My thoughts so far

[burmafrd]

You cannot mean that its tougher to learn the position of TE rather then QB, do you?

 

[CrazyCowboy]

I sure hope the brownies don't win more then 0 games this year

 

[tunahelper]

They may not be as bad as some think. But you will never know it looking at their record. Take a gander at their schedule. Those first 10 games are brutal. They will be lucky to win 2 maybe 3 games. It's possible they could just win one vs the Raiders.

Sun 9/9 Pittsburgh
Sun 9/16 Cincinnati
Sun 9/23 at Oakland
Sun 9/30 Baltimore
Sun 10/7 at New England
Sun 10/14 Miami
Sun 10/28 at St. Louis
Sun 11/4 Seattle
Sun 11/11 at Pittsburgh
Sun 11/18 at Baltimore

I find pleasure in the demise of the Browns....

 

[Calvin2Tony2Emmitt2Julius]

Oh No you dih ihnh! (Neck and fingers snappin)

You have committed Sacriledge. Qb is the God of football. You have spoken against Him and you will be Brought in for heresy!!!!!!


:laugh1:

 

[superpunk]

-- I'm making my bold prediction right now - Ware is going to push the "official" sack record this year - He'll get his normal beat the tackle sacks but this year he'll pick up the Merriman garbage sacks because others will be applying pressure also.

I like this prediction.

Merriman is an absolute monster on the pass rush, even though I don't view anything he's done to date as legitimate, but people don't realize the amount of garbage sacks this guy was racking up. I think Joyner breaks down sacks as individual effort and assist sacks - my guess is about 40% of Merriman's are coming just because the ball carrier was flushed his direction. That's not a huge knock, because Merriman is garnering alot of attention, and he's freeing up a guy like Phillips, but you don't see alot of Merriman sacks where he flat out beat his man. Whereas with Ware, it's almost exclusively been individual effort to this point, simply due to the nature of the defense we've been playing.

Now Wade's going to make it easier on him to notch sacks?

Watch out world. I think DPOY is almost a lock, barring injury. I think I have a bet about that with some Skins fan.

 

[Vintage]

Ware has developed into a good all around LBer. I hope we utilize all of his talents. Sure, its going to be nice to have him rush more, considering that is arguably his best skill.

But Ware is also pretty good in coverage too. And I trust him in coverage moreso than Spencer or Ellis on the other side.

The thing that excites me the most is Ware won't be lining up as a ROLB but as a WOLB. Last year, if a team wanted to take Ware out of pass rushing, they'd motion the TE into the slot on Ware's side. Ware would then go out into the slot.

This year, if they try that, the defense slimply "flips" sides so that Ware is on the weakside.

We get to dictate when Ware drops into coverage; not the offense.

As for increasing his sack total....yeah, maybe he does. But I think people are going to be disappointed when he ends up around 13 or so. I think that with the ILBs blitzing more and our DL freeing up a bit, you are going to see more guys applying pressure and getting chances. Ultimately, I think this is better, as it means the offense has to account for more than just Ware.

 

[Big Country]

I find pleasure in the demise of the Browns....

On another note, the Browns will probably have about 12 sacks on September 23rd...:laugh1:

 

[superpunk]

Ware has developed into a good all around LBer. I hope we utilize all of his talents. Sure, its going to be nice to have him rush more, considering that is arguably his best skill.

But Ware is also pretty good in coverage too. And I trust him in coverage moreso than Spencer or Ellis on the other side.

The thing that excites me the most is Ware won't be lining up as a ROLB but as a WOLB. Last year, if a team wanted to take Ware out of pass rushing, they'd motion the TE into the slot on Ware's side. Ware would then go out into the slot.

This year, if they try that, the defense slimply "flips" sides so that Ware is on the weakside.

We get to dictate when Ware drops into coverage; not the offense.

This is good. I just really hope teams don't start catching us in that flip, quick-snapping to get everyone out of position. I don't ever remember seeing San Diego do this flip - I think that's a new iteration.

