Published: Tuesday, February 01, 2011, 3:34 PM     Updated: Tuesday, February 01, 2011, 3:40 PM

Cleveland, Ohio — Only one good thing has ever come out of labor strife in the NFL. But enough about “The Replacements,” starring Keanu Reeves and Gene Hackman. Let’s talk about the one that’s looming now.

If the NFL and the players association can’t reach a new collective bargaining agreement this spring — and rhetoric from both sides at least seems to imply that is the case — more than just dollars could be lost. We’re talking the most valuable commodity of all: time.

Seven teams changed head coaches this year (we’re kinda going to assume that neither Super Bowl participant, the Steelers nor the Packers, is contemplating a change). The offseason is going to be monstrously important. But to no team will the organized team activities, minicamps and the like be more important than the Browns. That’s what Cory Felegy of clevelandexaminer.com says, and frankly, we agree with him.

As Felegy points out, the shift from whatever it is you’d want to call the offense the Browns have run (the “We’re Toast Offense” comes to mind) to new coach  Pat Shurmur’s version the West Coast Offense is going to take a lot of time and practice to institute.

Routes will change. Timing will change. Nomenclature will change. Personnel will change. It’s all part of a whole philosophy change. And, again as Felegy notes, early and often practices will help determine if Colt McCoy is indeed the quarterback the Browns can ride into the playoffs (for the record, we think he is, but we’re not the ones drawing up the X’s and O’s).

But the often overlooked aspect is the anticipated switch from the 3-4 defense the browns have been running (three down linemen and four linebackers) to a 4-3 defense (four down linemen and three ‘backers). And this is where Felegy makes his best points:

(The Browns) are painfully thin on the defensive line and its unclear who the four linemen would be in (new defensive coordinator Dick) Jauron’s 4-3 defense.  Ahtyba Rubin figures into the equation but does an injury-prone Shaun Rogers or an aging Kenyon Coleman?  There’s talk that Matt Roth and/or Marcus Benard could make the switch to from linebacker to defensive end.  But that’s the kind of change that would require time and practice, two things the Browns won’t have if a lockout continues into the summer.

Plus, the 4-3 defense puts added pressure on the one middle linebacker and it’s unclear if the Browns even have a player that fits the mold of a 4-3 MLB.  The only player on the current roster fitting this role is D’Qwell Jackson, who didn’t see a single snap in 2010.

Good points all. And remember, even though the draft will happen as scheduled in April, those picks can’t be signed until the new CBA is reached. It’s a daunting prospect, at the very least.

Fortunately, it’s also an expensive prospect. And if the past labor strifes in sports have proven one thing, greed trumps pride and principles every time.

Kolbs and robbers
So a recent Starting Blocks poll is drawing interest in Philly. A blogger for bleedinggreen.com raised a hoary eyebrow after three-quarters of the voters said the Browns shouldn’t pursue disgruntled and dethroned Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb.

In a lot of ways I can understand. They already have a young QB in Colt McCoy, who while not particularly impressive, probably did enough that no one is going to call him a bust just yet. Plus, given that they just invested a 2nd rounder in McCoy and spent a first rounder on Brady Quinn recently, it’s understandable that the fanbase would be gunshy about spending yet another high pick on a QB. Frankly, I can’t blame them.

Of course, let’s also not discount the nature of just being a fan. For a lot of people, the mere suggestion that some other teams’ player is better than yours is blasphemy and clearly Kolb is a no talent loser that the Eagles are trying to pawn off on some unsuspecting team desperate for a QB. Of course, when your team actually does trade for him… he becomes a nearly can’t miss prospect destined for a career that’s maybe not quite Joe Montana, but probably better than Dan Marino.

The Browns may yet deal for Kolb. The connection has been clearly stated several times: Cleveland GM Tom Heckert was part of the braintrust that drafted him, and new Browns coach Pat Shurmur has coached him and, as the blogger pointed out, most likely will institute a very similar kind of West Coast offense to that run in Philly.

We’ve got to be honest: Starting Blocks finds the results of the poll encouraging. We’ve been in Cleveland for 20 years now, and it’s the first time since the Bernie Kosar era that we’ve seen a Browns fan base this solidly behind a quarterback. Yeah, Colt McCoy has detractors, and there are those that keep bringing up a perceived lack of arm strength and doubts as to his ability to play in the frigid climes of a Midwest winter.

