'm jacked to have 2 1st's next year. We need them.

But for me to jump to "I see a light at the end of the tunnel" is too big a leap of faith. I just don't see anything THAT different from the graveyard of GM's/HC's we've had since '99. Each brought the promise of a "system", of wiser personnel moves, of a method. Yet.... year 2 of H&H here we are with a crappy team that can't win while facing the 3rd EASIEST SCHEDULE through 11 weeks.

I mean the Bengals are winning. The Bengals! Don't give me the "that team really did have some talent and under achieved last year" bullshit. Mike Brown is a complete and utter clown. Yet, somehow, they are on the rebound and after being gifted 472 additional 1st's from Oakland they'll really be stocked.

Maybe its because Marvin Lewis has managed to hang on there? Who knows.

Again, my apologies for the doom and gloom.

All the best,

Mr Glass-Half-Empty

[Greythan]

Originally Posted by TheBestPlayersPlay

Coming from you this actually means something, as you are one of our more astute football minds here.

That being said, I think you are hoping beyond all hope that this is the case because your thread could have just as easily been titled "Despite is all ...the Browns are just a few plays from having ZERO wins against the easiest schedule we have played in the past decade."

Ayup. That would be the equally rational alternative view.

[OzDawg]

Originally Posted by next2nothing

Even though I hate playing the coulda, woulda, shoulda game... I really like this post Dawg.

I admit, I was very hard on Shurmur at the start, especially in October when it looked like this offense couldn't drive it's way through a paper bag. As of late though... I'm starting to see why there have been so many struggles. Young team, injuries across the board, no off-season, new system, etc. Shurmur has made some bad playcalls in the past but he's a rookie HC so I can let it slide. I think the team is starting to finally gel together and I think Shurmur is finally trusting McCoy enough to go deep in the playbook and start giving him opportunities to show he can be the QB of this team.

I'm not sold on this regime yet but I will still be a fan no matter what. This coming off-season is vital and if they do a lot of things right, the Browns could be one of those teams that does a complete turn around from the year before.

like the post mate , keep em comin

[Vegasdogg]

Originally Posted by TheBestPlayersPlay

"Despite it all ...the Browns are just a few plays from having ZERO wins against the easiest schedule we have played in the past decade."

Maybe you need to be reminded how easy the schedule was in 2009 when the Browns were getting absolutely pasted every week on the way to 1-11 and complete chaos. The strength of schedule that season? A lowly 25th. This season it is 19th.

2011 Strength of Schedule - NFL Nation Blog - ESPN

So when you decide to continue talking out your ass without backing any of this BS up, just remember I am not going to let you get away with that BS. Easiest schedule over the last decade?

You just can't help yourself can you? Compelete bullsit on a daily basis because you don't like the front office and the coach. I seem to remember MZ and Shep pulling this lame crap with Mangini. Nice company you keep.

[Vegasdogg]

Originally Posted by Greythan

I mean the Bengals are winning. The Bengals! Don't give me the "that team really did have some talent and under achieved last year" bullshit

The Bengals aren't really winning. They have beat the same teams that we have heat, plus they beat us twice.

[Masters]

IMO the who strength of schedule thing is total garbage. It's based on other teams record only, not who that other team even beat to get to their winning record, or lost to in order to have a losing record. An easy or tough "strength of schedule" does not always mean you played good/bad teams. This is the NFL, not NCAA. Every team has talent and can win on a any Sunday.

[hammertime]

This team is still on the schedule envisioned by many. One more good draft some FA pickups and continued progress of the current players and staff to be competetive.

Some folks here just need a good rinsing to get all the sand out.
Seems all this angst goes in cycles on all forums......(losing teams forums anyways)

[golfer704u]

Originally Posted by DawgFan

...the Browns are just a few plays from having a winning record.

Follow this:

Cinci game 1: The defensive mind lapse...until that, the Browns led 17-13, had them 2nd and 11 outside of FG range, had their backup QB in, and had held them to just over 200 yards in total offense. Without that slip up, Colt have to start throwing the ball every down and the game goes pretty fast. Doubt the D gives up the game.

Oakland: 101 yd kickoff and 35 yard fake FG...otherwise are dead in that game and quite possibly win it. Again, without the big return and trickery the Browns have almost the same yardage and aren't playing from behind.

St. Louis: How often does a team miss a 22 yard FG because the snap gets kicked. REALLY???

Cinci game 2: Another muffed snap, and at least 4 (I counted 5) dropped passes by Little. Those drops cost the Brown at least 3-7 points, and the muff again...add it up.

So, even if we split those 4 games, it would make the Browns 6-5 and on the winning side, even without playing great football.

Anyway, I know this is all just fantasy, but I just felt the need to say how really very close this team is to having things go a lot better than they did. Considering this is a team that is extremely young at the skill positions, and has been hit pretty hard by the injury bug (yes, I know all teams get injured, but not many are on RB#4 and relying on a rookie WR who has been out of football for a year AND lost 2/5ths of their starting OL).

So let the wet noodle whippings begin...I just see a positive future for this club. (finally)

Nope excuses were'nt alllowed when Mangini's teams lost close games last year. They aren't allowed this year either.

"You are what your record says you are".