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Decisions Decisions: Credit Cards or Your Mortgage?
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See Jane Style:
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 07:54 p.m. EDT, Jun 13, 2009
BEREA: After three minicamps, four months of weightlifting and off-season training activities, the Browns still have more questions than answers.
With nearly a seven-week break before players report July 31 for the Aug. 1 start of training camp, several positions remain unsettled. The starting quarterback battle between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson is the most important issue going into the Sept. 13 regular-season opener at home against Minnesota.
But also up for grabs is the No. 2 receiver job (and Nos. 3-5 for that matter), four spots on the offensive line, tight end, several spots on the defensive line, the defensive backfield (especially the nickel and dime backs) and running back, where soon-to-be 30-year-old Jamal Lewis will try to hold off youngsters Jerome Harrison and rookie James Davis.
After the final mandatory minicamp practice Saturday morning, coach Eric Mangini didn't seem distressed by the uncertainty.
''This really isn't a time where any questions get answered,'' Mangini said. ''This is more of a time where you're gathering information. Until we get to the point where we cut down to 53 [Sept. 5], it's going to be a constant evaluation.
''We're going to be looking at how we can improve in all areas and how different combinations can work. Things change dramatically when you put pads on. Something that looks good now may not look good then. Preseason games are just another step in the process.''
But Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown, who has served as the Browns' executive adviser, has gleaned a few things from recent observations. Brown played on the last Cleveland team to win a championship — the 1964 Browns.
''You've got one boss and he knows what he's doing,'' Brown said. ''He's emphasizing intelligence and understanding more than just your job. Those are all the things we did with the '64 team. We dealt with the offensive coordinator, we dealt with what our lineman thought and we didn't make the kind of mistakes you make when you don't know what you're doing.
''When you understand the concept of team, then you've got a certain kind of advantage. When you allow individuality to take over your organization, then you're going to have a weak setup. You can't have one or two guys more influential than the coach.''
Brown was likely referring to tight end Kellen Winslow, traded to Tampa Bay in February, and No. 1 receiver Braylon Edwards, who has been the subject of trade talks with the New York Giants.
Brown also believes Mangini's methods will produce a tougher team than under former coach Romeo Crennel.
''When you see a tackling drill, [that] exposes you, that's mental toughness,'' Brown said. ''When you start looking at those fundamentals every day . . . these guys have to understand they have to keep their feet under them to keep their balance. When you think of the tackling last year, we'd have four or five guys missing because their feet weren't under them.
''Toughness comes from knowing what you're doing, being confident and having a player with a certain kind of attitude.''
Here's a quick look at the positions that have to be sorted out in camp:
Quarterback: While Mangini gave Quinn a bit of an edge this spring based on the offseason workouts, Quinn and Anderson will start camp even, Mangini indicated by a hand signal. The battle will go deep into the preseason.
No. 2 receiver: If the past two months of practices are any indication, rookies Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi are leading the way. Both have drawn praise from Mangini and showed more flash than David Patten, Joshua Cribbs, Syndric Steptoe, Mike Furrey, Paul Hubbard and Lance Leggett. It's uncertain whether last year's oft-injured No. 2 Donte' Stallworth, facing charges of DUI manslaughter, will participate in camp.
Offensive line: Mangini has rotated everyone everywhere to see where the strengths lie, and the only spot locked up seems to be two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas. Eric Steinbach would presumably remain at left guard, but Rex Hadnot has gotten a lot of reps there. First-round draft pick Alex Mack will probably beat out Hank Fraley at center. Ryan Tucker could play right tackle or right guard, but has finished three of the past five seasons on some kind of injury list. Newly signed George Foster and John St. Clair lead the right tackle candidates. But Hadnot and Floyd ''Pork Chop'' Womack have starting potential.
Defensive backs: Mangini gave a lukewarm endorsement of starting cornerbacks Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright last week. Ex-Jet Abram Elam and Brodney Pool might be set as the starting safeties. But Mike Adams, drafted rookies Don Carey and Coye Francies, free agents Hank Poteat, Rod Hood and Corey Ivy and returnee Hamza Abdullah have a shot for playing time.
Defensive line: Pro Bowl nose tackle Shaun Rogers will likely be joined by ex-Jet Kenyon Coleman and Corey Williams, who played with a shoulder injury all last season. But ex-Jet C.J. Mosley will be in the mix and Ahtyba Rubin, a sixth-round pick in '08, looks improved. It remains to be seen what happens with Shaun Smith and Robaire Smith (a 31-year-old coming off a torn Achilles).
Tight end: Steve Heiden tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his right knee Dec. 15. If he's ready for camp, he'll battle ex-Bill Robert Royal and Martin Rucker for Winslow's old job.
Running back: Brown said the drafting of Mack and the emphasis on the offensive line will help Lewis.
''Our first draft choice was what? That means you're trying to give your team a running game,'' Brown said. ''If Jamal gets enough room before he hits the line of scrimmage . . . If you coach the offensive line and you're going to keep that penetration out of there, that gives a guy like Jamal a chance to get started. When he gets in the secondary, he's a crazy man.''
But even Brown doesn't know if the Browns have enough talent to win this season.
''That's a great question,'' Brown said. ''I don't know if I can be the one who can answer it. The coach can only do what they can do. Ultimately you've got to have certain talent.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/. Follow the Browns on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Browns
BEREA: After three minicamps, four months of weightlifting and off-season training activities, the Browns still have more questions than answers.
