The Cleveland Cavaliers seemed to kick their play up another notch with the turning of the calendar to 2007.  After a big home win against San Antonio on Tuesday, the wine and gold took off and swept a four game in five nights stretch to take over the division lead heading into a seven game West Coast swing which starts tomorrow night in Sacramento.

 

The Cavs now lead the Central Division by a game over the Pistons with a 21-12 record, and four consecutive victories.  They followed up the win against the Spurs by almost frittering away a fourth quarter lead against Boston and then holding on for a victory.  LeBron and the gang then went to Milwaukee and put the defensive clamps on the Bucks down the stretch to turn an eight point deficit into a win on the road, and then came home to defeat the Nets by closing out the fourth quarter in fine fashion after blowing a third quarter lead.  An impressive week which cannot be debated.

 

However, the streak has occurred because it appears Coach Mike Brown has shortened up his bench.  Rookie Daniel Gibson is only getting around five minutes per game, and the only bench players getting significant minutes were Damon Jones and Anderson Varajao.  Donyell Marshall’s time has been affected by a shot to the head in the San Antonio game.  Short term success has been achieved, but what are the effects in the long term.  LeBron averaged 43 minutes per night in the four games.  Brown is always quick to point out that he doesn’t give James the rest he needs, but it seems he can’t stand to see the franchise on the bench.

 

The streak had improved play from two of the most maligned Cavaliers, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Drew Gooden.  Z averaged 15.5 points and 9 rebounds per game in the four wins, continuing his solid play of recent weeks.  It appears that Ilgauskas is finding ways to score in Brown’s new offense.  Gooden had a huge game against Milwaukee, scoring 31 points and grabbing 16 caroms.  He averaged almost 19 points and 11.5 rebounds in the five day span.  The former Jayhawk is more closely tied to the team’s fortunes than anyone.  When he plays well, the Cavs roll.

 

It is important the Cavs pick up a win against the Kings to start the trip tomorrow night.  Sacramento is just 14-17 on the season and only 10-9 at home.  They have dropped consecutive overtimes contests to the Lakers and TrailBlazers in their last two games.  The next two games are against Phoenix and the Clippers, neither of which will be easy games.  Plus, it will keep the momentum going.  Here’s hoping that Mike Brown can get more people involved on this trip, because it is important for the starters to get some rest.  A 3-4 trip is very possible since games against the Sonics, Blazers, and Warriors are on the slate in the second week of the sojourn. 

 

If the Cavs win their first division title since 1976 and get the top seed in the East, the first week of January could be the time we look at as the time the Cleveland Cavaliers put it into gear.  A bad trip will start the questions regarding the team all over again.

 

JK

 

 

The Cleveland Indians signed former Red Sox closer Keith Foulke to a one year contract yesterday, completing the rebuilding of a bullpen that was the most significant weakness of a disappointing team in 2006.  The one year deal is also noteworthy because it does not tie the team down for a number of years with any of the veteran relievers they inked this off season.

 

Foulke has had two seasons of over 40 saves (’01 and ’03) and two other years where he saved more than 30 games (’00 and ’04).  Before having injury problems the past two seasons, his ERA was below 3.00 six consecutive years.  If he’s healthy, he’s effective.  That’s the big concern, although he pitched well in September last season with the Red Sox, throwing 11-1/3 scoreless innings. 

 

GM Mark Shapiro’s strategy was to bring in enough people to give skipper Eric Wedge options in his relief corps.  There will be competition for jobs in the bullpen during spring training, and if one guy is not effective, the ballclub has someone else in reserve either at Buffalo or pitching earlier in the game to go to.  And the key is the Tribe did not have to spend a boatload of cash, nor are they tied up to a reliever for several years if he is not pitching well.  Therefore, the Indians did a great job in rebuilding the ‘pen, at least on paper. 

 

Critics of the Dolans don’t want to hear it, but payroll flexibility is a must, especially with the large contract being given out during this off season.  You have to remember that the contracts of Travis Hafner and C.C. Sabathia will be ending after the 2008 season.  Who knows what those two guys will command based on the contracts guys like Carlos Lee and Barry Zito received this winter.  If the Tribe ownership isn’t willing to pay these two guys around $13-15 million per year, they will become free agents.  Shapiro said he is going to approach Hafner and Sabathia about extensions soon, along with Jake Westbrook, who will be free after this year.  If negotiations don’t go well, look for major deals involving Pronk and C.C. following the ’07 campaign.

