CJSpiller

What's not to like about CJ Spiller? Dude is for real. Yes, it's a highlight real, but his vision, burst and desire to make the most of every run is similar to Adrian Peterson's. No, he isn't AP, but his desire is similar.

Bowl watch list

NFL Draft prospects:
2009

Round 1:
Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas - 6'4" 258
Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest - 6'3" 247
Andre Smith, OT, Alabama - 6'4" 330
Malcolm Jenkins, CB, OSU
Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida - 6'3" 240
Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC - 6'2" 250
Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
James Laurinaitis, ILB, OSU
Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

Round 2:
Herman Johnson, G, LSU
Jeremiah Johnson, RB, Oregon - 5'9" 208
Larry English, OLB-PR, Northern Illinois - 6'3 254
Clint Sintim, OLB, Virginia - 6'3" 248
Everette Brown, OLB, Florida St. - 6'4" 252
Rashad Johnson, S, Alabama
Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech - 6'6" 260
Tyrone McKenzie, OLB, South Florida - 6'2" 235
Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

Round 3:
James Davis, RB, Clemson - 5'11" 207
Clay Mathews, OLB, USC - 6'3" 244
Dannell Ellerbe, ILB, Georgia - 6'1" 236
Greg Hardy, OLB, Mississippi - 6'4" 265
Jonathan Luigs, C, Arkansas
Connor Barwin, DE/OLB, Cincinnati - 6'4" 252
Paul Kruger, OLB, Utah - 6'5" 250

Round 4:
Brandon Williams, OLB, Texas Tech - 6'5" 248
C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson - 5'11" 190
Rashad Jennings, RB, Liberty - 6'1" 230
Kraig Urbik, G, Wisconsin - 6'7" 332
Jasper Brinkley, ILB, South Carolina - 6'2" 262
Shonn Green, RB, Iowa - 5'11" 200
Devin Moore, RB, Wyoming - 5'9" 190

Round 5:
Diyral Briggs, OLB, Bowling Green - 6'4" 235
Eric Wood, C, Louisville - 6'3" 300
Javon Ringer, RB, Michigan St.
Hunter Cantwell, QB, Louisville - 6'4" 236

The simple truth

Take a look at the following. What does it tell us?

Rushing statistics:
age carries yards avg TDs
Michael Turner: 26 300 1,269 4.2 14
Jamaal Lewis 29 226 800 3.5 4

1. Michael Turner is a better running back.
2. The Falcons must have a better offensive line.
3. The Falcons run the ball more than the Browns.

What do we know about winning football?
1. Run the ball on offense
2. Stop the run on defense

What’s the best way to turn the Browns into winners in 2009?
1. Run the ball
2. Stop the run

In order to do those things, what position group(s) must be solidified?
1. Running Back
2. O-line
3. D-line

What is the most important ingredient to sustained ground control?
1. Attitude. The will to win the 1-on-1 battle each play.

Where does a football team get attitude?
1. Head Coach

Hmmm......

Scouting RB's

Say what you want, Jamaal Lewis hasn't got it any more. Maybe a fourth quarter, pound you into the ground back, but the future pro bowler isn't an every down back. 

Assuming the Browns need an every down back to keep the chains moving and Quinn off his back and in the lineup, we offer the following 2nd-4th round prospects. Watch away and vote on who you'd like to see in the Browns backfield next year.

Let's start with this guy:

Current Browns RB, Jerome Harrison

It's all good

Come down off the ledge, John.

The best way to fix it? I hope beyond hope that Lerner is getting the following advice:

“Randy, you are 2 steps into a 5 step process. The first 2 steps are always the most difficult in reversing a decade or more of losing. Most organizations retreat at step 3 forcing them to start all over again,” says the championship coaching god.

“So we should stay the course?” asks Lerner.

“Hell no. Romeo is a dud. Nice guy, but a HC dud. So is that DC and the entire defensive staff, for that matter.” coaching god says. “That Savage dude is a great scout that thinks that because he’s a great scout, he’s a great GM. Doesn’t work that way. Your finding that out.”

“So I should fire them all?” Lerner questions.

“Nope. Just the ones that deserve it,” says Champ Coaching God Dude.

Silence. Followed by more silence.

“...and who deserves it?” asks Lerner.

“Search your heart,” the coaching god replies.

“WTF kind of advice is that? You suck at advice. I’m just gonna fire them all and hire some new suits to run the show.”

POOF! The coaching god disappears.

