The Browns in '09 should follow the Falcons in '08

[damajuki]

Well, gents, since '08 is now officially irrelevant except for how it affects our draft/FA period, let's talk seriously about next year.

 

And when I think of next year and how to turn this thing around promptly, I can't help but think about what the Falcons have done/are doing this year. We need to follow their model.

 

1. Restructure the front office Savage should stay on as GM but his focus should be on personnel. It's obvious that's what he loves and excels at and despite much of the negativity on here, there's no doubt the talent on the team is better than when he arrived. He has missed on plenty of picks but he's also hit on enough and shown some creativity with his moves (e.g. the Rogers theft).

 

That being said, I have to agree with Grossi's take that an absentee owner and an absentee GM are a bad combo and the results are what we've seen this year, both in the lack of organizational structure/unity and in the reaction to the controversies.

 

The solution? Take some stuff off Savage's plate. Hire someone to handle the football admin stuff and make him the public face of all things Browns. Since it's obvious Phil doesn't like that part of the job and he prefers to be out scouting, let him do that and get a guy who will represent the franchise well. I don't care how you do it title-wise, but you figure out a way to focus Phil on players and let someone else with more public relations skills be the public face.

 

The Falcons moved their GM (McKay) up to President after the Vick insanity and got a real player guy from the Pats (Dimitroff). We should do something similar.

 

2. Hire the right coach. The Falcons got a tough, successful, well-respected, defensive-minded coach in Mike Smith, a guy few had heard of but who was popular with his players and fellow coaches because of his intensity but also his abililty to get players on the same page.

 

From accounts in ATL papers and elsewhere, players feel like he treats them like men and holds everyone accountable. The results this year are obvious; the Falcons are playing as a team and are mentally tough.

 

RAC must go. His replacement should be in the Smith mold but in our case also has to have one other key quality to truly set him apart from Romeo: he must be on the younger side.

 

I have to think that Romeo's age and demeanor are a major drawback for an HC in today's NFL. It's not hard for me to imagine guys tuning out someone they see as a father (or grandfather) figure, especially if his style is to be more positive and supportive. It's easy to mistake supportive for soft and I think guys take advantage of Romeo and what they see as him coddling them. The lack of accountability and toughness on the field is at least partially on the coach.

 

Possible candidates that would fit the mold for us: Rex Ryan, Steve Spagnola, Ron Rivera. I'd bring all three in and see who really stands out.

 

3. Get a stud RB. Savage's two biggest mistakes this year were counting on DA and counting on Lewis, despite all evidence showing RB's approaching 30 decline rapidly. Both gambles backfired.

 

The Falcons put their faith in younger, fresher legs and spent the cash on Michael Turner (cash we elected not to spend on him because we picked Jamal). Turner has been the absolute beast RB many predicted he'd be, including some of you on this board.

 

This year has highlighted like no other in recent memory what a young, stud RB can do for a team. Look at the teams who are surprising this year: Atlanta, Chicago, Tennessee. What do they all have in common? Young, fast, strong RBs.

 

But a new RB by itself is not enough. We have to also commit to the running game, something Chud seems loathe to do. A good running game is essential to a good defense as I have no doubt our new defensive-minded coach will agree.

 

BTW, we could get away with Jamal as our thunder and Jerome as our lightning for a year but that wouldn't address the bigger issue of committing to finding a guy who can run the ball consistently. That's a vital and necessary component to building a winner.

 

4. Start the young QB. This is really where the train went off the tracks this year. Instead of committing to the plan he hatched on draft day 2007, Phil blinked. He panicked and gave DA the cash instead of taking the picks and continuing to build around young players.

 

The reality is that you must have a quality young QB in this league and the majority of the time you find that QB in the first round. Phil knows this and acted accordingly but somewhere along the way he got distracted by DA.

 

We've paid the price for that decision this year. Now it's time to continue with the original plan. Quinn should be designated the starter because that's the plan. You don't draft a guy in the first round with Quinn's credentials to sit him for 3 years. It's an asinine use of not only a #1 draft pick and money but more importantly of organizational credibility. For those still arguing who should start next year if DA's around, you're missing the point; it was decided that Quinn would be the starter the day he was drafted.