As for increasing his sack total....yeah, maybe he does. But I think people are going to be disappointed when he ends up around 13 or so. I think that with the ILBs blitzing more and our DL freeing up a bit, you are going to see more guys applying pressure and getting chances. Ultimately, I think this is better, as it means the offense has to account for more than just Ware.

This is also legit, I still think 13 is a great number. If we also factor in that the primary rusher in Wade's SD defense was the SOLB, and factor in Wade probably not wanting Spencer in coverage all that much, opting for Ware instead - Ware won't be rushing nonstop. In fact, we probably will see him in coverage a decent amount, and hear the same belly-aching about seeing Ware 20 yards downfield when the opposition completes an 8 yard pass for a first down, but that's inevitable. It would be foolish to keep Ware out of coverage, because he is such a complete LB.

 

[Alexander]

This is good. I just really hope teams don't start catching us in that flip, quick-snapping to get everyone out of position. I don't ever remember seeing San Diego do this flip - I think that's a new iteration.

In the games I watched, they did it occasionally, especially with Merriman.

I don't think this will be a constant every down thing. Otherwise teams could use the placement of the tight end to force coverage options and dictate which size a potential blitz is coming from. It is just something we are working on just in case would be my guess.

 

[Vintage]

This is good. I just really hope teams don't start catching us in that flip, quick-snapping to get everyone out of position. I don't ever remember seeing San Diego do this flip - I think that's a new iteration.

Yep. And that's what I would be most worried about in doing that. But I think when teams send TE's in motion, our LBers can switch out in time as well as some of the S swapping that has been going on.

Also, not everytime will we necessarily flip either. I am assuming there will be times where we don't (perhaps as high as 50% of the time) simply because we don't want the offense to dictate anything. They'll never know if we intend to switch or not, therefore, their offense is always guessing whether or not putting a TE in motion will or will not move Ware.

Wade seems to like little chess matches, so I'd assume something like this is not far-fetched.

This is also legit, I still think 13 is a great number. If we also factor in that the primary rusher in Wade's SD defense was the SOLB, and factor in Wade probably not wanting Spencer in coverage all that much, opting for Ware instead - Ware won't be rushing nonstop. In fact, we probably will see him in coverage a decent amount, and hear the same belly-aching about seeing Ware 20 yards downfield when the opposition completes an 8 yard pass for a first down, but that's inevitable. It would be foolish to keep Ware out of coverage, because he is such a complete LB.

I think 13 is a great number too. To have someone who can get double digits consistantly is huge. And with us transitioning Spencer into an OLB and from a rookie trying to get experience.... that is exactly why I think Ware will drop into coverage more so than Merriman ever did and be more on par with last year than being an exclusive pass rusher like some seem to be expecting.

And in reality, that's probably how it should be.

Wade wants to emphasize skill sets and put players in position to make plays. Ware makes plays against the run and in coverage too. Why wouldn't Wade want to utilize that?

 

[Chocolate Lab]

The Browns had a lot of injury issues last season, especially on the offensive line. Bentley appears to be going to play this season and they've added Thomas and Steinbach. There were times when they lined up with one or two even average NFL starters on the OL. This year they look to have average or above players at every position. I don't think people understand how bad their OL was last year. Add two pro bowl caliber talents and a top five draft pick and that's a serious upgrade for any team.

Defensively, they've added Robaire Smith to upgrade their biggest weakspot and might finally get a season out of Gary Baxter after paying him big dollars two years ago.

I guess I'll go ahead and give the other side on these points, even though we've done this before.

-- Steinbach is a very good player, no doubt. But I can't believe Bentley will be ready to play well so soon after that terrible injury. He wasn't even expected to be able to play, after all. At the best, his leg will still be very weak for this year. And you can't pencil in any rookie, even a good prospect and high pick like Thomas, as immediately being able to handle NFL rushers.

-- Baxter was never that great to begin with, and after blowing out both knees, I really doubt he plays like he used to.

-- Most of all, they don't have a QB. And their coaching siutation is less than settled, to say the least.

