Toss That One In The Trash...

[Enigmatic Evil]

Collect it, wrap it up and just throw it away. From week one to week seventeen, throw it all in the garbage because how much of it really mattered? Lets start from the top of the gravy train of retrospect.


Shurmur / McCoy: Well, not to write it off after one season but there's legitimate buzz the team is willing to in certain regard. Shurmur's "quarterback knowledge" was a selling point and I ask all of you, especially the supporters, was there any point at all this year where Shurmur showed any quarterback prowess, or where his knowledge benefit the team?

McCoy? Doubly so, his play this year doesn't dispell any of the "Will we draft a QB this year?" talk. The best we can come up with is "Well if he had a decent team around him." Yeah... History called and said tell that to Tim Couch or Jeff Garcia, when Derek goddamn Anderson can have a pro bowl season with Braylon Edwards and KWJr at his disposal?

Honestly, Pat Shurmur's flaws were as glaring as any one of Mangini's and that, I think, is what made this year so frustrating. 4-12... not what ANYONE was expecting this year, honestly and true. Nobody set the bar that low and why the fuck SHOULD we?


The Offense: Well, this is of course an extention of the previous. Overall, I'm going to try and look at some positives. When talented players were healthy, I.E: Hillis for the most part and even Obi in a couple of games. Our running game showed potential. That was really it, it wasn't like last year when our running game was almost a sure thing and didn't we have St. Claire manning a tackle? (or was it Porkchop/Womack) either way... There were glimmers that its not a big issue, if we can fix up the line, I expect we see a lot of improvement there.

WR's... outside of Cribbs and Little (with some work) it's just potential like Jordan Norwood, I want someone in the WR pool to really get excited about.

The Offense is pretty much where it was last year, it still needs work, hopefully this off-season they put some into it.

The Defense: More of the same? Yeah... Jauron's change in scheme and mentality was beneficial IMO with how much was changing we showed a lot of growth where we didn't expect it. We got a productive year out of D'Qwell and Sheard impressed damn near everyone coming off the edge. He just needs a complimentary pass rusher and our D-Line is okay IMO. We need a young Linebacker and we need a Sheldon Brown replacement, I don't think it's Dimitri... We didn't really see enough of Skrine to know if he's got a future, but he's only a rookie so who knows.

Overall:There were bumps in the road and there was a complete lack of moments where we, as a fan base, could come together and cheer.

The Madden Curse most certainly ruined Peyton Hillis' season. What should have been a tour de force year for him ended up as a season drowned by contract negotiations and a real black eye in the form of a team intervention.

Fans became divided at times over Shurmur, McCoy, hell, even Holmgren in the wake of Colt McCoy's concussion and how it was handled by the team. I think the generally slow pace of the year here on the forums says it all. Compared to last year, fans aren't as engaged to discuss this team, and I don't blame them.

We need a lot of work done in the off season and we can still turn it around IMO. We've got a young core, some pieces of the puzzle we should NOT give up on, a young coach and some young players who we should give another year. It was far from perfect and at times downright ugly but the exact same could be said after the beginning year of Eric Mangini's tenure here as well...

Where will the team go? Its out of a lot of our hands. I just hope to hell we can turn the corner, I worry for what could happen if it's just more of the same next year.

[hiwaygal]

I have very little hope for improvement next year.

We'll see what happens in the draft and then MAYBE have some idea, but I doubt it.

In all my years as a Browns fan I have NEVER been so disgusted with this team as I am right now. And my anger and frustration is not at all directed toward the players themselves, they are doing as they are told and I can't help but wonder if many of them are seriously saying "WTF???" in the back of their minds.

Gah...I can find no positives at all about this season. None.

[King of Kings]

I can find zero positives nor zero cause to keep anyone around from the Presidents chair on down to the assistant coaches, a cleansing needs to take place. More time isn't going to suddenly make these clowns competent.

[Thaid_Up]

Possibly the beginnings of a decent defense. Can say nothing positive about the offense. Injuries took care of the running game, ineptness (on everyone) took care of the passing game. Colt didn't show a lot but is that his fault or the fault of EVERY other aspect of the offense (playcalling, talent,etc.)? I'm fine with bringing in another QB but not necessarily a 1st rounder. Seneca needs to go so maybe a FA and lower round pick. Give Colt the nod for next year and see how it plays out. Won't go into what positions need to be addressed. That's for down the road and for wiser posters than me however, you guys will force me to do my homework. Overall a most disappointing year.