Browns Bullet Points – Beating the Bills (Barely)
October 11, 20092009-10 NBA Blogger Previews: Cleveland Cavaliers
October 12, 2009While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email in the sidebar.
U-G-L-Y, but I’ll take it…”Considering that Cleveland and Buffalo entered Sunday a combined 1-7 on the year, no one could have been expecting the two teams to wage an all-time classic. But what resulted instead was so far at the opposite end of the spectrum that it may go down as one of the worst NFL games in recent memory.” [Chris Burke/NFL FanHouse]
—
“Frankly, the referees at NBA games are as interchangeable and replaceable as toll-takers along Interstate 95. I’m not saying they don’t do a good job — most of them do — but finding other people to nail Anderson Varejao for flopping is not as difficult as, say, finding other people to analyze mitral valve prolapse data at the Mayo Clinic.” [Norman Chad]
—
The GMs speak out and don Cleveland with the biggest home court advantage in the NBA [Wine and Goldrush]
—
Thirty people would want to coach the Indians? “The interview process for the Indians’ managerial position will formally begin [this] week. General manager Mark Shapiro and assistant GM Chris Antonetti, through conversations with and recommendations from people around the industry, have compiled a list of around 30 potential candidates, and that list will be whittled down to eight to 10 candidates in a matter of days.” [CastroTurf]
—
Shaq may have his own TV show, but… “Andy [Varejao] has a huge new contract, a new house and helped Brazil win the FIBA Americas Championship. I’ve never seen him smile so much. Mo has his own Nike shoe and his own commercial and everyone refers to him as All-Star Mo Williams. The last year has been the best of his career. Now a father, Z is the most content he’s been in his life. He knows being with Shaq is the best way to get his last goal: an NBA title. I think they’re all quite happy these days.” [Brian Windhorst]
—
(AP Photo/Don Heupel)
27 Comments
Second round picks are expected to be IMPACT players in year one in the NFL, particularly those picked at the top of the second round. This is true more so for teams on the rebound, I’m sure we can all agree. Already thoughout the 2009 season second round draft picks start and contribute in significant numbers.
That said, let’s track week to week the progress of Mangini’s (Kokinis’s) second round picks, shall we? :
Game #1 vs. Vikings/Second Round Browns Picks:
Brian Robiski: Grade: DNP
Mohamed Masaquoi: Grade: 1 catch/18 yards
David Vekune Grade: DNP
Game #2 vs. Broncos:
Brian Robiskie: Grade: INACTIVE (inexcusible, shades of Travis Wilson?)
Mohamed Masaquoi: Grade: 0 catches
David Vekune: Grade: DNP
Game #3 vs. Ravens:
Brian Robiskie: Grade: INACTIVE (inexcusable-journeymen waiver FA’s ahead of this investment?).
Mohamed Massaquoi: Grade: 1 catch/13 yards
David Vekune: Grade: DNP
Game #4 vs. Bengals:
Brian Robiskie: Grade: DNP (Dressed, in on one kickoff coverage play).
Mohamed Massaquoi: Grade: 8 catches/148 yards. A+ performance.
Tremendous effort, stretched the field, showed good
hands, and nice athleticism. Ran like a racehorse.
David Veikune: Grade: DNP
Note: Veikune was drafted as a conversion prospect for
OLB, had recently been moved to ILB. ILB’s are usually mid
round picks. Browns sold him as an OLB edge rusher.?????
Game #5 vs. Bills:
Brian Robiskie: Grade: 0 catches/0 yards/0 passes thrown to him.
Mohammed Massaquoi: Grade: 1 catch/16 yards. 3 DROPS.
David Veikune: Grade: DNP
Note: Ohio Northern just acquired special teams player Justin Trusnik played some OLB with David Bowens moving inside-Veikune still can’t sniff playing time at either his drafted role as an OLE or his converted role as an ILB. Just where/how can this 2nd rounder contribute?
If the Bengals game was a moral victory, was the Bills game a moral loss?
Aren’t you glad we replaced that stiff Quinn with Big Arm Anderson?
Hey, Isis, ease up on the 36th overall pick in the draft. He did an outstanding job tieing up one DB as a decoy. That pick is really starting to pay off.
In all fairness, even if the ball had been thrown to Robo yesterday, he would have had it hit him in the face or feet or dropped it. The entire receiving corps yesterday was infected with something, not to mention a certain QB.
Mangini’s three year reputation in NY was one who builds a gameplan and veers not one iota from it on Sundays, typically resulting in a good first half and badly out executed/out-strategized second half due to lack of halftime/in-game coaching adjustments.
Let’s track this week to week, shall we? Mangini’s first half versus second half coaching grade and strategic adjustments:
Week #1 vs. Vikings: Total defensive collapse in second half as Vikings adjust blocking schemes.
Week #2 vs. Broncos: Horrific vanilla offensive gameplan, defense collapses in second half as Broncos make blitz adjustments.
Game #3 vs. Ravens: Was there even a gameplan? Ravens adjusted
out of the locker-room showers. Just who is Brian Daboll? A rookie OC
grooming a rookie QB? HORRIFIC gameplanning on both offense and defense
Game #4 vs. Bengals: Kudos to Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan. After a rugged Q1, the defensive effort was outstanding. Clearly the adjustments WERE made defensively, players were positioned well, and for the most part tackled well. Big Kudos to Rob Ryan for the passion and emotion that he displayed with did nothing but support and motivate the effort from his troops. Couldn’t ask for anything more from the defense yesterday, they held the Bengals down time after time-giving the Browns offense ample opportunities.
