Browns Enter Season With New Regime; NCP Talk Offseason Moves and Week 1 Preview

Since last season, @northcoastposse has been named a Top Five Twitter follow by the Cleveland Browns.  Certainly quite an achievement. To celebrate, The NCP are hosting a Browns kick off party at Four String Brew Sunday, September 11th. The League Bowlers play at noon and Browns v Eagles on the tube at 1pm. 

The NCP Answer Your Browns Questions

Q:  Let’s hope the NCP performs better in 2016 than previous top picks by the Browns. Speaking of that, Mingo and Gilbert... gone. Why?

K-Dubs, the Soldier: Yeah, the Browns continue to be unconventional in weird ways.  By moving Barkevious Mingo and Justin Gilbert for a fifth- and sixth-round draft pick, respectively, Cleveland pulled off not just one, but two rare training-camp trades.  I think the trades make sense, too, even though both of them were top-10 draft picks in recent years.  Here are two guys that just didn’t fit the system.  Mingo always seemed to be stuck between stations.  He is a pass-rush specialist that has yet to develop into a linebacker that can be on the field for all three downs, and he was not big enough to play defensive end.  He was a great special-teams player, though, and by all reports a good guy.  I wish him the best of luck in New England.

I can’t say the same for Justin Gilbert.  Ever since he arrived in Cleveland, he was a malcontent whose confidence far outpaced his effort.  The Browns secondary is fairly thin, and Gilbert had every chance to win a starting job but failed despite his potential.  He was certainly no fan favorite, and now he wears a Steelers jersey.  No love.  

Q:  It appears that the Browns two best players could be a WR who has been too stoned to play for the past two seasons and another WR who has never made an NFL roster to begin a season after converting from QB. Is this concerning?

K-Dubs, the Soldier:  Hell no!  It is exciting.  Josh Gordon and Terrelle Pryor are two of the most physically gifted players in the league.  These dudes are thoroughbreds.  It is like having Secretariat and American Pharaoh lining up at wideout (imaging for a second that a horse can catch a football).  They have the ability to go the distance at any time.  Just check out Pryor’s 93-yard touchdown run against the Steelers in 2013, it was the longest ever by a quarterback.  It was Tecmo Bowl come to life.  The same can be said for Gordon’s 95-yard catch and run against the Jags in 2014.  Sure, Pryor is not a great passer.  Any Buckeye fan can tell you that.  But he is going to shred defenses as a receiver this year, especially when Gordon comes back from suspension in Week 5. 

Ever since their return to the league, the Browns have rarely had dynamic playmakers, let alone much quality depth at the skill positions.  Now Gordon and Pryor join rookie speedster Corey Coleman and Andrew Hawkins at receiver, while Duke Johnson, Jr. (61 catches, 534 yards, 2 TD) adds another receiving option out of the backfield.  There is no doubt the talent is there (finally).  The question is can the line can generate enough of a running game and protect Robert Griffin III long enough to maximize the impact of that talent. 

Big$:  I’m not concerned that JG and TP are the 2 best players.  My concern is that 1 of the 2 best players is not one of the 7,345 first round picks they have had over the last 5 years.

Q:  Would you rather have Carson Wentz or RG3 starting week one?

K-Dubs, the Soldier: RG3, all day long.  He has proven he can play at the highest levels of college, winning the Heisman Trophy, and, as a rookie, he took the perennial also-ran Redskins to the playoffs.  Despite a wicked ankle injury that cost him half of the 2014 season, he is still a dual-threat quarterback that can buy extra time behind the Browns’ young—and still gelling—offensive line.  By all accounts, RG3 has benefitted from the big-ass slice of humble pie he had to eat when he was demoted to the meatball squad last year in Washington, and he has shown considerable growth in terms of leadership and preparation.  He is going to have some weapons to work with this year, too.  I am expecting a big game from RG3 on Sunday.

