Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends. We're so glad you could attend. Come inside, come inside ...
It's been a while since I've dusted off Joe Cleveland ... a little over two months, in fact. Things were pretty busy for me in the "real" journalism world these past few months. So, I've found a little bit of time to dig out my Joe Cleveland hat, put it on and dish out some takes on the world of Cleveland sports.
A lot has happened since the last time Joe Cleveland updated this blog. The Indians were the rare buyers, not sellers, at the trade deadline and acquired pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez in a controversial deal. They also picked up the great Jim Thome in a waiver-wire deal in late August and had their all-time leader in home runs return for the final month of the season. In the end, it didn't much matter, and the Indians squandered a 30-15 start to finish 80-82. It was still good enough for second in the weak AL Central Division, but their inability to beat Detroit over the final month and a half proved to be a huge factor in the fall from the pennant race.
The NBA lockout has lingered on and has threatened to cancel the entire season. Preseason games have already been shelved, and the NBA is expected to make an annoucement on the status of regular season games within the next week or so. There are a lot of winners if the NBA cancels their season. The NHL and college basketball, for starters, will be huge winners, since they will rule the winter sports landscape. Fans tired of seeing the Lakers, Heat, Celtics and Knicks every Sunday and holiday from October through April will be extremely happy. Cavs fans will be winners because they avoid another rebuilding season and another year without LeQuitter (and, they won't have to see LeQuitter strut around in his Heat garb as they try to win that elusive NBA title). Fans of the Lake Erie Monsters and the Cleveland State Vikings will be happy, as their teams will get more ink in the papers and more asses in their seats as fans seek another entertainment distraction for the winter months. And, it will put more onus what the Indians do this offseason will probably only add anticipation for their 2012 opener.
The Browns have begun their season at 2-2. I think, if you asked most people before the season, 2-2 would be a record they'd be happy with. However, it's come with some inconsistant performances. They lost to Cincinnati on a huge breakdown where they failed to break a huddle and left A.J. Green wide open for an easy touchdown. They beat a reeling Colts team without Peyton Manning and a winless Miami team with a last-minute touchdown from Colt McCoy to Mohammed Massaquoi, then were humiliated by Tennessee, despite dominating the time of possession, yardage and completing 40-of-61 passes on a windy day. Pat Shurmer has looked shaky as he sorts out what he has to work with, and there has been some early drama concerning Peyton Hillis and how he's been used. The 4-3 defense has looked tremendous until Matt Hasselbeck shreaded it with two big plays last Sunday. The bye week couldn't have come at a better time for the Browns.
And, of course, Ohio State's drama with the NCAA continues to get cloudy. The Buckeyes lost three more players to improper benefits for the first two games of the season, and three of the Tattoo Five have to sit out Saturday's game with Nebraska for getting overpaid for a summer job. The NCAA still hasn't announced their final punishment on Ohio State, whether it will be longer probation or more loss of scholarships or a longer bowl ban. This comes on the heels of one of the worst offensive performances in Ohio State history as they deal with a quarterback controversy with the raw freshman Braxton Miller or the fifth-year baseball playing senior Joe Bauserman. It's a mess that could result in a one-and-done for interim coach Luke Fickell and the loss of AD Gene Smith's job.
All in all, the Cleveland sports scene continues to look cloudy.
The Indians have a key offseason at hand with several questions to be answered. Will they pick up the contract options on the oft-injured Grady Sizemore and the more bad-than-good Fausto Carmona? Will they try to bring back Jim Thome if Thome decides to play one more year? Will they get Ubaldo straightened out? Who will be the new hitting and pitching coaches, and will Sandy Alomar not get offered a managerial job? How much will Larry Dolan allow Chris Antonetti to spend to get this team back into contention? Will they upgrade first base, third base, the outfield and the starting rotation? Will they build off the positive groundswell of fan support gained from their hot start, their proactivity at the trade deadline and the return of Thome? Will Mark Shapiro give up his cushy president gig and become the GM of the Cubs or the Orioles (please God, make this happen)?
The honeymoon for Pat Shurmer is wearing down. How much did the lack of a true offseason hurt the Browns? Can the 4-3 continue to make positive strides? Will Peyton Hillis get his contract extension, and will he continue to be a focal point of the offense? How does Colt McCoy hold up in his first full season as the starting quarterback? Will any wide receiver emerge? Will Shurmer have to give up play-calling duties if the Browns have a losing season? Can they gain ground on an obviously aging Steelers team and an inconsistant Ravens team in the suddenly less-than-stellar AFC North? Can they continue to beat the teams they're supposed to beat? Will D'Qwell Jackson stay healthy and continue his torrid season at middle linebacker?
Will Ohio State win another game this year, let alone the Michigan game? Will Luke Fickell come back next season, or will someone like Urban Meyer ride in on their white steed? How bad will the NCAA drop the hammer on the Buckeyes, and will other heads roll? And, will the offense ever find a rhythm with the not-quite-ready-for-primetime Miller or the never-will-be-ready-for-primetime Bauserman?
Will you care more about the Cleveland State Vikings and the Lake Erie Monsters with the Cavs (presumably) on the shelf? And, will a lockout hurt the development of Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson?
Hopefully, some of these questions will be answered in the near future, and with favorable answers. Cleveland fans are living vicariously through the disappointments of other teams (see Steelers, Heat, Red Sox) instead of rejoicing in their own teams exploits. Perhaps that's just a sad fact of being a Cleveland sports fan -- we've come to the realization that none of our teams will ever be good enough to win a championship, so we treat the fall of our bitter rivals like a championship of our own. Perhaps the disappointment of our rivals will lead to positive things for our own teams. We can only hope so.
Until next time (hopefully not another two months from now), remember that Cleveland Rocks!
Follow Joe Cleveland on Twitter @JoeCleveBlog.
