10 things to fix the Browns, Part I
For my first post on my new blog, I've decided to tackle the subject that often gets me most upset regarding the teams I follow, and that is the disaster that is the Cleveland Browns. Since 1999, the Browns have made a living out of being a complete joke, save for one season in 2007 (which turned out to be a fluke and the product of an easy schedule).
To really "fix" the Browns, more than 10 things need to happen, obviously without question. But, here are 10 of the most-pressing fixes that hopefully will be implemented by Mike Holmgren aka "The Big Show".

1. Pay Josh Cribbs.
Let me say this again ... Pay Josh Cribbs. Arguably, Cribbs, the former Kent State QB, is already a Hall of Fame caliber player based on his special teams play. This season alone, Cribbs has returned three kicks and one punt. He averages 12.4 yards per punt return and 27.8 yards per kick return. He is easily the team's top (only?) playmaker. And his potential has yet to be realized as far as being used as a weapon on offense as a runner, receiver, QB or all of the three.
Here is a link to a recent Plain Dealer story about Cribbs and Holmgren talking about contracts:

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2010/01/josh_cribbs_says_mike_holmgren.html

The Browns need to reward this guy, who is becoming one of the most exciting players in the NFL, not to mention one of the most effective. Yes, I did go to school with Cribbs. Yes, I did cover him as the Kent State football beat writer for two seasons. But there is no personal bias here (for the record, he is a stand-up guy). This is a matter of the Browns not letting this guy walk. Do what's right, and PAY ZEE MAN HIS MANEY (little Rounders reference there).


2. Find the right coach that will work seamlessly with Holmgren.
Sorry folks, but there is NO way the Browns are going to keep Mangini. NO WAY. I don't care what you read or here on WTAM or any any blog site. Here is the simple reality of professional sports: when a guy takes over an organization, he always cleans house and brings in his own coaches, scouts, players, janitors, waiters, secretaries and pets. Everything. Mangini and his entire staff will go. Even Rob Ryan, who is a favorite of a lot of Browns fans I know (Brian Daboll, don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out).
So, with that being said, what needs to happen here is Holmgren needs to find a coach, someone he has worked with in the past, that is familiar with his way of doing things and can be an extension of him on the field. Someone who knows the West Coast offense and the 4-3 defense. (The current Browns don't run either one of the systems.). I've heard names like Marty Mornhinweg, Jim Zorn, Greg Knapp...none of these really excite me. To be honest, I don't yet know who I'd like to see the Browns hire as the head coach or any of the coordinators.
One name to watch for: Steve Mariucci. Had success with San Fran. Failed in Detroit (who doesn't). He would pair well with Holmgren, no doubt.

3. Get more playmakers
Talk about a high priority. I define "playmaker" as a guy who can score a touchdown on any given play, a guy that can make a tangible difference in the game whenever he is on the field. So who do the Browns have that fits that bill? I count the following:
Josh Cribbs, Jerome Harrison on offense.
Kameron Wimbley (may be a stretch here), Da'Qwell Jackson, Shaun Rogers on defense.
That's it.
Offensively, it remains to be seen if Harrison can carry the load at running back. Maybe he is the starter next season, maybe not, depending on what the team does in the draft. But he does have an explosive first step and runs hard. James Davis may be in the mix next year. No playmakers are on the roster at receiver. At times, Mohamed Massaquoi has looked good, but he is not proven and drops too many balls, which may be a sign of a rookie trying to acclimate to the pro game. Two 100-yard games as a rookie is a start. I'd like to see the team draft a receiver in the 3rd-5th round in April, and hopefully continue to develop Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie. Possibly add a veteran via free agency.
Defensively, more ballhawks are needed in the secondary. Eric Wright is solid, but Brandon McDonald is terrible. He gets beat too often and is not a starting-caliber corner in the NFL. Abram Elam is a good safetly, but on the other side, when you have a receiver (Mike Furrey) starting, that tells me immediate help is needed at safety...which brings me to two safeties in the draft...Tennessee's Eric Berry and Southern Cal's Taylor Mays. Either would look in brown and orange next season...epsecially Berry. Think Ed Reed or Troy Polamalu. Fast. Big hitter. Nose for the ball.