On the flip side, there’s Wentz—a quarterback from North Dakota State of the FCS, who the Eagles selected with the second overall pick in this year’s draft.  We have seen what a healthy RG3 can do, but the pro film on Wentz is limited to part of one game.  He suffered a cracked rib in the preseason opener against Tampa Bay’s second team and he has not seen game action since.  At 6’5”, 240 lb., Wentz has the prototypical frame for an NFL QB, but all we know about him is that he put up decent numbers in the Missouri Valley Conference and that he couldn’t last a half in a scrimmage.  Look for Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton to prey on Wentz’s inexperience by confusing him with different defensive looks and blitz packages.  It is this advantage in QB experience that makes this game one of the Browns’ best chances for a victory this season.

Big$:  NDSU is basically a more dominant version of Alabama in D2. They are superior at every position then their opponents. Wentz’s 2015 back up performed as well as he did, which is more a product of having NFL caliber O-lineman than the quality of either QB. I fully expect ole Carson and his super long delivery to be exposed in the pros.

As for RG3, here is my sizzling take. I truly believe he is a better option that Deshaun Watson moving forward. (I’m holding hope that Mentor H.S.-product Mitch Trubisky down at University of North Carolina finds his way back to the North Shore).

Q:  What is the strength of this Browns team?

Big $: My short (somewhat delusional) response is TP Sr.  My more grounded reply is youth. All of the draft picks made the roster, and several will see significant playing time. I specifically have high hopes for the young guns on defense. I think Emmanuel Ogbah, Carl Nassib and Joe Schobert, all have the capability to be quality NFL contributors within the next few years. I also have my fingers crossed that both rookies Spencer Drango and Shon Coleman can find their way into starting OL spots.

K-Dubs, the Soldier:  I think that the Browns’ greatest strength this year is the deep threats they have in the passing game.  Like I said earlier, Gordon and Pryor can score from anywhere on the field.  They both showed that ability in the preseason, with each hauling in 50-yard touchdown catches against top-notch defensive backs.  I have a feeling that the lightning-quick Coleman will prove he has that same explosiveness. 

Throughout the preseason, the defense has struggled.  Surely, you cannot judge a team on its preseason performance (See the 2008 Detroit Lions: 4-0 in preseason; 0-16 in regular season).  Starters do not play the whole games and schemes tend to be more vanilla, so August stats do not offer much foresight on September performance.  But the Browns did give their first- and second-teamers more extensive action this year than most teams generally do, and the results were not good.  The opposing teams had an average of 11 more minutes in time of possession.  Opponents collectively gained 90 first downs to the Browns 51, and converted nearly 50 percent of their 3rd downs.   I hope that these tendencies do not bleed over into the regular season.  If they do, and the defense cannot get off the field, big-time touchdown threats are great equalizers that should give Cleveland a puncher’s chance in every game this year.  

Q:  What is the weakness?

Big$:  Ironically my answer is the same as my take on the strength. The inexperience of this roster is going to make for some painful moments on Sundays, especially against seasoned divisional foes. The key is to stay positive and focused on the future.

K-Dubs, the Soldier: The defensive front seven.  This is a team that has gone from being among the oldest in the league last year to being the second youngest.  At the start of the season, 19 of the guys on the 53-man roster are comprised of first- and second-year players.  That is 36 percent.  Nowhere is that inexperience more prevalent than among defensive linemen and linebackers.    Rookies Ogbah and Schobert are slated to start at the outside linebacker positions in Coach Jackson’s 3-4 scheme.  These guys have shown potential, particularly Ogbah who may prove to be the steal of the 2016 draft, but the fact that they are rolling with the 1’s may say more about a lack of depth than their ability to step right into starting roles.  Young players are more likely to be uncertain in their alignments, more likely to miss assignments, and more likely to hesitate.  For a team that finished in the bottom three in the league in rushing defense in each of the last two years, that is a bad prospect.  This part of the team may be a weakness, but with some of the young talent, including Nassib, it may also be the source of some electricity.  There is potential here, but the team’s success this year will largely depend on how well and how quickly this unit starts to click. 

Q:  Who should LeBron start in place of for week one?

Big$:  I’m not anti-RG3, but after watching what a physical specimen like Cam Newton has accomplished at QB, I’d like to see LBJ calling signals. For what it’s worth, I’d also start JR Smith at punter.