 

The Falcons drafted Ryan #1 and as soon as they saw he could handle the team and the huddle they gave him the keys. To be sure, he hasn't been perfect but he's been growing every week and is already a legit NFL QB.

 

How the Falcons handled their #1 draft pick QB is in stark contrast to how the Browns handled Quinn, both last year and this year. Their situation provides an instructive example of how a young, dynamic leader can uplift an entire franchise.

 

So, don't despair, Browns fans. Remember where Atlanta was at this time last year, reeling from the Vick situation, starting Joey Harrington and about to be abandoned by a fraud of a coach. Things could not have looked worse.

 

And look where they are now.

 

It will take some creativity from Lerner that we admittedly haven't seen. But the possibility exists. Follow the Falcons, Randy...

[Lumbergh]

And look where they are now.

 

...3rd in their division, a game out of the wild card.

 

[listercat]

Well, gents, since '08 is now officially irrelevant except for how it affects our draft/FA period, let's talk seriously about next year.

 

And when I think of next year and how to turn this thing around promptly, I can't help but think about what the Falcons have done/are doing this year. We need to follow their model.

 

1. Restructure the front office Savage should stay on as GM but his focus should be on personnel. It's obvious that's what he loves and excels at and despite much of the negativity on here, there's no doubt the talent on the team is better than when he arrived. He has missed on plenty of picks but he's also hit on enough and shown some creativity with his moves (e.g. the Rogers theft).

 

That being said, I have to agree with Grossi's take that an absentee owner and an absentee GM are a bad combo and the results are what we've seen this year, both in the lack of organizational structure/unity and in the reaction to the controversies.

 

The solution? Take some stuff off Savage's plate. Hire someone to handle the football admin stuff and make him the public face of all things Browns. Since it's obvious Phil doesn't like that part of the job and he prefers to be out scouting, let him do that and get a guy who will represent the franchise well. I don't care how you do it title-wise, but you figure out a way to focus Phil on players and let someone else with more public relations skills be the public face.

 

The Falcons moved their GM (McKay) up to President after the Vick insanity and got a real player guy from the Pats (Dimitroff). We should do something similar.

 

2. Hire the right coach. The Falcons got a tough, successful, well-respected, defensive-minded coach in Mike Smith, a guy few had heard of but who was popular with his players and fellow coaches because of his intensity but also his abililty to get players on the same page.

 

From accounts in ATL papers and elsewhere, players feel like he treats them like men and holds everyone accountable. The results this year are obvious; the Falcons are playing as a team and are mentally tough.

 

RAC must go. His replacement should be in the Smith mold but in our case also has to have one other key quality to truly set him apart from Romeo: he must be on the younger side.

 

I have to think that Romeo's age and demeanor are a major drawback for an HC in today's NFL. It's not hard for me to imagine guys tuning out someone they see as a father (or grandfather) figure, especially if his style is to be more positive and supportive. It's easy to mistake supportive for soft and I think guys take advantage of Romeo and what they see as him coddling them. The lack of accountability and toughness on the field is at least partially on the coach.

 

Possible candidates that would fit the mold for us: Rex Ryan, Steve Spagnola, Ron Rivera. I'd bring all three in and see who really stands out.

 

3. Get a stud RB. Savage's two biggest mistakes this year were counting on DA and counting on Lewis, despite all evidence showing RB's approaching 30 decline rapidly. Both gambles backfired.

 

The Falcons put their faith in younger, fresher legs and spent the cash on Michael Turner (cash we elected not to spend on him because we picked Jamal). Turner has been the absolute beast RB many predicted he'd be, including some of you on this board.

 

This year has highlighted like no other in recent memory what a young, stud RB can do for a team. Look at the teams who are surprising this year: Atlanta, Chicago, Tennessee. What do they all have in common? Young, fast, strong RBs.

 

But a new RB by itself is not enough. We have to also commit to the running game, something Chud seems loathe to do. A good running game is essential to a good defense as I have no doubt our new defensive-minded coach will agree.

