Phil Savage's Defense

Childish temper-tantrums aside, numerous numbskull nimrods and memorex morons want Phil Savage thrown out along with RAC (and Randy Lerner. And everybody else).

Well, let's preface this: Amidst other tantrums, until now I was also hearing about the defense not really being any good due to the yardage on the ground surrendered. This is stupid. This is why: The only defensive stats that have real, concrete meaning are scoring and turnovers. The rest are fluff. The details of how a defense accomplishes this are irrelevant DO YOU U N D E R S T A N D?

This defense has become more aggressive partly because of the offenses it has faced. Pittsburgh, Dallas with Romo, and the Giants offenses are three of the most prolific in the NFL. They were clearly not prepared for Dallas; or at least Eric Wright wasn't, and that slaughter started them out in the basement. SINCE THAT GAME, this defense has performed well, and improved consistantly.

Aggressiveness , as in tighter coverages, more blitzes, and more one-gap attack schemes, is a double-edges sword. Anytime a running back can avoid getting nailed in the backfield, he has a lot of space to run through. Anytime the blitzers are picked up and the QB has time, he has a good shot of going deep. But the reason they take these risks is because, even when an offensive line, RB, and QB are superior, sometimes the pressure works, and a AB throws off his back foot, or gets stripped, or throws prematurely, or throws it out of bounds, and you get, at the very least, second and ten. As often as not AS OFTEN AS NOT the Running back gets stuffed, and you get similar bottom line results.

Second or third and long situations now favor the defense by forcing a probably pass which they can be ready for.

Statisticly, this type of defense will cough up some big runs. A guy can rip off twelve yards, then five, then six, then get blown up for a two yard loss. Now it's second and twelve. Now the defense sends an extra blitzer and adjusts coverage. A draw is often stuffed, and the QB usually doesn't have time for anything but a quick stab underneath, and you get third and six, or third and twelve.

Statisticly, it looks like the running back is steamrolling them, and that's even technicly true. But the offense is often stalled, and sometimes turns it over.

This aggressive approach was determined not only by the calibre of their opponents, but by the inexperience of Wright and McDonald, and even the newness to the scheme of Williams and Rogers, and the loss of Peek (which required a talented but raw Alex Hall to play a lot). These offenses could otherwise isolate and target these players, and exploit every mistake.

Hall wasn't ready for coverage, and could be fooled against the run, so he usually just blitzes. Wright and McDonald have man ability, but a zone scheme is complex, and their inexperience makes them vulnerable in it, so as often as possible they were told to just cover a guy, period. (This is another reason for the long runs. In man coverage, the defender's back is often to the offense, so his reciever can drag him downfield and away from the run).

Against the Jags, we saw a more mature and integrated defense. Rogers said he was turned loose more than usual--meaning that he was allowed not to worry so much about gaps, and allowed to attack. This pissed me off, frankly. He should have been allowed to do that all along.

There was more zone coverages, and they didn't make mistakes. But then, there was that nine-yard pad crap (RAC's trade-mark) that coughed up several can't-miss-he's wide-open underneath completions. Other than this, however, this was a very good performance. The individual players are used to eachother and to the system. The young and new guys aren't making mistakes. This is a very good defense, and will, by the end of the season, be one of the best in the NFL.

Now, why is that?

It starts with talent, doesn't it? And who found all the talent? Phil Savage--the guy you want to see fired because RAC has mishandled that talent. Because you're stoopid.

Let's go through this player-by-player:

Robaire Smith (who by the way Phil Savage is not responsible for injuring) was a solid veteran free agent who came at a very reasonable price. He had spectacular tackle numbers as both a 3-4 DE and a 4-3 tackle, and his abilty to rush the QB was actually a pleasant surprise.

Shaun Smith was a part-time 4-3 situational run-stopping DT in Cincinnati who was signed dirt-cheap, which hurt a division rival. Playing him at DE is a coaching decision, since he's a much better NT, and Rogers would dominate at left DE--but whatever.

Rogers and Williams did cost a second and third round pick, plus an excellent but injury-prone cornerback, plus some pretty hefty salary and bonuses. You can tell me that Bodden would have helped the secondary a lot, but of you check out the stats, including turnovers, you might be overstating a bit. Bodden is currently a third cornerback in Detroit, and I suspect that that's at least partly because he'd last maybe three games as a starter before he got hurt again.