K-Dubs, the Soldier: I’d start LeBron over nose tackle Danny Shelton.  It is uncertain if Shelton is going to stay on the field for an entire series at a time.  When he is out there, he has not shown he can eat up blockers or penetrate the line.  At least we know LeBron is always on the floor when needed, and even if he gets driven off the ball, he can use his wingspan to swat down passes, just like he swats Steph Curry layups. 

Q:  The Browns over/under on wins is 5. Where would you put your money? What games can they win?

Big$: I am a betting man, and I would stay clear of the over. I am not altogether certain this roster is superior to the Chris Palmer gang of ‘99. The game I’m most confident of is this week, mainly because I think Wentz is a bum. If this game gets ugly, a historically bad year could be on the horizon.

K-Dubs, the Soldier: I’m thinking under, too.  The schedule is pretty rough, with games against the AFC East and NFC East, as well as the divisional games against the Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals.  Also, most of the games in which they have the best chances to win are on the road, including at Tennessee, Miami, Bills, Washington, and the opener in Philly.  But I believe that they will be competitive in every game.  It hurts to think that this year will be the 18th-straight rebuilding year, but I really do believe that this time the Browns are laying the foundation for success.

    Sep 11      1:00PM * at Eagles

    Sep 18      1:00PM * Ravens

    Sep 25      1:00PM * at Dolphins

    Oct 2        1:00PM * at Redskins

    Oct 9        1:00PM * Patriots

    Oct 16      1:00PM* at Titans

    Oct 23      1:00PM * at Bengals

    Oct 30      1:00PM * Jets

    Nov 6       1:00PM * Cowboys

    Nov 10     8:25PM * at Ravens

    Nov 20     1:00PM * Steelers

    Nov 27     1:00PM * Giants

    Dec 4      BYE

    Dec 11      1:00PM * Bengals

    Dec 18      1:00PM * at Bills

    Dec 24      1:00PM * Chargers

    Jan 1         1:00PM * at Steelers

What Does the NCP Predict for Tonight's Browns Game: PAIN!

@Northcoastposse was just judged as one of the top five twitter follows by the Cleveland Browns.

Big$:  Ok, it’s pretty clear that I’m a dues-paying member of the Anti-Johnny Coalition. However, I’ve always maintained that our signal-calling Monday FunDay-er was going to find his way onto the field in 2015.

Several Browns fans (who may or may not partake in high-powered psychedelic mind- enhancers) have wondered why it has taken this long for #2 to be #1. Here is a rundown:

- The team is not losing because of Josh McCown.  To play at the level he has with no running game or play-making WR’s has been slightly amazing.  To date, he is the only NFL QB to throw 2 TD’s against the Broncos.  For further perspective, see Aaron Rodgers’ stats against Denver.

- I will reiterate, Mike Pettine’s livelihood depends on results.  Every decision he is going to make is going to be based on the need to win games.  If Johnny gave the Browns the best chance to win, he would play.  Last year, fans were quick to dismiss Johnny’s in-season partying, and late arrival to games.  Eventually, his lifestyle choices culminated in the week 17 debacle where a search team had to be sent to look for him.  The same issues and rumors are swirling and being dismissed in 2015.  Browns fans need to look up the definition of insanity.

- Lastly, the future is bleak for this ramshackle organization.  I’m not sure the front office has any real strategy to keep ticket holders invested into 2016.  The one glimmer they had was to let Josh finish this out and proclaim next year as “The season of Johnny!”  This last-ditch effort becomes D.O.A. if he is exposed (again) in his starts this season.  Don’t be too sure ownership is excited about Manziel seeing the field.

My prediction for Thursday:  To quote the legendary Clubber Lang, “PAIN!”  The NFL is a copycat league, and as coaches and coordinators get axed across the country, pink slips may start getting handed out in Berea early Friday morning. Unfortunately, our good ole boy owner has immunity to such consequences.

As for our weekly LeBron question, I’d play The King at QB against the Bengals. Needless to say, I’m not very excited about Johnny taking the field.