4. Make good use of draft picks
This may seem obvious, but take a look at the link provided below, which is the Browns' draft history, pick-by pick:

http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?teamId=1050&type=team

Some of those names on that list should not look familiar. Why? Because most of them have been invisible on the field. Zing!!! Seriously...the Browns can't draft. Poor college scouting, bad trades and bad luck have conspired for bad draft class after bad class.
I can serve up stat after stat to prove my point. Here is a very telling one:
Of the Browns 22 starters (11 offense, 11 defense), 9 were drafted by the team. That's less then half. In comparison, of the Steelers' 22 starters, 15 were drafted by the team. Quite a difference there.
What that means, among other things, is that the Browns are not getting production from their draft picks, which is something successful organizations do. Here is a sampling of some of the Browns 1st and 2nd round picks since 1999:
Tim Couch, Gerard Warren, Courtney Brown, Quincy Morgan, William Green, Chaun Thompson, Sean Jones.
Lots of busts there. Granted, there have been some good ones like Joe Thomas, Wimbley, D. Jackson, Kellen Winslow (maybe) and Brodney Poole. Some are still question marks, like Brady Quinn and Alex Mack.
And then you have the 2008 draft class, Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel's last, which consisted of: Beau Bell, Martin Rucker, Athaya Rubin, Paul Hubbard and Alex Hall.
Of those, Rubin and Hall are still with the team. Rubin is a backup and Hall has shown brief flashes. That's it.
So what Mike Holmgren needs to do is what Dwight Clark, Carmen Policy, Phil Savage and Eric Mangini/George Kokinis failed to do: make good use of your draft picks.
The Browns have 11 picks this year...I am hoping for 5-6 hits in the class. Should not be too much to ask. Let's keep the ghosts of Charlie Frye, Travis Wilson, Travis Prentice, James Jackson and Luke McCown away.


5. Cut Derek Anderson
OK. Here we go. Deep breath. Flex the fingers. Check the blood pressure. Stay calm....
Anyone who knows me knows that I despise the sight of Derek Anderson. I do. Very much so. I think he not even suited for a backup role in the NFL and is only in the league because he is tall.
I will get to Brady Quinn in Part II of the 10 things the Browns need to fix.
But as for DA.......
Holmgren needs to cut him. Today. Right now. Hire a security guard in order for him to never be allowed access to Browns Stadium. Cut off his legs so he can't walk. Cut of his throwing hand so he can't....wait, nevermind, that may help him. He is inept, pathetic, terrible and painful to watch. I don't care about beating the Raiders. Or the Chiefs. Meaningless games. Doesn't matter.
OK, I was being funny. Now, on to the serious reasons why Derek Anderson sucks:

Remember that 2007 season, when the Browns were 9-5 and needed only to beat the 5-9 Bengals to clinch a playoff spot, which would have been their first postseason appearance since 2002? Remember that game? In case you don't, here is the link to ESPN's game story: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=271223004 . OK, did you read it? Is your memory jogged? The Browns failed to make the playoff that year for many reasons. One was how Derek Anderson played in that game against Cincy, throwing four picks. FOUR. I don't care if it was windy...he choked. Gagged. Failed miserably. Look at his numbers from that season, and you'll see all of his big games statistically came against inferior teams, save for that Monday night miracle against the Giants, when the stars were aligned and everything went perfect (my brother-in-law and I were saw it in person).

Player A: 22-37 win-loss record, 59.8 completion percentage, 64 TDs, 67 INTs, 75.1 QB rating.
Player B: 13-14 win-loss record, 52.8 completion percentage, 46 TDs, 44 INTS, 69.9 rating.

Player A is Tim Couch, universally regarded as one of the all-time NFL busts and a terrible, terrible quarterback. Player B is Derek Anderson. Game, set, match.
52.8 completion percentage. 69.9 rating!!!! Are you kidding me!!!! He isn't even CLOSE to Tim Couch, who is doing what now, bagging groceries at Sparkle in Struthers, Ohio?? Give me a break, get out of here. That is just stat 1 of 204,345 I can give you as to why Derek Anderson should not even be in the NFL, let alone get 560 chances to be the Browns' starting QB.

Derek Anderson is an inaccurate passer, cannot manage a huddle, cannot run the no-huddle offense, has difficulty calling plays, is skittish in the pocket, cannot read defenses, cannot hit receivers in stride most of the time, takes too many chances for someone with no skills and minimal talent around him, and has failed EVERY time he gets a chance to prove himself again. Look, Brady Quinn's numbers aren't much better. He averages about 2 yards per pass attempt. That is not the argument here. My point is, and has been since 2007, is that Derek Anderson is like a mirage in the desert..you are thirsty for a quarterback, and in the distance you see this beautiful sight...a 6-foot-6, 230 pound athlete who can throw the ball 100 yards and his confident in his ability. It looks so good and you are so thirsty...so you crawl to it, crawl to it, you're almost there...and when you get there, you reach for it and it's a pile of sand. That's what he is. I guarantee that once Holmgren gets rid of this piece of garbage, he will never get another shot at being a starting QB in the NFL again. And he'll join his pal Tim Couch bagging groceries at Sparkle...that may be too good for him. I'd stick him in the parking lot to retrieve the runaway shopping carts.

By the way, for those keeping track, as of Week 16 this season, Anderson has completed a robust 43.3 percent of his passes for 3 TDs and 9 INTs. Simply awesome.

Part II coming this weekend...thanks for reading.