And you can tell me that they could have done as well with the draft picks, but that would expose you as an idiot, so you won't. You just have to admit that this was a very, very smart move by Savage to massively upgrade the defense's weakest unit all at once, and for at least two more seasons after this one...instantaneously.

Yes, Williams has taken some time to get in the swing of the 3-4, but compared to what preceded him, started out as an upgrade--Rogers alone, by himself, is worth both of those draft picks and Bodden. So give it up, Phil-bashers. Admit it. Turn off the fog machine and say "good job, Phil".

Louis Leonard was an undrafted free agent, dirt-cheap, with tons of physical talent, but very raw. Even as many of you just ignored this YOUNG, IMPROVING player while decrying a lack of depth on the defensive line, this guy has entered the rotation, mainly at DE, and become a very solid player, who is still improving.

Santonio Thomas is similar to Leonard, and was a dirt-cheap free agent with upside.

The Browns lost Robaire for the season almost immediately, and have had to go without Shaun for the last two weeks, but the depth delivered. This has become a truly very good 3-4 defensive line, with good depth, and one which is improving by the game...and has been held back by coaching, more than by opponents.

It cost a second and third round pick plus Bodden, and...and...? DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

Wimbley was a first-round pick. I'm not sure what's gone wrong with him since his stellar rookie season. During that season, he made Phil look like a genius, but sonce then, he's given you 20/20 hindsighters an excuse to bash Phil as if you knew it all along. Except you didn't. He got twelve sacks as a rookie--he PROVED his talent, and you admitted that it was a good pick. Then he stopped getting sacks. So that's Phil's fault? Phil was supposed to foresee him getting twlve sacks as a rookie and then not getting any? Just how far are you guys ready to raise the bar, anyway? You want him to suffocate in the stratosphere or something?

One idiot even said that it was time for the Browns to just admit that he was no more than a defensive end. In reality, he has become a good all-around linebacker who could play in any scheme. As a DE, he would be overpowered, and wasted against the run.

D'Quell Jackson was a second-round pick, and is an excellent all-around inside linebacker. Those of you who felt that he should be flushed down the toilet along with everybody else due to the ugly run statistics don't know what you're talking about. Nor do those of you who think we need a big guy who can take on 320-lb. guards. Check out Pittsburgh and New England's rosters, and then shut up before you embarrass yourselves further.

The 3-4 depends on the defensive line to eat up extra blockers, and the inside linebackers need speed, range, and coverage ability. Jackson is an ideal 3-4 ILB and is proving it.

Phil inheritted AndrA Davis, who is unfairly maligned. He's a good player, who I mightily suspect that Phil would like to trade for something good. NFL Outsiders, which keeps more in-depth stats than anyone else, points out that, as of the end of last season, his average gain-per-tackle was tops on the team, along with thackles-for-losses. He is NOT one of those guys who gets good stats by running guys down from behind.

Leon Williams as a FOURTH-round pick with loads of speed and talent. Everybody else avoided drafting him due to the fact that in Miami he was not even a starter (anymore). The reasons for this remain a mystery. But Phil saw gaudy per-play statistics, interviewed him and the Coaches personally, and drafted a guy with first-round physical talent in the fourth round.

Williams can play any linebacker position in any scheme. He can blitze, cover, and stop the run. And he was a FOURTH ROUND draft pick.

Kris Griffin is a four-year player who Phil grabbed off waivers from the Chiefs prior to last season. Griffin was, I believe, and underafted free agent who made it into the NFL as a special-teams demon. But as of this training camp, he began making a lot of fine plays in the regular defense, and is now part of the rotation. He is a late-blooming, emerging inside linebacker who can now be trusted to fill in and be part of a rotation.

Whether Phil forewaw this or not is almost irrelevant, since he paid nickles and dimes for him.

Beau Belle was a FOURTH-ROUND pick. I don't know if you know this, but see--that's not the same as a first-round pick. Please believe me when I tell you that fourth-round picks are not expected to contribute much for up to three seasons (if ever). These are usually players who need development and polishing. Guys who need to get bigger and stronger, or learn different positions, or who slid for off-the-field reasons.