What the Hell Does "Play Like a Brown" Mean Anyway? The NCP Ponder the Question.

We are nearing the halfway point of the season.  What are your thoughts on the Browns so far?

Big$:  Well, I guess I could break down the razor thin margins by which the Browns are losing, or the porous, Charmin soft run defense, but these are not the issues I find most concerning. What is truly aching me in the pit of my grizzled Cleveland sports fan soul is a much more infuriating topic. My friends, I’m at my wits end due to the consistent reminders that this team’s motto is “Play like a Brown.”  Is there a more self-manufactured pile of BS than this anywhere?  When the powers that be settled on this moniker, did they snicker in hopes that gullible fans would shift their thoughts to a rumbling Jim Brown or a muddy Ozzie Newsome? Or (gasp) do they think that the current organization at any level exhibits the type of effort that should be lauded. My worry is that Scheiner, Haslam and Farmer are so tone deaf that they do believe that this current configuration offers components that should be emulated anywhere at any time.  Accountability, from the GM’s complete personnel failures and itchy texting finger to a renegade backup QB who is receiving the same coddling he did when he was a relevant (yet troubled) college phenom, is nonexistent.  Players feel comfortable taking weeks off for injuries that wouldn’t sideline a middle schooler and this softness prevails in situations such as last week’s offensive and defensive failures in OT.  When the chips are down, expect a sack on a 2 step drop or a 40 yard run up the gut. This team is infected by complacency and delusion (maybe kicker Travis Coons and punter Andy Lee received immunity at previous stops) and I personally don’t have the answer.  My guess is that Pettine will become the fall guy, but my belief is that the true problems reside in positions higher on the table of organization.

Well put.  Despite these problems what should we expect to see on Sunday?

K-Dubs, the Soldier:  First of all, the Rams have a tough defense.  It is 3rd in the league in sacks, led by what is one of the best defensive lines in the league with Robert Quinn, Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers and Chris Long.  With former Buckeye James Laurinaitis patrolling the middle, the Rams 4-3 also ranks 10th in yards surrendered per game.  Browns QB Josh McCown must eliminate the errors he has made under pressure this year—taking avoidable sacks or launching ill-advised throws.  Cleveland also needs to stay in third-and-manageable situations to prevent the Rams from pinning their ears back.  If they can do that, the Browns may be able to move the ball against a Rams D that, despite its strength upfront, ranks in the middle of the pack on third-down.  St. Louis is allowing conversions 39 percent of the time.  When the Browns are on offense, look for recently added running back Robert Turbin to get some more touches this week as the team adds a seat to its running-back-by-committee.

On the flipside, the Rams offense is a bit of an enigma. In what is now a pass-first league, Rams QB Nick Foles is only completing 16 attempts per game and no receiver has more than 200 yards on the year.  They rank second-to-last in the NFL in points per game, total yards, and passing yardage.  St. Louis has an explosive ground threat, though, in rookie running back Todd Gurley.  He has more than 140 yards in each of the last two games, which both included runs of more than 50 yards.  The Browns’ beleaguered rush defense cannot have a breakdown on any play or Gurley can take it the distance.  First-round pick Danny Shelton needs to start paying some dividends in stuffing the run and pressuring the quarterback.  The secondary, which will be without Joe Haden and Tashaun Gipson again this week, has to be sure not to miss tackles either.  This game gives the Browns D a great opportunity to flip the script on the story of its season.

Who would you start LeBron James in place of this week?

Big$:  This week I’d have LeBron take the place of Paul Kruger.  Not at OLB mind you, but as the resident Johnny babysitter.  If he can keep the magnanimous Earl “J.R.” Smith in line he has a shot at Cleveland’s own urban cowboy.

K-Dubs, the Soldier:  Just like Big$, I’m going to take this question in a slightly different direction.  I would swap LeBron out for high-priced free-agent wideout Dwayne Bowe.  While King James has decided just to sit out the rest of the preseason, Bowe—a weekly healthy scratch—appears to have decided to sit out the regular season. 

