BL live blog: Zone blitz ineffective

Browns D is zone blitzing on every play and Carson Palmer is managing
it beautifully

Kosar on the Brown's wide receivers

Bernie Kosar sounds off in this linked article, about the Browns main problem, their wideouts.

Here is a key snippet from the article:

"Of all the guys, Josh [Cribbs] is probably doing the best job at receiver," said Kosar. "He is making a lot of progress. He's using his hands to get open. He doesn't get shoved off his routes."
What is happening to the offense in the second half?
"I don't think it's so much our lack of adjustments," said Kosar. "Eric [Mangini] and his staff are starting games with some really good schemes. The other teams adjust to us, and then it comes down to talent -- man-on-man. You can't out-scheme the other team for the entire game."

BL Predicts: Week Four vs the Bengals

Predicting NFL games is a mechanical exercise. Each week we consider and add up the following factors:

- the home team wins 57% of the games in the NFL, that's worth about 3 points

- compare the talent of the team's healthy players and their ability to play and execute the game as a team.

- Look for emotional factors that might give advantage to one team or the other.

Week 4 against Cincinnati stacks up as follows

- Browns are at home so they start with 3 points in the bag
- The Bengals are a balanced and talented team, capable of executing well at each position. The Browns have no talent at WR, a weak right side of the offensive line, a good TE, good QB's and average running backs. On D, the Browns appear highly motivated behind the creative leadership of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, albeit the Browns lack depth and talent on the defensive line. On talent let's give the Bengals a 7 point advantage on the Brownies.
- Emotionally, there is a bad sign for Cleveland. This week, Running back Jerome Harrison publicly expressed displeasure with Coach Mangini. A veteran player like Harrison won't normally openly rebel against the coach unless other players on the team share his opinion. Harrison's complaint may indeed be indicative of internal dissension in the Browns clubhouse. So far the Browns have played well in 2010 every game, right up until the moment that they have a gut check, and then they fall apart. Teams have a collective character, and the Browns offensive character is, well, offensive. Gauging this factor is very difficult and that's why not too many people get rich betting on NFL games. The best we can do is look at the clues and this week it looks gloomy. In football more than any sport, one man can lift an entire team out of the abyss with great effort, but the Browns only playmaker is Josh Cribbs and so far this season teams are doing everything they can to assure that Cribbs doesn't have the opportunity to lift the Browns spirits. Give the Bengals another 5 points for the emotional edge factor.

I hate to say it, but all signs point to an 0-4 start for the Browns. Once again I hope we are wrong.......

BL Predicts:
Bengals 21
Browns 12

Recap: Another Sunday, another loss

Coach Mangini had nobody to blame but himself for Sunday's loss vs the Ravens. The Browns did not turn over the ball the entire game, no interceptions, no fumbles.

We lost anyways.

BL predicts: Week Three vs Baltimore

The Brown Log have two predictions this week:

- First prediction is that if the Browns arrive to 0-4, Holmgren will fire Mangini and replace him with Rob Ryan

- Second prediction is relative to this Sunday's matchup at Baltimore. Ryan's defense is coming together as a group. TJ Ward gets better every week and Ryan always has a variation up his sleeve that forces opponents to make adjustments.

On the other side of the ball however, our offense will have to face the Ravens who have yet to give up a touchdown all season. Seneca Wallace will likely once again take the reigns but the Browns simply don't have any playmakers that can step up and help Wallace move the ball. Frustratingly, Mangini puts Josh Cribbs on the field with the offense about 5 plays per game while our regular wideouts simply are unable to get open. It's hard to imagine fumble prone Peyton Hillis doing much, while Jerome Harrison is fighting an injury.

I think both teams will struggle to score, but the Ravens in the end, should get past the Browns. The bad news with a loss would be a horrible 0-3 start, the good news would be that we would be one step closer to ending the Mangini era in Cleveland.

In any case, here's hoping Rob Ryan's crew dominate the Ravens and our Browns sneak out of Baltimore with a W.

BL Predicts

Ravens 19
Browns 13

2011 NFL Draft Preview

Since the 2010 season is already nearly over, as loyal Browns fans, it's time to put our concentration onto the 2011 season.
click on this link to review a list of the top draft prospects in the upcoming 2011 NFL draft. Though our Browns really need to shore up the receiver position, it might be very hard to resist taking Ohio State defensive end Cameron Heyward with that number 1 pick as Heyward is rated by most scouts as the best prospect in the draft.

BL Live Blog: 0-2

-Is it time for Mike Holmgren take a realistic look at Mangini before we
end up 0-16? Mangini's personnel and tactical decisions are wide
open for attack but I think the thing that disturbs me most is his
body language on the sidelines during the game. Players absolutely
take a cue from the head coach and Mangini's body language tells the
tale of the season for the Browns. When something bad happened to
Bill Cowher, he immediately started working on remotivating the
players. With Mangini, one look at him and you would think the world
had just ended. Football is an emotional game, a teams leader needs
to understand that.

BL Live Blog: 3:41 left, it's money time

Brilliant play by Marcus Bernard to tip that pass

Let's see if Wallace can lead us to a win

BL Live Blog

chiefs have a chance to eat clock.........

BL Live Blog: Here we go again?

16-14 Chiefs...................
Can the Browns O move the ball in the 11th hour?

BL Live Blog: 4th quarter = character

Will the Browns show character and hold their lead or will they fold
again in week 2?

The entire season may ride on the answer to that question. 87% of
teams that start the season 0-2 do not make the playoffs.

BL Live Blog: Second half blues?

The Browns played an awful second half last week, as the Bucs adjusted
at halftime. Will this week be a repeat?
On D, the opening drive, KC marched right down field. However one
thing I like about Ryan's D, is that in key moments, the defensive
players make good reads. On the 3rd and goal, the Browns D had 11
players running to the ball. It's clear that as the season
progresses this group will get better.

BL Live Blog: Great heads up play by NT Rubin

Nice tip by Roth leading to the intercept