Belle was injured early, but even prior to that was making too many mistakes on defense. Many expected him to compete for a starting job immediately, despite the fact that he was a fourth-round pick. But (did I mention he was a fourth-round pick?) since he didn't, I'm pretty certain that some of you will already be shoveling dirt into his grave and bashing Phil for wasting his valuable FOURTH ROUND PICK on a guy who didn't start as a rookie.

Don't worry about it. Belle has great instincts and likes smashing people. As a bonus, he can sometimes defeat offensive linemen's blocks. But he was injured, and does have a solid crew of veterans in front of him. There's no urgency whatsoever in rushing him into the defense. It might well even be that he is ready to contribute already, but there's simply no room for him.

That's why I suspect that Davis is trade-bait. He is the oldest player, is a better 4-3 MLB than 3-4 ILB, and has real value to those who know how to evaluate talent.

Griffin and Williams, due to their youth, salaries, and Williams' versatility, are definite keepers for depth and situational uses (Williams is the best coverage linebacker). Belle and Jackson are the future.

Willie McGinest was past his prime even when first acquired, but was integral to the growth of the corps. He is a teacher and mentor to all the young players. It could be said that he was overpaid, but not when we consider his value as a teacher and leader.

While in his prime his claim-to-fame was as a passrusher, he has now evolved into the best run-defender in the corps, and can sometimes still get to the QB. Those who think he doesn't earn his keep on the field don't know what they're looking at. An offensive lineman can be on top of him, and he can keep the guy off him and make the tackle anyway.

Shantee Orr was dirt-cheap too, and is a utility guy who can play any position. It's telling that, prior to Peek's injury, he was actually released. He is the last linebacker, and is pretty good.

Alex Hall was a SEVENTH-ROUND PICK from a micro-college, where he was a defensive end. Even Phil said that he was a developmental player who might be a special teamer this season, but probably wouldn't do much on defense until '09. But he was a prodigy, and became an instant passrusher. He's still learning coverage and run defense, but against the Jaguars did well in every phase.

This guy is bigger than Wimbley, and not as big as he will become. His upside is nearly off the charts, and the fact that he knocked Orr off the roster and off the field, splits time with Willie, and has played both outside spots already is astonishing.

Two theories about Wimbley's decline in production: 1: Lack of inside pressure enabled quarterbacks to evade him by stepping foreward into a cozy pocket. 2: The lack of edge-pressure from the other side enabled offensive lines to slide protection towards him without fear of a front-side penalty.

Phil addressed the pocket issue with two new defensive linemen. And make no mistake: Hll was here to become his bookend next season, while Peek was here to do that now. Phil did his job--admirably. For Wimbley, it doesn't appear to have helped. But Wimbley got twelve sacks as a rookie. How can you bash Phil for this? Is he supposed to coach Wimbley too? Or control him like a puppet?

Peek is another guy: I've heard so much crap about this guy, like he was no more than a situational passrusher. As a rookie, he was a starting 3-4 outside linebacker who got seven sacks. He was then injured, and new coaches created a 4-3. When he came back in THAT defense, he was a situational passrusher. His best position was always 3-4 outside linebacker, and Phil got him cheap to play that position.

Injuries? Well, it was a dice-roll, well worth his inexpensive salary. While Peek had been injured, there was not a strong pattern of injuries yet; no strong indication that he was prone to it. It was a smart move--it just didn't work out.

The fact is, Phil made sure that pockets would collapse, and provided a future bookend for Wimbley in one offseason (who is way ahead of schedule). Now, that's all he could do. If the results (with Wimbley) aren't showing up, it's not his fault. And this is a very good linebacking corps, with depth and upside. It's a lot more effective when Rogers is turned loose.

Why? Because the guard on his side, or the center, can't simply let him blow by and go get him a linebacker. A fullback or tight end is just a speed-bump for this guy. One of the guards simply has to help--having Rogers two-gap only helps the double-team set up the way they want it to, instead of forcing them to chase him.

McDonald was another FOURTH ROUND PICK, who is now as a sophomore one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL; maybe even better than Wright (and Bodden). His play speaks for itself, right from his first game as a rookie. He came here already accustomed to zone-schemes, and his scouting reports labelled him as a "nickel cornerback". Phil was right. They were wrong.
Again.

At the time Phil traded Leigh Bodden, Davin Holly was also here. Davin Holly, and undrafted free agent who Phil signed during the season when somebody rolled a hand grenade into the cornerback tent, and who, by the end of that season, had him a whole passel of interceptions and was expected to compete to start.

