Status Check: Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers
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First up, Alex and Corey, Browns fans.
FanHouse: Everybody knows the Browns are a long-suffering franchise, but does the 2007 season -- or more specifically -- the 2007 draft class finally offer some hope? If not for this year, maybe in 2008 or 2009?
Corey: What offers the most hope, to me, is that in two consecutive offseasons the Browns have made the best possible moves to strengthen their offensive line, in signing LeCharles Bentley, signing Eric Steinbach, and drafting Joe Thomas. Bentley's injury has made it impossible to see any progress on the field, but there is evidence of good decision making in terms of player personnel.
Previous Browns regimes inspired no confidence whatsoever. The 2007 draft class is essentially three guys, and the team mortgaged next year's draft to get them. So while they offer plenty of hope, there is more pressure (than usual) on this nucleus to be the one that finally breaks through. That's a roundabout way of saying yes, I am optimistic about 2008 and 2009.
FanHouse: If you're Romeo Crennel, what do you do at quarterback? Charlie Frye plays just well enough to lose, and Derek Anderson regressed during camp. Of course, since 2003, the Browns are averaging five wins a season, so is there any reason not to start Brady Quinn Sunday?
Alex: Personally, I'm a believer in sitting a rookie quarterback for the entire year-I think its better for their career in the long run. So, obviously, I hope the Browns let Brady Quinn soak up the playbook on the sidelines in 2007. But I'd understand if Crennel put him on the field earlier rather than later because frankly, we don't know what to expect. If only we'd seen Brady against actual quality defenses in the pre-season, we'd have a better idea if he was for real and ready to start now, or needed time to practice.
FanHouse: What would be sweeter: sweep the Steelers and only win five games, or go 9-7, earn the wildcard, but lose to Pittsburgh twice during the regular season?
Corey: I assume by "go 9-7, earn the wildcard" you also mean "get trounced by a team that is obviously far superior in the first round of the playoffs"? In that case, sweeping the Steelers might be sweeter. (Sweeping the Ravens might be even sweeter than that.) Like anyone else, I'm looking to see the Browns get better this year, but the won-lost record is not necessarily where I prefer to see it.
FanHouse: What has to happen for Cleveland to pull out a victory Sunday?
Alex: Luck, I suppose. I don't think there is any unit that's "key" for the Browns to win any time this season, except for maybe the passing game-since we all know passing is more important than running in the NFL. But I'm not trying to suggest it would take some kind of miracle for the Browns to take the game. They've played close with the Steelers (occasionally) in the recent past.
FanHouse: Hardcore football fans know Leigh Bodden, but casual observers have probably never heard of him. Which little-known Browns player should people look for Sunday?
Corey: Leigh Bodden Leigh Bodden Leigh Bodden Leigh Bodden Leigh Bodden Leigh Bodden Leigh Bodden. What was the question again? Oh yeah... Ryan Pontbriand is an excellent, excellent long snapper. Many football fans probably still don't know who Sean Jones is. He had an amazing season at strong safety last year. The Browns have a very solid pass defense, with Bodden, Jones, Brodney Pool, and Gary Baxter (who is injured). The unknown is 2nd-round draftee Eric Wright, who will start at CB opposite Bodden. For now, we have high hopes for him.
FanHouse: Putting aside the AFC North rivalry for a moment, if you could have one Steelers player on the Browns, who would it be?
Alex: Hm... I've never thought about this. I guess Troy Polamalu. If I have to hear the announcers make complete fools of themselves over him, he might as well be a Brown.
FanHouse: Any pregame, in-game, postgame rituals? Where do you watch the games?
Corey: I used to go to Browns Backers of Chicago every Sunday. Alex currently goes to Browns Backers of New York. Don't ask me why or how, but Browns Backers Worldwide is the largest fan organization associated with a pro sports team on Earth. They have chapters in all 50 states, and on all 7 continents (yes, there's a chapter at McMurdo Station, Antarctica). At any rate, watching a Browns game at a Browns Backers location is an experience unlike any other. There's something to be said for finding a home away from home: barking like an idiot at a TV in a crowded bar filled with hundreds of people wearing old Browns jerseys, while people from the outside world occasionally wander in wondering what kind of parallel dimension they've encountered.
FanHouse: Prediction?
