Preparation, Focus: Keys to Browns Success

A new coaching staff, a couple of quarterbacks, and a bunch of draft picks.  It’s back to the books for the Cleveland Browns as hopeful fans wait to see what kind of team takes the field for 2009.

Overall, the Browns will be a more prepared, and disciplined team. Head Coach Eric Mangini already has talked at length about how anyone who drops the ball or incurs a penalty has to run a lap as punishment. 

The Browns were ninth in the league last year with 100 penalties. Pre-snap penalties made up the bulk of yellow flags thrown. That’s a concentration problem, and Mangini said he feels running laps will help his players maintain their focus.

Plus, once you get to July and August and you’re running in full pads, the prospect of running a bunch of extra laps will not appeal to most players.

As for how the team will perform, let’s break this down by offense and defense.

Offense

Ladies and Gentleman, I give you Brady Quinn as your 2009 starting quarterback!!

I’m calling that one right now for two reasons:  He's a smarter quarterback.  He's a better quarterback.

Over the last few weeks, Mangini has had a mantra about wanting smart players whose complete focus is on football. This mantra was reinforced through the draft, which brought players with as much brains as potential on-field talent.

Quinn fits that mold perfectly. He also is more accurate than his top competition for the job, Derek Anderson, and I noticed the offensive line committed fewer snap count penalties while Brady was at the helm.

Quinn had a 59.9 percent completion rate at Notre Dame while Anderson has had only a 54.5 percent completion rate since joining the Browns.

Quinn’s pro numbers are too small at this point to be statistically significant.

Quinn also had the lowest interception rate of all starting quarterbacks at Notre Dame, 2.43 percent, throwing a total of 32 interceptions in his four years.  Anderson has had 35 interceptions in roughly the same time frame.

Quinn also threw 95 touchdowns at Notre Dame while Anderson only has thrown for 43.

With Quinn directing the action on the field, we can expect to see more ball control. Whereas Derek Anderson tended to force the ball, relying on his arm to get him out of trouble. I now expect to see a lot of slant routes and more emphasis on the run game.

Going back to 2006, Mangini’s first year with the Jets, the ratio of rushing plays to passing plays favors Mangini calling more on his running backs.

Passing/Rushing plays 2006-2008

Browns: 372/512, 440/545, 409/488

Jets:     491/488, 446/512, 422/529

Those numbers tell me Mangini will run the ball more than Romeo Crennel did. The passing plays for the Jets in 2008 would indicate a variance in that statement, but Brett Favre was the quarterback for the Jets last year and I’m choosing to ignore that number.

Quinn will use more of the playbook, and his athleticism will allow the occasional trick play, play action, and quarterback sneak. That being said, expect to see a lot more of Jamal Lewis and Jerome Harrison.

The receiving corps will dictate more running plays due to the current situation. Donte Stallworth, while technically still a member of the Browns, is facing DUI Manslaughter charges in Florida and most likely will never step on a football field again.

Braylon Edwards status with the Browns changes daily in addition to his well-documented problems holding onto the ball.

Syndric Steptoe is still young and didn’t have a great 2008, and the rest of the receivers are rookies or new to the team.

However, the signing of Mike Furrey and the drafting of Brian Robiskie back up the idea Mangini wants more emphasis on a running game and receivers who can block. Steptoe wasn’t effective in that role last year and former tight end Kellen Winslow was too hampered by injuries to block effectively.

The promotion of George McDonald to wide receivers coach will bring a fresh look to the receiver core. He has a track record of success at the collegiate level, and I hope he can continue that success at the pro level.

A beefed up offensive line should help keep Quinn on his feet long enough to get his passes off and will be better able to open holes for running backs Jamal Lewis and Jerome Harrison.

I do expect the Browns to score more points this year, after only scoring a total of 20 touchdowns last year with none in the last two games of the season.

Defense

The additions of Kaluka Maiava and David Veikune through the draft suggest Mangini is serious about implementing a real 3-4 defense this year, as opposed to former Head Coach Romeo Crennel, who put Shaun Rogers and a bunch of mannequins in Browns uniforms on the field last year.

That’s not exactly fair to linebackers D’Qwell Jackson and Kamerion Wimbley, but it sure seemed like Rogers was the only defensive guy on the field most of the season.

The key to having a successful 3-4 defense is the pass rushers, and our two draft picks seem to have the speed and intensity the job requires, even if the scouts say Maiava is undersized.

Veikune, on the other hand, is 6’2”, 257 lbs. That guy is not undersized by any stretch of the imagination, and I believe he’ll take his nine sacks in his final college season and translate that to a whole bunch more for Cleveland.

The corners present a mystery as the Browns recorded 23 interceptions last year, second in the league, but allowed the opposition to score 42 touchdowns, as well as giving up 3,273 passing yards, and finished 26th in the league in overall defense.

So, clearly, this defense was feast or famine last year.

It’s no secret: Watching the Browns play defense last year was like watching a Three Stooges short with all the blown assignments and missed tackles. 

Going back to Mangini’s focus on playing better fundamental football, I think it’s safe to say, while the Browns still may not be an elite team this year, they’ll look a heck of a lot better losing.

Small consolation, and a bit pessimistic, but this is Cleveland we’re talking about, and last time I checked, that commercial about LeBron James signing with the Browns was a fantasy.

Special Teams

One name: Joshua Cribbs. This guy is one of the most passionate, versatile players in the NFL and I expect another big year out of him, including a few run-backs for touchdowns. Like last year, Cribbs will be a bright spot on this team, as he is just as effective covering on special teams as he is returning.

Along with Cribbs, the Browns also have Kicker Phil Dawson. Dawson has simply been awesome the last few years.

I’m hoping we don’t have to call on him as much as we did with the Crennel “field goal first” offensive scheme, but it’s nice to know we have a reliable field goal kicker.

That being said, I expect to see a lot less of Phil Dawson this year, with a completely revamped coaching staff, and the mandate from Mangini the Browns need to play football his son can be proud of.