 

The one troubling comment from Shapiro yesterday was that Ryan Garko might open the season at Buffalo even though he knocked in a run per game after his call up last season.  If Garko’s defense is that bad, get a good defensive backup at 1B, and if you are winning the game after 5 or 6 innings, replace him with the better glove.  Again, you have to wonder what Casey Blake has on the front office to merit this undying loyalty.   Blake is a solid player.  He had a terrible 2005 season, but that’s his only truly bad season since arriving with the Indians in 2003.  He averages 20 HR, 70 RBI, and with a .260 average.  Acceptable numbers, yes, but irreplaceable?  No.

 

The Indians should be willing to take the chance that Garko can be a .280-.300 hitter with 25 HR and close to 100 RBI’s.  Until last year in Buffalo, he has always been a tremendously effective hitter, consistently over .300 until 2006.  His lifetime minor league average is .293, which includes the .247 mark in ’06.  Blake can be the team’s back up plan.  He can play RF if Shin-Soo Choo doesn’t pan out.  He could play 3B if Andy Marte doesn’t hit.  Or he could play 1B if Garko isn’t doing the job.  As smart as I think Shapiro is, he should realize Garko just might be more productive than Blake if he plays most of the time. 

 

Here’s hoping Garko tears the cover off the ball in Winter Haven and makes the decision easy for Wedge and Shapiro.  That would be the best scenario for the 1B position. 

 

About six weeks to spring training, and the Tribe is just about set.  They are still trying to sign Mark Mulder, who is recovering from rotator cuff surgery.  This would give Shapiro more flexibility in assembling this year’s roster, and might allow the Tribe to deal a pitcher.  They still need a good defensive utility infielder.  Shapiro didn’t spend all his money on one guy, but he filled out his bullpen.  I give him an A- for his off season.

 

MW

 

 

 

 

Certainly beating a team like the San Antonio Spurs is always a big win, but tonight’s game against the Boston Celtics in Beantown is the really big game for the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Why?  Because this is the exact situation the wine and gold have struggled with the entire season.  It is the second game of a back to back situation and also a road game.  The Cavs are only 4-9 away from the friendly confines of the "Q", and have been battered when playing their second game in two nights.

 

If the Cavaliers want to be one of the top seeds in the East, or maybe even win their first division title since the "Miracle of Richfield" season of 1975-76, they simply must win tonight.  Boston has just an 11-19 record and they are only 4-10 on their home court.  Even though Cleveland faced an excellent San Antonio team, and has to travel to the east coast, they cannot afford a loss to the Celtics. 

 

Last night’s win was the kind of game that reminds one of playoff basketball.  It was not artistic, but the Cavaliers won a game in which they did not play particularly well, and they did it against one of the better teams in basketball.  Larry Hughes stepped up big in the 4th quarter, a period in which the wine and gold almost scored as many points as they did in the first three quarters.  Hughes’ effort is the type the team needs from him.  They need him to score 18-20 points per night on a consistent basis.  They will be a better team when that happens.

 

Anderson Varajao’s game might just be more suited to the playoffs, as he seems to perform better in these types of games.  Remember, he had a great playoff last spring.  Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored only 8 points, but had 13 rebounds, and since only 5 were offensive boards, he apparently was not just tipping up his own misses against the Spurs.

 

Speaking of Ilgauskas, it seems to me that the Cavs usually have pretty good starts to games.  My guess (although I currently cannot find this stat) is the Cavs’ point differential in the opening quarter is positive.  Z is on the floor for at least eight minutes in that period.  So, it appears to me that he does have a positive impact on the team.  In Sunday’s Plain Dealer, Bud Shaw pointed out that most big men don’t run the floor on a fast break.  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar didn’t with the Lakers in the 80’s for example.  Ilgauskas does not slow the Cavs down.