Alex: Corey and I generally don't deal in predictions with specific NFL games since, as you know from Football Outsiders, too many variables and weird things can happen. "Any given Sunday," is apropos.
Next up, Steelers fan, Adam Gretz.
FanHouse:How confident do you feel about the Pittsburgh's chances Sunday? It's a new season, a new coach -- and FanHouse's J.J.
I hate to bring this up, the Pittsburgh lost at Oakland last year, and that team only won two games. Two.
Adam: That's the first I ever heard the stat about the Steelers head coaches first game in Cleveland. It's an interesting stat, but about as relevant to Sunday's game as the stat that Chris Gardocki never had a punt blocked. Like all stats, context is the key. This will only be the third such game the Steelers have played in (new head coach, first game in Cleveland) since the Hippy Generation. Just because Bill Austin and Mike Nixon lost their first games in Cleveland with guys like Kent Nix and Dick Shiner (real QB, look it up) doesn't mean Mike Tomlin is in any sort of trouble this Sunday.
But, how confident am I? I'm as confident as I am before every Steelers game. Which of course means, I have a serious case of the shakes.
FanHouse: As a fan, what's the biggest concern: Ben Roethlsiberger's return, the o-line, special teams, something else?
Adam: I was a little worried about the return game, especially after Willie Reid came down with the Colclough's earlier in the pre-season. He had a strong showing in Carolina, but I can still picture him muffing that punt inside the five against the Eagles. Because of that, and even though the Post Gazette's Ed Bouchette hates the trade, Allen Rossum intrigues me.
The answer to the question then, is the offensive line. Hopefully Marvel Smith becomes the bionic man in terms of health, because if he goes down for any length of time, the mental image of Trai Essex or Max Starks protecting Ben's blindside is enough to make me wake up in an ocean of cold sweat.
Alan Faneca should be fine at left guard, but I'm not sure how many of his emotional goodbyes I can put up with this season. You know, the last time he experiences a training camp as a Steeler...the last time he plays a game in Cleveland as a Steeler...the last time he walks out of the tunnel as a Steeler...the last time he takes a shower at the Steelers practice facility...the last time he eats a hamburger at fatheads...the last time he rubs his beard and ponders how he's going to answer the next question from Paul Alexander...enough already, man. Just play.
The right side of the line is just a series of unanswered questions. Was now the right time to lock up Kendall Simmons? Is Willie Colon a legitimate right tackle? Would he be better suited at right guard? Will Sean Mahan be the next Jeff Hartings?
The season depends on the answer to those questions.
FanHouse: Big Ben, Hines Ward, Troy Polamalu are all househould names. Who are some players casual fans might not know, but are worth watching Sunday?
Adam: Anybody on the defensive line... Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton and Brett Kiesel. None of them will fill up the stat sheet with tackles or sacks, but I don't think there is a better group of 3-4 lineman anywhere in the NFL. Ever since the Steelers went 3-4 over a decade ago, their defensive line has always been under the radar because they never put up sacks like Dwight Freeney or Julius Peppers. Watch Casey Hampton eat up two blockers (sometimes literally) so James Farrior can plug the hole unblocked. It's a thing of beauty.
FanHouse:Putting aside the AFC North rivalry for a moment, if you could have one Browns player on the Steelers, who would it be?
Adam: Kamerion Wimbley looks like he is going to be one helluva player, so he'd be worth consideration, but, that's not who I'm going to go with. I'm going to take a shot on some serious potential and go with a guy who has yet to play a real NFL game: Joe Thomas. The Steelers could desperately use a potential franchise tackle, and Thomas, as of now, fits the bill.
FanHouse: Any pregame, in-game, postgame rituals? Where do you watch the games?
Adam: Does beer count as a ritual? I have a variety of spots where I take in the games. Section 522 of Heinz Field remains my favorite (Thanks Mom and Dad!) as well as a variety of friends homes and local watering holes. I'm kind of superstitious, so I always wear the same jersey on game day (The jersey of choice right now happens to be 51 James Farrior, away), but other than that, not much that qualifies as a ritual. Unless of course you count the beer thing.
FanHouse: Prediction?
Adam: 95% chance of stomach turning stress, 40% chance of a pre-game fight on the field (Kellen Winslow, i'm looking at you), 100% chance of beer.
Thanks again to Alex, Corey and Adam for their insights.
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