Showing posts with label Peyton Hillis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peyton Hillis. Show all posts
Monday, October 3, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Is Cleveland's fortunes turning?
Last July, when a certain NBA superstar announced on national TV that he was taking his so-called talents somewhere else, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert responded like so many Cleveland fans did when they heard the news:
He responded with an angry open-letter to the fans, ripping the "Decision-maker" for all the he was, announced that the Cavs would win an NBA title before the Heat did (still technically true; the Heat haven't won anything yet) and predicted that the so-called "Cleveland Curse" would follow LeQuitter with him to Miami and that "better times would be ahead for Cleveland."
Has it? Well, let's take stock:
1. The Indians have the best record in Major League Baseball at the moment, when everyone predicted they'd be the worst, or one of the worst, teams in the American League.
2. The Browns made another coaching change, but one that is along the same line of vision as Browns President Mike Holmgren and GM Tom Heckert and one who's offensive philosophies play into the strength of current quarterback Colt McCoy.
3. The Browns' Peyton Hillis was voted to be on the cover of Madden 12 by a wide-margin in a nationwide contest that spanned a month.
4. The Cavs lost a record 26 consecutive games, but wound up trading waste-of-spaces Mo Williams and Jamario Moon for All-Star point guard Baron Davis and the Clippers' first-round pick, giving them two lottery choices that led to ...
5. The Cavs making out in the NBA Draft Lottery, turning the Clippers' pick into the top-overall selection and having the No. 4 pick of their own. They became the first team since 1983 to have two picks in the top four.
6. The Browns stockpiled draft choices for this year and next year from the Falcons, and acquired mammoth defensive tackle Phil Taylor, pass-rushing defensive end Jabaal Sheard and athletic receiver Greg Little with their top three picks.
7. The Cleveland State Vikings mens basketball team, which featured standout point guard and NBA prospect Norris Cole, ripped off 13 consecutive wins to start the season, just missed out on clinching an NCAA Tourney berth, but hosted two rounds of the NIT, winning one.
8. The Lake Erie Monsters hockey team qualified for the American Hockey League playoffs for the first time in franchise history. They did blow a 3-1 series lead with home-ice advantage (welcome to Cleveland, Monsters), but still ...
9. The Cavs did beat LeQuitter and his Heat at home just before the season concluded, a soul-cleansing win for this city if there ever was one.
10. The Indians swept the Boston Red Sox at home, which may have kick-started their run to glory. Along with that, they seem to recapturing that Jacobs Field magic that was so prevelant back in the 1990s with several late-inning, last at-bat victories.
Now, if the Bulls can dispatch the Heat in the postseason, then we'll really be on to something. However, you can feel it in the air.
There seems to be a better feeling surrounding our sports teams. People are excited about the Browns progress (although, it doesn't take much to be excited about the Browns) and are hopeful the lockout ends soon so they can play some games. There is an optimism surrounding the Cavs that didn't seem to exist when LeQuitter bolted and then came back in December to rub our noses into it with a blowout victory. And, the Indians ... the fans may not be flocking to the Jake (or Progressive, whatever), but people are certainly paying attention to this team, that's for sure.
In recent memory, you'd have to go back to 2007, when the Cavs reached the NBA Finals, the Indians were one game away from an improbable World Series berth, and the Browns won 10 games (the most since 1994) and were an eyelash away from a playoff berth, to find such bubbling optimism surrounding our sports teams.
Sure, those bubbles burst on the Indians and Browns pretty quickly, and the Cavs made it back to playoffs the next three seasons but came up empty each time before you-know-who decided to tuck tail and abandon his home region, so you have to prepare for the worst. This is Cleveland, after all, and history dictates it as such.
But, maybe there is something to what Dan Gilbert alluded to. Maybe, when LeQuitter proclaimed that "karma was a bitch" after the L.A. Lakers beat the Cavs by 55 points at home, that turned the tides for good. Since then, the Cavs rebounded to beat both the Lakers and his beloved Heat, Hillis got the Madden cover, and you know the rest.
And, of course, with the NBA, you always have to smell a bit of a rat. When the Timberwolves' GM made an ill-advised joke about how the league loves good stories, and when the Cavs brought out Gilbert's son Nick, who suffers from a serious disease, to represent them at the lottery, he knew he "was done for," people assumed he was saying the lottery was rigged. Others believe that the NBA gave the Cavs the first and fourth as compensation for the way LeBron humilated them and the league with his "Decision" and to shut Gilbert up on his allegations of LeBron tanking the playoff games and that Pat Riley colluded with all three during the season.
If that's the case, so be it. It's about time Cleveland got some due and some good luck. If it was rigged, so be it. After watching Michael Jordan get breathed on by Cavs defenders and get foul calls, while also walking 6 steps to the basket without a travel call, it's time the NBA tilted the scales in Cleveland's favor.
Do I think it's rigged? Not necessarily, although I've been alleging for years that the NBA has been on the shady side since the 1980s, so it wouldn't surprise me.
Can the Indians keep it up? Will the Tribe make the right trades needed to get over the playoff hump? Will the Cavs improve next season and take the next step toward getting back into contention? Will the perennial rebuilding stop for the Browns with more wins than losses for once? These are questions that still seek answering. However, it appears we can answer these questions with a little more confidence and pride instead of blind optimism.
Until next time, remember that Cleveland Rocks!
And LeBron, you can take your so-called apology, shine it up real nice, turn it sideways, and stick it straight up your candy-ass (yes, I blatently ripped off The Rock, but it conveyed my feelings the best way possible)! Go Bulls!
He responded with an angry open-letter to the fans, ripping the "Decision-maker" for all the he was, announced that the Cavs would win an NBA title before the Heat did (still technically true; the Heat haven't won anything yet) and predicted that the so-called "Cleveland Curse" would follow LeQuitter with him to Miami and that "better times would be ahead for Cleveland."