The fact that he was injured has nothing to do with Phil. The fact that nobody else wanted this guy has everything to do with Phil. Once again, he was right and the rest of the NFL was wrong.

Wright was a second-round pick with (undisputed) first-round talent. Some services and scouts tagged him as the best cornerback in his draft. The lowest he was rated by any that I know of was third. He was unmistakeably the fastest. He only slid due to what was apparantly a FALSE accusation of rape early in his college carreer. Phil got glowing reports from his coaches and professors, and siezed the opportunity.

He did okay as a rookie starter, started this season on the rocks, but for the last several games has been consistantly improving--to catch up to the less-gifted but better-disciplined Brandon McDonald as one of the better corners in the NFL.

He is the one they love to send blitzong from the strong side. He has world-class speed, and unless his attack is diagnosed pre-snap, an offense has no chance to stop him, or even to hit the reciever he abandoned. (though naturally a safety picks him up).

Mike Adams' price-tag and availablility were inexplicable. Adams was a sometime-starting safety with bunch of interceptions and tackles. At 195 lbs., he's actually a cornerback-free safety 'tweener who can cover WR's pretty well and is tough against the run. Due to his size, on paper he doesn't fit a cover-two scheme as a safety, but is an ideal nickel back (which these days is just about as important as any starter).

As we have seen, he is an exceptional blitzer. He has filled in at both safety spots and done well, including against the run. Against the run, he reminds me a lot of Feliz Wright, who was also small, but would knife the legs out from under bigger guys, and body-rock smaller guys. This is one outstanding player!

I'm not sure, but I think that Tucker has modified the coverage scheme away from the cover-two, in which the safeties are interchangeable. A conventional scheme uses a big strong strong safety and a fast sneaky free safety. It may just be that Tucker is making the most of his rovolving-door personel, and that this remains primarily a cover-two which can switch-up at any time to throw offenses curve-balls, or adapt to enemy personnel.

If I'm right, good for Mel.

Anyway, when everybody is healthy, Mike Adams is hands-down the nickel back, can play cornerback, and is the main backup at free safety.

Hamza Abdullah is a prototype cover two safety physicly. Whereas Adams is more a free-type, Abdullah has the size and strenth to do better as a strong-type. Abdullah was a starter who fell out of favor after an injury, and who Phil scooped up after he was released.

Still a young and improving player, Abdullah is talented, and should show up in rotations more often now that he has presumably learned and practiced the scheme. I couldn't say if he's really a starting-calbre player here, but for sure he does represent quality depth.

Nick Sorenson is a special teamer who was forced to play on defense due to injuries. He's an excellent blitzer and effective against the run, but is weak in coverage. He's not consistantly bad, but rather for every good play he makes, he gets burned once. But Phil got him for special teams. Anything he does in the regular defense is gravy.

So far, ALL these guys cost a grand total of one second and one fourth-round draft pick.

Pool and Jones are second-rounders. The only reason Jones didn't make the Pro Bowl last season was because of those bastards in Pukesburgh and Baltimore. Even then, he got screwed. He's easily the almost on a par with those two guys (and is younger than both), and a cut above the rest in the AFC. He's great against the run and gets interceptions.

Pool caught flak from ignorant people as a first-year player and beyond. He made some early mistakes, but has quickly become a match for Jones.

I won't even mention anyone else. Beyond Adams, cornerback depth sucks. If Wright or McDonald go down, that's a problem. Cousins as a barely adequate nickel guy who you do NOT want starting.

However, despite injuries to Jones and Adams, sometimes at the same time, just look at the post-Dallas stats. This secondary has not surrendered much yardage, has a passel of picks, and even accounts for a bunch of sacks and tackles-for-loss.

There is still the depth issue at cornerback. Adams is a zone-type when he plays corner, but most of those who were bleating about how we should sign some washed-up old big name and overpay him massively completely ignored this guy and the fact that in the right scheme he can play cornerback. Phil didn't. Who was right?

Under your radar, the acquisition of Abdullah has solidified safety depth. It's now downright excellent.

Isolating cornerback, there remains the need for a true cover-corner who is ready to step in for an injured starter.