 

BTW, we could get away with Jamal as our thunder and Jerome as our lightning for a year but that wouldn't address the bigger issue of committing to finding a guy who can run the ball consistently. That's a vital and necessary component to building a winner.

 

4. Start the young QB. This is really where the train went off the tracks this year. Instead of committing to the plan he hatched on draft day 2007, Phil blinked. He panicked and gave DA the cash instead of taking the picks and continuing to build around young players.

 

The reality is that you must have a quality young QB in this league and the majority of the time you find that QB in the first round. Phil knows this and acted accordingly but somewhere along the way he got distracted by DA.

 

We've paid the price for that decision this year. Now it's time to continue with the original plan. Quinn should be designated the starter because that's the plan. You don't draft a guy in the first round with Quinn's credentials to sit him for 3 years. It's an asinine use of not only a #1 draft pick and money but more importantly of organizational credibility. For those still arguing who should start next year if DA's around, you're missing the point; it was decided that Quinn would be the starter the day he was drafted.

 

The Falcons drafted Ryan #1 and as soon as they saw he could handle the team and the huddle they gave him the keys. To be sure, he hasn't been perfect but he's been growing every week and is already a legit NFL QB.

 

How the Falcons handled their #1 draft pick QB is in stark contrast to how the Browns handled Quinn, both last year and this year. Their situation provides an instructive example of how a young, dynamic leader can uplift an entire franchise.

 

So, don't despair, Browns fans. Remember where Atlanta was at this time last year, reeling from the Vick situation, starting Joey Harrington and about to be abandoned by a fraud of a coach. Things could not have looked worse.

 

And look where they are now.

 

It will take some creativity from Lerner that we admittedly haven't seen. But the possibility exists. Follow the Falcons, Randy...

 

Could not agree more with this take

[damajuki]

...3rd in their division, a game out of the wild card.

7-4, coming off a huge win at Carolina, in the thick of the division race.

 

Why are you even in this thread? It's for Browns fans. It mentions DA only in passing.

 

But I guess your crazy negativity knows no bounds...

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

Great post. Agree on all counts.

[Riffer X]

Excellent, excellent read Dam, and I can't find a thing I disagree with.

 

This is a make or break year for Lerner as far as I'm concerned. If he chooses to sit back and tell us everything is ok, then we have major issues. I am still in utter amazement at the turnarounds of Miami and Atlanta, so it does give us hope that if things are done correctly, this ship can be righted.

 

However, if Lerner sits back and doesn't make the changes you just mentioned, then I will find it very hard to be optimistic about next year's team.

 

Re: The running back. I'm quite confident that new blood will get the Harrison thing and how we're treading water with Lewis. What I'm getting at is maybe we can wait another year on that, but it's contingent on Lewis not becoming a distraction not being the primary back. Lewis talks a good game, but he has a lot of Winslow/Edwards in him when it comes to being the man.

 

You didn't get into personnel much, but much of the dead weight needs gutted like Edwards, Winslow, Shaffer, DA, Davis etc. We need to get young and concentrate on the draft and keeping cap space. I went off in this thread about a lot of things.

[Lumbergh]

7-4, coming off a huge win at Carolina, in the thick of the division race.

 

The Jets are a bigger turnaround than the Falcons, and they benched their young QB for a vet.

[Legacy Fan]

The Jets are a bigger turnaround than the Falcons, and they benched their young QB for a vet.

Right. Just a vet. Not a shoo-in 1st ballot HOF'er, either. Just some waiver-wire vet.

 

Just when I think I can't read anything dumber in a post from you, you step up to the plate & fly out to the warning track. If only your boyfriend maintained 1/10th of your consistency, we'd be leading the division.

 

 

 

Great post, juke. If a position opens up in the FO, you better be on the 1st flight to Berea.

[d531]

Agreed...sounds like a plan

[damajuki]

Right. Just a vet. Not a shoo-in 1st ballot HOF'er, either. Just some waiver-wire vet.

 

Just when I think I can't read anything dumber in a post from you, you step up to the plate & fly out to the warning track. If only your boyfriend maintained 1/10th of your consistency, we'd be leading the division.

 

 

Great post, juke. If a position opens up in the FO, you better be on the 1st flight to Berea.

