Dawgbeat 07/01/2007:Some random thoughts, NFL.

RANDOM THOUGHTS:NFL STYLE

by Eric Brown

  • Barring a contract holdout, like it or not Browns fans, Brady Quinn will be our starting quarterback come September 9th against the Steelers. And don't even scream at me "what about Tim Couch?" Quinn has picked up the offense quicker than any of the other three quarterbacks, has more talent and ability than Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson could ever dream about, and has played in high profile games. Don't tell me that any experience that Anderson and Frye have, give them that much more an advantage over Quinn. They're basically  rookies themselves that haven't had the oppotunity of working under former NFL offensive guru Charlie Weis for two seasons. Unless he and his agent Tom Condon decide to hold him out of training camp he is the starter.
  • Doesn't defensive end/linebacker DeMarcus Ware of the Cowboys remind you of Charles Haley.
  • Speaking of the Cowboys, Marion Barber III is a restricted free agent after this season, I would love to see him in orange and brown, alot more than Michael Turner.
  • Romeo Crennel's fate seemes to be decided before this season has started and if a slow start takes place he may be quickly canned. Phil Savage, though with the recent re-signing of Todd Grantham has his next coach already in place. Savage does not want to tear apart the system he has built and would rather hire from the inside. Savage believes this team can win football games this season and must see results, quickly. Grantham, a fiery, aggressive guy would move defensive backs coach Mel Tucker into his position and not much change would have to take place. However, if Randy Lerner gets fed up with another season of mediocrity he could go for the big splash and try to make a push for Bill Cowher, thus bringing major change to the staff and structure of this franchise. Don't count on it though, Savage has Lerner's ear and I believe Grantham on the sidelines would change this team's fortunes. The young Brown's team needs to see their leader get fired up on gameday and instill some of that personality in it's players. 
  •  Mark Shapiro please go get a closer. You have a plethora of talent to spare in this organization and I personally don't want to see a potential championship season get wasted over blown wins in the ninth inning. This team has an awesome mix of core players, veterans, and role players, not to mention a solid starting rotation. The one key ingredient missing is a closer, and someone may become available after the all-star break when teams decide their out of contention. Possible names: 1)Mariano Rivera, 2)Bobby Jenks. Rivera and Jenks' teams are sliding out of the picture and may become available. I know Joe Borowski has 22 saves, but his ERA and WHIP are among the worst for closers. It's only a matter of time before those baserunners and runs allowed start to hurt you.
  • Danny Ferry make it happen. I know were in a rough situation contract wise but please pull off a miracle and bring another star-quality player in here to team with LeBron James. Sasha Pavlovic, Anderson Varejao, and Shannon Brown have some potential but could we package them for Kevin Garnett? For the record I don't want to get rid of Daniel Gibson. Drew Gooden is another guy with some value that may be expendable.
Published Saturday, June 30, 2007 2:40 AM by REBELDAT

Comments

# re: Dawgbeat 07/01/2007:Some random thoughts, NFL.@ Saturday, June 30, 2007 11:18 PM

I can't stand this rationale about Brady Quinn.  This is the same incomplete thought process that had people advocating for Quinn at the three spot.  While he CLEARLY wasn't worth a top five pick, maybe the Browns will make it a top 15 pick and a second rounder - but they certainly won't send the 13th pick to the cowboys if they start Quinn this year.

All during the draft, Coach Weis et al explained how Quinn was "nfl ready" because he had played in an nfl system, and that he had played "in the national spotlight." Coach Weiss also pointed out that Quinn has been watching game tape of Tom Brady for four years.

Great, but why didn't this pay off during his senior year? Why didn't it pay off playing with Samardja? (Truly a late first round wide receiver.) Why couldn't Notre Dame win any big games with their Tom Brady-film-watching-alleged-#3 pick?

Coach Weiss pointed out that Quinn brought the team back against UCLA, Michigan State, and Georgia Tech. Also great, however:

Michigan State was one of the worst teams in the country last year. Notre Dame NEVER should have been behind such a team - and it was actually late game miscue's by Michigan States offense that gave Notre Dame an inappropriate window to squeak one from behind. Notre Dame was 1-11 on third down conversions in that game. ONE FOR ELEVEN! Michigan State was terrible! Notre Dame won on an interception return. That is not QB leadership.

The Georgia Tech game was Notre Dame's first game of the season. Quinn threw for 240 yards. Calling this game a win "because of Quinn" shows tremendous disrespect to Notre Dame's defense. Quinn saved the game with a stolid five yard run for the winning touchdown. I love heart as much as the next guy, but there is no way Quinn pulls off such a run in the NFL. Ask Tony Romo. In the Tech game, Notre Dame's defense shut down the best receiver in the draft, and held tech to TEN points. Tech scored over 24 points nine times last year. On seven of those occasions, Tech went over 30! Notre Dame won 14-10. Quinns' victory? What about the D!

The UCLA game was Quinn's best last year. He had thrown for 250 yards with four minutes left in the fourth quarter, when Samardzija juked his way to a 45 yard touchdown. On the "must score" drive before the game winner Notre Dame stalled after consecutive incomplete passes and a push into the line by Quinn. That was actually the pressure drive of the game. UCLA had the game with one first down. UCLA choked and then Samardzija's effort scored the touchdown. I fail to see how this is a ringing endorsement for Quinn.

These "Big Win" Opponents went on to these results:

In their "bowl" game, UCLA was crushed by a terrible florida state team in San Francisco. They ended up 7-6

Georgia Tech also lost their bowl -essentially a home game in the gator bowl and gave up 38 points to West Virginia. Tech still scored 35 points. They scored ten against Notre Dame, but for some reason, that's Quinns victory

Michigan State went 1-7 in conference and 4-8 overall. They beat Idaho, Eastern Michigan, Northwestern and Pittsburgh. They were 2 minutes away from beating Quinn and Notre Dame when they threw that unbelievable interception. The only upside associated with being in a group with Idaho, Eastern Michigan, Northwestern and Pittsburgh - in the college football sense -  is that at least you can laugh at Dave Wannstedt's mustache.

So, "high profile games" isn't going to cut it.  Also, the cleveland fan base (obviously, when some loser like me will write this much about a QB) is a little more discerning and critical than fans in South Bend.  Notre Dame players can do no wrong because they "play by the rules."

If Quinn manages to start game one it will be because Both Frye and Anderson are hurt or both are abysmal.  If he starts in game 9 it will probably be because the browns are 2-6. I could go on for hours.  Leinart didn't start, Young didn't start, Cutler didn't start and they were all "rated" higher than Quinn.

UGH!

by boulin99

# re: Dawgbeat 07/01/2007:Some random thoughts, NFL.@ Sunday, July 01, 2007 12:06 AM

boulin i appreciate your comments, and i understand your sentiments for not wanting to start quinn. however, i believe that quinn will outshine his counterparts in training camp and be named the starter by the third preseason game......if.... he doesnt hold out, if he does then all bets are off. as far as the talent around quinn, you named one individual. the talent in the backfield and on the offensive line at notre dame could not hold up against the lsu's, the ohio states and other big college teams. if quinn is the best most talented qb in training camp then he should be given the opportunity to start. i would totally disagree with starting quinn if we had a trent dilfer or trent green or drew bledsoe or some other vet qb ahead of him. but if i had my pick between quinn, frye or anderson, i believe quinn is still the best option even being a rook.

by REBELDAT

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