But dang it, isn’t it NICE to have a quarterback who can count to six without having to check his other hand?

Back to the future
We were reading Todd Maternowski’s Top Six List of Super Bowl Myths on pegasusnews.com and just about fell out of your chairs. The Browns Nation has been excitedly talking about instituting this new thing called “The West Cost Offense.” Only it isn’t so new after all:

Superbowl Myth #5: The West Coast Offense Originated On The West Coast. Any time a team attempts a pass shorter than forty yards, you will hear a TV announcer indicate that this is due to the team in question employing a “West Coast Offense.” This is an offense where quarterbacks throw to guys five yards downfield, and was invented by Bill Walsh of the San Francisco 49ers in the 80s. San Francisco is an iconic American city located on the West Coast of the continent of North America, which is something even most NFL television announcers can be made to understand.

The Problem With That: According to Bill Walsh himself, the name is a misnomer, and should be called the Cincinnati Offense. Walsh didn’t even technically invent it, as the Cleveland Browns –you know, the winners of eight NFL championships… You knew that, right?– used it to perfection in the 1950s. When former Browns coach Paul Brown moved on to the Bengals in the 1970s, he worked with then-offensive coordinator Bill Walsh on the system, to take advantage of their QB who had a weak arm.

Fate, meet Destiny. Destiny, this is Fate.

From The Plain Dealer
Mary Kay Cabot writes that the Browns confirmed the hiring of four coaches, including former Miami Hurricanes offensive coordinator Mark Whipple, who will take over as quarterbacks coach. It’ll be up to Whipple to mentor young Colt McCoy and mold him int the quarterback Browns President Mike Holmgren and the rest of the team’s brain trust think he can be. Our only question is how long it’ll be before someone makes a squeeze-the-Charmin joke. Ah, TP or not TP, that is the question.

 

Published: Friday, January 28, 2011, 8:59 AM     Updated: Friday, January 28, 2011, 10:35 AM

The Baltimore Ravens fired quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn on Thursday. Does this mean Zorn could become a candidate to join the Cleveland Browns? Could Zorn become the Browns’ quarterback coach or next offensive coordinator?

Since Browns coach Pat Shurmur will call his own plays (and since so many other candidates have turned down the Browns), Zorn could become a good fit. Zorn has a history with Browns president Mike Holmgren.

According to The Baltimore Sun:

Zorn’s release came after a seven-hour meeting this week with Cameron and coach John Harbaugh in which they questioned him about Joe Flacco’s development this season, a league source said.

Instead of hiring a new quarterbacks coach, Harbaugh decided that Cameron will have more hands-on duties with the quarterbacks.

“We’ve talked about this since the end of the season, and we believe this will help improve our offense,” Harbaugh said.  

 

Donation

Lake High School in Toledo was devastated due to a tornado last summer. The school got some relief when the Cleveland Browns presented a $20,000 check.

Because of the tornado, Lake is playing all of its home basketball games at a local community college.

On Fox Toledo:

Along with the $20,000 donated for the athletic facilities, the Browns have already honored the Lake football team by having them on the field before a preseason game with the Rams. They’ve also donated football equipment to the school.

 

 

Mock Draft

 

 

Why?

 

Because Shaun Rogers is 32 and he is due $5.5 million next year.

 

The Browns would love to land a top-tier weapon for the impressive Colt McCoy like A.J. Green. But if Green isn’t available, Cleveland will almost certainly beef up its front seven. 

Dareus hasn’t been as dominant as some would have hoped this season, but he’s still a top-10 prospect capable of playing in any scheme.