Browns Shooting for Second Win in a Row Vs. Denver; the NCP Breaks it Down

The Browns are coming off of an overtime win against the hated Baltimore Ravens.  Up next are the 5-0 Denver Broncos, who are bringing the league's top-ranked defense to town.  As the Dawg Pound prepares for the showdown with Peyton Manning & Co., the NCP field your Browns questions. 

1)  Suddenly the Browns have come to life. Take away a few stupid penalties and we could almost squint our eyes and see a 7-win season. What the hell is going on?

Big $: There is one thing certain about an incredibly uncertain NFL; Browns fans have a short memory. At this time last year, Hoyer and Shanahan were the new Bernie and Lindy.  Well, that plopped and fizzled faster than Bruce Drennan's hourly Alka-Seltzer and the season imploded.  Coaches and players at the NFL level are all good enough to compete with any other team on any given Sunday.  It's the full season grind where the cream rises, and the Browns are perennially half & half.  Don't expect a miracle .500 run.

2)  Josh McCown had one of the greatest games in the history of the franchise. What the hell is going on?

K-Dubs, the Soldier:  The NCP has believed that the Browns could put up points if McCown stays healthy.  He really seems comfortable with the offense and he generally delivers an accurate ball.  Offensive coordinator John DeFilippo has shown he can scheme guys open, and the ascension to stardom for tight end Gary Barnidge and wideout Travis Benjamin have been very pleasant surprises.  Also, the emergence of Duke Johnson as a pass-catching threat out of the backfield gives the team an added dimension, especially when the Dave Meggett-esque Johnson [in terms of elusiveness and ball skills; not in terms of a penchant for deplorable criminality] is covered by a slower linebacker.  That said, I did not see a 450-yard game coming, especially against a historically strong Ravens defense. 

Despite the promise the offense showed last week, there are still a few kinks in the system.  First, four of the team’s five leading receivers—Andre Hawkins, Taylor Gabriel, Johnson, and Benjamin—are 5’7”, 5’8”, 5’9” and 5’10”, respectively.  McCown is completing a very high percentage of his passes at 68%, but a lot of his misses are sailing over the heads of a receiving corps that have smaller-than-normal catch radii.  I think his completion rate may eventually relegate to the mean because his targets are harder to hit.  Second, for a quarterback in his 13th season, McCown still has a hard time avoiding sacks.  Too often he takes a loss instead of throwing the ball away when he can.  For as well as he has played and as mobile as he is, his tendency for the untimely sack has cost the team scoring opportunities and field position at a few crucial times this year.  Which takes us to the third problem: the Browns rank 28th in league in rushing, at 89 yards per game, and they are averaging 3.7 yards per carry.  If the offensive line, which ranks among the highest paid and most-highly-drafted in the league, doesn’t start to open holes for Johnson and Isaiah Crowell, expect to see more third-and-longs and more sacks.

Big $: Joshy Mac is a seasoned vet who is relying on the undercarriage of a journeyman 6’-6” tight end.  I don’t know if those two qualities alone can sustain with the upcoming stretch of schedule.  I’m enjoying this ride (especially since it muzzles the Johnny-ettes) but eventually Father Time and a lack of skill-position depth will bring him back to the pack. I expect that regression will be fast-tracked by the bad ass Bronco defense this Sunday.

3) After the win against the Ravens, the first words from Joe Thomas were, "Who wants to put Johnny in now?” Not exactly a ringing endorsement of J Football and with McCown dinged, it looks like Johnny may play this Sunday against the undefeated Broncos?  How will this play out?

K-Dubs, the Soldier:  McCown has proven that he is a gamer, and he is listed as probable on this week’s injury report.  I don’t see any way he is not under center against the Broncos.  Unless he absolutely cannot play for some reason, I believe McCown leads the huddle the rest of the season.  We hear from Berea each week that there is a Johnny package, but the longer that package stays on the shelf, the better off the team is.  I would much rather see the team put up points with its traditional offense than rely on gimmicks.  Everyone loves trick plays, but they are best used as sprinkles and not as the cake itself.