But Phil has to manage a budget, and keep long-term goals in mind. He deemed Tye Law and other guys way to expensive (and uncooperative) for this depth-role. He will naturally address this in the future, but nobody who fit the bill has shown up in free agency to-date. It's just that simple.

Look at the results. Case closed.

This is a very good and improving secondary, with FOUR potential Pro-Bowlers (next season, of not this season).

From top-to-bottom a very talented defense.

Total cost? One first, three second, two fourth, and one seventh-round draft pick in three seasons. Who did it? Phil Savage.

Those are the facts. Deal with it. I rest my case.

Sawed-off Shotgun Analysis

I find it alternately hilarious and depressing to read and hear the childish treatment of the Browns issues by many, including alleged professional anal ists. Their solutions throw everybody under the same bus.



This is, truly, childish--as in a temper-tantrum. It's got nothing to do with the cerbral cortex and everything to do with surplus adrenaline and mindless rage.



I've heard "and that includes Lewis and Winslow", and one idiot even said "and don't tell me the defense did a good job", citing the yardage surrendered on the ground. And once again, a bunch of people don't want to stop at RAC, but let's fire Savage too. Bashing Chud's game-plan, and predicting another rebuild starting this off-season.



Take a pill!



Winslow was back after missing time, and was hardly thrown to. What the hell is Jamal supposed to do that he hasn't been doing? The same people who are screaming for Quinn and Harrison are those who want the guy who drafted them fired.



The guy who signed Cribbs as an undrafted free agent small school quarterback, Holly when nobody else wanted him, Wright when he slid because of BS, Lewis when everybody else thought he was through, Anderson on his way to a rival practice squad, Fraley for peanuts, Vickers in the late rounds, Rucker (stand by), Steptoe and Hall in the seventh, Harrison late, McDonald late, and rebuilt the offensive and defensive lines in two off-seasons--yeah fire HIM!



All this is HIS fault? Well...he shouldn't have extended RAC, but the money he paid DA? Shut up about that--that was the market. That was what they had to bid to keep him. And keeping him made sense, because, warts and all, he did what he did in only his first full season as a starter, and (try for once to comprehend this) young players tend to improve with experience. (I'm sick of repeating that. You just don't grasp this very simple concept).



20-20 hindsight is the favorite tool of the moron. Yeah--you knew it all along, right? Some of you got lucky by predicting DA's failure, so you scored one. But nobody with a BRAIN made that prediction, and the only reason you did was because you're idiots. Quinn is the future. Anderson was supposed to progress and mature as a quarterback, and turn himself into a first and second-round pick. It was SMART. But Anderson made Phil (and all the guys on NFL Radio, and Bernie Kosar, and all the talent scouts) look bad.

Didn't surprise you, right? Elway, both Mannings, and everybody else except Marino sucked in their first seasons. Idiots like you would be calling any of them a bust, too. You always did and always will.


Okay though--DA's had his chances, and it's Quinn time. But Romeo won't make that move, no matter what. Strike one. Clock mismanagement, strike two. Not BENCHING Edwards strike three. I got a bunch more strikes on him, but those will do for now. I want him out of here, and that's the only strike I can put on Savage.

And you Winslow-bashers are idiots too. He's been quiet about renegotiating and for the last two seasons has been a model player and and exceptional one. You're sick of his whining? When has he EVER whined (until now...I mean that Phil not calling him stuff...wow)? The point is, you're idiots for being sick of something that never happened!

You're like my ex. She was always sick of my doing something when I'd never done it before. I suspect it's a form of mental illness. One of you idiots even said he hasn't done anything since he's been here. Yeah, and the free market and McCain caused the housing crisis. You need your meds back, Sherlock!

Chud's game-plan? Not a damn thing wrong with it! Chud didn't tell Edwards to drop all those passes! He didn't tell DA to throw bad passes. And who knows who screwed up between him and the recievers on blown routes?

Idiot: This game-plan was similar to the one against the Giants. The players just blew it. My God, you guys are just a lynch-mob. You don't care who you hang, as long as you get to hang somebody! Why don't you just roll a couple grenades into the locker-room, you warped morons?

BENCH Edwards for his very next drop, start Quinn, fire RAC (and let Chud interim until Cowher comes in...oh yeah and more idocy: "Why would Cowher come here?" Because the team is loaded with young talent and the biggest problem with it is the Head Coach--that's why. I mean, nobody else in the NFL has anything negative to say about Savage. By now, that includes several scouts who predicted dire consequences if he didn't pick up a vederrunn cornerback immediately...because they were wrong and know it.)