 

Anytime you beat the San Antonio Spurs, it’s a good win.  Going out tonight and taking care of business against a mediocre team on the road, makes that win even larger.  If the Cavaliers want to stamp themselves as an elite team, they must beat the Celtics tonight.

 

JK

 

The Cleveland Browns ended the 2006 season with a yawn, losing a 14-6 decision to the Houston Texans in a game as boring as the score indicates.  The biggest surprise of the game was that Romeo Crennel started Charlie Frye at quarterback instead of Ken Dorsey who the organization said would start all week.  That should tell you how impressive Dorsey looked in practice this week. 

 

The best three drives the Browns had all day ended in turnovers, two by Frye (interception and fumble) and another fumble by Reuben Droughns after a nice run.  Cleveland had the second worst turnover differential in the NFL, ahead of only the Raiders, just one more reason they couldn’t put many points on the scoreboard.  The only good thing for the offense was TE Kellen Winslow, who tied Ozzie Newsome’s club record for the most receptions at that position in one season.  Winslow caught 11 balls from Frye today.

 

On defense, rookie Kamerion Wimbley had another sack to add to his team leading total, and another rookie, Leon Williams deflected a pass that was picked off by cornerback Davin Holly.  The Texans really only had one decent drive all game, as their other TD came off of Frye’s fumble in the third quarter.

 

So, the Browns will pick in the top five in the NFL draft once again, and hopefully they get it right this time.  The main reason this franchise is in the state it is in is the poor picks made this high in the draft.  Tim Couch, Courtney Brown, Gerard Warren, and Braylon Edwards are not making anyone’s lists of the best pick in draft history.  Phil Savage, assuming he still is the GM, cannot screw this up.  With Brady Quinn going to the Raiders as the first pick, Cleveland will be able to pick either T Joe Thomas from Wisconsin or RB Adrian Peterson from Oklahoma.  If LSU QB JaMarcus Russell enters the draft, Detroit will pick him at the second spot. 

 

That would leave Savage with Thomas or Peterson.  The preference here would be the runner.  Although Peterson has had some nagging injuries, an impact runner would most certainly have the biggest impact on the offense. 

 

Also, here hoping owner Randy Lerner stays the course and lets Romeo Crennel and Savage keep their jobs, with Crennel making changes to his staff.  The last thing this team needs is more change.  Chris Palmer had two years, Butch Davis bought four years because of a playoff appearance in his 2nd season, and now Crennel has had two years.  That’s a lack of continuity.  The only constant in these eight seasons in the ownership of the Lerner family.  Give the current regime another year to make progress.  The Browns don’t need another change in philosophy, schemes, and planning.  Savage has added some talent in guys like Wimbley, Williams, D’Qwell Jackson, and Brodney Pool. 

 

A new voice and direction isn’t the answer.  Getting better players and assistant coaches who can develop them are. 

 

JD

 

As we wind down 2006 and look forward to the dawn of a new calendar on Monday, it’s time to see what the new year holds for each of our city’s professional teams.  Hopefully, the first good thing we will see in the new year is Ohio State’s second National Football Championship this decade.  That would be great.  This past year wasn’t a great sports year for our franchises, will 2007 be any better?  Let’s look at each team in order of when they will finish their season.

 

Cavaliers.  The most successful Cleveland team in ’06, getting to the second round of the NBA playoffs and losing in the seventh game of that matchup with the Detroit Pistons.  The wine and gold have not played well early in the 2006-07 season, but still have a 16-11 record after a victory last night in Atlanta.  With no dominant teams in the Eastern Conference this season, the Cavaliers have as good a chance as anyone of getting to the NBA Finals for the first time. 

 

The biggest obstacle the team has is itself.  When the Cavs focus on taking the ball to the basket instead of relying on jump shots, they can beat anybody.  Their problem has been against the league’s lesser teams, when their focus wanders and they lose games they should win.  The Cavs have lost to the Knicks, Bobcats, and Hornets in 2006, while beating the Spurs, Bulls, and Wizards.  This up and down play has to cease if the wine and gold are to make the quantum leap into the NBA’s elite. 