With nearly a seven-week break before players report July 31 for the Aug. 1 start of training camp, several positions remain unsettled. The starting quarterback battle between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson is the most important issue going into the Sept. 13 regular-season opener at home against Minnesota.
But also up for grabs is the No. 2 receiver job (and Nos. 3-5 for that matter), four spots on the offensive line, tight end, several spots on the defensive line, the defensive backfield (especially the nickel and dime backs) and running back, where soon-to-be 30-year-old Jamal Lewis will try to hold off youngsters Jerome Harrison and rookie James Davis.
After the final mandatory minicamp practice Saturday morning, coach Eric Mangini didn't seem distressed by the uncertainty.
''This really isn't a time where any questions get answered,'' Mangini said. ''This is more of a time where you're gathering information. Until we get to the point where we cut down to 53 [Sept. 5], it's going to be a constant evaluation.
''We're going to be looking at how we can improve in all areas and how different combinations can work. Things change dramatically when you put pads on. Something that looks good now may not look good then. Preseason games are just another step in the process.''
But Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown, who has served as the Browns' executive adviser, has gleaned a few things from recent observations. Brown played on the last Cleveland team to win a championship — the 1964 Browns.
''You've got one boss and he knows what he's doing,'' Brown said. ''He's emphasizing intelligence and understanding more than just your job. Those are all the things we did with the '64 team. We dealt with the offensive coordinator, we dealt with what our lineman thought and we didn't make the kind of mistakes you make when you don't know what you're doing.
''When you understand the concept of team, then you've got a certain kind of advantage. When you allow individuality to take over your organization, then you're going to have a weak setup. You can't have one or two guys more influential than the coach.''
Brown was likely referring to tight end Kellen Winslow, traded to Tampa Bay in February, and No. 1 receiver Braylon Edwards, who has been the subject of trade talks with the New York Giants.
Brown also believes Mangini's methods will produce a tougher team than under former coach Romeo Crennel.
''When you see a tackling drill, [that] exposes you, that's mental toughness,'' Brown said. ''When you start looking at those fundamentals every day . . . these guys have to understand they have to keep their feet under them to keep their balance. When you think of the tackling last year, we'd have four or five guys missing because their feet weren't under them.
''Toughness comes from knowing what you're doing, being confident and having a player with a certain kind of attitude.''
Here's a quick look at the positions that have to be sorted out in camp:
Quarterback: While Mangini gave Quinn a bit of an edge this spring based on the offseason workouts, Quinn and Anderson will start camp even, Mangini indicated by a hand signal. The battle will go deep into the preseason.
No. 2 receiver: If the past two months of practices are any indication, rookies Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi are leading the way. Both have drawn praise from Mangini and showed more flash than David Patten, Joshua Cribbs, Syndric Steptoe, Mike Furrey, Paul Hubbard and Lance Leggett. It's uncertain whether last year's oft-injured No. 2 Donte' Stallworth, facing charges of DUI manslaughter, will participate in camp.
Offensive line: Mangini has rotated everyone everywhere to see where the strengths lie, and the only spot locked up seems to be two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas. Eric Steinbach would presumably remain at left guard, but Rex Hadnot has gotten a lot of reps there. First-round draft pick Alex Mack will probably beat out Hank Fraley at center. Ryan Tucker could play right tackle or right guard, but has finished three of the past five seasons on some kind of injury list. Newly signed George Foster and John St. Clair lead the right tackle candidates. But Hadnot and Floyd ''Pork Chop'' Womack have starting potential.
Defensive backs: Mangini gave a lukewarm endorsement of starting cornerbacks Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright last week. Ex-Jet Abram Elam and Brodney Pool might be set as the starting safeties. But Mike Adams, drafted rookies Don Carey and Coye Francies, free agents Hank Poteat, Rod Hood and Corey Ivy and returnee Hamza Abdullah have a shot for playing time.
Defensive line: Pro Bowl nose tackle Shaun Rogers will likely be joined by ex-Jet Kenyon Coleman and Corey Williams, who played with a shoulder injury all last season. But ex-Jet C.J. Mosley will be in the mix and Ahtyba Rubin, a sixth-round pick in '08, looks improved. It remains to be seen what happens with Shaun Smith and Robaire Smith (a 31-year-old coming off a torn Achilles).
Tight end: Steve Heiden tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his right knee Dec. 15. If he's ready for camp, he'll battle ex-Bill Robert Royal and Martin Rucker for Winslow's old job.
Running back: Brown said the drafting of Mack and the emphasis on the offensive line will help Lewis.
''Our first draft choice was what? That means you're trying to give your team a running game,'' Brown said. ''If Jamal gets enough room before he hits the line of scrimmage . . . If you coach the offensive line and you're going to keep that penetration out of there, that gives a guy like Jamal a chance to get started. When he gets in the secondary, he's a crazy man.''
But even Brown doesn't know if the Browns have enough talent to win this season.
''That's a great question,'' Brown said. ''I don't know if I can be the one who can answer it. The coach can only do what they can do. Ultimately you've got to have certain talent.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/. Follow the Browns on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Browns
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Lorain, oh
Posted 10:54 AM, 06/14/2009
I like what the Coach is doing...playing in the rain, no guaranteed jobs..
Posted 05:34 PM, 06/14/2009
How's Bryan Williams coming along?
Paradise, Oh
Posted 05:37 PM, 06/14/2009
The excitement is almost palpable.