Has it? Well, let's take stock:
1. The Indians have the best record in Major League Baseball at the moment, when everyone predicted they'd be the worst, or one of the worst, teams in the American League.
2. The Browns made another coaching change, but one that is along the same line of vision as Browns President Mike Holmgren and GM Tom Heckert and one who's offensive philosophies play into the strength of current quarterback Colt McCoy.
3. The Browns' Peyton Hillis was voted to be on the cover of Madden 12 by a wide-margin in a nationwide contest that spanned a month.
4. The Cavs lost a record 26 consecutive games, but wound up trading waste-of-spaces Mo Williams and Jamario Moon for All-Star point guard Baron Davis and the Clippers' first-round pick, giving them two lottery choices that led to ...
5. The Cavs making out in the NBA Draft Lottery, turning the Clippers' pick into the top-overall selection and having the No. 4 pick of their own. They became the first team since 1983 to have two picks in the top four.
6. The Browns stockpiled draft choices for this year and next year from the Falcons, and acquired mammoth defensive tackle Phil Taylor, pass-rushing defensive end Jabaal Sheard and athletic receiver Greg Little with their top three picks.
7. The Cleveland State Vikings mens basketball team, which featured standout point guard and NBA prospect Norris Cole, ripped off 13 consecutive wins to start the season, just missed out on clinching an NCAA Tourney berth, but hosted two rounds of the NIT, winning one.
8. The Lake Erie Monsters hockey team qualified for the American Hockey League playoffs for the first time in franchise history. They did blow a 3-1 series lead with home-ice advantage (welcome to Cleveland, Monsters), but still ...
9. The Cavs did beat LeQuitter and his Heat at home just before the season concluded, a soul-cleansing win for this city if there ever was one.
10. The Indians swept the Boston Red Sox at home, which may have kick-started their run to glory. Along with that, they seem to recapturing that Jacobs Field magic that was so prevelant back in the 1990s with several late-inning, last at-bat victories.
Now, if the Bulls can dispatch the Heat in the postseason, then we'll really be on to something. However, you can feel it in the air.
There seems to be a better feeling surrounding our sports teams. People are excited about the Browns progress (although, it doesn't take much to be excited about the Browns) and are hopeful the lockout ends soon so they can play some games. There is an optimism surrounding the Cavs that didn't seem to exist when LeQuitter bolted and then came back in December to rub our noses into it with a blowout victory. And, the Indians ... the fans may not be flocking to the Jake (or Progressive, whatever), but people are certainly paying attention to this team, that's for sure.
In recent memory, you'd have to go back to 2007, when the Cavs reached the NBA Finals, the Indians were one game away from an improbable World Series berth, and the Browns won 10 games (the most since 1994) and were an eyelash away from a playoff berth, to find such bubbling optimism surrounding our sports teams.
Sure, those bubbles burst on the Indians and Browns pretty quickly, and the Cavs made it back to playoffs the next three seasons but came up empty each time before you-know-who decided to tuck tail and abandon his home region, so you have to prepare for the worst. This is Cleveland, after all, and history dictates it as such.
But, maybe there is something to what Dan Gilbert alluded to. Maybe, when LeQuitter proclaimed that "karma was a bitch" after the L.A. Lakers beat the Cavs by 55 points at home, that turned the tides for good. Since then, the Cavs rebounded to beat both the Lakers and his beloved Heat, Hillis got the Madden cover, and you know the rest.
And, of course, with the NBA, you always have to smell a bit of a rat. When the Timberwolves' GM made an ill-advised joke about how the league loves good stories, and when the Cavs brought out Gilbert's son Nick, who suffers from a serious disease, to represent them at the lottery, he knew he "was done for," people assumed he was saying the lottery was rigged. Others believe that the NBA gave the Cavs the first and fourth as compensation for the way LeBron humilated them and the league with his "Decision" and to shut Gilbert up on his allegations of LeBron tanking the playoff games and that Pat Riley colluded with all three during the season.
If that's the case, so be it. It's about time Cleveland got some due and some good luck. If it was rigged, so be it. After watching Michael Jordan get breathed on by Cavs defenders and get foul calls, while also walking 6 steps to the basket without a travel call, it's time the NBA tilted the scales in Cleveland's favor.
Do I think it's rigged? Not necessarily, although I've been alleging for years that the NBA has been on the shady side since the 1980s, so it wouldn't surprise me.
Can the Indians keep it up? Will the Tribe make the right trades needed to get over the playoff hump? Will the Cavs improve next season and take the next step toward getting back into contention? Will the perennial rebuilding stop for the Browns with more wins than losses for once? These are questions that still seek answering. However, it appears we can answer these questions with a little more confidence and pride instead of blind optimism.
Until next time, remember that Cleveland Rocks!
And LeBron, you can take your so-called apology, shine it up real nice, turn it sideways, and stick it straight up your candy-ass (yes, I blatently ripped off The Rock, but it conveyed my feelings the best way possible)! Go Bulls!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Getting Drafty
They say it's the Browns fan's Super Bowl, because it's the day you think (and hope) that they are getting the next piece to a championship puzzle. It was draft weekend this past weekend, and, of course, Browns fans like Joe Cleveland (who became the newest member of the Dawg Pound in 2011 just before the draft began) anticipated it greatly.
The draft was different this year, in that it was taking place during a lockout, which meant free agency hadn't happened yet and no players could be traded. Also, no undrafted free agents can be signed and no draft picks can be signed, either. And, because there was nothing football-wise going on since March, this draft has been more scrutinized both before and after than I could remember.
Despite the restrictions, the Browns wasted no time making an impact, making a trade with Atlanta. They gave the Falcons their sixth-overall pick (which they used to take WR Julio Jones) and the Browns received two first-rounders, a second-rounder and two fourth-rounders.