Thanks, Leg. As long as I can take you, Riff, Alo, heck, shep, Flugs and even Ate for a dose of cynicism to keep things balanced, I'd accept.

 

And thanks for shooting Lum's ridiculous quasi-comparison to the Browns down. Dude is REACHING nowadays...

[damajuki]

The Jets are a bigger turnaround than the Falcons, and they benched their young QB for a vet.

Um, no, they benched THEIR ineffective vet (Pennington) for THEIR young QB (Clemens).

 

Then they got Brett Favre.

 

Once again, the Bumbling Thread Assassin fails!

[Flugel]

The Jets are a bigger turnaround than the Falcons, and they benched their young QB for a vet.

 

Not REALLY - they were 9-7 from an easy 2006 schedule so they just got brought down to earth with a more challenging 2007 schedule and a starting QB with an injured throwing arm/shoulder. They were easy to defend. Thomas Jones is the SAME RB - he just doesn't have 11 defenders in the box to run through any more.

 

Now they got a healthy Hall of Fame QB with a cannon arm that's used to winning providing a whole lot of winning. They also brought in free agents on the oline that had LESS wear and tear than Joe Andruzzi.

 

I know you think your boyfriend is another Brett Favre but Brett knows how to tie his own shoes and throw more TD passes to his WRs than opposing DBs.

 

You're the ONLY fan in this country that isn't impressed by Atlanta. Good for you.

- Tom F.(Bottom line: You were wrong about Dumb Ass being our Saviour. He sucks poodle peepee!)

[nickers]

 

The Falcons put their faith in younger, fresher legs and spent the cash on Michael Turner (cash we elected not to spend on him because we picked Jamal). Turner has been the absolute beast RB many predicted he'd be, including some of you on this board.

 

 

 

Then apparently Sewage is not doing his job...

[damajuki]

Excellent, excellent read Dam, and I can't find a thing I disagree with.

 

This is a make or break year for Lerner as far as I'm concerned. If he chooses to sit back and tell us everything is ok, then we have major issues. I am still in utter amazement at the turnarounds of Miami and Atlanta, so it does give us hope that if things are done correctly, this ship can be righted.

 

However, if Lerner sits back and doesn't make the changes you just mentioned, then I will find it very hard to be optimistic about next year's team.

 

Re: The running back. I'm quite confident that new blood will get the Harrison thing and how we're treading water with Lewis. What I'm getting at is maybe we can wait another year on that, but it's contingent on Lewis not becoming a distraction not being the primary back. Lewis talks a good game, but he has a lot of Winslow/Edwards in him when it comes to being the man.

 

You didn't get into personnel much, but much of the dead weight needs gutted like Edwards, Winslow, Shaffer, DA, Davis etc. We need to get young and concentrate on the draft and keeping cap space. I went off in this thread about a lot of things.

Thanks. It's been percolating for some time. Having the day off helps me focus on what REALLY matters.

 

Yeah, it's all on Lerner at this point. If he's any kind of businessman, he should realize he's in a bad situation here. Again, look at Falcons owner Arthur Blank. A lot of people thought he was WAY too involved and way to close to the players, especially with Vick, and he was.

 

But he owned up to his mistake, apologized to the city and the fans and then fixed the situation. That's a good businessman.

 

It's time for Lerner to do the same. It's really on him. He needs to do SOMETHING because even we hardcore freaks are beginning to bail. That's bad news for any business.

 

Totally agree with you on the RB situation and especially on how it hinges on Lewis. Is he willing to become our Bus (or, to borrow Leg's favorite moniker, our Snow Plow)? Is he willing to be the Man in a different but even more important way, i.e., the Man in the locker room, the veteran Man other players look to, the Man that the team rallies around?

 

He's shown signs of being that guy but it will take a little ego stroking and a lot of actually changing our philosophy to actually BE a running team and not just SAY we are (ahem, I'm looking at you, Chudly) so that there enough carries for him AND the other guys.

 

My ideal RB situation next year would be Lewis accepting his leadership Snow Plow role and keeping the starting job with Jerome getting real minutes and a quality young RB to beat out Wright.