• WHO: Browns vs. Steelers
• WHERE: Cleveland Browns Stadium
• WHEN: Today, 1 p.m.
• RECORDS: Browns 5-10; Steelers 11-4
• LAST WEEK: Browns lost 20-10 to Baltimore; Steelers beat Carolina 27-3
• SERIES: Steelers lead 61-56, including 2-0 in playoffs
• SERIES AT CLEVELAND: Browns lead 35-22
• LAST MEETING: Steelers won 28-10 on Oct. 17 in Pittsburgh
• COACHES: Eric Mangini is 10-21 with Browns, 33-47 overall; Mike Tomlin is 45-22 with Steelers and overall
• TV/RADIO: Channel 19, with broadcasters Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts; WMMS 100.7-FM, WTAM 1100-AM
• NFL RANKINGS (OUT OF 32 TEAMS): Browns – offense 29th (19th rushing, 30th passing), defense 21st (26th rushing, 13th passing); Steelers – offense 15th (9th rushing, 16th passing), defense 2nd (1st rushing, 14th passing)

BROWNS UPDATE

• Browns are 6-2 in season finales since 2002 and have won four straight.
• Joshua Cribbs’ three kickoff returns for touchdowns against Pittsburgh are tied for the most in NFL history against an opponent. He’s averaged 27.6 yards per kickoff return in 11 games against the Steelers. He needs 17 return yards to pass Michael Bates (9,154) for 10th on the NFL list. He needs 120 kickoff return yards to pass Desmond Howard (7,959) for seventh on the career list.
• WR Brian Robiskie has seven catches for 117 yards in the last two games. He’s the first Brown with a touchdown reception in consecutive games since Braylon Edwards in 2008.
• S T.J. Ward leads the team with 98 tackles and could become the first rookie to lead the Browns since 1999.
• NT Ahtyba Rubin leads NFL defensive linemen with 79 tackles.
• Browns are only team not to give up 30 points in a game. They’ve shut out the opponent in the first quarter in the last four games and have allowed a league-low 26 points in the first quarter this season.
• DL Travis Ivey made his NFL debut last week, starting at end and making a tackle.
• Browns lead the league with four players having thrown a TD pass – Colt McCoy, Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace and WR Mohamed Massaquoi.
• RB Peyton Hillis has 60 catches and needs six to pass Greg Pruitt for most by a Browns running back in a season.

STEELERS UPDATE

• RB Rashard Mendenhall ranks sixth in the NFL with 1,237 rushing yards. He’s carried 310 times with a 4.0 average and 11 TDs.
• LB LaMarr Woodley needs 1½ sacks to reach 10 and join LB James Harrison as the only players in team history with 10 in three straight seasons.
• Tomlin served a minority coaching internship with the Browns during the 2000 training camp.
• K Shaun Suisham spent time with the Browns in the offseason. He was a midseason pickup of the Steelers and is 12-for-13 on field goals.
•  LB James Farrior has six sacks, tying a career high.
• Steelers haven’t lost the season series against the Browns since 1988.
• Steelers are 6-1 on the road this year.
• Since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger, Steelers have the best record in the NFL, 383-246-2 (.611).
• WR Hines Ward is the franchise’s all-time leader in catches (949), receiving yards (11,657) and touchdown catches (82). He has 54 catches for 710 yards and four TDs this year.
• BROWNS INJURY REPORT: Questionable: DE Kenyon Coleman (knee), RB Peyton Hillis (ribs), DL Shaun Rogers (ankle, hip), OL Floyd Womack (knee); Probable: LB Eric Alexander (groin), LB Marcus Benard (shoulder), CB Sheldon Brown (shoulder), LB Matt Roth (thumb), TE Robert Royal (shoulder), DE Brian Schaefering (shoulder), OL John St. Clair (ankle), TE Benjamin Watson (ankle)
• STEELERS INJURY REPORT: Out: RB Mewelde Moore (knee), DE Aaron Smith (triceps); Questionable: S Troy Polamalu (ankle), LB Jason Worilds (knee); Probable: LB LaMarr Woodley (knee)
• THE PICK: Mangini and his staff have one more upset in them, leave on a high note. Browns 17-16.