Big $: Joe Thomas has played football at a high level for a long time. I'm pretty sure that in that time he's probably earned a doctorate in film study. It's my belief that a weekend seminar in watching tape would be enough to ascertain that Johnny is not an NFL QB.  As frustrated as I am by cries for the diminutive back-up, I can't imagine how infuriating it must be for the true professionals on the Browns roster and coaching staff.  One way or another, I do believe Manziel will wiggle his way back to the field this season and the situation will play out as I have always maintained: He will prove he doesn't belong in the league.

4)  Can the Browns defense improve or is this the reality?

K-Dubs, the Soldier:  That is the question of the year.  The Browns’ defense is the highest-paid in the league, but it surrenders the 3rd-most yards and 11th-most points per game.  The biggest problem I see continues to be the defensive line.  The Browns have not been able to control the line of scrimmage.  Many reporters and commentators have bemoaned the inability to “set the edge” and force runners inside, but the truth is that the defense is getting gashed in every gap.  They need better play at the point of attack and free up the linebackers to stuff the run.  Some threat of a pass rush from the middle of the defense wouldn’t hurt either.  The team needs to get healthier on the outside, too.  Both cornerback Joe Haden and safety Tashaun Gipson are out this week, as are outside backers Scott Solomon and Craig Robertson.  That means second-teamers will be hunting Peyton Manning’s ducks outside the numbers this week.  Unless the Browns can improve upfront and get healed soon, I think the team’s best chance to win games will be to outshoot opponents on the offensive side of the ball. 

5)  Who should LeBron start for this week?

Big $: The King just got a shot in his back and needs some pre-season rest before the quest begins. The last thing he needs to do is join up with this group of clowns this week.

THE NCP TACKLES COLIN’S BROWNS QUESTIONS FOR WEEK FOUR

Following last week's debacle against the Oakland Raiders, many questions about the 2015 Browns remain unanswered.  This week, Colin and the NCP try to unravel the mystery.

Colin:  While plenty of fans are itching to see Johnny Football get behind center, have you noticed not a single teammate has stepped up to endorse him as the starter?  Sounds like the locker room agrees with the coaches on this one.  Thoughts?

Big$: When I need to know David Arquette’s thoughts on Taylor Swift’s dating life, I go to TMZ. As it relates to the NFL, they aren’t a go-to for pertinent locker room info.  I assume they cornered Johnny and Travis Benjamin, offered them swag, massaged their egos, and bam!  Lame quotes appeared.  Johnny has yet to prove he can operate an NFL offense without relying on improvisation.  If a player disagrees with the coaches on who starts, they need to spend more time in the film room.

Colin:  It appears the almost as dysfunctional Raiders are starting to pull away from the Browns. Seems they have figured out that throwing the football is how you win in today’s NFL. Finding a QB is hard, playmaking receivers are everywhere, except in Cleveland. How is this possible? Who have we missed on?

Big$: Ray Farmer relies on “the Seahawks don’t have superstar receivers!” excuse. Well if Ray was truly seeking to follow the Seattle blueprint, Justin “the-anti-Richard-Sherman” Gilbert would have been buried on his draft board. The Browns have adopted the hilarious “play like a Brown” motto and it has led to ignoring the need for playmakers. There is not one player on the Browns roster that requires the special attention of a defense, and I think both Pettine and Ray are to blame.

Colin:  Who does LeBron start for this week?

Big$:  I’m over the Johnny- mania.  I’m starting The King at Q.B. If any self-respecting Clevelander can support Johnny over LBJ in anything other than a skins game, that’s their own issue.

Colin:  Any chance the North Coast sneaks a win on the West Coast?

K-Dubs, the Soldier:  There is always a chance, my friend, but it's going to take vastly improved efforts on both sides of the ball.  The biggest challenge is going to be on the defensive side.  San Diego has one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Phillip Rivers, and he is clicking with a corps of receivers that is as strong as any in the league from top to bottom.  The Charger offense is averaging nearly 300 yards per game through the air and rank fourth in the league in total offense, at 402 yards per game.  Cornerbacks Joe Haden and Tremon Williams really need to step their game up this week for the Browns to have any shot of slowing down the Chargers, especially with safety Tashaun Gipson questionable for today’s game with a groin injury and nickelback K’Waun Williams out with a concussion.  San Diego also has a threat on the ground with rookie running back, and former Wisconsin standout, Melvin Gordon.  The Browns have already made running backs Chris Ivory and Dexter McCluster look like Walter Payton this season and rank dead last in the league in rushing defense.  To have any shot at winning today, the Browns have to do a better job of controlling the line of scrimmage and get pressure on Rivers up the middle. 

