Browns –Ravens Preview & More

Browns –Ravens Preview

On paper, this looks like it will be reminiscent of the Browns in 1999, when they had problems getting the ball across midfield against a good defense. All indications point to this getting ugly quickly.

Add the fact that Jamaal Lewis is out, means that Brady Quinn is likely to have absolutely no running game against the Ravens’ defense.

The upside is that Jerome Harrison should get a good, long look today and he’d better take advantage of it. Regardless, unless the Browns have something up their sleeve, Quinn could take a pounding.

The Ravens so far in this young season crush the run – as always - but have had problems against the pass. The Browns’ problem is this – Who do they have to throw to? Their #1 receiver, Butterfingers, is being doubled, and no one else is capable of getting open consistently.

Yes, spreading the field and trying to get one-on-ones (i.e. Harrison versus a linebacker) makes sense. However, will the line protect long enough for Quinn to find the open man?

Like I said, it could be a bloodletting.

On the other side, it would be nice to see the Browns defense play four full quarters –regardless of what happens on the other side of the ball. I love how some pundits put the defense’s second half collapses on the lack of offense -thus the "D" being on the field too long and wearing down.

Here’s my answer – get some three and outs on occasion and you won’t be on the field so long. And while you are at it, how about forcing ONE turnover?

Ravens 27-10 sound about right. Here’s hoping I’m way off.

Quinn
I was asked by a friend this week if I already soured on BQ after my last post where I called his play “very poor.” Absolutely not.

However, BQ looked tentative and held the ball too long against a mediocre Broncos defense. For me to suggest otherwise and let him off the hook would be wrong. My credibility is more important to me than being right.

BQ should have the full 16 game schedule to be evaluated properly. And there will be serious bumps along the way – like right now. I’m very curious as to how he handles those down times and if he progresses properly.

Yes, there is little talent around him. However, BQ touches the ball on every down. The quarterback needs to lead by example – regardless of the circumstances around him. Over the courses of 60 minutes and 60-70 offensive plays, there are opportunities to make some plays. Here’s hoping that begins this week in Baltimore.

Mangini and Bottled Water
A big deal was made this week of Eric Mangini fining a player the league maximum (close to $2,000) because he didn’t pay for bottled water taken from the team’s hotel in Denver.

Mangini’s point is no one is better than anyone else and he expects everyone in the organization – players, coaches, PR people, secretaries, etc. to act like adults at all times.

I’m sure there is more to the story than what has been reported. Regardless, we don’t have a problem with his decision, only that it was made public. To his credit, Mangini doesn’t just talk the talk when he says he wants high character people on his team.

However, if you lose, stunts like this will be interpreted by the media and fans as childish and overbearing. If the Browns were 2-0 right now, everyone would be saying how Mangini is running a tight ship and his style of discipline works. Such is PR in the world of sport. The "immediately memory only" of fans and media has fascinated me for years.

Indians
It looks as though the Indians' everyday line-up is pretty much set for 2010.

It goes as follows – LaPorta (1B), Valbuena (2B), Cabrera (SS), Peralta (3B), Brantley (LF), Sizemore (CF) and Choo (RF), and Hafner (DH). The only question remaining is at catcher, where the organization has numerous, if not, good options.

Here’s the problem – can you name the teams #1, #2 OR #3 starter for 2010?

I know I’m beating a dead horse, but remember – without pitching, you have no chance to be good.

On another note, the Tribe barely avoided tying a team record for consecutive losses (12) this week. So they started slow in April and finished even slower in September.

Which begs the question – who will manage this club next year?

I'm already on record as wanting either Grover or Buddy Bell. These two have been part of this organization when it was winning and both possess ML managing experience.

What I don’t want is someone who hasn’t managed at the ML level before. That was just tried and failed with Eric Wedge. Yes, Wedge took over a rebuilding project. However, it needs to be noted he also had several teams that were expect to contend in a relatively weak division.

His resume only has one post-season appearance on it – and that was a flame job up 3-1 against Boston with quality starters (1 through 3) lined up to close it out.

No one would argue, even his most stauchest supporters, that Wedge got the most out of his talent base. Shapiro and his scouts were of litte help (AKA: see any draft class), but that's another story altogether that we've covered before.

Secondly, in all the years he has managed the Indians, I can count on just one hand the times I witnesses a squeeze/suicide bunt or a succesfull hit and run being put on. Perhaps I missed it on occasion, but it’s clear that Wedge did not do much to manufacture runs.

Remember - in the post-steroids era, a manager in the American League, once again, on occasion, needs to be able to manufacture runs.

Yes, the Indians will be more athletic next year and possess more overall foot speed as a team. That's a good thing. But if you don’t use those tools properly, it does you no good.