 

This is the one Cleveland team who will make the playoffs.  How far they will go will depend on the play of guys like Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden.  We know what LeBron will do.  His teammates will have to produce for this team to get further than last year.

 

Indians.  This was the city’s biggest disappointment in ’06.  Coming off of a 93 win season in 2005, many (including the Cleveland Sports Perspective) thought the Tribe was a shoo-in for the post season.  However, the bullpen collapsed and the Indians finished below .500.  GM Mark Shapiro brought in some veterans to help in the off season, and it appears he will add one more in free agent Keith Foulke soon.  Shapiro also traded for 2B Josh Barfield to fill that spot, and added another good stick against right handers in David Dellucci. 

 

If the two of the new additions to the ‘pen work out, just two, it will help greatly.  This team can score runs, and have two of the best players in the game in Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner, and a very good hitter in Victor Martinez.  The starting pitching is solid, led by C.C. Sabathia who has become the ace everyone expected him to be.  They have some promising youngsters in Andy Marte, Shin Soo Choo, Fausto Carmona, and big time prospect Adam Miller.

 

The key for the Indians will be how much their bullpen and defense will improve.  SS Jhonny Peralta has to be more like the ’05 edition than the one who played last year.  If the relief corps comes through, the Tribe can make the playoffs.  However, baseball is the toughest sport to make the post season, and Cleveland is in the best division in the sport.

 

Browns.  Year two of the Phil Savage/Romeo Crennel is producing results worse than year one.  Savage has added some talent in LBs Kamerion Wimbley, D’Qwell Jackson, and Leon Williams, but the free agents he signed have not come through, mostly due to injury problems.  Pro Bowl center LeCharles Bentley went down with a knee injury on the first day of training camp and the season went downhill from there.  Kellen Winslow Jr. returned from his motorcycle accident and is playing close to Pro Bowl level, but last year’s #1 pick, Braylon Edwards has used his mouth more than his hands.

 

Savage needs to add more talent in the off season.  The areas of need are both the offensive and defensive lines, and at running back.  They still don’t know who the quarterback who will lead the team back to prominence will be.  Charlie Frye was inconsistent and appears not to know when to get rid of the ball.  Derek Anderson didn’t look very good once teams developed a book on him.  And there are too many needs to go out and draft Troy Smith.

 

Once again, a Cleveland team is in arguably the toughest division in their sport.  Unless they can start winning games against Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Cincinnati, the best the Browns can do is probably 8-8.  That’s where their challenge lies.  The must be able to compete within the AFC North.  Next season is the make or break year for Romeo Crennel.  Anything less than a .500 record and he will join Chris Palmer and Butch Davis on the pile on broken toys.

 

MW

 

First some good news.  Unless the NFL schedules the Browns on Monday Night Football in 2007, they cannot ruin Clevelanders’ Christmas Eves in 2007.  Of course, that has more to do with the calendar than any improvements this team will make over the off season.  Sunday’s embarassment against a horrible Tampa Bay team puts the capper on a season of disappointments and question marks.  Thank goodness, the brown and orange have only one more game because some guys might have to play both ways if the campaign lasted one more week.

 

After another 3rd and 1 where Derek Anderson threw a long pass, I decided that Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage should fire every offensive coach on the staff.  Jeff Davidson’s play calling is just as puzzling as former coordinator Maurice Carthon’s, because the Browns were actually gaining yardage on the ground.  I watched some other games on Sunday and wondered allowed how their receivers could get that wide open.  There must be some scheme that allows that, but the Browns’ coaches don’t know about them.

 

Jeff Faine was a bust here, but now is a starter on a team heading to the playoffs.  Melvin Fowler couldn’t see the field here, but starts in Buffalo.  Shaun O’Hara starts for the Giants.  Maybe bad coaching is the reason these guys did not produce for the Browns, because it looks like they are not complete stiffs. 

 

It will also be interesting to see what the team does with Braylon Edwards.  Edwards was apparently late for another meeting and did not start on Sunday.  Edwards’ tired act made us more weary when he dropped two more passes.  If he did indeed hurt his thumb in practice last week, he shouldn’t be out there.  Toughness is one thing, stupidity is another.  Anyway, Edwards appears to be a me-first type of player and generally you do not win with those guys.  If Anderson had any guts, he would have ordered Edwards off the field after the second drop.  If a player isn’t helping you, he’s hurting you.