Fire RAC, KEEP Savage.

And I do want to see Quinn, now. People who think he'll stumble and bumble around haven't paid any attention. He reads quickly, gets rid of it, and can scramble. He has good touch and accuracy, and his arm-strength is only an issue compared to DA's cannon. He's smart and spent two seasons in a Pro system in college. He's had a year and a half on the bench learning what not to do. He's ready. Put him out there.

I wonder about Randy Lerner too, but quit assuming he can't pick up a telephone, and isn't about to do something.

PHIL! FIRE RAC NOW! THEY'RE COMING UP THE ROAD WITH ROPES AND TORCHES! HURRY UP!

New Sherriff In Town

USA Today felt the upset monday night was of no interest. Pacman Jones must have bumped the blurb.

Not since Nelson, Sipe, and Kosar have the Browns had a QB who could overcome so many idiotic screw-ups. I'm certain that all the DA-bashers will proclaim it a fluke, and predict four interceptions vs. the Skins...and if that doesn't work out, predict it for the next and the next game until they get at least two. Might take awhile, but eventually they'll use their fancy mathematics to declare the second-year starter a bumb.

The guy we played, Eli? Took him over three years. DO YOU UNDERSTAND? And I guarantee you, that if Anderson ever does what he did, then has one game like monday night--they'll be declaring everything that went before a fluke. Unbelievable.

Edwards and Stallworth only dropped one pass apiece...both probable touchdowns. If they had dropped three or four more, as usual, or blown a route resulting in an interception, DA would still be a bumb. Everything is always all his fault, including deflections and idiotic penalties, you know.

At least on monday night Steve Young kept repeating that this didn't look like a fluke to him. It was domination. It was a better team. Others were and are picking at Eli, a lack of inspiration, the game-plan going away from the run.

The game plan went away from the run on the rare occasions when the run was blown up in or near the backfield by the frequent and long overdue blitzes, resulting in long yardage situations. And when the Browns expanded their lead. The clock-management late was inexplicable, though. It looked like the proverbial towel on the canvass.

Tucker returned the othe offensive line, and they, those roll-outs, three-step drops/quick releases (I TOLD YOU DA HAD IMPROVED HIS READS AND SHORT GAME), and Jamal Lewis neutralized that awesome pass rush. (Oh must include Vickers, Lewis blocking, and both Dinkens and Heiden--great job, guys!)

Savage snagged Anderson first in the seventh round and then off the Ravens practice squad. He signed a "washed-up" Lewis for chump-change. Hank Fraley too.

The Browns did this sans K2! And without Sean Jones. Jones absence definitely hurt. He's 225 lbs. and Adams under 200. Adams never stood a chance against that human cement truck. Jones would have spent more time near the box and attacking the run.

The Browns were finally ABLE to go deep by using misdirection, and due to the fact that Lewis was tearing them up. So was Harris, by the way.

The defense finally did what they should have all along: Attacked, on nearly every down. And it worked out like I said it would. Sometimes they got burned, but at least as often, they blew up plays and forced turnovers. This 3-4 needs to do that to running and passing offenses alike. It's what their personnel dictates.

Alex Hall is really coming on. McGinest made a big difference against the run (I mean it would have been even worse).

These were the world champs, undefeated, ranked atop the league in most categories.

What happens when Winslow and Jones return? And Rucker. (I read a guy say that with all the time he missed, he might not be able to do much. Look, he was doing great in preseason and has had his playbook. Let's not overthink this, ok?) Even JJ could return eventually. What about Shaffer? He did well last season--why can't he return to that form? His return at RT would move Tucker to RG and upgrade the line overall.

Tucker is the unsung hero. He had a lot to do with both the running and the passing. Many of the runs went to his side--the Browns weren't left-handed as usual. Tucker is perhaps the most underrated offensive lineman in football--he should have been in several Pro Bowls. He's athletic enough for zone-blocking and powerful enough to simply blow people away. He had a lot to do with this win.

They also did this without Shaun Smith, and with Robaire on IR. The Browns were starting "severe lack of depth" guys!!!