A bounty if there ever was one, and perfect for a team that needs several holes filled, not just one.
They also made another trade, moving up from 27 in the first round to 21 (and giving up their third-rounder) to take mammoth defensive tackle Phil Taylor from Baylor with their first pick.
Of course, Joe Cleveland's phone blew up from the moment the Browns made the trade through the end of the first round. Most of the calls and texts were from folks who HATED what the Browns did. Not Joe Cleveland. He LOVED IT!
The pick of Taylor was almost a Steeler-esque pick. Pittsburgh, which has consistantly picked low in the draft for the last few years, have made a living out of picking guys who fill holes to help their team improve. A guy like Phil Taylor seems like a pick Pittsburgh would have made. Same with Baltimore.
Baltimore did it before, coaxing Phil Savage to flip-flop firsr round picks back in 2005 (and give them a sixth-rounder to do it) so they could take Halaoi Ngata instead of Kamerion Wimbley. Ngata has been a fiersome run-stopper that Baltimore needs to compete in a tough division such as the AFC North. Wimbley is now on the Raiders. Enough said.
People complain that the Browns had a big tackle in Shaun Rogers and they let him go. Rogers was good in spurts, but terrible most of the time. He barely took the field last year, nursing some phantom injuries here and there. Meanwhile, Athyba Rubin emerged as a very good nose tackle, which made Rogers expendable. That, and the move from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense.
Essentially needing three new starters in their four-man defensive front, you had to think the Browns were going to take a defensive lineman. And, they did. Actually, they did with their first two picks of the draft.
Following Taylor, the Browns selected pass-rushing defensive end Jabaal Sheard from Pitt with their first choice of the second round. Still on the board was Clemson DE Da'Quon Bowers, who many projected as the top-pick just a month ago. However, his injured knee (which may need major surgery) threw up red flags all around the league. He wound up being taken by Tampa with the 51st overall pick.
Taylor and Sheard are already penciled in as defensive line starters along with Rubin. The Browns are hopeful that Jayme Mitchell, who was acquired last season from Minnesota but never got off of Eric Mangini's bench, re-signs with the team, and linebackers Matt Roth and Marcus Benard are also possibilities to become rush ends in the 4-3.
With their next second round pick, the Browns took receiver Greg Little from North Carolina. Little is a physical specimen at receiver, who has sure hands and isn't afraid to lay down a block. He also played running back for the Tar Heels because of his athleticism. During his last year at NC, he caught over 60 passes.
Unfortunately, that was two seasons ago. He was suspended all of this season due to taking improper benefits from an agent. He was one of many North Carolina players who were suspended this year, including standout defensive end Robert Quinn. Had he played, many feel Little would have been a first-round pick.
All three players had some questions -- Taylor was kicked off of Penn State's team for fighting, but was a model citizen at Baylor; Sheard reportedly threw someone through a window in a fight, but he was not charged due to what was called "self-defense"; and Little with his agent problems. However, there's no denying the talent these players possess.
Eric Mangini would have never touched either of these players. He loved choir-boys. Unfortunately, his teams played like a bunch of choir-boys, which is why he's an analyst in ESPN and not coaching anywhere this year.
Butch Davis never saw a character flaw he couldn't ignore. However, his players were essentially thugs and malcontents, and his teams played like it (not so much on the field, but off).
They finished their draft by taking a big pass-catching tight end (USC's Jordan Cameron), a two-way athlete who will likely play fullback (Stanford's Owen Marecic), a very speedy cornerback (Tenn-Chattanooga's Buster Skrine), a big hybrid offensive lineman who grew up rooting for the Steelers (Pitt's Jason Pinkston), and a solid safety who was named his team's defensive MVP (Nebraska's Eric Hagg).
Some think the Browns should have taken Mount Union WR Cecil Shorts III in the spot they took Cameron. They argue that the Browns have plenty of pass-catching TEs in Ben Watson and Evan Moore; they need a blocker. Essentially, people have tried to question every single one of the Browns picks in some fashion.
In Joe Cleveland's opinion, you shored up your defensive front (which was the biggest need on your team), got a solid WR who should start at one of their wideout positions, got another pass catcher for the West Coast offense, added a very versitle athlete who could be an asset on special teams while also blasting holes for Montario Hardesty and Madden 12 cover boy Peyton Hillis (HELL YES!!!), added some depth and athleticism to a bare defensive backfield, and got a future right tackle or right guard starter who could see some immediate playing time on their line.
To Joe Cleveland, that's a solid draft. And, you have two first-rounders next season. That's fantastic.
Once Marcell Dareus, Patrick Peterson and A.J. Green all went off the board, I knew the Browns would trade down. I don't think they were sold on Julio Jones. We had a guy like Julio Jones. His name was Braylon Edwards. We all remember what happened to him. Jones may not have been as much of a diva as Braylon, but he still had the same sketchy hands as Braylon. The Browns need receivers who won't drop the ball. Little won't drop the ball. Cameron won't drop the ball. That's good enough for me.
Overall, I give the Browns draft an A-/B+. I'm no expert, but I think Tom Heckert, Mike Holmgren and Pat Shurmer had a vision of what they wanted and went out and got it while setting themselves up for the future. Now, can we please end this lockout so we can get back to free agency and all the other great stuff?
***
I certainly didn't believe the Indians would go 18-8 in April. 8-18 is more like what I envisioned. But 18-8? No bleepin way!
But, here they are, 10-games over .500 with a 10-game winning streak at Progressive Field and in first place comfortably in their division heading into May. Sure, there''s a long way to go this season, but wow!