 

Also, get ready for a new kicker in Cleveland next season, because Phil Dawson will not be back.  Crennel showed what kind of confidence he has in Dawson when he eschewed a 44 yard field goal attempt in the first quarter in favor of a pooch punt.  It might have made sense if there was bad weather, or a strong wind, or it was five yards further back.  If your kicker can’t make 44 yarders consistently, you need a new one.

 

Anyway, there is one game left and apparently Ken Dorsey will start since Anderson separated his shoulder in the fourth quarter.  That should be fun to watch.  Especially if you like horror movies.  I still maintain Crennel should remain the coach next season, but another performance like this one against the Texans could seal his fate.  At the very least, Savage and Crennel have another roster change over during the off season, because this team has more holes than a sieve.

 

JD

 

When teams hire new coaches or managers, there is much discussion about how well the new boss can relate to the players.  Are they an easy going players’ coach or the tough, demanding tyrant of a boss.  Which is the better fit?  In the long run, being able to get along with and get the most out of your players in generally the way to go.  Today’s athlete does not want to be humiliated in the press or in front of his peers.  However, is the term "players’ coach" a cover up for a guy unwilling to change?

 

All three Cleveland teams have so-called player friendly bosses, so I picked situations with all three teams to back up my point.

 

Indians.  It was pretty obvious after the 2005 season that Aaron Boone was not the answer at third base, but the Tribe opened the ’06 campaign with him as the regular.  By mid-May, Boone again was not productive at the plate and his defense had gone down hill as well, but Eric Wedge kept writing his name in the lineup.  The reasons were that Boonie was a good guy in the clubhouse and he was going to start hitting.  What was the latter based on, the fact he hadn’t been an effective hitter since his days with the Reds? 

 

What would a guy like Lou Piniella have done?  He would have starting looking for alternatives, especially with the Indians not winning.  He would have pressed GM Mark Shapiro to bring up Andy Marte earlier, especially after Marte’s strong spring training.  Was Wedge really giving his player the benefit of the doubt, or was he afraid to try an alternative?  The truly great managers are not afraid to give young players a chance, nor are they scared of taking a risk.  You be the judge as to what Wedge’s motives were.

 

Browns.  Why was Romeo Crennel so critical of QB Derek Anderson’s two interceptions agains the Ravens when Charlie Frye has played poorly in games without receiving a rebuke from the coach?  Perhaps Anderson’s throws picks all the time in practice and Crennel feels it is starting to occur in games, or maybe the coach doesn’t want to make a switch at QB because it might upset Frye.  Either way, the head coach should be concerned with winning games, and if Anderson gives the Browns a better chance to win in the last two games and next season, then he should start ahead of the University of Akron product.

 

Just because Frye was a third round pick while Anderson was a 6th rounder, doesn’t mean the Oregon State guy isn’t the better player.  This is not to say that Anderson is the second coming of Joe Montana.  But, the head coach shouldn’t be so loyal to the players who have given him a 4-10 record to date.  Heck, if playing Josh Cribbs at quarterback gives the team a better chance to win, he should play.

 

Cavaliers.  With the Cavaliers playing worse than expected, why is Mike Brown sticking with the same players who won more than 50 games for the wine and gold last season?  Of course, he is thinking that these guys are veterans and they will get it turned around.  The reality is the season has now gone 25 games, and the Cavs are three games over the .500 mark.  Sticking with veterans, a known quantity is the modus operandi of the players’ coach.  It also might cost him his job.

 

At what point does Brown feel he has to try something different.  Is it when the teams record plummets below the .500 mark?  The players’ coach tends not to be pro-active.  It is obvious something is wrong with the Cavaliers, but when will someone step up and fix it?  A guy like Scott Skiles would be screaming at a Damon Jones to guard somebody, or telling players to take the ball to the basket.

