The Journey Begins

OK, I hope you enjoyed that little fix.  There wasn’t much to read, just the nonsense that Bill Simmons had to say.  What’s up my people?  I am so excited for the NFL season.  I can’t get the thought of Cleveland Browns Stadium at 4:15 on Sunday out of my head.  That stadium is going to out of control this weekend.    In today’s entry, I am obviously going to talk about the Browns and the Cowboys, I will make my picks for the week, and also make some predictions about the NFL season.  It’s always a good sign when you start the season off 1-0.  No time to waste, let’s get it!

I am going to make my picks first.  I am doing this more for myself, and to keep track of my record throughout the season.  When I wager units, I typically wager on four games throughout the day, the Sunday night game, and the Monday night game.  I did a solid job wagering last season, and I expect this season to be no different.  So if you want, hop on the bandwagon and let me help you go broke.

My Two Locks

There’s no such thing as a lock, but I think I have a few winners on my hands this week.

Detroit(-3) @ Atlanta

This is a game of two awful football teams, but Detroit is definitely the better of the two bad teams.  I like the experience Detroit has at QB with Kitna.  Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams catching the ball, with Rudi Johnson running the ball is a pretty solid combination.  Atlanta is just terrible.

Pick: Detroit

Jacksonville (-3) @ Tennessee

The Jags might be the least talked about team with a very solid chance to go deep into the NFL Playoffs.  After the shooting of offensive lineman Richard Collier, I like the Jags to rally around their wounded teammate and soundly beat the Titans.  I just pray this isn’t the 13-10 defensive battle it was last season when the Titans pulled an opening day victory against the Jags.  I need action!

Pick: Jacksonville

Those are the two games that I like the most.  I will probably wager on another contest closer to the beginning of the Browns game.

Other Picks

These are games that I will wager on, but not all of them.  I will highlight the games that I like the most. I won’t go into each game because I am sure you don’t care what I think about each game individually.  That’s why you have Sportscenter…duh.

Cincy (-1.5) @ Baltimore                   Pick: Cincinnati

NYJ (-3) @ Miami                              Pick: NYJ

KC @ New England (-16)                  Pick: New England

Houston @ Pittsburgh (-6.5)            Pick: Pittsburgh

Seattle @ Buffalo (-1)                                    Pick: Seattle

Tampa Bay @ New Orleans (-3)        Pick: New Orleans

St. Louis @ Philly (-8)                        Pick: St. Louis

Dallas @ (-6) Cleveland                     Pick: Cleveland

Carolina @ San Diego (-9)                 Pick: Carolina

Arizona (-3) @ San Francisco Pick: Arizona

Chicago @ Indy (-10)                         Pick: Indy

Minnesota @ Green Bay (-3)           Pick: Minnesots

Denver (-3) @ Oakland                      Pick: Denver

So, my sheet will look like this. Pittsburgh, Minnesota, and Denver for fewer units than Detroit and Jacksonville.  Good luck everybody.  I hope you all break the bank.

Stupid Simmons

I posted this in my last entry, and now I am going to dispute it.  I hate when someone like Bill Simmons runs his mouth about the Browns.  Sorry Bill, the city of Cleveland hasn’t had the luxury of watching all of our teams win a championship.  Some of your logic in this thought is very flawed.

(Bill Simmons Thoughts on the Browns)

Prediction No. 4: Cleveland will stink.

I’m not a big fan of this formula: Artificially high expectations + too many nationally televised games (five in all) + brutal schedule + too much luck last season (what are the odds of them getting 32 games from Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards again?) + brewing QB controversy + horrible preseason = Yikes.

Also, their two biggest offseason moves were fundamentally illogical: Trading for Shaun Rogers and keeping Derek Anderson. In the salary-cap era, you can’t keep Anderson (who had two good months and tailed off) after dealing a future No. 1 and committing all that money to Brady Quinn. It’s like drafting QBs in the first two rounds of a fantasy draft – yeah, you can do it, but it never works. Why not trade Anderson for two draft picks and back the guy who you loved so much a year before? And why compound the error by trading your 2nd and 3rd round picks plus a valuable cornerback (Leigh Bodden) for expensive and possibly shaky defensive linemen (Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers). That’s a swing of four draft picks plus Bodden! Didn’t they see what happened with the Giants last year? If you made a “How to win the Super Bowl” formula, would “Pay two quarterbacks big money” and “Don’t get anything from your draft” be two of the pieces? OF COURSE NOT!!! On the bright side, “taking the Browns to the Super Bowl” remains my favorite euphemism for making a doody.