And, you've got to admire how the Indians have won these last two games -- back-to-back walkoff wins. First Carlos Santana drills a walk-off grand slam on Friday night, breaking a 5-5 tie and beating Detroit 9-5. Then, Orlando Cabrera's single in the bottom of the 13th leads to a 3-2 win over the Tigers again.
Needing a pitcher, the Indians called up No. 1 draft pick Alex White, who was the best pitcher in Columbus. Had they been mediocre, the Indians would have called up some other schlub like David Huff to keep White from starting his service time so early to save some money. But, they're winning, and they need talent to keep winning. Maybe there is hope that Dolan will crack open that rusty wallet and spend some money to improve this team.
Joe Cleveland isn't ready to annoint the Indians the belles of the ball just yet. Like I said, it's a long season, and this team has a track record of folding. However, you've got to enjoy this.
No one expected this. Manny Acta may claim he did, but NO ONE expected this. Some are comparing it to 1995. I wouldn't go that far. But, this team is starting to get exciting, and that's what fans want to see. For their sake, I hope they continue winning. This town needs a winner to exorcise the demons of LeQuitter, and with the Browns having a solid draft and a Madden cover athlete, the Cavs in positon to get much better next season and beyond and the Indians in first place, Cleveland could be well on its way to doing so.
Untl next time, remember that Cleveland Rocks!
The draft was different this year, in that it was taking place during a lockout, which meant free agency hadn't happened yet and no players could be traded. Also, no undrafted free agents can be signed and no draft picks can be signed, either. And, because there was nothing football-wise going on since March, this draft has been more scrutinized both before and after than I could remember.
Despite the restrictions, the Browns wasted no time making an impact, making a trade with Atlanta. They gave the Falcons their sixth-overall pick (which they used to take WR Julio Jones) and the Browns received two first-rounders, a second-rounder and two fourth-rounders.
A bounty if there ever was one, and perfect for a team that needs several holes filled, not just one.
They also made another trade, moving up from 27 in the first round to 21 (and giving up their third-rounder) to take mammoth defensive tackle Phil Taylor from Baylor with their first pick.
Of course, Joe Cleveland's phone blew up from the moment the Browns made the trade through the end of the first round. Most of the calls and texts were from folks who HATED what the Browns did. Not Joe Cleveland. He LOVED IT!
The pick of Taylor was almost a Steeler-esque pick. Pittsburgh, which has consistantly picked low in the draft for the last few years, have made a living out of picking guys who fill holes to help their team improve. A guy like Phil Taylor seems like a pick Pittsburgh would have made. Same with Baltimore.
Baltimore did it before, coaxing Phil Savage to flip-flop firsr round picks back in 2005 (and give them a sixth-rounder to do it) so they could take Halaoi Ngata instead of Kamerion Wimbley. Ngata has been a fiersome run-stopper that Baltimore needs to compete in a tough division such as the AFC North. Wimbley is now on the Raiders. Enough said.
People complain that the Browns had a big tackle in Shaun Rogers and they let him go. Rogers was good in spurts, but terrible most of the time. He barely took the field last year, nursing some phantom injuries here and there. Meanwhile, Athyba Rubin emerged as a very good nose tackle, which made Rogers expendable. That, and the move from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense.
Essentially needing three new starters in their four-man defensive front, you had to think the Browns were going to take a defensive lineman. And, they did. Actually, they did with their first two picks of the draft.
Following Taylor, the Browns selected pass-rushing defensive end Jabaal Sheard from Pitt with their first choice of the second round. Still on the board was Clemson DE Da'Quon Bowers, who many projected as the top-pick just a month ago. However, his injured knee (which may need major surgery) threw up red flags all around the league. He wound up being taken by Tampa with the 51st overall pick.
Taylor and Sheard are already penciled in as defensive line starters along with Rubin. The Browns are hopeful that Jayme Mitchell, who was acquired last season from Minnesota but never got off of Eric Mangini's bench, re-signs with the team, and linebackers Matt Roth and Marcus Benard are also possibilities to become rush ends in the 4-3.
With their next second round pick, the Browns took receiver Greg Little from North Carolina. Little is a physical specimen at receiver, who has sure hands and isn't afraid to lay down a block. He also played running back for the Tar Heels because of his athleticism. During his last year at NC, he caught over 60 passes.
Unfortunately, that was two seasons ago. He was suspended all of this season due to taking improper benefits from an agent. He was one of many North Carolina players who were suspended this year, including standout defensive end Robert Quinn. Had he played, many feel Little would have been a first-round pick.
All three players had some questions -- Taylor was kicked off of Penn State's team for fighting, but was a model citizen at Baylor; Sheard reportedly threw someone through a window in a fight, but he was not charged due to what was called "self-defense"; and Little with his agent problems. However, there's no denying the talent these players possess.
Eric Mangini would have never touched either of these players. He loved choir-boys. Unfortunately, his teams played like a bunch of choir-boys, which is why he's an analyst in ESPN and not coaching anywhere this year.
Butch Davis never saw a character flaw he couldn't ignore. However, his players were essentially thugs and malcontents, and his teams played like it (not so much on the field, but off).
They finished their draft by taking a big pass-catching tight end (USC's Jordan Cameron), a two-way athlete who will likely play fullback (Stanford's Owen Marecic), a very speedy cornerback (Tenn-Chattanooga's Buster Skrine), a big hybrid offensive lineman who grew up rooting for the Steelers (Pitt's Jason Pinkston), and a solid safety who was named his team's defensive MVP (Nebraska's Eric Hagg).
Some think the Browns should have taken Mount Union WR Cecil Shorts III in the spot they took Cameron. They argue that the Browns have plenty of pass-catching TEs in Ben Watson and Evan Moore; they need a blocker. Essentially, people have tried to question every single one of the Browns picks in some fashion.