 

One problem is that coaches have to be more patient than fans.  Fans look at a guy who has one bad game and wants them out.  No coach, disciplinarian or easy going, can have a knee jerk reaction like that.  However, when a player doesn’t perform over a 10-20 game span, and the team isn’t winning, changes have to be made.  More often than not, the players’ coach isn’t the guy to pull the trigger.  Even when the bullet needs to be fired. 

 

MW

 

There are many theories that have been bandied about as to why the Cleveland Cavaliers have struggled this season.  I say "struggled", which shows how far the franchise has come since drafting LeBron James.  The wine and gold have a record of 14-9 and currently have one of the four best records in the Eastern Conference.  However, there is no doubt that the team has not played up to expectations.  Why?

 

I would agree with those who say Coach Mike Brown’s rotation needs some work.  Generally, his first substitution of the game occurs with 4-5 minutes to go in the first quarter when Donyell Marshall and Damon Jones replace Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Eric Snow.  This essentially replaces one of the team’s best inside scorers and a pass first point guard with two guys who shoot 3 pointers.  Jones is strictly a long range shooter and Marshall is quickly becoming one.  Slightly over one half of his shots this season have been from beyond the arc.  That’s not helping the offense.

 

What happens is that either the triple duo is hot and blows the game open or they aren’t hitting the shots and what occurred in Saturday’s game against Orlando happens.  The Cavs had a big lead in the first quarter which quickly evaporated.  They jumped out to a big lead by taking the ball to the basket and creating easy shots.  That ended when Jones and Marshall entered the fray.  This early substitution makes the Cavaliers an easier team to defend.  The only driving threat becomes James.  Defenses can settle into zones and take that part of his game away. 

 

Another problem is that Brown uses Marshall at the "4" spot and he cannot defend the new age power forwards in today’s NBA.  Guys like Dwight Howard and Sean May have abused the veteran in the past week.  They have too much bulk and power for Marshall to handle.  So, the defense suffers after the first subbing since Jones would have a problem guarding a boulder.  Thus, the coach’s first personnel move hurts the team on both sides of the ball.

 

This is not to say Jones and Marshall are useless, but they shouldn’t be on the floor at the same time.  A better substitution would be to sub Jones for Snow and Anderson Varajao (if they aren’t going to start him) for Z.  This would give the team more balance on offense and defense.  At this point in his career, Marshall plays more like a "3", but that would limit his minutes since the Cavs have the best small forward in the game.  On the other hand, using him at that spot could result in getting more rest for the King. 

 

One other thing…please give some playing time to Shannon Brown at the off guard spot to spell Larry Hughes.  The rookie from Michigan State is being wasted.  Last Friday, with the Cavs getting a blowout win against Seattle, Brown didn’t get any badly needed minutes because David Wesley was active for that game.  David Wesley!  Brown needs to get on the court and to deactivate him for Wesley makes absolutely no sense. 

 

The season has passed the quarter pole, so the time for trying to see who can play and who can’t should be over.  Guys like Marshall and Wesley aren’t helping.  It’s time to give others a chance.

 

JK  

 

A lot is being made about the Cleveland Browns going 0 for the AFC North in 2006.  There was another "0" that might have been the chief reason for yesterday’s 27-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.  The Browns failed to convert any third down opportunities during the game, going 0 for 11 in that situation.  The really strange thing was the team had several 3 and 1’s or 3rd and 2’s and used questionable play calling to avoid picking up the first down and keeping possession of the ball.

 

In the first half, offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson seemed to call deep throws on several third and short situations instead of running plays or short tosses to Joe Jurevicius or TE Kellen Winslow or Steve Heiden.  The object of the game is that the offense should stay on the field and try to score points.  Get the two or three yards and keep the recently shaky defense off the field.  I can understand trying the strategy of throwing a deep ball once, but Davidson tried it repeatedly early in the game.

 

Cleveland didn’t try to run the ball much, but that is sound strategy against the Ravens defense.  Remember, the brown and orange used the same game plan in their first meeting with success.  Derek Anderson threw two interceptions, but also had two TD tosses and 226 yards passing.  He acquitted himself very well against a very strong defense.  He deserves to start the rest of this season, if only to see how he can play when the Browns are the better team, which they will be against Tampa Bay and Houston.  Anderson has a quick release and a strong arm.  He also does a good job ball handling on play fakes.  With two wins the next two weeks, wouldn’t the former Oregon State signal caller go into camp as the starter?