 

I'd like to see us be a run-first, play-action pass, ball control offense (a la Tennessee or Indy) and scrap this mirage of a downfield offense. I would target 25-30 run plays a game to begin the year and give Jamal 12-15, Jerome 10-12 and the rest would go to the rookie or the hot hand. Depending on how the season progressed, I would adjust accordingly.

 

Bottom line is that we need a coach and an O that recognizes the strengths of Brady Quinn and the realities of playing in Cleveland and plan accordingly. Something it seems that no one has thought of in the Browns FO, for whatever reason.

 

[damajuki]

Another thing the Falcons do this year that we need to do: score in the 1st quarter, often first.

 

Scoring first puts the pressure on the opposing team immediately. Gives everyone a shot of confidence and doesn't give the opposition time to settle into the game.

 

 

[damajuki]

You didn't get into personnel much, but much of the dead weight needs gutted like Edwards, Winslow, Shaffer, DA, Davis etc. We need to get young and concentrate on the draft and keeping cap space. I went off in this thread about a lot of things.

Okay, now let's talk personnel.

 

I'm going to assume a few things here. First, a new, younger, more dynamic coach like shep just mentioned, who is D-minded and wants the strong running game we need in Cleveland.

 

Second, Quinn is the QB and there's no question. DA is gone, hopefully for at least a 3rd. We do need a vet, a guy like Frerotte to push Quinn and be a legit #2. Any of the guys shep mentioned are fine with me as backups.

 

Third, JL accepts his new role, mentioned above, and we draft a decent rookie RB whom we immediately begin to groom. Harrison is given a chance to show what he can do with meaningful minutes.

 

Fourth, K2 is gone and BE stays. K2 seems to be done with Phil but BE is at least saying the right things. Besides, BE has the greater potential payoff if we can get him right. Let's say K2 brings us a 4th, conservatively. Stallworth is gone and we sign one major and one minor WR to address a major need. I don't care about the names right now.

 

Finally, Fraley stays because he's a good team guy and so does Shaffer because we can't afford to move him (at least right now). We address the OL for depth only. I don't know Tucker's status so I'm assuming he's out for now.

 

So, I'm seeing this:

 

QB -- Quinn, vet QB

RB -- Lewis, Harrison, rookie RB

WR -- BE, vet WR, vet WR, Steptoe and hopefully JJ

TE -- Heiden, Rucker, Dinkins or vet TE

OL -- Thomas, Steinbach, Fraley, Hadnot, Shaffer

 

There's enough talent here to field a competent offense. The question is what direction are we headed?

[damajuki]

Watching Falcons-Bucs and here are some more things that I like that the Falcons do that we could/should do next year:

 

*Play everybody. Not only did they commit to their #1 overall draft pick early in the season, they did the same at WR (Douglas), LB (Lofton) and some others I'm blanking on. Anyway, they let the players they drafted -- y'know, the guys they liked enough to actually put on team -- actually PLAY, and GROW together into a TEAM. Crazy talk, I know.

 

*Get creative. Two play calls from today that RAC would never let Chud run in a million years:

 

Atlanta lined up in an I-formation with Turner at FB and Norwood at tailback. At the snap, Ryan fakes a pitch to Norwood who goes to the flat and then play-actions to Turner who dives up the middle. The D bites on the Turner fake and Ryan puts a perfect ball on Norwood who is now out wide and outruns the LB and gains 10.

 

A complex play but a relatively easy gain of a first down. It involved both RBs and showed some creativity.

 

Why couldn't we do something like that with Jamal and JH? Or even with Vickers and JH? (One reason that we can't is that no one buys that we'd actually run the ball with JH in the game but that's another thread.)

 

Another great play we could run came in the 3rd quarter:

 

Atlanta lines up in the shotgun but with speedy back-up QB Shockley (I think) as QB and Norwood at RB next to him. Shockley fakes to Norwood and then hands to Douglas on the reverse who gains a big chunk and a first.

 

How about Cribbs at QB with JH or even JL next to him and run this same play with Stallworth coming on the reverse? That's something we could do RIGHT NOW but no, we'll never see it from RAC. Too risky. Too inventive. Too...who knows what. But we could do it.

