Mike

@riffer-x said:

Yes, the running game was clearly better, and it was a key reason we won the last 4 games. However, our passing game is full of huge holes. Little things like QB, WR, TE and RT.

• While DA or BQ may never be superstars, they can't both be that bad.
• How many times did you see our QBs and WRs not make the same read on a play? There are issues with the offensive scheme, coaching staff, or both. (Or maybe we just have unusually stupid players who are unable to do what's asked of them.)
• Massaquoi and Stuckey are not physical enough to be viable #1 WRs.
• Evan Moore is an interesting TE, but the jury is still out on him.
• St. Clair was a liability.

@bob806 said:

Home schedule: Pit, Cin, Balt, Atl, Car, NE, NY Jets, KC,

Away Schedule: Pit, Cin, Balt, NO, TBay, Miami, Buf, Jax

Can we go 4-4 on the road? I think so. Can we win 6 or 7 home games? I think so....looks like 10-6 to me

That would be highly unlikely, but not impossible. I say we finish .500, or one game under.

@pumpkin-eater said:

The team still has some pretty big problems.

Yes, we may still have some problems, but I still think we can put a fix on the defense in the upcoming draft. Our schedule isn't necessarily easy, but if you look closely at our away games, you'll find that after the Saints, the other tougheies are against our division rivals-

Home schedule: Pit, Cin, Balt, Atl, Car, NE, NY Jets, KC,

Away Schedule: Pit, Cin, Balt, NO, TBay, Miami, Buf, Jax

Can we go 4-4 on the road? I think so. Can we win 6 or 7 home games? I think so....looks like 10-6 to me

Dawgfanforever88 said:

Add in the fact that both sides of the ball were getting used to Mangini's scheme and you finally saw that pay off the second half the season when they looked like they were getting used to it.

@riffer-x said:

I agree, but he was still trying to find someone who can catch a ball, and found Evan Moore.

@riffer-x said:

I agree. Much was unsettled, and it was still unsettled at the qb position as the season ended.

I am sure MH has had discussions with Daboll and came to the conclusion the problem wasn't so much with coaching as it was with lack of players.

If Daboll came across as a guy who simply didn't understand offense, I am sure he would have been replaced.

Now we have another offensive mind in place to help him.

The problems on O last year weren't caused by a incompetent coach.

If I had any feelings like that before, I don't now that Holmgren has had some time to talk O with the guy.

Holmgren and Mangini's rold model

Dawgfanforever88 said:

Just throwing this out there for anyone to comment on.

Is it just me or does it seem like the Browns recent hirings are turning the ship in a different direction....

Think about it......

Proven and respected winner at the top with a VISION....Mike Holmgren

Respected General counsel with a dedication to the vision....Fred Nance

Reportedly top notch respected and sought after GM candidate incoming.....Tom Heckert

A coach with a new life and desire to succeed in a new system......Eric Mangini

I am neither pro or con on Mangini but keeping him for another year just "felt" like it was the right move

One more plus....

An owner who will hire his football people (trying hard to win which is often overlooked) and stay out of the way....Randy Lerner

I am proud to be a Browns fan and this time I feel confidant that the right people will work hard and make the right decisions. In the past, there was always this uncertainty because of unproven people and no real football man in charge. That has changed and Holmgren is surrounding himself with good football minds that will be on the SAME page. I am looking forward to the future for our franchise now. That wasn't always the case. I know there are many naysayers who will find fault with this post, but .........

Maybe one condition that Holmgren imposed on Mangini to keep him as HC was that EM had to rock the stache?

@riffer-x said:

plus, there is the concept of learning on the job.

The team still has some pretty big problems.

@samatlanta said:

For the first time in a very long time, we will have experience, credibility and talent in the front office.

Our coach, who seemed to have major control issues last season, will be able to do nothing but coach. I'd like to see him trade a player without approval from Heckert and Holmgren! I'm interested to see what Mangini does now that his sole focus is on the on-field product instead of having his hands in the minutia of the entire organization.

My bigegst concern is that we retained our offensive staff. Did Holmgren not watch us play much last season? Our offense was embarrassingfor at least 10 games. Yes, the ground game came on at the end of the year, and I'm excited about that. But you can't win in the NFL with a one-dimensional offense. Holmgren had better provide Daboll with a copy of "The West Coast Offense for Dummies", and test him on it before minicamp.

I'll agree that our offense was terrible for at least 8 games but if you watched closely the play calling improved dramatically the difference was night and day, to me it was anyhow. I believe that Daboll will get a lot better after a few meetings with Holmgren.

For the first time in a very long time, we will have experience, credibility and talent in the front office.

Our coach, who seemed to have major control issues last season, will be able to do nothing but coach. I'd like to see him trade a player without approval from Heckert and Holmgren! I'm interested to see what Mangini does now that his sole focus is on the on-field product instead of having his hands in the minutia of the entire organization.

My bigegst concern is that we retained our offensive staff. Did Holmgren not watch us play much last season? Our offense was embarrassingfor at least 10 games. Yes, the ground game came on at the end of the year, and I'm excited about that. But you can't win in the NFL with a one-dimensional offense. Holmgren had better provide Daboll with a copy of "The West Coast Offense for Dummies", and test him on it before minicamp.

@ballpeen said:

I am expecting home, playoff football next year.

Now that will be one heck of a tailgate. If it is a 1PM kick, we might as well get that sucker started at 6am, because we will all be up.

6am it will be!

Picturing a guy like Haden immediately transfixing our defense. One FA WR and just stockpile in the draft. Maybe go after a McNabb or something and draft a guy like Pike to develop. It's all up from here man.

I am expecting home, playoff football next year.

Now that will be one heck of a tailgate. If it is a 1PM kick, we might as well get that sucker started at 6am, because we will all be up.

time it will be different as opposed to convincing myself that coffee-getters

Savage and Kokonuts could turn around a franchise...