Random Thoughts: Week 8

By Brandon Rastok
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer

Another week goes by and the Browns rack up another embarrassing loss.  Here we are at the halfway point of the season and entering the bye week with more questions on how to proceed for the second half of the season than answers.  As we start this week's random thoughts, here are some positives.

•The defense — while being short-handed by starting David Bowens at inside linebacker, Jason Trusnik at outside linebacker and losing Eric Barton in the first half — played pretty well.  The goal line stand was impressive and goes to show that this team hasn’t lost its fight just yet.  While the final score may not show it, Rob Ryan and Eric Mangini haven’t lost this team yet.  Plenty of players are still giving it all they’ve got.

•The Browns only committed three penalties the entire game.  One of which was a personal foul on Kamerion Wimbley for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Jay Cutler.  I’ll take that penalty any day.  It means the defense is playing aggressive and trying to make plays.  It’s better than the mental mistake penalties we are used to seeing like the false starts and illegal formation penalties that Braylon Edwards would rack up.

•The Browns defense recorded four sacks.  Unlike Romeo’s old "drop nine guys into coverage defense," this defense is aggressive and getting after the quarterback.

•Randy Lerner is reported to be sick of the Browns failures and looking to hold people accountable.  If only the owner stepped out from the shadows more often.

•The Browns used Josh Cribbs and the Wildcat formation more often.  While it remained largely ineffective, at least the Browns were trying to put the ball in the hands of the their playmaker.

•You say that the Browns didn’t get enough in the trade of Braylon Edwards?  Did you notice that Jason Trusnik led the team in tackles?  Wait, is that a positive thing?

Now, here is everything else.

•While the all-time great quarterbacks couldn’t fare much better in this offense, this team does not have an NFL quarterback.

Anderson is on pace to set franchise records for the worst quarterback statistics and is not the long term answer.  Quinn, in the right offensive scheme with a stud tight end and elite running back, may be able to be successful.  However, he doesn’t seem to be a fit here. He has to fight tooth and nail to even get a first down and he doesn’t have the arm to stretch a defense.

•I fully expect D.A. to get at least one more start. While he doesn’t deserve it, the Browns don’t have a real choice.  One, Brett Ratliff showed in the preseason he is not the answer.  Two, the Browns have seen what they have in Quinn and there is no way they can afford to let him hit his contract escalators.  Whether they admit that is part of the reason he isn’t playing or not, it most certainly is.  A team struggling this poorly can’t afford to lose anymore trade value in him by allowing his contract to increase.  They have lost out on enough by allowing him to showcase his passing ability.  Even if he remains with the team as a starter or back up, they need the cap space to bring in some more players.

•Now there is absolutely no way the Browns can or will admit that has anything to do with his playing time.  They even have to go so far as try to prove his contract has nothing to do with it.  That is why I expect another week of D.A.  If it appears that his contract is keeping Quinn from seeing action, the Browns would be buried in more player grievances, which wouldn’t be good for anyone.

•I've mentioned before Brodney Pool’s drop off in play this year.  It seems I wasn’t the only one who noticed as Mike Adams started the game yesterday.

•Jamal Lewis is so disgusted he has already announced his retirement after the season.

•Several players went down with injuries.  I expect numerous players to end up on the injured reserve list by the end of the season.  It just isn’t quite as easy to play through all the bumps and bruises and soreness when there really isn’t anything to play for.

•The Browns were 1 of 11 on third down efficiency.  Seriously, one first down conversion?

•I read this morning that the Browns should have just announced at the beginning of the season that Brady Quinn would be the starter and that they were sticking with him and letting him mature ala Peyton Manning’s first season.  While this would have taken some of the “win now” pressure off the season, is there anything anyone has seen out of Quinn that makes them believe experience would make him develop Manning’s arm?  Accuracy and the deep ball even plagued him in college.  But then again the Broncos are winning with Kyle Orton and the Ravens won with Trent Dilfer.

•The Browns came away with 76 passing yards.  With quarterback play like this, the next eight games are going to seem like an eternity.  While his price tag was too high this past off season, having a quarterback with fire and a cannon arm like Jay Cutler’s sure would have been a welcome addition.

•Jay Cutler’s 19-yard run was just the most recent example of a quarterback using their feet to easliy go untouched and pick up valuable yardage.

•I will re-emphasize my opinion on the coaching staff.  I believe Mangini is a solid coach with a ton of football knowledge.  I believe the structure of the Browns roster was out of order and it needed to be blown up.  Now, it needs to be rebuilt.  Turning a franchise around isn’t easy and takes time.  I believe Mangini should make it through at least a second season.  A coach’s first season is implementing their game plans and philosophies.  The second and third seasons are finding talent that fits their style of play.

•While the defense has had it’s ups and downs, Rob Ryan deserves a second season.

•Brian DaBoll hasn’t shown any creativity. There is nothing I can hang my hat on and say this is what the offense does well.

•This season could turn so negative that Lerner decides to clean house again.  If that happens, another regime would be sitting pretty.  Unlike the past off season, the Browns will have the building blocks for a solid offensive line, a large amount of salary cap space and some additional draft picks.  That isn’t a bad way to start.

•While the left side of the offensive line is one of the team’s strengths and the right side has been a weakness. One player on the bubble for next year will be Eric Steinbach.  He isn’t the style of lineman Mangini covets, his play hasn’t been what it was in the past couple of years and his salary cap figure may be too much to hold onto.

•While he probably knew he wasn’t going to make it through the entire season with Braylon Edwards, drafting two receivers instead of signing a veteran may have been a mistake.  This team needs a viable target and rookie receivers very rarely put up big numbers.  And no, Edwards was not a viable target.

•I also have stated before that in order to completely turn things around, things had to get worse before they got better.  Browns fans best advice may be to just turn the T.V. off on Sundays and forget this year ever happened.  Then, tune in again next March when free agency starts.

•Am I allowed to say that yesterday I missed Billy Cundiff?

•Steve Heiden, I know you are a solid guy.  But seriously, what was your contribution to game again?

•At least there is a week reprieve with the bye week coming up.

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