In Joe Cleveland's opinion, you shored up your defensive front (which was the biggest need on your team), got a solid WR who should start at one of their wideout positions, got another pass catcher for the West Coast offense, added a very versitle athlete who could be an asset on special teams while also blasting holes for Montario Hardesty and Madden 12 cover boy Peyton Hillis (HELL YES!!!), added some depth and athleticism to a bare defensive backfield, and got a future right tackle or right guard starter who could see some immediate playing time on their line.
To Joe Cleveland, that's a solid draft. And, you have two first-rounders next season. That's fantastic.
Once Marcell Dareus, Patrick Peterson and A.J. Green all went off the board, I knew the Browns would trade down. I don't think they were sold on Julio Jones. We had a guy like Julio Jones. His name was Braylon Edwards. We all remember what happened to him. Jones may not have been as much of a diva as Braylon, but he still had the same sketchy hands as Braylon. The Browns need receivers who won't drop the ball. Little won't drop the ball. Cameron won't drop the ball. That's good enough for me.
Overall, I give the Browns draft an A-/B+. I'm no expert, but I think Tom Heckert, Mike Holmgren and Pat Shurmer had a vision of what they wanted and went out and got it while setting themselves up for the future. Now, can we please end this lockout so we can get back to free agency and all the other great stuff?
***
I certainly didn't believe the Indians would go 18-8 in April. 8-18 is more like what I envisioned. But 18-8? No bleepin way!
But, here they are, 10-games over .500 with a 10-game winning streak at Progressive Field and in first place comfortably in their division heading into May. Sure, there''s a long way to go this season, but wow!
And, you've got to admire how the Indians have won these last two games -- back-to-back walkoff wins. First Carlos Santana drills a walk-off grand slam on Friday night, breaking a 5-5 tie and beating Detroit 9-5. Then, Orlando Cabrera's single in the bottom of the 13th leads to a 3-2 win over the Tigers again.
Needing a pitcher, the Indians called up No. 1 draft pick Alex White, who was the best pitcher in Columbus. Had they been mediocre, the Indians would have called up some other schlub like David Huff to keep White from starting his service time so early to save some money. But, they're winning, and they need talent to keep winning. Maybe there is hope that Dolan will crack open that rusty wallet and spend some money to improve this team.
Joe Cleveland isn't ready to annoint the Indians the belles of the ball just yet. Like I said, it's a long season, and this team has a track record of folding. However, you've got to enjoy this.
No one expected this. Manny Acta may claim he did, but NO ONE expected this. Some are comparing it to 1995. I wouldn't go that far. But, this team is starting to get exciting, and that's what fans want to see. For their sake, I hope they continue winning. This town needs a winner to exorcise the demons of LeQuitter, and with the Browns having a solid draft and a Madden cover athlete, the Cavs in positon to get much better next season and beyond and the Indians in first place, Cleveland could be well on its way to doing so.
Untl next time, remember that Cleveland Rocks!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Indians winning in April? No foolin!
The last time Joe Cleveland graced everyone out there with his blog, he essentially wrote the epitaph to the Cleveland Indians' season.
And this was after watching ONE FREAKING GAME!!
Such as life as a Cleveland sports fan, especially a fan of the Indians. You've seen the same song and dance for the most part since 2002, you kind of expect it.
But, to our amazement, the Indians shrugged off that Opening Day beating (and one the day after) to start winning!
Yes, Charlie Sheen, I said WINNING! What a novel concept for our Wahoo Warriors.
Under Eric Wedge, losing in April was a common occurance. Whenever the team did start getting their stuff together, it was August, and Browns training camp had opened, and the Indians were already 15 games out of first, and they had already dealt two of the best players for prospects that still needed seasoning down on the farm, and ... well, you catch my drift. The fact is, they usually won when no one paid attention anymore.
So, when they pointed out their 14-9 September, fans probably thought they were making it up. After all, the Browns were starting the season 0-3 and that's what everyone cares about.
This year, Manny Acta was doing the same song and dance about a strong finish that nine people probably paid attention to (eight of which work for the Indians) and fans tuned him out. They looked a team that was so cheap, they trotted out a career minor leaguer to start at third base and tried to pawn it off as a legitimate move. They looked a team that seemed hell bent on trading their top guys before they could test the free agency market because they knew there was no chance in hell they were going to sign them instead of playing to win. They, like Joe Cleveland, could really care less.
So, after the team played to everyone's expectations by looking like Columbus Clippers in their first two games, the fans tuned out in droves.
It wasn't until the Indians swept the high-priced, ESPN-darling Boston Red Sox and their annoying self-rightous 'Nation' that some fans began to pay attention.
Well, I saw "some fans", because home games at Progressive Field look a lot like they did in the 1980s at the old Cleveland Stadium -- heavy on the empty seats.
Sure, the weather has something to do with it, and this April has been especially dismal this year, both temperature-wise and precipitation-wise. The expectations for the team have something to do with it. And, a general distaste for all things Larry Dolan still play a big part in it, whether the Indians want to believe it or not.
But, they're winning ... and they're winning the right way.
Fundamental baseball! What a novel concept! That's something I haven't seen in a long time. I NEVER saw it under The Grinder (that's my nickname for Wedge, since he always talked about how the team "had to keeep grindin.")
Sacrifice bunts! YES! Solid starting pitching! YES! A great bullpen! YES! An offense that is doing well despite two of their best players slumping (Shin-Soo Choo and Carlos Santana) and a third (Grady Sizemore) just now coming off the DL!
YES-YES-YES!!
Joe Cleveland will still admit to being very hard on Paul and Larry Cheapass, because I still haven't seen a true committment to winning out of these two since Larry Dolan exclaimed that his goals for the team were "World Series championships (plural)" upon buying the team in 2000. And, a litmus test will be come June or July and this team is still keeping up their pace -- will they chisel off the vault and pry it open to get this team an additional bat or arm to make a legitimate playoff push? They did it in 2007 to a degree (although, adding an aging Kenny Lofton wasn't exactly opening up the purse strings). Will they do it in 2011?