Lerner attempts to split hairs by stripping Savage’s final 53 power, only to have Savage fight him on the contractual obligation. Lawyers fight and squabble while Savage is forcibly removed from Berea headquarters without clearing his desk. Savage gets pissed cuz’ he wants his favorite squishy stress ball, breaks in with a kitchen knife given to Savage by Lerner for a housewarming gift, but gets caught in the act. Rather than go quietly, Savage jumps into the duct system above to escape but gets stuck. Some newbie cop snaps a shot of Savage’s duff and dangling legs sticking out of the duct while cops play cards on the table below. The image gets circulated on the internet and becomes the internet “photo of the year,” earning the cop $1 Million dollars. Savage accepts a severance, retiring to a beach someplace in Southern Florida with his favorite stress-ball, vowing, “I am the world’s greatest scout. Fear me!”

The Browns go 13-3, defeat the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship and win the Super Bowl over the Green Bay Packers, 34-27.

See, all is good!

Just hire me!

If...
• Kirk Ferentz -- Here's a scenario I'm hearing from a league source: If Browns general manager Phil Savage manages to keep his job, which is far from a certainty, he'll go hard after Ferentz as Crennel's replacement. After 10 years as Iowa's head coach, Ferentz might finally consider the time is right for a return to the NFL. The Hawkeyes rebounded this year to 8-4 and knocked off undefeated Penn State in November. – SI

Then...
Savage should be canned immediately before he gets Frentz’ name out of his mouth.
Ferentz would be way down on the list of possible replacements. How far, you ask?

1. Cowher
2. Andy Reid
3. Jim Schwartz (just cuz’ you love the ‘may the Schwartz be with us’)
4. Rex Ryan (though I don’t think Savage would need to go anywhere to land him)
5. Steve Spagnuolo
6. Jason Garett
7. Pete Carroll (would never leave the warm weather of California, but had to mention him)
8. Jim Tressel
9. Kirk Ferentz
10. Me

So basically, I’d hire him before hiring myself. That’s not saying much. At least with me, we’d get:

• More entertaining press conferences with quotes like “he played like he had a corn-cob shoved up his a$$” or “my 80 year-old nanny moves quicker on her way to the bathroom every morning.”
• A 10 push up policy for every dropped ball. That means you Braylon
• 11 Josh Cribbs on offense, finally realizing a dream of having 11 QBs on the field at once. Cribbs drops back, throws to Randle El 12 yards down field. Oh my! Randle El runs the option with Troy Smith who gets another 15 yards before pitching to Robinson (you know the QB from Penn St.) who sprints untouched for the score. Wow! What an offense!
• After reading the above, 8 turnovers a game, but hey, it’ll be exciting!
• UFO defense? Ha! We’d run the blitz like nobody’s business defense. No more than 4 in coverage at any time.
• Immediate offensive snap every time the defense subs players, resulting in 5 yard penalties for too many men on defense.

Based on all this, I’d say Savage should leave his buddy in Iowa.

Random thoughts from a slightly deranged Browns Fan

• I am a life long Browns fan which is my life long penance. They are a team I have stuck with through thick and thin. I think Romeo is on heck of nice guy, but enough is enough and he must now be replaced.

• Why is it when the media, players, coaches, writers talk about Romeo the first thing they ALL say is...He sure is a nice guy. In four years, I have never ever heard any say...He sure is a Good HC.

• I am not going to bash him all of his obvious HC flaws, which include but are not limited to Clock Management, Insistence of playing over the hill, washed up, game passed em by Veterans over young players that have shown flashes in their extremely limited playing time. Oh Ya, I can't forget his propensity for playing the prevent D the entire game. Enough already, you get the point.

• I think Big Willie is the slowest human being on earth. Not sure if there is a medical condition called slothitis, but if there is he must have contracted it at the Cleveland Clinic.

• How do the Browns have 7 guys surrounding 'Grill' Lynch and none of them make an attempt to tackle him. I've seen more aggression displayed at an all you can eat buffet. Way to Coach them up RAC. Nice D the last 3 weeks

• How in the world does the HC in his presser admit the D was tired or fatigued or a little bloated and not feeling up to the challenge and still have a job?

• Saw something Monday night that I have not seen in about a year and a half. A Cleve QB at the line of scrimmage, looks around and then calls an audible. Atta boy BQ. THAT 'S what a QB is supposed to. I think it brought a tear to my eye.

• How about Romeo actually "challenging" a call and winning. I think he is now 6 for 30 or so in his time as HC. What is even more sad is the fact his % is only slightly worse than DA completion %.

• Ya ya, You can say that BQ completion % was just a bad a DA's, but at least BQ looked the part. He was poised and did not get rattled and will only get better.

• Hey Tippy Toes, aren't you supposed to be a 240 pound bad a$$? What do you call that running, Swan Lake?

