Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Roger Brown makes a good point

But first, he says some bullshit.

Let's begin:

Three reasons why we're happy Maurice Carthon has resigned/been fired/whatever as Browns offensive coordinator:
1. Assistant head coach Jeff Davidson, who replaces Carthon as offensive coordinator, is a future NFL head coach who deserves to run an offense.

2. Carthon's departure puts him out of his misery: He no longer has to be endlessly second-guessed each week after losses. It puts fans out of their misery, since so many are so positive Carthon is why the Browns have lost five games this season - and not that five teams were simply better than the Browns. It also puts Cleveland's media out of its misery: Anxious not to let fans have all the fun in the "Bash Carthon" feeding frenzy, it no longer has to twist itself into painful knots after every game - coming up with tortured logic to explain how veteran receivers dropping passes, offensive linemen whiffing on blocks and a quarterback who throws interceptions on against-their-body-across-the-field passes are all the fault of an offensive coordinator.

3. Carthon's departure will remove an easy scapegoat and end a distracting sideshow. And maybe, maybe, it'll draw attention to the real reason the Browns are 1-5 and on their way to a 3-13 or 4-12 record (rather than the 7-9 or 8-8 mark that some brown-and-orange followers thought before the season began): Because the Browns' overall talent is equal to that of a 1-5 team that's on its way to a 3-13 or 4-12 record.

OK, maybe the above statement is a bit too subtle. So we'll break it down further for you. Here are the ingredients that make up the 2006 Browns squad:

A few "not-yet-great-but-may-be-somedays." (Kellen Winslow Jr., Kamerion Wimbley, maybe Braylon Edwards.)

Several "not-bad-at-all-but-hardly-gonna-be-greats." (Andra Davis, Leigh Bodden, Joshua Cribbs, Sean Jones, D'Qwell Jackson.)

Several more "not-that-bad-but-likely-won't-ever-be-much-better" types. (Charlie Frye, Reuben Droughns, Brian Russell, Alvin McKinley, Dennis Northcutt, etc.)

A handful of "not-as-good-as-they-used-to-bes." (Willie McGinest, Hank Fraley, Ted Washington)

A large handful of "never-weres." (Start with backup quarterbacks Derek Anderson and Ken Dorsey, and work from there).

An even larger handful of "ain't-never-gonna-bes." (Go ahead, you can name them.)

That's your 2006 Browns team. Period. And, mark our words, someday - maybe even this time next year, when current Notre Dame star Brady Quinn might be starting at quarterback - folks will be shaking their heads at how so many people grossly overrated the 2006 Browns.

First of all, putting Dennis Northcutt into the "not-that-bad-but-likely-won't-ever-be-much-better" category is an insult to all Browns fans every where. Northcutt sucks. He's "not-that-good-but-not-gawd-awful".

And what self respecting Browns fan thinks that Carthon is the only problem with this team? Anyone? The defense can't stop anyone and the offense can't move the ball. Carthon's problem was the playcalling that didn't fit his personal. They have about 3-4 competent guys on offense, when you don't even use them, you got a problem.

Also, I'm actually with Brown on Andra Davis, I've neve really been that 'wowed' by him. A lot of people think the guy is really good, but I've never really been all that impressed. But the rest of that list is pretty solid. Cribbs, Jackson and Jones? I think those guys bring a lot to the table, plus they are really young.

The rest of his list I can't really quibble with, but at the end he puts forth a scenario in which Brady Quinn will be starting for the Browns next season. Look, I know Brown dislikes Frye and all, but if Brady Quinn is on Cleveland's roster next season, that means the Browns haven't learned anything. And if the Cleveland media is asking for Quinn, that means they haven't learned for any of this either.

I've said it before, I'm gonna keep saying this, hoping that someone out there hears me: THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE NON-LINEMAN FIRST ROUND PICK IS ADRIAN PETERSON. IF THE BROWNS CANNOT DRAFT PETERSON, STOCKPILE LINEMEN. YOUNG LINEMAN. ATHLETIC LINEMAN. LINEMEN NOT NAMED KEVIN SHAFFER. AND IF THE BROWNS DRAFT ANOTHER SKILL POSITION PLAYER ON THE FIRST DAY, THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY. LORD HELP ME IF I SEE ANOTHER SECOND OR THRID ROUND RECIEVER.

*whew*

Alright, the title of the post is "Roger Brown makes a good point" and by now you're probably wondering what that is. Here it is (and I couldn't agree more. I feel ill):

Jimy Williams, Davey Lopes, Alan Trammell and Art Howe are former major-league managers hired as coaches by teams since the regular season ended. Boy, it's wonderful that the Indians are so good that they don't need any experienced former major-league managers as coaches - people who might lend valuable, "I've been there" advice to manager Eric Wedge.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'll miss Roger Brown. I could always turn to his column to find out if a Cleveland athlete had purchased a home im Moreland Hills for $929,000.

But on the subject of Brown's "good point," it is. The Indians have what I have to think is one of the weakest coaching staffs in baseball. The reason? Eric Wedge doesn't want an Art Howe type on his staff threatening his job.

When Buddy Bell left to become the manager of the Royals last year, most of us grumbled. Wedge probably heaved a sigh of relief.

Hey, if Wedge wants to go the experienced route for a bench coach, I'm sure Johnny Goryl is still floating around and registering a pulse.

Hey, if it worked for Grover...

Ben said...

Honestly, Wedge should be worried. It would be easy to fire him after another classic "Eric Wedge April" if there was an experienced guy on the bench that the Tribe could turn to for the final 39 months of the season.