And, I'll admit to being skeptical of whether the Indians can continue this trend. They just suffered their first three-game losing streak (getting swept by the last-place Twins) before pummelling the Royals as I type this Monday night. I think a lot of the fan base is waiting for that other shoe to drop on the Indians.
However, let's forget about long-term for a second and enjoy this for what it is.
The Indians are in first place! FIRST FREAKING PLACE! In April, for crissakes.
The Cavs just finished second-worst in the NBA and are heading for a lockout. The Browns' draft is coming up, but their labor situation is a mess (are they locked out anymore? Is it over? What?), and the 2011 season is still kind of up in the air.
Sure, the minor-league Lake Erie Monsters are in the playoffs, playing in a Game 7 as I write this, but it's minor league hockey. Cleveland is still a major league town, and we want our major league teams to win.
So, let's enjoy the winning for once. Will they still be winning at this time next month or in two months? Who knows? Common-sense says "No," but common-sense predicted a 7-16 April for the Indians and a 16-7 month for likes of Boston and Minnesota.
The Indians are in first place. Joe Cleveland is ready to enjoy it. How about you?
***
Just so you know, you only have a few more hours to vote in the Madden 12 cover player tournament. And, in case you were living under a rock, a Browns player is in the finals.
That's right, Peyton Hillis has a legitimate chance to grace the cover of the popular NFL video game this summer if he can get more votes than convicted dog torturer and killer Michael Vick.
I'm sure EA Sports didn't envision a final of an unknown player from a lackluster team vs. a pariah who once graced their cover a few years ago that fans are still pretty split on (you either hate him or have forgiven him. If you're an Eagle fan, you've probably forgiven him). But, this is what happens when you let the fans decide.
Hillis has been bouyed by strong support from the Browns organization, along with a movement among the social networking sites Facebook and Twittter promoting him as a viable alternative to the usual athlete that graces the Madden cover. And, let's not forget that Browns fans are the most loyal and passionat fans in the NFL.
Disagree? When a moron tries to move the team to Baltimore, and the fanbase unites in full-force to force the NFL to do something drastic, that speaks volumes about how passionate and loyal Browns fans are. I don't see Houston's new team nicknamed "Oilers," do you?
The EA people are already spinning it saying that Hillis "epitomizes what a John Madden-esque football player is all about." That tells me they've made up their mind as to who they'd like to see on the cover, and it isn't the felon.
Sure, there's that "Madden curse" thing that's out there. Every player whose graced the Madden video game cover has either suffered a season-ending injury, or been hampered with injuries, or had a poor performance the following season. And, everyone out there is envisioning a season-ending injury for Hillis if he gets the cover.
You know what? Hillis' style of play leaves him open to injuries. He would probably be injured if he was on the cover or not. And, it appears that Montario Hardesty is going to cut in Hillis' workload, which should leave him fresher and healthier as the season goes on.
You say the word "curse" in Cleveland and people freak out. We need another "curse" like we need a hole in the head, right? Well, maybe two curses cancel each other out. Maybe Dan Gilbert was right in that LeQuitter took the supposed curse with him to Miami (we'll see in the next few weeks if the Heat get bounced in the playoffs). Maybe something as small as the Indians getting off to a hot-start is proof of that. Who knows?
All I know is, Hillis is a guy who doesn't make millions of dollars, but goes out and plays football because he loves it. He loves contact, he loves running over people (or hurdling them) and flexing those guns when he scores touchdowns (which he did a lot of). He's humble, a Christian, the epitome of a "good-ol-boy." It's time for a blue-collar guy representing a blue-collar team, fanbase and community to get some love instead of the usual primadonnas that grace the cover.
Get out there and vote for Hillis. Give the Browns some exposure. Show the NFL andn the ESPNs of the world that Cleveland isn't some "outpost" that is irrelevant because LeQuitter took his so-called talents somewhere south. Screw the so-called curse!
I've voted for Hillis so many times so far, I lost count. Follow Joe Cleveland's lead and do the same while you can.
And, be honest, do you really want Michael Vick to be on the cover of a video game that, despite being extremely popular with adults, is still being marketed to kids?
Follow this link and do the right thing:
http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/feature/madden2012cover
Until next time, remember that Cleveland Rocks!
And this was after watching ONE FREAKING GAME!!
Such as life as a Cleveland sports fan, especially a fan of the Indians. You've seen the same song and dance for the most part since 2002, you kind of expect it.
But, to our amazement, the Indians shrugged off that Opening Day beating (and one the day after) to start winning!
Yes, Charlie Sheen, I said WINNING! What a novel concept for our Wahoo Warriors.
Under Eric Wedge, losing in April was a common occurance. Whenever the team did start getting their stuff together, it was August, and Browns training camp had opened, and the Indians were already 15 games out of first, and they had already dealt two of the best players for prospects that still needed seasoning down on the farm, and ... well, you catch my drift. The fact is, they usually won when no one paid attention anymore.
So, when they pointed out their 14-9 September, fans probably thought they were making it up. After all, the Browns were starting the season 0-3 and that's what everyone cares about.
This year, Manny Acta was doing the same song and dance about a strong finish that nine people probably paid attention to (eight of which work for the Indians) and fans tuned him out. They looked a team that was so cheap, they trotted out a career minor leaguer to start at third base and tried to pawn it off as a legitimate move. They looked a team that seemed hell bent on trading their top guys before they could test the free agency market because they knew there was no chance in hell they were going to sign them instead of playing to win. They, like Joe Cleveland, could really care less.
So, after the team played to everyone's expectations by looking like Columbus Clippers in their first two games, the fans tuned out in droves.
