Harrison Will Play

First of all, I wish people would think more. Like, I wish these NFL Radio guys wouls quit saying "New York football Giants". The baseball team left new York before you were born. There is no longer any possibility of confusion. It's mindless.

Anyway, no respect. I quite understand a lot of guys this week picking Denver to win based on Denver having it more together right now. I can't fathom how they could be predicting two wins for the season, etc....

Adam Scheinn perennially predicts horrible seasons for the Browns, regardless of talent or coaching.

Anyway, the Browns have a much better chance since the guys who are more objective than this guy are still ignoring them, and basing their decisions on raw stats and ass umptions.

Gil Brandt, for example, just last week pointed out that the Browns had no recievers (aside from Edwards). That was spectacularly wrong--and Brandt is a very, very smart guy!!! Scheinn--now he could look right AT Josh Cribbs, Mike Furrey, and even the two other guys and still say nobody can get open or catch. They'll still keep saying Royal is just a blocker no matter how many passes he catches. Adam always decides that the Browns suck and then spends five to seven minutes filtering out the good stuff in order to prove it scientificly. Gil just doesn't have time for a weak team.

Anyway, all they see from last week is the stats. The first half doesn't register. The newness of the offense and the players within it are ignored. The Browns stuff Peterson for most of three quarters and then cave in, and this means they can't stop the run...right? One TD is disqualified on replay, and it never happened.

Well, Denver beat a good team last week. The Bungles are getting all sorts of credit for being improved, and objective analysts admit it. I guess they just don't have any room left to acknowlege the fact that the 09 Browns are at least as talented as the 07 version.

Except for guys like Kaplan and Scheinn, I can't pick on any of the national guys who think the Browns are worse than they are. Jim Miller, for example, thinks the Broncos will win because Orton hit eight different recievers last week, they contained a very potent and underrated offense, and Quinn had a mediocre game. At least he did SOME home-work and is trying to think with his brain.

And he might be right. Dammit.

But Harrison is the X-factor. As I read it, he was ok last week, but given an extra week as a precaution. Finally, at long last, he will have a real opportunity under an intelligent coach. He might catch or run with the ball fifteen or more times in this game, since Davis will be protected. Quinn has the touch to hit him short, and the new Broncos sport a NEW 3-4 where mistakes could be made.

The Browns offensive line has practiced against a 3-4 and won't screw up blocking as much...especially Mack.

The Broncos, I think, still run a zone-blocking scheme. The Browns have the big/quick goons up front to blow that up through penetration and power, and can bull-rush from every area. The Browns OLB's and defensive line can win individual matchups.

Last week, Quinn looked better later in the game.

Now, I like the fact that Mangini, once the decision was made, stuck with Quinn, and seems determined to do so through predictable and inevittable rough spots. After a few games, we'll have a good idea of who Quinn is. After a full season we can be more certain.

I predict that the Browns will beat the Broncos unless the Broncos score more points than they do.