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WHO: Browns vs. Ravens
WHERE: Cleveland Browns Stadium
WHEN: Today, 1 p.m.
RECORDS: Browns 5-9; Ravens 10-4
LAST WEEK: Browns lost 19-17 at Cincinnati;
Ravens beat New Orleans 30-24
SERIES: Ravens lead 16-7
SERIES AT CLEVELAND: Ravens lead 7-4
LAST MEETING: Ravens won 24-17 on Sept. 26
in Baltimore
COACHES: Eric Mangini is 10-20 with Browns, 33-46 overall; John Harbaugh is 33-18 with Ravens and overall
TV/RADIO: Channel 19, with broadcasters Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts; WMMS 100.7-FM; WTAM 1100-AM
NFL RANKINGS (OUT OF 32 TEAMS): Browns — offense 29th (18th rushing, 28th passing), defense 22nd (25th rushing, T-15th passing); Ravens — offense 18th (16th rushing, 15th passing), defense 10th (5th rushing,
T-15th passing)
BROWNS UPDATE: TE Benjamin Watson has a career-high 674 receiving yards and needs 26 to become the fourth Browns tight end to reach 700 in a season. He leads AFC tight ends with 58 catches.
l The defense is sixth in the red zone, allowing touchdowns on 43.9 percent of the trips inside the 20-yard line.
l The offense is tied for 25th in the red zone, scoring a touchdown 46.2 percent of the time.
l NT Ahtyba Rubin had a career-high 10 tackles last week. He leads NFL defensive linemen with 74.
l Browns are the only NFL team that hasn’t allowed 30 points in a game. They allowed 30 points seven times last year.
l Browns have allowed 26 first-quarter points, lowest in the league.
l Rookie CB Joe Haden is tied for second among NFL rookies with five interceptions. New England’s Devin McCourty has six.
l RB Peyton Hillis has 59 catches and needs seven more to pass Greg Pruitt for most by a Cleveland running back in a season.
l Browns have been called for 70 penalties, third fewest in the league.
l S T.J. Ward is third in special teams tackles with 18. Detroit’s John Wendling leads with 21.
l P Reggie Hodges ranks third with 15 punts inside the 10-yard line and fifth with 27 inside the 20.
l Browns are 6-for-32 on third down in the last three games.
l K Phil Dawson needs 10 points to reach 100 for the year. He holds the club record with five 100-point seasons.
RAVENS UPDATE: S Haruki Nakamura, an Elyria native, has appeared in all 14 games with 16 tackles, a pass defensed and 10 special teams tackles.
l WR Derrick Mason has 1,229 receiving yards against the Browns in his career, the most against any opponent. With six catches he will become only the third player to have 60 catches in 11 straight seasons, joining Jerry Rice and Tony Gonzalez.
l LB Ray Lewis leads the team with 130 tackles, and has two sacks and two interceptions.
l K Billy Cundiff played five games for the Browns in 2009 when Dawson was injured. Cundiff needs three touchbacks to break Mitch Berger’s NFL record of 40 since kickoffs switched to the 30-yard line. Cundiff has a record 32 touchbacks outdoors and one in every game. He’s 22-for-25 on field goals.
l P Sam Koch is second in the NFL with 16 punts inside the 10-yard line and first with 36 inside the 20.
l Senior personnel assistant George Kokinis was Cleveland’s general manager in 2009 before getting fired at midseason.
l WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh has seven TD catches vs. the Browns, his most against any team.
l Ravens have won five straight against the Browns and three of four in Cleveland. In the last five matchups, Baltimore has outscored Cleveland by an average of 27.8-11.4 and outgained it 364-219.
l Assistant head coach/special teams coach Jerry Rosburg directed Cleveland’s special teams from
2001-06.
l Harbaugh is 16-1 against teams with sub-.500 records.
l LT Michael Oher leads the team in penalties (11) and false starts (eight).
BROWNS INJURY REPORT: Doubtful: TE Robert Royal (shoulder). Questionable: LB Eric Alexander (groin), DE Kenyon Coleman (knee), DT Shaun Rogers (ankle, hip). Probable: LB Marcus Benard (shoulder), CB Sheldon Brown (shoulder), WR Joshua Cribbs (foot), RB Peyton Hillis (knee), QB Colt McCoy (illness), T John St. Clair (ankle), WR Chansi Stuckey (thigh), G Floyd Womack (knee).
RAVENS INJURY REPORT: Out: WR David Reed (head), S Tom Zbikowski (back). Questionable: CB Chris Carr (illness), TE Todd Heap (thigh). Probable: LB Brendon Ayanbadejo (knee), C Matt Birk (knee), WR Derrick Mason (ankle), G Tony Moll (illness), S Haruki Nakamura (illness), LB Jason Phillips (illness), DE Cory Redding (elbow), WR Marcus Smith (shoulder).
THE PICK: Peyton Hillis gets Ravens for 100 yards again, but Baltimore finds a way to clinch another playoff berth.
Ravens 23-20.
— Scott Petrak

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