Written by Dave Kolonich

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Let’s play a little game.  Which beleagured NFL coach is the following “article” about?

It’s hard to criticize _______ coach ______  for a variety of reasons.  He’s inherited an awful roster and a culture of dysfunction in _______. He’s likable.

No one expects miracles in __________, but the ______ continue to make mental errors.  They don’t look like a well-coached unit. __________’s side of the ball (defense) has failed to make major progress. The team often makes sloppy mistakes and can’t seem to escape the culture of losing.

Anyway, if you guessed that the above was dedicated to Eric Mangini – head coach of the now 0-3 Browns -you would be wrong. 

This article – while emblazoned with all the details of our current malaise, including the “awful” roster, “culture of dysfunction” and losses to “mediocre” talent – would seem to suggest that any current criticism of Mangini could be considered grossly unfair.

But of course, this article is about the Rams’ Steve Spagnuolo.

Spagnuolo Struggling to Turn Things Around in St. Louis

Which begs two questions…first, the almost innocuous tone of the St. Louis media seems to suggest that no one is in a hurry to derail Spagnuolo after barely a year in town.  As it relates to Cleveland, does Mangini get a similar pass? 

Next – and more importantly – in the race to the bottom of the league, have we surpassed the Rams?

I say we hold off on both fronts.  Let’s take a look….

Browns-Ravens Preview: Heavy Lifting Edition

1.  In what will no doubt become a disturbing weekly feature on this site, here’s the million dollar question:  can Jake Delhomme Seneca Wallace avoid making that one critical mistake - the one that ultimately dooms the Browns yet again?

Besides the infamous “pitch to nowhere” in the fourth quarter, Wallace played a mostly mistake-free game.  However, considering that the Browns’ passing offense consisted of nothing but an endless series of “checkdowns”, the results he delivered were to be expected.

Of course, in defense of Wallace, he did display some great footwork throughout the game – as he moved around in the pocket and found passing windows.  Finally, as for that one crippling mistake – Wallace never really found the opportunity – which is about all we can ask for at this point.

2.  Speaking of the “Power Principle” yet again, as well as the Browns’ offense as a whole, are we indeed a power rushing team?

It turns out we are – again.  In a most welcoming return to December football, the Browns did what most struggling teams do during Week Three – which is simplify their offense and return to their roots.  In the Browns’ case, Peyton Hillis attacked the interior of the Ravens’ defense – specifically following Alex Mack, Floyd Womack and Lawrence Vickers. 

The play of these three blockers was instrumental, in particular – Womack was impressive for most of the game.  Along with the middle of the line clearing holes, Joe Thomas and Eric Steinbach played their most aggressive football of the year.

3.  Relating to #2, will this mean that the coaching staff actually trusts either Jerome Harrison or Peyton Hillis to run the ball?

For lack of any better alternatives, the coaching staff had no choice but to keep feeding Peyton Hillis.  With Jerome Harrison sidelined and James Davis a bit gimpy, Hillis was the only option for the Browns….which turned out to be a good thing.

4.  Can the Browns’ offense take advantage of what should be the weakest secondary they have faced so far this season?

Hey – How about that running game…..

5.  For the third straight week, has anyone actually confirmed the existence of Tony Pashos?  The lack of emails regarding this item is beginning to disturb me.

Not only was Pashos’ existence confirmed, but he actually played and contributed.  Seriously, I would have been happy just to spot him on the sideline in street clothes.  I seriously thought something had happened to him. 

Anyway, what a pleasant surprise.  Pashos was solid in run blocking and basically looked like Devin Hester – at least compared to the rotting corpse of John St. Clair.  But of course, Pashos’ time as a starter may be shortlived.  After all, once St. Clair gets “healthy”, Pashos should return to the MIA list.

6.  Speaking of disturbing, have Joe Thomas and Eric Steinbach regressed?

Thomas was back to his physical, aggressive self – which was evident on a few Hillis runs.  However, in pass protection – something that he has struggled with this season – he appeared to play with better leverage and didn’t give up as much space to defenders. 

Steinbach….on the other hand…..

7.  Does the Browns’ “powerful” defensive front seven finally have an advantage over an opposing offense?

Again, the run defense was fairly solid.  Plugging Ahtyba Rubin in at nose tackle is a complete upgrade over playing Shaun Rogers at the same spot.  Simply put, Rubin is a load for opposing linemen to move – while Rogers remains the kind of freelancer (albeit currently an injured one) that does not work at the position.

Elsewhere along the front seven, both Matt Roth and Scott Fujita were solid against the run.  Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for their inside linebacker partners. 

8.  Regarding #7, I spoke too soon.  I forgot that Baltimore loves to throw screen passes.

Baltimore only threw a couple screen passes – one in which Ray Rice ran through four arm tackles en route to a first down.  However more significant is this:

While I have never coached football at any level, I can’t even begin to understand Rob Ryan’s defensive scheme as it relates to the linebackers.  Considering the defense is designed to be “linebacker-specific”, the roles for both Chris Gocong and Eric Barton are completely undefined. 

On multiple occasions yesterday, either Gocong or Barton flashed a fake blitz, then dropped roughly two yards in coverage – manning a spot on the field that virtually no one other than the Ravens’ guards would occupy.  Meanwhile, some 7-10 yards further down the field, Baltimore’s Joe Flacco was completing passes against single coverage to one of his veteran wideouts.

Occasionally, either Gocong or Barton would blitz – along with five other defenders – but for the majority of the Ravens’ passing downs, they would guard the same two yards of field turf.  For the life of me, I can’t figure out what this strategy accomplishes.  If the Ravens featured a mobile QB, then these two would be performing “spy” duties.  If the Ravens threw underneath routes that were less than three yards, then the Browns would be ultra-prepared.

And for the 3,437th time, I have to state the following:  I hate the 3-4 defense.

9.  Will the overall rookie learning curve be exaggerated this week – or how will Joe Haden and T.J. Ward fare against the Ravens’ elder statesmen of Derrick Mason, Anquan Boldin and T.J. Houshmanzadeh?

Isn’t it funny how after only three games, our biggest secondary concerns remain the “veteran” influences of Eric Wright and Abe Elam?

Although in fairness to Wright, I have to wonder how much success Baltimore would have had by attacking Joe Haden.

10.  Should we be concerned that Jerome Harrison, Marcus Benard, Brian Robiskie and Shaun Rogers haven’t practiced all week?

Here’s something to chew on….when Marcus Benard plays, the Browns get sacks. 

As for Harrison, wouldn’t he have made a nice “change of pace” back yesterday?

11.  Just kidding about the Robiskie inclusion….

Who? 

12.  And from the Department of Not Kidding….why won’t Art Modell just die already?

Hold on, let me check. 

Damn.

The Pick – Part Three

Not to channel Terry Pluto here, but I will concede that the 2010 Browns still have a ways to go before they are truly considered a competitive team – yet are dramatically improved from this point a year ago.

While the overall record and general sense of frustration doesn’t reflect it, these Browns have now played three competitive games of football – against three quality opponents. 

And in a sense of “only in Cleveland/Gradual” improvement, it’s worth noting that the Browns played three solid quarters of football against a team picked to go to the Super Bowl.

Next week, we could play four. 

Again, “no one expects miracles.”

Right?