Cleveland Browns 2010: Same Old, Same Old

Hope sprung eternal, as the 2010 Cleveland Browns took the field in Tampa today. Fans were filled will optimism and excitement as the Mike Holmgren era began.  Tampa Bay is a struggling, rebuilding football team, who would provide a wonderful opponent to get the year off to a great 1-0 start.

Then, the actual Cleveland Browns took the field.  And while the first half showed signs of life, as soon as a bit of adversity struck, Cleveland reverted back into a bad football team that was lucky to win a few games at the end of last year.  It was the same old, same old, same old for Cleveland fans.  When are we going to catch a break?!?

Same Old No.1  

Jake Delhomme.  We as fans had been told all off-season that Jake was a changed man and something was going on last year that wasn't going on this year.  Mike Holmgren vowed that he wouldn't have brought Jake in if he didn't believe he was a changed man.  Well, when pressure got a little tight, Jake folded like a napkin and didn't look good for the rest of the game.  

Even up to the interception, his passes were dangerous and ill-advised, while his singular touchdown pass to Mohammed Massaquoi should have been picked-off had it not been for blown play by the safety.  It is the same old Jake Delhomme, but now he's 35, has a stiff ankle, no Steve Smith or DeAngelo Williams, no right side offensive-line help, and is playing in a much more punishing division than the NFC South.  I think his tenure in Cleveland is done after the year, if not before.

Same Old No.2

Mangini still can't manage a game.  I have never been a Mangini fan, I'll be honest.  I don't think taking a coach that another team fired gets your anywhere, but I gave him a chance, I really did.  He doesn't know anything about managing a game, his players, or his coaches.  Today was another glowing example.  

When its 3rd and the game with 90 seconds left, you have to call timeout to get your best play called with the right personnel.  Instead, he calmly sits there watching time tick by, only to watch Delhomme sail another attempted at a pass into triple coverage.  Eric should have also flexed his head coach muscle and made Offensive Coordinator Brian Daboll call some better plays in the second half.  

His personnel choices were suspect, and that showed during the game.  Is Floyd Womack really our best option at right guard?  Is Abe Elam really play better safety than Larry Asante, or Mike Adams (meaning that Brandon McDonald stays as the 4th corner)?  I doubt the Man-genius finishes the season in Cleveland.

Same Old No.3

Brian Daboll is a terrible play caller, who refuses to adjust or be aggressive in any way. His play calls were bad.  Where was Josh Cribbs?  Where was Jerome Harrison, the one-trick pony that he rode to save his (and a lot of other coaches) job?  

Why didn't Seneca Wallace get a chance to run things when it was clear that Delhomme was limping, causing inaccurate passes and predictable play calls?  Why did we make the Tampa Bay defense look so good?  How can you muster only 104 rushing yards against the worst rushing defense in the league last year?  How can you only get 1 first down between the early 3rd quarter Hillis fumble and the final drive of the game?  How the hell are you an NFL Coordinator?

BONUS Same Old No.4  

It's a sad story about an overlooked Browns defense, led by Rob Ryan, who plays a pretty darn good game overall, with some talented rookies contributing, but yet finds itself huffing and puffing because they are on the field for the whole second half.  This happened countless times last year as well.  The Browns defense plays teams so well until the 4th quarter when they are so exhausted because the offense can't get a first down during the second half.  By the 4th quarter of the Tampa game, Josh Freeman was picking us apart and Cadillac Williams was gashing us for long gains.  I'm sorry defense, you deserve better than that from your teammates and coaches.

I suppose the moral of the story is that the Browns are still the Browns, and even though as fans we always think there is light at the end of this very long and painful tunnel of losing, we're not shocked by the outcome.  It's the same *$^&, different year. I pray I'm wrong, I really do.  

But something tells me I'm not.

Over/under week six before Mangini is fired and Holmgren is coaching.