Speaking of which, here's something else: Young players tend to IMPROVE. Is any of that sinking in yet? You seem to think it's possible to have six Sean Rogers'. It's not. Please believe me. And you seem to think that "raw, needs development" means "he will always suck no matter what so don't sign him period".

Couple items: I heard one of the analysts look right at that end-zone pass going exactly between Stallworth's hands, and this guy says "Now a quarterback will see that and say 'oh, he should have made that catch!', heh-heh." Well it went RIGHT BETWEEN HIS HANDS, ok? What the hell was that guy looking at?

It was a perfect pass, too. The defender was all over Stallworth, and he's only 6' tall, so he couldn't leap like Edwards or K2. Anderson placed it over the defender's hands and exactly where only Stallworth could grab it.

He caught people IN-STRIDE with nearly every pass. He went deep while rolling out. He shocked even ME with his accuracy, both short and long.

From the gun to the end, every unit played to their potentials. Only the stupid, idiotic, inexplicable false starts and an intermittant (that means not constant) vulnerability to the run marred this. And what the hell is going on with those penalties? Make those guys run gassers or fine them or something! It's rediculous! You can't EXPECT a QB to bail you out of all those long-yardage situations every single series!

Yeah--and you can't expect DA to be as good as he was monday every game. You need to expect him to be consistantly good, but even Brady and Peyton have mediocre games. The bashers will sue this, too. They're like interior decorators; masters of shade and contrast. Now ONE interception, less than 70% completions, and less than 250 yards will elicit "same old bumb".

You guys are rediculous.

Savage is grinning ear-to-ear. He can give you Quinn next season, and get a ton of draft picks for DA. All DA has to be is pretty good (to the objective, sane, rational observer--which you aint).

The most important thing? He had TIME. This is one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, and they're finally playing that way again.

Oh yeah. I'm listening to NFL Radio and they're talking about the Redskins like the Browns are an asterisk. They lost a hearbreaker last week and Riggins and company expect them to rebound. The Browns absolutely have to beat them, too, before they get any respect.

And hey--you idots chanting "overrated" at the Giants? What the hell is the matter with you? That's one of the three or four best teams in the NFL. That's just irrefutable. They're the Superbowl Champs, mostly intact. It doesn't occur to you that the Browns were underrated? Idiots.

All the lowly Browns have are Jamal Lewis, K2, Braylon Edwards, Steinbach, Thomas, Tucker, Fraley, Heiden, Rogers, McDionals (fourth round pick), Jones, Pool, Wight, Harrison, and bumbs like that, right? How can you win anything with no talent?

In the real world, it was only a matter of time.

Look, last week I wondered why nobody but me noticed that the fourth quarter vs. Cinci was a lot better than the preceding three. It appeared to me that a corner was turned, right there, and with the bye week coming up. They gave the Stoolers hell before that. Dallas humiliated them in game one, but since that game, they were competitive and just kept shooting themselves in the foot offensively. The defense was consistantly improving. Where would they have been ranked SINCE the Dallas game? NEAR THE TOP OF THE LEAGUE is where.

And most RECENT performances mean a lot more than overall. This is how you calculate trends.

I remain not a big Romeo fan. Chud and Tucker created the game-plans, and you simply have to make the buck stop at the top for false starts and stupid crap like that.

And during an interview he talked about Harrison's "skill-sets" and "finding a way" to get him on the field. The only freaking thing he can't do is stop a 260-lb. linebacker. He can do everything ELSE--what a knucklehead!

Of course, vs. the Giants...okay. When Lewis wasn't trampling people, he was picking up blitzes, and those guys are ALL big. I did like how he was used against this specific team. And I bet it was Chud's idea and he had to fight for it.

Well okbye.

Subjective Quinnbot QB Analysis 101

Section 1: Subjective multiplication and division:

Preface: Recievers never run incorrect routes. Any balls which are tipped are the quarterback's fault unless he is Brady Quinn. A shift in a 40 mph wind on long passes is of no consequence. Being hit does not count unless the QB is Quinn.

Whenever DA throws a bad pass or a pass is dropped, multiply by three. In this way, all he needs are three misses to have a horrible day which you can rant about in a chat room.

Whenever DA throws a complete pass, divide by three. This means that he must throw three completions in order for you to grudgingly admit that he is accurate on rare occasions. But always remember that if a reciever has to slow down slightly or dive it was still a bad pass.

