By Chris "Raiden" Grewe
Published: July 11, 2008 PrintEmail
New Life for the New Browns By Chris "Raiden" Grewe, PSH Columnist Volume 5, Issue 1
It's happened once before. The 2003 season was filled with expectations for the young Browns franchise, with coach Butch Davis and his "gut feeling" quarterback Kelly Holcomb leading the charge into what was supposed to be the beginning of a winning tradition, coming off an improbable playoff loss in Pittsburgh.
Flash forward one and a half seasons: Jeff Garcia's the injured starting quarterback, Davis is on his way out, and Kelly Holcomb's playing out his days as a laughingstock of an NFL quarterback.
The 2008 season brings with it a lot of those same expectations, with major differences. Gone are the days where the head coach ran the front office through his right hand man from Miami, as well as the days where the aging quarterback carousel paraded former journeyman as franchise saviors, and young linebackers replaced productive veterans for salary cap reasons. This is a newly rebuilt franchise with a potent offense built on the arm of a young quarterback and an offensive line led by two pro bowler caliber players on the left side...and they've played at that caliber in this decade. This is a team with a head coach who's confidence in himself doesn't pour over into overly dramatic press conferences, and a brainy personnel guru who isn't obsessed with college pedigree, only can the player get the job done?
Flash forward one and a half seasons here, and you're more likely to see a different result with the 2009 Browns than you did the 2004 Browns. For a change, the franchise has been rebuilt around the trenches. In 2007, the Browns focused their offseason on acquiring talented offensive linemen who revitalized a struggling offensive unit with Eric Steinbach, Joe Thomas, and Seth McKinney all starting for an improved offense that led the team to double digit wins for the first time since the return in 1999 and the first time overall since 1994. This offseason, with new acquisitions Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams bringing their combined 14 2007 sacks to a defense that struggled to get after the quarterback, and a returning solid cast behind them, the defense looks to make 2008 their answer to the offense's 2007 coming out party.
Throw in some more exciting returns from Josh "Best Returnman Hardly Anyone Watching ESPN On Nights Devin Hester Does Something Has Heard Of" Cribbs...you've got the recipe for a solid season and a possible return to the playoffs for the first time since that storied '02 backwards stumble into a playoff spot.
Raiden's Other Sports Exist Note of the Week
Yes! After two years, the column features have returned!
This week's Other Sports Exist Note comes to us from...naturally, the OTHER violent North American sport, hockey!
(What, after the week I had baseball wise, you thought I'd bring up giant offensive tackle sized pitchers being traded? NO!)
Watch out for those stupid......Detroit Red Wings after they signed Marian Hossa to a one year "get me a Cup #$^T^$!" contract...in a related note, my dear Blue Jackets stand no chance at winning their division...again...
Outside the Dawg Pound
It's July, not much going on here...I won't mention quarterbacks who wear jersey number 4 here because...well...we spent 20 minutes on it on Pigskin Heaven Radio this past Tuesday.
The Bold Prediction
Hmmm...it's July, so not much I can really boldly predict here eh? Well...here we go...Aaron Rodgers will be looking for a realtor in a new market sometime next week. How's that?
-Chris "Raiden" Grewe
The Woof appears every Wednesday on Pigskin Heaven during the season, and bi-weekly during the offseason starting with the 2009 offseason.