It wasn't until the Indians swept the high-priced, ESPN-darling Boston Red Sox and their annoying self-rightous 'Nation' that some fans began to pay attention.
Well, I saw "some fans", because home games at Progressive Field look a lot like they did in the 1980s at the old Cleveland Stadium -- heavy on the empty seats.
Sure, the weather has something to do with it, and this April has been especially dismal this year, both temperature-wise and precipitation-wise. The expectations for the team have something to do with it. And, a general distaste for all things Larry Dolan still play a big part in it, whether the Indians want to believe it or not.
But, they're winning ... and they're winning the right way.
Fundamental baseball! What a novel concept! That's something I haven't seen in a long time. I NEVER saw it under The Grinder (that's my nickname for Wedge, since he always talked about how the team "had to keeep grindin.")
Sacrifice bunts! YES! Solid starting pitching! YES! A great bullpen! YES! An offense that is doing well despite two of their best players slumping (Shin-Soo Choo and Carlos Santana) and a third (Grady Sizemore) just now coming off the DL!
YES-YES-YES!!
Joe Cleveland will still admit to being very hard on Paul and Larry Cheapass, because I still haven't seen a true committment to winning out of these two since Larry Dolan exclaimed that his goals for the team were "World Series championships (plural)" upon buying the team in 2000. And, a litmus test will be come June or July and this team is still keeping up their pace -- will they chisel off the vault and pry it open to get this team an additional bat or arm to make a legitimate playoff push? They did it in 2007 to a degree (although, adding an aging Kenny Lofton wasn't exactly opening up the purse strings). Will they do it in 2011?
And, I'll admit to being skeptical of whether the Indians can continue this trend. They just suffered their first three-game losing streak (getting swept by the last-place Twins) before pummelling the Royals as I type this Monday night. I think a lot of the fan base is waiting for that other shoe to drop on the Indians.
However, let's forget about long-term for a second and enjoy this for what it is.
The Indians are in first place! FIRST FREAKING PLACE! In April, for crissakes.
The Cavs just finished second-worst in the NBA and are heading for a lockout. The Browns' draft is coming up, but their labor situation is a mess (are they locked out anymore? Is it over? What?), and the 2011 season is still kind of up in the air.
Sure, the minor-league Lake Erie Monsters are in the playoffs, playing in a Game 7 as I write this, but it's minor league hockey. Cleveland is still a major league town, and we want our major league teams to win.
So, let's enjoy the winning for once. Will they still be winning at this time next month or in two months? Who knows? Common-sense says "No," but common-sense predicted a 7-16 April for the Indians and a 16-7 month for likes of Boston and Minnesota.
The Indians are in first place. Joe Cleveland is ready to enjoy it. How about you?
***
Just so you know, you only have a few more hours to vote in the Madden 12 cover player tournament. And, in case you were living under a rock, a Browns player is in the finals.
That's right, Peyton Hillis has a legitimate chance to grace the cover of the popular NFL video game this summer if he can get more votes than convicted dog torturer and killer Michael Vick.
I'm sure EA Sports didn't envision a final of an unknown player from a lackluster team vs. a pariah who once graced their cover a few years ago that fans are still pretty split on (you either hate him or have forgiven him. If you're an Eagle fan, you've probably forgiven him). But, this is what happens when you let the fans decide.
Hillis has been bouyed by strong support from the Browns organization, along with a movement among the social networking sites Facebook and Twittter promoting him as a viable alternative to the usual athlete that graces the Madden cover. And, let's not forget that Browns fans are the most loyal and passionat fans in the NFL.
Disagree? When a moron tries to move the team to Baltimore, and the fanbase unites in full-force to force the NFL to do something drastic, that speaks volumes about how passionate and loyal Browns fans are. I don't see Houston's new team nicknamed "Oilers," do you?
The EA people are already spinning it saying that Hillis "epitomizes what a John Madden-esque football player is all about." That tells me they've made up their mind as to who they'd like to see on the cover, and it isn't the felon.
Sure, there's that "Madden curse" thing that's out there. Every player whose graced the Madden video game cover has either suffered a season-ending injury, or been hampered with injuries, or had a poor performance the following season. And, everyone out there is envisioning a season-ending injury for Hillis if he gets the cover.
You know what? Hillis' style of play leaves him open to injuries. He would probably be injured if he was on the cover or not. And, it appears that Montario Hardesty is going to cut in Hillis' workload, which should leave him fresher and healthier as the season goes on.
You say the word "curse" in Cleveland and people freak out. We need another "curse" like we need a hole in the head, right? Well, maybe two curses cancel each other out. Maybe Dan Gilbert was right in that LeQuitter took the supposed curse with him to Miami (we'll see in the next few weeks if the Heat get bounced in the playoffs). Maybe something as small as the Indians getting off to a hot-start is proof of that. Who knows?
All I know is, Hillis is a guy who doesn't make millions of dollars, but goes out and plays football because he loves it. He loves contact, he loves running over people (or hurdling them) and flexing those guns when he scores touchdowns (which he did a lot of). He's humble, a Christian, the epitome of a "good-ol-boy." It's time for a blue-collar guy representing a blue-collar team, fanbase and community to get some love instead of the usual primadonnas that grace the cover.
Get out there and vote for Hillis. Give the Browns some exposure. Show the NFL andn the ESPNs of the world that Cleveland isn't some "outpost" that is irrelevant because LeQuitter took his so-called talents somewhere south. Screw the so-called curse!
I've voted for Hillis so many times so far, I lost count. Follow Joe Cleveland's lead and do the same while you can.
And, be honest, do you really want Michael Vick to be on the cover of a video game that, despite being extremely popular with adults, is still being marketed to kids?
Follow this link and do the right thing:
http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/feature/madden2012cover
Until next time, remember that Cleveland Rocks!
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