Cleveland's "V" Plan, Part II: 5 Reasons for Hope After the Bye
At 2-5, the Cleveland Browns head into the bye week as long shots to make the playoffs, especially in the AFC North, where the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens battle for not only division supremacy but also one of the two Wild Card spots in the conference.
Nonetheless, the Browns have many positives they can look to as they take an extra week to prepare for New England.
Here are the top five reasons Browns fans should expect more victories from the Browns:
1. Colt McCoy, Thrust into Action Sooner than Expected, Has Impressed
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The Browns No. 3 pick in the 2010 NFL draft, at No. 85 overall, Colt McCoy was brought in to hold a clipboard for a season and learn behind veterans Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace.
Team president Mike Holmgren and head coach Eric Mangini had stated on several occasions that the likelihood McCoy would see any playing time in 2010 was very slim.
Then, during the first game of 2010 vs. Tampa Bay, starting quarterback Jake Delhomme suffers an injury, and backup Seneca Wallace is thrust into the starting position.
Wallace starts the next four games and performs admirably, helping the Browns defeat the Bengals at home and almost leading them to upsets against Kansas City, Baltimore and Atlanta.
During the Atlanta game, however, Wallace would go down with an injury of his own. The Browns would turn to Delhomme to mount a comeback, but it was obvious from everyone in attendance (myself included) that his injury was still bothering him. The Browns would fall to the Falcons.
This left the Browns with a dilemma, as they had two wounded QBs. The only healthy QB on the roster was the rookie McCoy, whom they were reluctant to promote at this point.
Mangini made the tough decision and elevated the rookie out of the University of Texas to starting quarterback the following week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Many thought this move to be a little too bold against a very aggressive Steelers D on the road.
McCoy would respond to his coach's faith by holding his own against the Steelers, and the very next week he would lead the Browns to victory against the Saints, his first as an NFL QB.
As the bye approaches, it appears at the very least that Wallace will be healthy enough to return as starter, even if McCoy has played well enough to warrant playing more games.
Even if McCoy doesn't end up the starter, he has performed well enough that Browns fans should be happy they have such a talented backup.
2. The Trade for Peyton Hillis Is Paying Dividends
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The Cleveland Browns acquired Peyton Hillis and a couple draft picks from Denver in the offseason in exchange for quarterback Brady Quinn.
While many people around Cleveland were just glad the Browns had gotten rid of Quinn, whom they did not believe to be the answer anyway, few knew just who this Hillis guy was.
Browns fans got to see a brief glimpse of Hillis during the preseason. While he looked impressive at times, most people thought he would just end up being the fullback to Jerome Harrison or rookie Montario Hardesty.
Hardesty would not even make it out of preseason, and Harrison struggled from the get-go.
Enter Hillis, who would make the most of the opportunity. At the midway point in the season, Hillis leads the team in rushing yards (460), touchdowns (five), and is even second on the team in receptions (27).
Hillis' workhorse running style and attitude have made him a fan favorite. And his production on the field has made him a coach and front office favorite as well, making the Brady Quinn trade look better every day.
3. Rookies Joe Haden and TJ Ward Have Shown Promise
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The biggest fault Browns fans have had with the team in recent years is their inability to find quality players in the draft.
This year, it appears thus far, has been different.
Not only has rookie McCoy had an immediate impact for the team, but it also appears that the Browns No. 1 pick, corner Joe Haden, taken seventh overall, has done better than expected.
It usually takes a rookie corner at least a season to make it on the field, but Haden has done better than that playing in the Browns nickel formation. He even has two interceptions on the season.
But the real surprise has been T.J. Ward, the Browns second-round pick out of Oregon.
Many people thought that Ward, a safety who had injury issues at Oregon, was drafted too high. Ward has responded to his critics by not only becoming a starter but also leading the team in tackles. He also has a number of near-interceptions to his credit.
Both Ward and Haden have been bright additions to a defense that is better than its ranking suggests, and might just be one of the better units in the NFL.
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4. Browns Special Teams Continue To Do Well
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The Browns offense may rank among the bottom in the league, but the Browns need to give some serious props to their special teams unit, which continues to give them favorable field position week in and week out.
Joshua Cribbs may not have returned a kickoff for touchdown yet, but he certainly has helped put the Browns in favorable situations on offense, which is what a team is looking for out of its special teams.
And kicker Phil Dawson is 9-for-11 on field goals, including a perfect 7-for-7 from inside 40 yards. He has not missed a PAT, which is all you can ask for from a kicker.
5. Head Coach Eric Mangini Is More Relaxed
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Many people will disagree with me on this point, but I see Mangini as being a different person this season than last, even though his record might suggest otherwise.
Mangini has learned from the mistakes he made last season, and he has helped his players see their errors.
For more on Mangini, please check out my blog entry: http://jarrodssportsview.blogspot.com/2010/10/eric-mangini-off-hot-seat-and-out-of.html.
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