The good news is that the Chargers defense is not that great either.  They are nearly as bad at stopping the run, giving up 135.7 yards per game.  It is time for the Browns’ high-priced offensive line to earn those paychecks and open up lanes for Isaiah Crowell.  The Chargers have not had much success pressuring the quarterback this year either and rank last in the league with just one sack.  If McCown has time to execute the Browns’ quick-strike passing game, the offense can put some points on the board.  Sure, the Raiders may end up being a halfway decent team this year, but losing to them at home has to leave a terrible taste in Cleveland’s mouth.  I foresee some redemption blowing in on the oceanfront.  Browns win 23-20.

LET THE MANZIEL ERA BEGIN (AND END SOON)

The NCP tackles Pencil Storm’s Questions Following Browns’ Week One Disaster. follow@northcoastposse

1. You said last week that this could be the worst two QB's an NFL team has brought into the regular season in league history. After week one, this painful reality is already upon us. How in the hell did Ray Farmer let this happen? With quarterback play this poor, I pity the rest of the team. There is nothing they can do to overcome 4 turnovers. Is there any hope?

K-Dubs, the Soldier:  I honestly thought Josh McCown looked good in the first drive.  In complete control of the offense, he led the Browns 91-yards on an opening drive of approximately 10-minutes.  Of course, that was before he got ear-holed as he dove for the end zone, fumbled the ball, and left the game with a concussion.  McCown has not been cleared to play yet, and the Browns officially named Johnny Manziel the starter on Friday.  If he continues to start, I think the season will be even more of a dud than previously expected.  The NCP’s take on Manziel has always been that he is just not an NFL quarterback, and Farmer’s thought process in drafting him remains material for an episode of NBC Dateline.  It deserves a two-hour special creepily narrated by Keith Morrison. 

I would love to see a Johnny-led squad lineup in the sandlot against Brett Favre’s team in a Wranglers commercial, but he does not have the arm strength to QB the Browns.  Outside of the 54-yard bomb he threw to Travis Benjamin, Manziel struggled to get the ball downfield, particularly on out routes.  With a running game that was anemic in Game 1, opposing defenses will likely stack the box and force three-and-outs ad infinitum if Johnny cannot stretch them by going over the top.  To your question, there is little any team can do to overcome four turnovers (five, if you count safety Tashaun Gipson’s fumble after his second-quarter interception), let alone a team whose starting QB is on the sidelines.  Throw in 109 yards in penalties, and you are not going to win, even against league dregs like the Jets.

That said, there is hope.  There is always hope.  The defense played toothlessly last week.  They had no pass rush, did not control the line of scrimmage on running plays, and got beat in the defensive backfield.  This week they play at home against the Titans, who were one of the worst teams in the league last year and are starting a rookie quarterback in Heisman-trophy winner, and national-championship loser, Marcus Mariota.  There is no more prime opportunity for redemption.  If the Browns can also avoid turnovers and run the ball with some effectiveness, they can be competitive, at least.   I am expecting a big turnaround.  Browns win in a tight one.

2. Who should LeBron replace in this week's starting line up?

Big $: Due to my well documented disdain for ole Johnny, it would be too easy to throw LBJ in as signal caller. In all honesty, I’d probably prefer a 2 man system of K. Love (for his sweet touch) and Kyrie (read option ball skills and elusiveness) if I was going to summon a C-Town cager to lead the offense. With that said, it almost becomes comical when you use the names Gary Barnidge and LeBron James anywhere near each other in a paragraph relating to athletics. I would without question, trot The King out at T.E. (you’re welcome, Johnny).