Brian Daboll-what words can be said here? Why was a ROOKE OC hired to develop young QB’s? The offensive game plan versus the Bengals was beyond vanilla, it was high schoolish. Regardless of who plays QB, the offensive game-calling continues to be, rather offensive. At what point will this be addressed by the team, and recognized as an (if not THE) issue by the fans?
Overall-very competitive effort, played with intensity and passion not yet seen. Yes it was the Bengals, but yes it was good to see.
Game #4 vs. Bills: How does one describe a gameplan that resulted in one of the worst played/watched games in NFL history by BOTH teams? The Bills were so depleted at LB that clearly the Browns took whatever advantage that allowed. The Browns defensively likewise benefited from an absurdly inexperienced and untalented Bills offensive line. No adjustments necessary for the Browns in any regard as Buffalo played as disorganized and unmotivated an effort as ever seen. Buffalo attempted to hand the Browns a game and due to such equally ineffective ineptitude Cleveland finally snatched victory from the hands of an absurdly aborent attempt at a punt return by the Bills.
Chalk a “win” up to a Browns team QB’d by a someone who completed two passes for 23 years and had a 15 QB rating, to go along with yet another Brian Daboll display of caveman offensive accumen. Bring back Maurice Carthon, the king of rookie OC’s.
Alex, they were infected with suck.
🙁
I’m just happy Derek Anderson’s QB rating ended up higher than Brady Quinn’s yards-per-attempt. If anyone out there thinks either of these QBs is the answer, you’re crazy.
Anyone else notice the absurdity of Mangini doing cartwheels on the sidelines after such a “win”?
From our pal Peter King…
3. I think Brady Quinn has played his last significant snaps for the Cleveland Browns. I believe Derek Anderson — barring injury or an extremely bad stretch of football, even with his 2-of-17 performance Sunday in Buffalo — will play the final 11 games of the season as an audition to see if the Browns will take their third first-round quarterback in 11 years next April. My hunch is that they will — almost regardless of Anderson’s performance — unless there’s such a good pass-rusher in the draft that Cleveland can’t refuse.
@7
Why is that a problem? The Browns won the eFFing game… It was his first victory in Cleveland, something that some speculated might not happen this year.
I’ll take the win yesterday. The defense looked good. The offense was abysmal, but that is pretty much what I expected after the trade. It is going to be tough to develop any of our WRs with the caliber of QB we have playing on this team though.
Can’t wait for Cavs season to start. Just two weeks and one day away from opening tip!
@ Isis – honestly, all I notice is the absurdity of your posts. You are the only person I have ever seen who feels the need to copy and paste a week by week analysis in a COMMENTS section. Not that I even spent the time to read it.
The Browns could hypothetically win out (bear with me, I’m going somewhere with this) and finish the year 12-4. Some people would still find any and everything to complain about. From certain draft picks not playing/performing up to their standards, or the coaching staff not calling the right play, or the wrong QB is in. The bottom line is the Browns won. They did what they’re supoosed to win when the clock hits 0:00 in the 4th quarter. They won. I understand this team is nowhere near where we all want them to be, byt come on. We won! Focus on the positives (Defense, Special teams, J. Lewis over 100 yds.) and build on that for the next game. We all expected a disaster of a season and when are expectations are met, with this disaster of a season, we all criticize and bash the team. Jesus. We WON. Is that enough to satisfy for one lousy day? We’re NOT the worst team in the NFL right now. That’s a plus in my book.
The NBA refs are interchangeable? Didn’t a preseason game in Dallas or San Antonio have 75 fouls called with over 100 free throws? The regular refs aren’t great but at least they know that have to swallow their whistles sometimes.
“Interchangeable” is probably inaccurate, but I think Chad is right when he says they have absolutely no leverage.
– There are tons of refs dying to make it into the NBA.
– Its not like being a professional referee requires a special or unique skill set.
– They already make a better living than about half the country
– Everyone hates refs anyway.
Rob Ryan has officially been added to my list of “People I’d most like to have a beer with.” Just thought I’d throw that out there for today.
“one of the worst NFL games in recent memory.”
Well, I’m 43 and that was the worst game I’ve ever seen – at any level. Does 43 qualify as recent?
win is a win is a win. period.
haha scott, agreed! but he looks more like a whiskey guy to me.
i agree with chad because… well the man has a marvelous mustache! whamboozled!
and finally, its cold outside, its almost winter in cleveland, the tribe’s gonna be “rebuilding” for another 3 years, the browns are the browns, and then there’s the cavs… windy’s article just HAS to make you smile 🙂 (although i sincerely hope mo doesn’t let all this get to his head a la boobie circa 2 years ago)
Re: the Cavs – they should be hungry, not happy
Did anyone else catch LeCharles Bentley last night in studio with Bruce Drennen on STO? If not, see if you can get video-some of the best insight I’ve ever seen. The guy was extemely impressive, well spoken-hope we see more of him.
#12, did you notice the nice streak we had going?
@12 and @22
agreed
Norman Chad has some good points (at times), but he is extremely unfunny.
beautiful browns,don`t care cavs,hire valintine
in case anyone is curious what else the people in that top picture can spell if they changed seats:
http://wordsmith.org/anagram/anagram.cgi?anagram=firedicknow&t=1000&a=n
#13 Jay,
Obviously you don’t pay for tickets to watch the game. People shelling out the money for tickets, parking, food, etc.. deserve a much, much, much better product than this serving of horse manure they have been given so far.