Short & Quick

Browns

I have no idea what to make of the last two games other than to say the Browns seem to have gotten their sea legs under them when it comes to running the ball effectively on a consistent basis and the defense continues to play outstanding football in the red zone (See Elam’s strip). Couple that with a young quarterback who isn’t turning it over and you have a competitive team.

By the way - Elam's strip and fumble recovery prior to the half is arguably one of the three biggest plays this team has made this year. That was huge. It's what good players on good teams do that eventually gets you that "W" instead of playing well and losing.

Notice I said “competitive team” not “Good.” Listening to the local media and you would think Eric Mangini is now a genius and this team will run the table and finish 10-6 or no worse than 9-7. Right. Again, this is a classic case of short-term thinking at work.

You can’t produce a winning record without a consistent pass rush while also lacking NFL caliber receivers. However, one has to give to Mangini and company credit for “coaching these guys up” the past two games.

They are doing it with mirrors on defense and without quality NFL receivers on offense. That’s saying something.

We had them at 7-9 before the season started. It looked bleak several weeks ago. Now 7-9 looks reachable. Then again, they could go into a tailspin again. Anything is possible.

At least now, we know their personality - run the ball, try a few tricks and gimmick things up defensively. The key is doing it consistently week in week out.

Again, the bottom line is in the NFL, if you don’t’ cough it up, possess solid special teams and you bend but don’t break in the red zone, you can be in games late and win half of them. It shouldn’t be that hard.

Think about it - they are competitive without their outstanding special teams of the past. Cribbs has yet to make a game-changing play this year on special teams.

Separated At Birth

By the way, when I watch Colt McCoy play, a similar veteran NFL quarterback comes to mind. This guy has an outstanding career completion ratio (aka: very accurate), doesn’t turn it over very often, doesn’t possess a big arm, is undersized, somewhat mobile and generally underappreciated because he’s not 6-4/230 with a cannon.

His name?

Chad Pennington. CP’s problem has been staying healthy. Hopefully, McCoy won’t suffer the same fate. The next level up from Pennington in terms of this “genre” of quarterback is named “Montana.”

Now if McCoy reaches that level, we will have something really special. Of course, I’m not betting on it. The Joe Montana’s of the world come around every other generation.


Who's In Charge
I have been asked if I would start my boy, Seneca Wallace, if he’s healthy. Not at this point. I would ride McCoy and get him as much experience as possible. If he continues to win games, then you have a good problem going into next year – two guys who can flat out play. With injuries what they are, especially at QB with this team, you’ll need two guys there.

One thing is for certain – McCoy needs to get in the weight room this off-season.

One final thought on quarterbacks. The most important tool I look for in a quarterback has and always will be ACCURACY. Early returns tell us that’s McCoy’s strength. That’s a good thing.

Now let’s see if he can keep it going. A little more talent around him wouldn’t hurt either.

One of A Kind
One thought on P. Hillis - I simply can’t think of a player in recent history to compare him to. He’s faster and much athletic that Mike Alstot. And he’s much bigger than Jim Kick, an all-purpose back for the undefeated Dophins’ squad of the early 70’s.

I simply can’t think of a 245 pound running back that combines brute force and a fair measure of athleticism. Take a look at his game-ending TD run against the Steelers. He turned the corner and outran the Steelers’ outside linebacker who had the angle. Hillis was flat out faster and/or in better shape.


Versus the Jets
As for this week against the Jets, I simply can’t pick the Browns. The Jets are simply better – although I don’t consider them a true Super Bowl contender yet.

Simply put – if their quarterback doesn’t turn it over and makes a few plays, I see New York winning 23-17. Here’s hoping I’m wrong.

And no, Eric Wright should not be on Edwards tomorrow. He’s not big enough, physical enough or good enough.


One More Time
I also noticed last Sunday Evan Moore lining up more at WR. Why Mangini doesn’t just leave him there 50-60 plays a game is still a mystery to me. If I figured out early he’s better than our group of mediocre third receivers, why can’t he?

I’ll answer my own question – if Mangini sits M. Ali and Robiskie, it proves he didn’t know what the hell he was doing in the draft a couple years ago.

This is another classic example of why a head coach shouldn’t be drafting – it’s called "conflict of interest." It’s hard to sit guys you stuck your neck out for.

Think about it - M. Ali had a handful of catches for about 50 yards last week and that was hailed as a “very good” performance by some in the media in town. Talk about a low bar!


Pats Lack "O" Talent
Is it me or do the Patriots look like they are very pedestrian on offense?

I was stunned by the lack of skilled players on that team. I have no idea how they came into Cleveland with just one loss with that offensive talent pool. I know they are young and have had injuries, but the Browns looked like they had more playmakers than NE last Sunday. And that’s saying something.

Brady must be doing it with mirrors. By the way, he (Brady) actually looked confused against Cleveland. That’s the first time I’ve ever seen Brady lost for the bulk of a game without facing a real pass rush.


My Bad
Looks like I was mistaken about Tampa Bay. When they played the Browns, they looked like a 5 win team at best. With half the season to go, they are overachieving in my book.

Cavaliers & LeBron
One final time – How does LBJ and the media get away with the “I/He wanted to go somewhere where he could win a title” excuse” when he played on a team the past two years that had the BEST record in basketball?

Am I living in the Twilight Zone? I heard a couple morons this week justify James’ move because Miami gives him a better shot at a title and they couldn’t win it in Cleveland. This is amazing logic to say the least.

If you play on a team that wins more games than ANYONE else over a two year period, logic dictates that team has a pretty good chance of winning it all. It doesn’t guarantee it of course, but where are you going to find a better team? In other words, how do you improve on the best record in the sport?

I have yet to hear anyone anyone echo my thoughts.

Overrated
By the way, Chris Bosh is Zach Randolph without the baggage.

For those of you who aren’t basketball junkies, that means he gets stats when it doesn’t count. In Randolph’s case, he’s also one of those guys the Head Coach/GM/COO has to be worried about in terms of getting that 2 a.m. phone call from the police or a local hospital.

I don’t think Bosh is a head case, but he hasn’t proven he’s special – even with his career 20/10 numbers. Remember, he couldn’t even get Toronto an 8th seed in all his time there.

Politics

Nancy Pelosi is the gift that keeps on giving.

An irony of the midterm elections is the fact that the remaining democratic contingent in Congress is even more left than prior to November 2. The majority of moderate democrats from swing districts lost. The only thing that remains are hard-core lefties from districts that lean way left (i.e. SF & inner cities).

This means Nancy “My brains are totally fried” Pelosi will remain as the democratic leader of the House – even though she will be in a diminished role as minority leader. This means Republicans can continue to use her as a poster child for what’s wrong with Democrats.

There aren’t enough sensible Democrats remaining in the House to stop her. Then again, if these so-called moderate Democrats had any common sense, they wouldn’t have walked the plank for Pelosi, Obama and company when the country warned them to vote AGAINST stimulus and health care reform.



These morons want it both ways. They showed no spine when it was clear many voted themselves out of office when they voted “yes” for legislation the majority of the country didn’t want. Now they complain about their leadership (i.e. Nancy and company) leading them into the fire.

Here’s my take – show some balls when the bullets are flying, not after the fact. No one put a gun to your head and forced you to vote with the lefties. Decisions have consequences you pussies!

I don’t recall one Democrat in office at the time standing up during the Health Care debate saying the following – “If we pass this, it will cost us dearly come November 2 and, more importantly, it’s bad legislation when you pass major legislation affecting 1/6th of the economy strictly along partisan lines (no Republicans joined in).”