3. Vegas had the Browns preseason over/under win total at 6.5. After week one, if you had to bet all your gold chains on the over or under now, where would you put the line?  What is a realistic win total for this group of dawgs?

K-Dubs, the Soldier:  Granddad used to say, “Vegas was not built by losers.”  The handicappers in the desert certainly know the game better the alleged experts that flap their gums on TV each week.  What surprises me though is that the magic number is too high.  Last year, Vegas had the same over-under for the Browns, but the schedule was much more favorable.  This year, the NFC South teams have been replaced on the schedule by the NFC West, which has a chance to produce four teams with winning records.  Throw in games against an improved AFC West, as well, and the season looks kind of bleak.  The first three games are against teams that finished at the bottom of the league last year—the Jets, Titans, and Raiders.  These all appeared winnable on paper at around 12:59 p.m. last Sunday, but if the Browns lose the next two, it is hard to see many other wins down the line.  I think an over-under of 4.5 is more realistic.

4. If he were still on the squad, would you prefer T. Pryor starting over Johnny Football this week?

Big $: To be fair, I’d start Richard Pryor over Manziel (disturbing self-awareness is a trait more beneficial than anything in JFF’s repertoire). At this point, first-round Jonathan has failed to beat out two UDFA’s on the wrong side of 30. If Josh McCown didn’t attempt to live out his wildest Elway Super Bowl helicopter ride daydream, JFF would still be chilling on the sideline thinking of clunky one-liners about Merril Hoge’s formal wear. T.P. isn’t here but A.D. is, and he took some 1st team reps this week. In a perfect world, Austin Davis’s NFL resume would have earned him the right to start over Johnny, but alas Berea may be the antithesis of said perfect world. So let it be noted that I have officially put in for transfer from #hoyerswarriors to #AustinsArmy. Big $ loves ya A.D.!!!!

5. Something positive to take away from this loss right? Right?

K-Dubs, the Soldier: After a loss as disheartening as last week’s game, you really have to get out the Hubble Telescope to search for some positives.  At the very least, before he got knocked for a loop, both figuratively and literally, Josh McCown looked very good in leading the offense down the length of the field.  I know the Browns Faithful are not unanimous in supporting McCown, but the offense clicked when he was under center, even though big-name, free-agent wideout Dwayne Bowe sat out with a bad hamstring and the offensive line under-performed.  If McCown can come back from his concussion and stay healthy, I think the Browns can put points on the board this season.  Once he got carted off the field, though, the one bright spot was the special teams.  Punter Andy Lee averaged 54 net yards per kick, including a booming 61-yarder.  His leg should prove to be quite a weapon in field-position battles.  Rookie placekicker Travis Coons kicked a 48-yard extra-point (which was the longest in NFL history) and registered touchbacks on 2 of 3 kickoffs.  The return game also appeared improved.  Upgrading here was critical, as the failure to properly field punts cost the Browns a few chances to win games last year.  I have heard (but have not seen) that the Browns’ D is going to be among the best in the league.  If we do see a re-emergence of the Dawg Defense, the improved special teams could help snatch a few W’s along the way.

6. What do you expect from the opener this weekend?           

Big $: My general nausea over the state of the Browns probably steals the mystery from guessing who I believe will win most Browns games. So rather than stating who I expect to win or lose, I will say that I expect that this will be the second week that an ex-Brown will enact revenge on his former employer.

Last week Buster Skrine uncorked a year’s worth of watching a snot-nosed, silver-spooner make a mockery of his professional opportunity when he attempted to decapitate Johnny Manziel. One can only imagine that a guy like Skrine who clawed his way into the NFL harbors some ill will towards a guy like Johnny who was probably throwing up money signs when he checked down in 7 on 7 drills.

This week, I expect that the recently jettisoned Terrance West may be looking to seek retribution for not only being traded after a mildly successful rookie campaign, but also for the smack that was talked on his way out. Keep an eye on #35 this week as he may be playing with a couple of boulders on his shoulder.

Big $ and K-Dubs the Soldier are the North Coast Posse and they cover Browns football for Penciltorm.