 

The injury riddled defense was hurt by big plays.  A 52 yard run by Jamal Lewis, a 77 yard TD pass to Demetrius Williams, and a 42 yard toss to Mark Clayton to set up a field goal that put the game away for Baltimore.  Those three plays accounted for 46% of the total yards gained by the Ravens.  I know that sounds like a Butch Davis justification, but it is merely an indication of how those big plays hurt the defense.  Losing so many starters to injury before and during the game is taking its toll on this team.  However, Leon Williams did play very well at inside linebacker subbing for D’Qwell Jackson. 

 

As previously stated, Cleveland has two winnable games to end the season.  If they can pull off those victories, they would end the season with the same 6-10 record as last season.  That’s not progress.  However, there are some unforeseen circumstances to qualify that mark.  It is a fact that the Browns played a brutal schedule.  Look at a list of the best teams in the NFL.  Chances are the Browns had to play them this season.  Count them off…San Diego 12-2, Baltimore 11-3, New Orleans 9-5.  They did beat two teams in contention for the post season in Atlanta and the Jets.  In order to compete for the playoffs though, they must get better within the division.  Going 1-5 or 0-6 against the Ravens, Bengals, and Steelers is just going to lead to more losing seasons and even more frustration from the fans. 

 

That’s what Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel are faced with in the off season.

 

JD

 

Listen to Cleveland Sports View on blogtalkradio.com Friday nights resuming January 5, 2007.   

 

Now that Ohio State’s Troy Smith won the Heisman Trophy, Browns’ fans everywhere are fantasizing about having the Cleveland native starting at quarterback for the hometown team.  Even ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit said this after Smith won the award Saturday night.  He said the Browns would be insane to pass up the former Glenville signal caller.  However, is that the correct move for the future of this franchise.

 

There certainly is more than one way to build a successful NFL franchise.  Unfortunately, the Browns have not stumbled on one of them as of yet.  It is evident that the brown and orange have more problems that getting a good QB will not cure them all.  You don’t have to be a member of Mensa to see Cleveland needs offensive line help.  LeCharles Bentley may miss the 2007 season as well, and Joe Andruzzi and Cosey Coleman haven’t played effectively either.  Starting tackles Ryan Tucker and Kevin Shaffer aren’t going to the Pro Bowl either.  Two players need to be replaced and maybe change the positions of others.  At least one offensive lineman should be picked in the first two rounds of next spring’s draft.

 

One need people don’t really talk about is at running back.  It appears the Browns squeezed the last very good year Reuben Droughns may have in 2005.  Jason Wright certainly isn’t the answer, so Cleveland should be looking for a guy to tote the pigskin in the draft.  If Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson is there in round #1, that might be a smarter pick than taking a quarterback. 

 

On defense, the biggest problem area is the line which has problems stopping blockers from getting to the linebackers and they can’t mount a pass rush either.  The linebackers show promise with rookies Kamerion Wimbley and D’Qwell Jackson both playing well.  They should get better with experience.  Andra Davis is average.  In the secondary, the team needs another shutdown corner to go with Leigh Bodden.  This would allow the front seven to take more chances with blitzing.  Davin Holly has done an acceptable job, but is probably better suited as a nickel back. 

 

Without a running game and poor play from the offensive line, how do we know that Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson can’t be good quarterbacks.  Without correcting these problems, it is likely that Smith would be ineffective as the Cleveland QB.  However, Smith has excellent accuracy and he is a winner.  He plays his best when the games are the biggest.  That’s very important.  Heck, Michael Vick is about the same size as Smith and isn’t as good a passer, and he went first overall in the draft.

 

Thinking with my head, and not as an OSU fan, I don’t think it would be wise to take Troy Smith with a top ten pick, which the Browns most certainly will have.  A trade further down in the first round, picking up more picks in the deal might be the wisest course of action.  Let’s say Phil Savage is now picking #20 with a couple of second round picks.  It might be impossible to pass on Troy Smith in that situation.  Providing he is still on the board.

 

KM