In short, every NFL team, even the worst ones, have a lot of "talent" -- but they still lose. You can probably say, "If a,b, and c all work out for them, they could be good." Problem is, it almost never happens that everything does go right.

I still think their best hope is for Jamal Lewis to somehow find his old form, run the ball well and protect that defense and awful QB, and win some close ones. I doubt it happens, though.

 

[zeromaster]

-
-- In other NFL news, the Browns aren't going to be as bad as some think and look at the Bills as a real sleeper in the AFC.

The Browns have their work cut out for them. That DL is neither young nor agile, and run defense has been a sore spot for awhile. For them to have as much success as you're suggesting, implies that one or two of the stronger teams in their division would have a shocking dropoff.

Not out of the realm of possibility, but they are more likely to have 1 or 2 wins out of the first 6 than 3 or 4. Playing that many division games early, against teams that have a great deal of familiarity with them, is not a great recipe for success. They will need their opponents to overlook them.

Word in their camp is that Jamal Lewis is strongly motivated, and Braylon Edwards is looking sharp. Winslow is practicing, but knows his knee needs some time to be 100%. It's still Charlie Frye ahead in the QB spot, so we will see how this pans out.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

I guess I'll go ahead and give the other side on these points, even though we've done this before.

-- Steinbach is a very good player, no doubt. But I can't believe Bentley will be ready to play well so soon after that terrible injury. He wasn't even expected to be able to play, after all. At the best, his leg will still be very weak for this year. And you can't pencil in any rookie, even a good prospect and high pick like Thomas, as immediately being able to handle NFL rushers.

-- Baxter was never that great to begin with, and after blowing out both knees, I really doubt he plays like he used to.

-- Most of all, they don't have a QB. And their coaching siutation is less than settled, to say the least.

In short, every NFL team, even the worst ones, have a lot of "talent" -- but they still lose. You can probably say, "If a,b, and c all work out for them, they could be good." Problem is, it almost never happens that everything does go right.

I still think their best hope is for Jamal Lewis to somehow find his old form, run the ball well and protect that defense and awful QB, and win some close ones. I doubt it happens, though.

If I was arguing that they were a legitimate Super Bowl contender, I would say that your points have merit but I'm not. I'm arguing that they have a legitimate shot at being a .500 ball club. Huge difference.

And I'm not sure they don't have a QB. It's hard to judge anyone with the mess that was their OL last year. I think they started their fourth string center and used five or six tackles last year. It was downright ugly. Both Frye and Anderson are also getting rave reviews this summer for what that's worth.

I've also read that Lewis is finally back down to the 230s after playing the last two years in the 250s. He's a sleeper for the fantasy gurus out there.

Look I'm a huge fan of the trade to get Cleveland's #1 next year because Dallas drafted who they wanted at a slot they could pay him less so that pick is gravy in my book. I just don't think that pick is going to be top five like every seems to think. I'd bet on the 12-15 range but even if it ends up in the 20s, I still do that deal again.

 

[Clove]

As for increasing his sack total....yeah, maybe he does. But I think people are going to be disappointed when he ends up around 13 or so. I think that with the ILBs blitzing more and our DL freeing up a bit, you are going to see more guys applying pressure and getting chances. Ultimately, I think this is better, as it means the offense has to account for more than just Ware.

I really have to cautiously disagree with you, because from what I'm hearing in camp, Ware is like getting to the QB like every other play, and that's just un-real in my eyes.

There will be no shackles on his feet, this guy will be matched up against Tight Ends and Running backs, and if he's pushing 300 + pound linemen back into the QB, a stinking Running back has no chance.

I also think that because of additional pressure, especially up the middle from the Ayodeles and Canty's of the world, these QBs will be foreced to back up, and when they do that, Ware will be there to greet them.

I'm looking for a 15 + sack season personally, with Ware having atleast 4 multiple sack games, and possibly one 4 sack game.

2 things will have to happen for Ware to accomplish this. No injuries, and if our team gets up on other teams, which will cause other teams to throw the ball all the time, and this plays right into the hands of Ware. Let's hope I'm right.