Mangini's Browns Better Off Than Last Year's

Rory from Bleacher Report has blessed me with the assignment of writing about preseason observations.  My main observation from preseason is that the Browns are much better off than they were at this time last year.  Also, let's not forget, at this time in 2008, Browns fans were thinking Super Bowl.

Assuming nobody gets seriously injured, or is already secretly injured, the Browns have more more depth, leadership, experience and upside at almost every position. 

Let's start with safety. Before you come at me with the Sean Jones argument, remember how poor communication has been in the secondary since Brian Russell left. The cornerbacks get burned deep almost every game and always seem out of position.

Jones may have more athletic ability than Abram Elam, but the Browns lost a leader in the secondary when Russell went to Seattle that neither Pool nor Jones could replace in the following years. Elam should fill that role well. After all, he's a vet in his prime and he knows the system.

Now let's look at receivers.  Last year, Braylon Edwards missed tons of practice and preseason games with a foot injury. Dante Stallworth was out with a hammy from hell and Joe J was trying not to die from staph. Who did we have? Steptoe?

Joe J was a top-three third down receiver in 2007, and he was vastly underrated, so it was an absolute shame when we lost him for the season.  Dante is a could-of-been turned never-would. And, needless to say, Edwards wasn't able to carry the burden at WR all by himself, much less hold onto the football.

This year, Edwards is looking good and has been to most of the practices. In Mike Patten and Mike Furrey the Browns have a temporary number two and a very solid slot receiver. Patten should give way to someone soon, and it could Josh Cribbs, who, after finally experiencing what coaching ought to be, seems to fully understand the WR position. Behind them we have the upside of Massaquoi and Robiskie, who look like they will become reliable NFL receivers.  Chances are Patten will get cut and Massaquoi will share some time with Cribbs at two.  It looks much better than last year, doesn't it?

I don't want to, but I know you want to discuss the quarterback position. All you guys want to talk about is who's better or why Mangini can't make up his mind.  Have patience. Mangini is smarter than Crennel and he's probably smarter than you. He will run this competition according to his plan, select the better option and then eventually trade the loser sometime before the trade deadline for max value to a team with an injured QB.  

Just imagine how much Derek Anderson's stock has gone up since the Lions game.

Mangini stated at the beginning of preseason that this competition will go deep into the exhibition games before he makes a decision, so I don't understand why everyday I read a headline that says "Mangini still hasn't budged on QB Decision." Expect him to make it next week. 

Pardon the rant.

Back to business.  We have three young QBs. Two have a lot of talent and a third has some potential, at least a lot more than Ken Dorsey. I'm confident Mangini is capable of selecting the better QB without flipping a coin, so I'll be fine with whoever he picks. Both should be improved after another year and a preseason of solid coaching.  From what I've seen, they look capable of managing a team, which is about as good as a coach can expect in his first year with a new team.

To the people who say, "DA has had his chance, now let somebody else try," let's reflect on the juxtaposition of 2007 and 2008. In the former, everything clicked on offense and DA was a hero.  Last year, nothing clicked and it was all DA's fault. We don't want to can every player who was a part of the failed 2008 season, do we? I mean, Joe Thomas looked like crap last year but no one calls for his head.

Maybe it's possible DA's failure last year was because of a failed system. He deserves as much a chance with the new Browns at QB.  It's too easy to blame 2008 on the quarterback, but if you analyze the situation much of last year's failure can be attributed to the decline of team culture and discipline.

The biggest positional improvement this year at the coaching spot. Mangini is going to be an excellent coach for the Browns.  Some say he's too demanding and unlikable. Criticisms against him remind me of similar the criticisms Tom Coughlin received on his way to the 2007 Super Bowl.  Then again, they also say he started to lighten up a little that year. Maybe Mangini will lighten up after several years of tough love when a professional culture dominates the locker room. 

If I had to explain the failure of 2008 in one sentence, I'd say it was due to a combination of a tough schedule, untimely injures and an overall breakdown of culture and discipline. Crennel was a players' coach, which is fine if you are a disciplined team with strong individual leaders, which the 2008 Browns team wasn't.

Mangini and the culture he brings with him are quite the opposite of last year's situation. He's known for being a very hard worker and a brilliant football intellect. He's brought team leaders with him from New York and free agents who will step up and motivate. It doesn't happen over night, but the Browns will become a professional-looking team. Expect a lot of Ws in the second half of the season.

I don't want to go into other positions in as much depth but the same could be said for CBs, RBs, DEs, and even LB.

I guess FB is the same and DT hasn't changed much (although Ahtyba Rubin is healthy and playing well). TE might be considered weaker, but Winslow was more of a receiver anyway.  If you look at TE as a blocking position, the Browns improved with Robert Royal over K2.  

The point is, due to coaching, an influx of new faces and better luck with injuries, the Browns are headed into 2009 looking okay. They have a ways to go, but don't expect an all-out nightmare.