I will start with the top section.  Artificially high expectations came from the moves we have made in the offseason.  Our front office is one of the best in the NFL.  Ask the Baltimore Ravens about their Super Bowl ring, and the man that was the genius behind the personnel operations.  We won ten games last season, and barely missed the playoffs.  The same core returns this season.  Why wouldn’t we have high expectations?  The Browns have too many nationally televised games?  Give me a break Bill.  Who wouldn’t want to watch one of the most powered offenses in the NFL?  We have been snubbed year in and year out of national TV.  This is our payback from the NFL.  Deal with it.  I will agree with the fact that the Browns have a brutal schedule, and they will be tested early and often this season.  At least give us a shot.  We do not have a weakness on the offensive side of the ball buddy.  Too much luck last season?  Were you lacking an argument when thinking of this?  K2 and Edwards playing a full season isn’t luck.  We were so lucky last season, that K2’s game winning catch against Arizona was ruled out of bounds, and then the rule was changed due to the play.  Yeah, we were real lucky last season. I am not sure where you see a QB controversy brewing at.  We know our starter, and you will too after the first month of the season. And you said we had a horrible preseason?  A.  Since when does the preseason matter?  Dallas looked awful in the preseason.  B. Did you see our first drive of the season both offensively and defensively?  A defensive stop on fourth down, and a march down the field for a touchdown.

As for the second section, you can definitely put up an argument for not moving Derek Anderson, but it’s tough to get rid of a QB that won you ten games last season.  I think we made an excellent move by trading Leigh Bodden.  The guy’s a back up in Detroit.  That doesn’t mean anything to you?  The 3-4 defense focuses on seven guys making plays, and we upgraded amongst those seven.  Yes, our DB’s are still young and inexperienced, but with some pressure from Rogers and Williams, we will be fine.  As for trying to duplicate the Giants blueprint to a Super Bowl, that’s absolutely absurd.  There’s a million ways to get a Super Bowl, and somebody shows a new blueprint every single season.  Did you forget about our addition of Dante Stallowrth?  Bill you can say the Browns will stink, but you might be proven wrong real soon..

Browns and The Boys

We’ve been waiting months for this match up, and now it’s here.  We get to host the favorite of the NFC Sunday at 4:15.  This is going to be a great test for the Browns.  When looking at all of the factors of this game, people shouldn’t be counting the Browns out.  I will break down some stuff that I have in mind.

Cowboys Game Plan

On Offense: The Cowboys are going to try and confuse our young defensive backs in coverage.  I can almost guarantee that a touchdown will be given up because of a mental error in coverage.  There isn’t anything that can be done about this.  People need to understand that this is one of the best teams we will play all season long.  The Cowboys line is huge, and they are going to force our defensive line to work.  The Cowboys will also focus on tiring out Shaun Rogers.  It might not be a hard task, but it will make the Cowboys afternoon that much easier.  Romo will be looking for Witten and TO early and often.

On Defense: The Cowboys are going to toss as many blitzes at us with hopes of getting to Derek Anderson, and confuse our offensive line.  I think the Cowboys defense is very similar to ours, and am not overly concerned with the Browns putting up points.  DeMarcus Ware and John Thomas is going to be the battle of the day up front.  Make sure to pay close attention to the battle because this fight will be one of the most vital parts of the game.

Browns Game Plan

On Offense: I think the Browns are going to come out and test the strength of the Cowboys defensive line.  Look for a lot of run early.  Hopefully, this opens up the passing game.  The Browns receiving core is just amazing with Winslow, Edwards, and Stallworth.  The Browns won’t struggle to put up points unless Derek Anderson plays like he did against Cincinnati last season.  Remember?  Eyes closed, heaving the ball down the field.

On Defense: The Browns biggest weakness lies on the defensive side of the ball.  The defensive backs are very suspect, and it’s going to be interesting to see the routes run by the Cowboys on Sunday.  I am looking for pressure from our defensive linemen.  If we don’t get pressure on the QB tomorrow, this game is damn near impossible to win.  Our DB’s aren’t good enough to keep up with Dallas wideouts

Overall: I think that the Browns are going to keep the game close for three quarters, and hopefully an obnoxious Browns stadium will help lead the Brownies to an opening day victory.  I am completely aware of how tough this task is going to be, but I won’t be shocked if the Browns squeak out a win.  I am happy to be playing the best team in the NFC in week one, as opposed to playing a fine tuned machine that will be the Cowboys come week 4.

Fanboy Pick: Browns 28 Cowboys 24…Cleveland drives early in the fourth quarter to take the lead, and the defense holds the Cowboys offense to lead the Browns to their first victory of the season….(Just prayin)

That’s it for me.  I will be back real soon. It’s late and I have to be up in 4 hours.  Yikes….Here we Go Brownies, Here We Go!!!