• Hypothetically speaking. If I were to tell RAC he could have a RB that avg's about 7 yds a carry and 12 or so yds a reception. What do you think he would say...mmmm...No thanks, tippy toes over here is a vet and he must get a least have 20 carries or we won't win. UUUGGGHHHHH

• When I think about most of current Browns, why is the first thing that comes to mind is they seem nice and I think I would like to have a picnic with them or they would make good neighbors. Case in point # 15. Jason Wright. Nice guy, but why is he on the field? Oh to pick up the blitz you say...um did you watch the MNF game? Terrible. Was Moses was playing MLB for the Bills.

• OK, with 2:40 left. Why did Chud go hurry up, Shotgun, 4 wide and pass every time. Worse yet JL was in the game but did not stay back to block, he also went out for a pass. Makes no sense. The should have ran base O and mixed up the play calls?

• Gotsta go Cavs on

2009 Draft scenario v.1.2

OK Greg, tell me if you like this scenario.

Browns 2009 NFL draft:

• Round 1 - Rey Maualuga, LB USC
• Round 1* - Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
• Round 2 - CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson
• Round 2* - Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida
• Round 4 - best available CB/S

*Browns trade Braylon Edwards to Detroit for their 20th selection in the first round. (Lions fans, forget for a moment that Edwards can't catch and remember his 2007 16TD ProBowl campaign)

** DA traded to a team desperate for a strong armed vertical passer that'll make their fans jaw drop in both amazement and displeasure, often in the same drive.

Hmm...

Does anyone else find it interesting that Travis Daniels is in for the first defensive play of the game then McDonald plays the entire rest of the game? What message does that send?

"Sorry BMac, we're going to start the other guy," says RAC while munching on a two day old slice of pepperoni pizza. "Nothing personal, but we gotta give the guy a look. Management says so."

"No problem, coach," Brandon replies. "Whatever's best for the team."

RAC tells 22 to be ready though, because he'll be needed.

RAC does what he's told, starting Daniels -- the guy Savage traded a draft pick for (snicker, snicker) -- but then gives him the hook after just one play.

Stick it to the man RAC!

Bills post-game notes

Greg,

As usual, before I read any of the official media's response to the game last night, I need to offer my own insight, so it isn't tainted.

• A win? 2-yards to the left and it's a loss. (insert 'if my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle' here). At least they didn't get pounded 28-0.

• The Browns o-line was not consistently good.

• Braylon needs to shut his yap until he can get through a game without dropping passes. Hey Arizona! Red rover, red rover, send Anquan Boldin right over! Here, take Edwards!

• Shaun Rogers was triple teamed in the game and still got push. Imagine if Tucker actually sent delayed blitzers to shoot through the holes. Oh wait, that would pull from our 8-man max zone. Everyone knows you can't have a max zone with only 6 guys. My bad, Tucker. Sorry for getting excited about the possibility of applying pressure on a QB on 3rd down. Rogers is a beast.

• Lynch started slow but ended well. Do you think our inability to make a tackle helped, Greg? Do you think Andra Davis can go to the front office again and offer to take yet another pay cut? If so, he should take Wimbley, McGinnest and Leon Williams with him. Isn't tackling a requisite for success as a linebacker?

• A Romeo Crennel defense is boring wihout an old dinosaur someplace on the roster, wouldn't you say? Last year it was Tedd Washington. This year, #55. And don't forget the offensive equivalent, Jamaal Lewis. Yes, he can still bring it, but that old mule leaves more yards on the field than he pots in his stat column.

• Yes, more Harrison is good. No complaints here. Give #35 the ball.

• Stats won't agree, but I don't think Quinn played poorly. For the second game in a row though, he disappointed me with field management. Yes, the OC calls the plays, but Quinn needs to realize that with 3 time outs and a 1:30 on the clock, he can use the entire field. No excuse for not dinking and dunking to get in better field goal position. Dawson saved the day here.

• Did anyone block Kavika Mitchell in this game? Goodness.

• Stroud either had a great game or Fraley needs to eat fewer cheeseburgers and hit the weight room. Don't get me wrong, I love Fraley's leadership, experience and grizzly farmer persona, but he's being exposed this year. Maybe Ryan Tucker is THAT good.

• Alex Hall needs to be removed from special teams, pronto. All 3 big returns existed because of gaps between he and Sorrenson. On the touchdown, Hall had his head down while engaged with the blocker.

• Let's see if I get this straight... Cribbs busts tail to cover the kick, chase down the returner then runs back out to return our kick, the very next play? Dude is in good shape.