 

*Fiery coach. This one just happened. On an incomplete pass by TB to the ATL sideline, the ATL CB grabbed TB's Antonio Bryant as he went by head coach Mike Smith. Smith grabbed him and started to yell something at him, presumably about not being dumb or whatever when Bryant either said something to Smith or the CB. Smith got in his face and bumped Bryant's facemask and then pointed across the field like "get the f*** off my sideline."

 

You could see the ATL players goin' nuts over it right away and then the token female sideline reporter said later they were all talkin' about it and were fired up that their coach did that.

 

Can we see RAC doing anything like that AT ALL? Either yelling at one of our guys doing something stupid but especially yelling at the other team?

 

I can't even imagine RAC doing ANYTHING to fire his team up, let alone showing some emotion on the sideline. I'm not saying a coach should be a nutjob on the sideline but recognizing when your team needs a lift or showing you give a crap has got to be a positive.

 

Anyway, Atlanta has become the team I watch now because 1. they're entertaining and 2. they play the type of football I want us to play. Oh, and they give me hope for next year.

[ballpeen]

I agree.....but Matt Ryan is a lot better than BQ....a lot better.

[DieHardBrownsFan]

I'm starting to think that the best way to REALLY impact the bottom line next season is to get a 1,400 yard running back... like Beanie Wells. Quinn and a Buckeye stud at RB would light that town up. Bring in McDaniel or Brian Schottenheimer to coach.

 

I know, I know: We're supposed to be more worried about the defense. Problem is, our defense isn't all that bad. We're actually ranked pretty high as far as scoring defense. It's our offense that went to shit.

 

Bring in Crowder and Canty, then use the 2nd round pick on defense, maybe on a pass rusher. Get Holly back and add a solid veteran. Resign Sean Jones. And most of all, get a DC who wants to attack. Maybe Mike Nolan?

 

Our Defense "isn't all that bad"? Ranked 27th. Giving up 359.3 yards per game? Not that bad? Better start looking before you speak O' wise one.

[DieHardBrownsFan]

You must be a homosexual.

[damajuki]

I agree.....but Matt Ryan is a lot better than BQ....a lot better.

Oh, good Lord, 'peen, you're a Quinn hater now too? Is that how we're to read this?

 

What is it about Quinn that brings this out? Is it just fatigue from the incessant DA-BQ argument?

 

But c'mon, what is this sentiment based on? His performance this year?

 

Well, hell yes he's a lot better this year! HE GOT TO PLAY.

 

That's the whole point of my original post! This is what you do as an organization when you draft a highly-touted QB in the first round!

 

YOU PLAY HIM.

 

You get behind the guy and you say "lead us" and you let him grow up. You support him, you surround him with as much talent as you can, you accept his mistakes but you TRUST your pick and you BUILD your franchise.

 

What the Browns did instead is botch their QB situation totally. Savage played it perfectly in '07, got BQ to sit his whole rookie year just like he wanted and then, when it was time to deal DA and begin the Quinn Era, he blinked. He chickened out.

 

Or, worse, he totally OVER-estimated not just DA, but his entire roster. He thought we were ready to compete with the big boys and he was WRONG. It was a tremendously stupid act of hubris and we're all paying for it now.

 

And he cost us an entire year of development, both as a team but more importantly as a young team with a young leader.

 

The whole point of getting Quinn last year was to get ahead of the curve, remember? It was to get him while we could and get that growth year out of the way.

 

And Savage blew it. And now we're paying the price.

 

Anyway, Ryan is better? Right now, he ABSOLUTELY is better.

 

But Quinn is AT LEAST as good a prospect as Ryan. Doesn't watching Ryan make you want to see BQ?

 

And if not, why the F*** not?!?!?!? WTF is wrong with our fanbase when we have people being called names for wanting OUR FIRST ROUND PICK TO SUCCEED?!?!?!

[Lumbergh]

But c'mon, what is this sentiment based on? His performance this year?

 

Well, hell yes he's a lot better this year! HE GOT TO PLAY.

 

That's the whole point of my original post! This is what you do as an organization when you draft a highly-touted QB in the first round!

