Terry Pluto's Talkin' ... about Browns' optimism and Randy Lerner

[BernietheKid]

Terry Pluto's Talkin' ... about Browns' optimism and Randy Lerner

Published: Sunday, January 22, 2012, 2:25 AM Updated: Sunday, January 22, 2012, 2:38 AM

By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Does the late arrival of winter carry any optimism for 2012? We're talkin' ...

About the Browns...

1. When coaches and top executives look at the 2011 season, they hate the 4-12 record. But they believe they are poised for significant improvement in 2012. It obviously begins with having three picks in first two rounds: the fourth, 22nd and 37th. There also is free agency, where they plan to be more active than in 2011 -- but not wild spenders.

2. According to their thinking, a key component is young players. They have rookies and those in their second year who received major experience in 2012. Here are the key rookies and their percentage of total snaps taken: Phil Taylor (68 percent), Jabaal Sheard (89 percent), Greg Little (91 percent), Jason Pinkston (100 percent) and Owen Marecic (27 percent). Of those picked in the top rounds, only fourth-rounder Jordan Cameron (58 out of 1,087 possible snaps) received little experience.

3. The Browns do intend to address the offensive line, starting at right tackle. But they also believe Pinkston and fellow guard Shawn Lauvao (95 percent) showed definite improvement. Assuming Eric Steinbach returns healthy at left guard, they will have some depth on the line, assuming they find a real right tackle.

4. For all agony over Little's 12 drops, he played 91 percent of the snaps and led the team with 61 receptions. There were no other receivers to take any attention away from the rookie. The Browns want to add a speed receiver. If they do, Little should be position for a strong second season.

5. Rookies Sheard and Taylor joined Ahtyba Rubin to give the Browns three legitimate starters on the defensive line. The Browns don't say it, but Jayme Mitchell fumbled his chance. They are looking for a defensive end to replace him.

6. Entering the season, the Browns didn't know if Kaluka Maiava was anything more than a valuable special team player. They now believe he can start at outside linebacker. He started six games in 2011, his third NFL season. He played only two games in 2010 because of knee surgery.

7. They were pleased with rookies Buster Skrine (137th pick) and Eric Hagg (248th pick), who both played quite a bit in the final two games. They are not sure if either will be starters, but both can help on special teams and as secondary depth. Hagg played 40 percent of the snaps at safety in the final six games.

8. They have T.J. Ward, Joe Haden and Colt McCoy coming back from the 2009 draft -- all with plenty of experience. Even if the Browns do acquire a quarterback, they have McCoy with 20 NFL starts in reserve.

9. Running back is a question with Montario Hardesty and Brandon Jackson coming off injuries. Chris Ogbonnaya is viewed as a solid reserve. Peyton Hillis is a free agent, but the Browns won't pay big to bring him back. This could be addressed with one of the top three draft picks.

10. There are questions at tight end where Ben Watson had three concussions. Evan Moore is really a slot receiver at tight end. Cameron had a few nice moments in the final two games, but played very little. Alex Smith is a backup.

11. This not about making 4-12 sound good, or claiming the team has filled most of its holes. But I thought fans should know how the Browns view 2011 as they plan their next moves.

About the Randy Lerner interview...

The Browns owner didn't say much newsworthy in his interview with WTAM's Mike Trivisonno. Some of his key points were:

1. He cares about the Browns winning and hurts when they lose.

2. Mike Holmgren also gets mad when they lose.

3. It's not fair to cast Holmgren or himself as "absentee" as they are often in the office. Lerner lives in Berea, not New York as he did a few years ago.

4. He does not want to make any major front office/coaching changes at this time, as good teams have stability.

5. Until the team begins to win, the criticism of ownership and everything else won't stop.

6. He did talk about the quarterback situation, telling Trivisonno: "I'm not a talent evaluator, to say the least, or anything like one. At some point as a Browns fan when you look around and see Pittsburgh needing a quarterback and dealing with Kordell Stewart or dealing with Tommy Maddox or whatever. ... They made a move. They committed to the move and they've succeeded with that move.

"Baltimore with Kyle Boller and that didn't work out. And they tried and made a move and got [Joe] Flacco. I think one of the things that is crucial right now is to take a significant step forward is to try if you can to get this quarterback situation settled."

Trivisonno asked: "Can that quarterback, from the owner's perspective, be Colt McCoy?"

Lerner said: "I suddenly lose the ability to speak when I'm asked that question."
The owner laughed about that last comment, but it was revealing that the Browns are indeed talking a lot about the quarterback situation.

It also was unfair to McCoy, as Lerner should have at least said some nice things about the quarterback who took a physical pounding this season. Nothing wrong with saying,

"We are evaluating the quarterback situation, but we really admire and appreciate McCoy's work ethic, toughness, etc."

McCoy is a third-round pick with a modest (by NFL standards) salary who was not supposed to save the franchise. Lerner should be aware of that, and even if the plans are to look for a replacement.

http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/...t_brow_15.html

[Tobalaz]

What the Hell Learner going to say?
"Sorry chump, but I'd rather spend time with my other football team. And that whole Hologram thing? Well, I thought I was getting a respected football mind that would make the Browns winners, I had no clue he was going to load up the staff with family and friends for big paydays and cash in just like every other coach and front office we've had. It pisses me off I've got to come back to this dump and pretend I care to keep you all from revolting and keep on buying tickets and merchandise so I can move away again and pursue my life's real passion, anything but being stuck in this hole."

[Sez.EJ]

He identified the 3 gaping holes that I see.. WR, DE, and RT.. he also mentioned LB... but not the same way as the other 3. There are other holes, but I don't want to repeat what's been said in other threads.. He's right about the most important thing.. Leaving management in place.. We have not had any stability there.. that is the main reason we are sucking every year and at the bottom of the league... We need stability in the management. Holmgren know his x's and o's as well as anyone.. Heckert in 2 years has already drafted better than anyone in the decade before him. and he was smart enough not to overpay Kolb to come here.

[Crow]

I have a hard time taking an optimistic view of this team seriously.

With more talent we finished with a worse record than last year and the year before that.

However you feel about Mangini and his chances of future success, Shurmur really doesn't feel like part of the championship puzzle.