Cleveland Browns: We're All Gonna Die Part 1,016

In this article by Terry Pluto, he talks about "good impressions" from the Browns' OTAs.  Note the title:  Good impressions.

Out came the permabashers, with their sneering, snide crap.  Reminds me of junior high.

"Does Terry Pluto work for the paper or the Browns?"

"C'mon, we're talking about practice!"  What does that have to do with anything?

"I have no faith in this team".  Well that's ok--it's not snide, and sounds sincere.  But why not?  Everything about the team from top-to-bottom is new.  Are you superstitious, or is that Stockholm Syndrome?

Terry points out that last season, the Browns gave up between 23 and 30 points in their first four games, and an average of 13.4 in their next four.

"Nice spin.  I'm sure playing the Raiders and Buccaneers in the second span of games had nothing to do with the improvement".

I guess so.  But the first four were stacked: Steelers, Saints, Ravens and Titans.  They held the Steelers to ten points in game 5.

But the guy makes a point.

"This 'analysis' also ignores the fact in the second half of the season, the Browns gave up 23+ points in 5 out of 8 games.  In fact, the gave up more points in their last 8 games than they did in their first 8".

That's sort of cheating.  Without Alex Mack, the offense took a nose dive.  The defense was on the field far too often and wore down.  Phil Taylor down for the season, Billy Winn in and out and playing hurt, Kitchen, Rubin, etc. all missing significant time.  They were starting undrafted free agents on the defensive line.  Then down goes Gipson!  

Still, this last post wasn't idiotic, at least.  It's rare when a permabasher can actually back up his case with more than whining and ad hominum attacks.

Fortunately, the positive comments outnumbered the negatives.

Most people understand that Mary Kay and Terry will look for positive stuff in general, and it's easy enough to find with 49 players.  They leave the bashing to damn near everybody else.

I read another article on the offense looking bad.  And it has.  Terry chose to write that the defense looked good.  And it has.

It's not a surprise.  The offense is learning a new system, and the defense is installing "graduate level" stuff, building on last year.

And the flag football drills they've been running can't test the running game.

(Snicker) "More excuses" (snort).

Ahh, bite me.