 

YOU PLAY HIM.

 

In BQ Fag Fantasy Land the sexy stud has never played and therefore has never done anything wrong (well, other than get arrested for starting fights at gay bars in Columbus...)

 

In real life he started 3 games and sucked so bad he already got benched...

[Lumbergh]

Doesn't watching Ryan make you want to see BQ?

 

Doesn't gay porno make you want to see BQ?

 

What doesn't make you want to see BQ?

 

Fag.

[plumcrazy73]

"In BQ Fag Fantasy Land the sexy stud has never played and therefore has never done anything wrong (well, other than get arrested for starting fights at gay bars in Columbus...)

 

In real life he started 3 games and sucked so bad he already got benched... "

 

"Doesn't gay porno make you want to see BQ?

 

What doesn't make you want to see BQ?

 

Fag. " Lumberg

 

 

 

Lum if that is all you have to add to the Board, then please leave. Your game is very old and very tired. Go stalk DA's future teams boards or something.

[damajuki]

Ha. Should have known you couldn't resist any mention of BQ, Thread Assassin.

 

Some may see you as a DA fan but you post the letters BQ far more frequently.

 

What's that term for hating what you most desire? And for disparaging that which you most wish you could have but cannot?

 

Yeah, whatever that's called, that's you.

 

Anyway, I'm replying for the benefit of real fans who are reading this, and for us, BQ represents a first-round pick, and not just any first-round pick but a QB, the most important position on the field and for an organization.

 

In the NFL, first-round QBs are chosen for a reason: they were very, very good in college and teams believe they can be that good in the pros.

 

And though you hate that fact because your "favorite" player was not even CLOSE to a first-round pick (where was he picked again? Second to LAST round right?) it's simply and purely true.

 

So, BQ will start next year and the Browns will FINALLY give him a chance to be their leader.

 

The only question to be answered is: how good will he be?

[plumcrazy73]

It is getting to the point where steelerssuckchuck adds more to the board and is at least a little entertaining to read.

[YtownBrownsBacker]

I agree.....but Matt Ryan is a lot better than BQ....a lot better.

 

How could you say that? You say Quinn for 3 games and he had a broken finger in two of them. Maybe you can make that statement when you see more of Quinn, but you at least have to give the guy a few games and someplaymakers with him. Ryan has produced, but let's curtail the knee jerk reactions until all the fact are out there.

 

That's only fair........a lot fairer

[damajuki]

Atlanta makes the playoffs, one year after finishing 4-12. Truly unbelievable.

 

Just keeping my "hope" thread alive!

 

Seriously though, these guys had a PLAN in the offseason. Hey Randy, call Arthur Blank for help, would ya?

 

As impressive as Ryan and Turner have been, how about that defense? Finished 4th WORST in points per game in the NFL last year at 25.9. This year, they are 9th BEST at 19.9. A whole TD difference per game!

 

We can do this, fellas. We have a LOT more key pieces than the Falcons did at this point last year.

 

They drafted their new QB and LT (Sam Baker) together in the 1st round, trading one of their 2nd rounders to move back into the first round. Sound familiar?

 

They also got a starting LB in Curtis Lofton and a CB and WR who both played significant minutes this year. And they signed Turner to be their workhorse.

 

Think of it like this: we got our LT and QB and CB in the same draft. We need our LB, RB and WR from this draft.

 

New coach, new attitude and this could be us next year.

 

Keep the faith!

 

 

 

[Guest Aloysius]

My faith is restored, Juki

 

PFT has an interesting post up about how haphazard the Falcons' GM-selection process was. And according to them, the Matt Ryan pick was largely owner Arthur Blank's doing.

 

Whatever the truth is, it's clear that their plan has worked. Here's to hoping we can emulate it next season.

[damajuki]

Good, Alo. Glad to help.

 

Interesting blurb on Atlanta there, especially the piece about Ryan being Blank's choice. I buy it totally.

 

The really interesting part is that Ryan was inserted by the COACHING staff, however. Unlike our dysfunctional coach (who appears likely to have let his personal feelings/ego supercede his football judgment with Quinn), Mike Smith went with the rookie and it has paid off bigtime.