Now, there are no reasons. Only excuses. Excuses are invalid. Excuses include coming from behind, a porous offensive line, a stifled running game, defensive tactics, coincussions, lost time, injured wide recievers, drops, blown routes, wind, being hit, poor game-planning, second year as starter, and everything else anybody can think of. Always remember to say that you are sick of excuses, even when you haven't heard any yet.

The two one-handed TD receptions Edwards made had nothing to do with touch. This was an illusion. It's okay to say they were spectacular catches, since this implies that the ball was poorly thrown. Remember that DA has no touch and throws every ball as hard as he can.

"Deer in the headlights" is always reliable. Remember this if you run out of other criticisms. Say that he looked like a deer caught in the headlights. People will think that you were actually watching him and are observant.

This concludes Subjective QB Analysis 101.

Dear Hysterical Self-Soiling Savage-Bashers.

Below is the Huddle Report's chart of how soon various draft picks are expected to make major contributions (if ever, in the case of the latest round):
1st round
1 - 10
First game of first year / 1st game Braylon Edwards, Joe Thomas
We believe the longer a young quarterbacks can sit and learn the better. The reality is that the pressure to play the QB does not allow for the time needed.
11 - 32
2nd half of first year / 9th game Wimbley, Quinn
65 - 100
2nd half of second year / 25th game
Round 2 - 3
First game of third year / 33rd game Sean Jones, Brodney Pool, D'Qwell Jackson, Eric Wright,
101 - 160
First game of third year / 33rd game
Round 4 - 7
First game of fourth year / 49th game Beau Bell, Jerome Harrison, LAWRENCE VICKERS, BRANDON MCDONALD, Leon Williams, A. Rubin, A. STEPTOE, I. Sowells,
161 - 255
First game of fourth year / 49th game ALEX HALL, Paul Hubbard,
Created by Drew Boylhart and Robby Esch The Huddle Report

The above are all core players. We must also remember that Rogers goes in place of a second rounder, and Corey Williams in place of a third. If you have a BRAIN, you'll take that deal.

Sowells, right on schedule, has finally evolved into a viable right tackle wsho can also play guard.

VETERAN FREE AGENTS: FRALEY, ROGERS, ADAMS, STEINBACH, THE SMITH BROTHERS, WILLIAMS, Orr, McGinest, Schaffer, Hadnot, K Griffin (might be UFA), McKinney, ZASTUDIL, STALLWORTH, JAMAL LEWIS , DERRICK ANDERSON

UNDRAFTED: Lewis Leonard, CRIBBS, DAVIN HOLLY.

Savage has rebuilt this team from the ground up; the offensive and defensive lines entire in one offseason each.

As you can see, Phil dug up some real gems in the lower rounds and undrafteds, and almost every one of these players is way ahead of schedule. But there are REASONS why some of them slid into the lower rounds. The most common reason is that they were raw, and needed further development. Young players screw up until they stop screwing up, see?

This is a young, but extremely talented team. Find me a talent scout or GM who would disagree with this. It's common knowlege, except on the barstools of Cleveland.

If you want to bash Phil for extending RAC, that's fine. As long as you remember that he also hired Chud, and all of you were scratching your heads trying to figure out how you make a kid TE Coach into an offensive coordinator overnight.

If you want to throw somebody overboard, pick RAC and I'll help...as long as you let me put on a back brace first. But even here, you're deliberately ignoring the fact that BOTH JJ and Stallworth went down, the offensive line played musical chairs, Lewis was lame, and DA missed a lot of time.

Don't give me that "good teams overcome injuries" crap when the Pats just went down to Miami and the first two teams they played were Dallas and the Stoolers. (No excuse for the Ravens game--so stipulated. This team is better than that team and should have stomped the overaged perennially overrated offensively-challenged clowns. But that was...COACHING, right? And a general lack of discipline--how on earth can you manage to blame Savage for this?)

Having said that, I would like to see Bill Cowher (and NOT Marty) here next season, and would consider Chud. (Yeah, he's screwed up a little, but he's still young. I have no idea if he can manage a whole team now or ever, but will let the bosses figure that part out).

Anyway, Belitnikoph, I'll leave you to your foaming tantrum now, but I've issued Phil a life preserver and flare gun in case, in your hysterical frenzy, you get your hands on him too.