1) Credit the team for playing hard. Whether that was a tribute to the outgoing hc or auditioning for the new regime depends upon your cynicism meter. On the first two series, the Steelers made hay on first down, but then 2nd & 2 became 3rd & 1 and then 4th & 1 as the defense was not about to go through the motions. Generally stingy run defense despite a lack of physicality and talent among the lbers (talent on the outside equaled second half preseason). Clubs were getting pretty chippy as the Steelers were annoyed that the Browns weren't laying down as if protocol dictated it.
'13 PROSPECTS- unless the new regime buys into trading down to recover a second round pick, it's a given that the club will go for a pass rush/olb or de.
2) Thad (Jones/Mel) Lewis had a pretty respectable outing, downright spectacular compared to Sperg or Pedernuts from years past. At least he had several good throws to go with the usual bad decisions or Derek Anderson fits of inaccuracy. Passes in front of him generally had zip and looked decent. Passes toward the sideline were Steve Sax to first base. Never really got the opportunity to show his legs.
Would have liked to have seen what McCoy would have done given the improved pass pro and receivers this year. But that would have been for shytes and giggles. McCoy is further out the door than Shurm & Heck. Yea, the two of them are gone now and Colt is still on the roster. But enough bridges have been burned to make that a mere technicality.
'13 PROSPECTS- Lewis did enough to earn a roster spot as third stringer, but that means little now. New regimes have their own idea about hc's and coordinators... right on down to pet qb projects. At least if the new regime doesn't like him, Lewis showed enough to hook up with someone else.
3) Dance like no one's watching, and coach like they're gonna fire you anyway. Hence, "Run, Raymond, run!!" Browns wouldn't have tried that any other time.
And you would have thought that with 2 minutes in the first half and the ball at their own 25, the Browns might just run out the clock with a green qb. So they said what the hell and tried play action. Steelers didn't bite.
But then the Browns went to a high risk/low reward sideline toss to Gordon. Forget the results. Gordon has the strength to shed a tackle, but really lacks quickness for a play like that, and his seeming lack of urgency in movement doesn't help either. Anyway, this is a play that when well executed can get 7-9 yards, and that's not what the Browns needed given the task at hand of 75 yards in two minutes.
'13 PROSPECTS- anyone with that bright idea of play calling is gone anyway.
4) Good to see Brandon Jackson back from the dead. He's a much better lightning to TR's thunder. Hardesty looks like he has recovered his speed from that knee injury, but also looks like he lost size and power. He's sort of a tweener now that looks just... okay, until you see someone like Jackson come in and get better results.
'13 PROSPECTS- why do I think Hardesty gets a special Vols dispensation from up top? Well, better him than a Cosey Coleman.
Not that he's bad, but Jackson showed us how vulnerable Montario's position really is.
A decent fa guard on the left side could improve the run game considerably. Leave Greco as the principal backup. A healthy TR and either a healthy Jackson or a Darren Sproles-type change of pace back could see improvement here.
5) Greco gets injured, and the Steelers smelled blood as Ryan Miller's soles turned to lead as soon as he hit the field. Ugly, ugly. I guess Miller thought Lewis stunk and intentionally whiffed on his block.... oh, it wasn't intentional. He was THAT bad.
'13 PROSPECTS- For the sake of JT & Mack's sanity and not bolting for fa, the Browns really need to spend big fa cash on the next Joe DeLamielleure. You notice how Schwartz must be doing a good job at rt since you rarely hear his name? Seems like Lauvao has kept quiet over the last month or so. And that should be a good thing. Maybe he's finally settled down and brought stability to that side as well. At any rate, Miller has only his size going for him. He lacks any quickness, strength, and a nasty disposition. Unless he can make big strides in the off season, he's likely not on the club next September.
6) Not that I'm standing up for the guy, but I ask this with complete lack of knowledge on his background. Could someone tell me what makes Mike Lombardi regarded as such a pariah? I vaguely remember him being with the club back in the 80's/90's, but don't know what he did to warrant the animosity. It's like being at a friend's house for the holiday party, and someone mentions Uncle Mike, and the room goes silent... and then someone says "God DAMN that bas--" and another grabs him "DON'T get upset...." and you're wondering "Holy shyte, who IS this guy?"
'13 PROSPECTS- it strikes me that if Banner worked with both Heckert and Lombardi...
... and came away believing he can't work with one and not the other...
... and given what what H & L contributed to the Eagles general competence...
... and given how long Lombardi has been out of the loop...
then I have to ask Haslam, do you seriously think your new team comes out ahead in this transition? Seriously?
What am I missing in this equation?
7) Given the even larger number of GM/HC openings in this off season, what realistically can the Browns expect?
'13 PROSPECTS- Haslam is new, so lacks that losing track record like Lerner. But given the names that are surfacing, it looks like a buyer's market. Maybe the looks at college coaches are predicated on few, if any, NFL teams wanting to go that route. Hey, if no one wants college coaches, then that world is the Brown's oyster.
8 ) For the last time, cry me a river with the old saw about the rookie hc being deprived because of the labor lockout. Four other rookie hc's were in the same boat, and all did far better than Shurmur. Great guy, terrific. Run through a brick wall for him, be my guest.
The book has been written: good prep guy, but in game decisions and adjustments cooked his goose.
'13 PROSPECTS- Some team will hire him as an offensive coordinator, or at the very least a position coach, and they'll tell the press of his impressive track record grooming young qb's.
9) "And like that he was gone. Underground. Nobody has ever seen him since. He becomes a myth, a spook story that players tell their kids at night"
Keyser Sose?
Owen Marecic.
'13 PROSPECTS- Some team will pick him up, and he'll have 1,000 yards combined rushing and receiving, and be a Pro Bowl alternate. Hey, if I can choke on my beer seeing Brian Robiskie haul in a td catch for the Lions...
10) Some enterprising home video artist should lay down a track of a classic George Gershwin song "But Not For Me" (Ella Fitzgerald's version is primo, Rosemary Clooney's isn't bad either). You've heard it somewhere:
"They're writing songs of love, but not for me.
A lucky star's above, but not for me.
With love to lead the way,
I found more clouds of gray,
That any Russian play could guarantee."
Then wallpaper it with shots of the Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, Indianapolis Colts celebrating victories... and then show the Browns and their fans enduring another clunker of a season.
'13 PROSPECTS- I'd like to think that a great coach could recognize the general talent on the Browns, and figure that the offense is 1-2 players away (and hoping one isn't Weeden), and that the defense is 2-3 players away from making serious noise and making 2013 for Cleveland what 2012 was for Washington, Minnesota and Indianapolis.
As said, if a complete reboot is needed, so be it. I'd just for once like to see a HC and GM say "hey, we have some real talent year that's been misutilized and just needs a couple of good playes at key positions, and the dominoes will fall into place."
I suppose the ONE coach who would get a consensus of fans excited is Cowher. But I'm leery of any coach being out for that long, leery of championship coaches going to the well again. leery of returning to a 3-4, and leery that Cowher would accept any position but the Panthers (I believe his family is still based in Carolina). Beyond the Jaw, no one excites me, and anyone from college gives me that sour feeling like some bad pastrami at lunch that I just knew should have been tossed out.
Is it a reverse psychology thang? At least when Savage and Crennel and Holmgren were hired, fans were generally optimisitic. Yea, they didn't pan out, but it wasn't like Ted Stepien hiring Bill Musselman and everyone going "Jesus H., what the hell is that mad man doing?!!" So now if Haslam hires people who on the face of it suck... are they the guys who will ultimately get this train moving?
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