Eric Mangini and his coaches believe the team is "very close" to not only winning today, but playing the type of game that can turn a season around.
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Joshua Gunter / The Plain DealerBrowns coach Eric Mangini and his assistants are accentuating the positive.
1. Eric Mangini and his coaches took a positive approach at practice this week. They believe the team is "very close" to not only winning today, but playing the type of game that can turn a season around. Mangini has been telling his players: "We are starting to play Cleveland Browns football. That means the other team is black and blue at the end of the game. It means we have been tough, physical and relentless. It means we are not intimidated by any team, anywhere. In Baltimore, we showed we can start to play that kind of football."
2. The coaches know the Browns lost, 24-17, in Baltimore last week. They know the team has started 0-3 for the third season in a row. They know some fans are thinking, "Here we go again." They know the schedule is demanding. But they also have learned that beating players over the head with negatives week after week early in the season is a fast way to dig a deep emotional hole.
3. The other theme is "We need to fix us." Most of their problems are self-induced. There was Seneca Wallace's brain belch last week -- that pitch to Peyton Hillis that went for minus-17 yards. Wallace was supposed to hand the ball off. Linebacker Matt Roth graded high against the Ravens in stopping the run and controlling his area, but was flagged twice for offsides. The second penalty destroyed any chance the Browns had of getting the ball back one more time.
4. Serious discussions focused on when and how to use the blitz. The Browns have not allowed many touchdowns, but two critical ones (in 17-14 loss at Tampa Bay, and at Baltimore) came on full-blown blitzes where defensive backs had no help. The Browns have to pressure the quarterback, but have to pick better spots.
5. It's no secret that Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer (three TDs, three INTs, 57 percent completion percentage) is struggling. Former Browns coach Sam Rutigliano reviewed tapes of the Bengals' 20-7 victory over Carolina where Palmer had two interceptions, and Rutigliano said four more passes easily could have been picked off. Palmer is 8-1 in his past nine games against the Browns. In his past five games in Cleveland, he has 14 TDs, six INTs and a 95.5 rating.
6. Remember how rookie safety T.J. Ward had a chance to pick off Joe Flacco's first pass and run it back for a TD in Baltimore? Failure to make the play seemed to lift up Flacco, who also was in a funk. The Browns are stressing that when there is a chance to make a big play, make it. An early interception against Palmer can rock his already shaky confidence.
7. According to Pro Football Outsiders: "[In 2009], Cleveland's coverage ranked right at the bottom of the league in stopping opposing tight ends (32nd), passes to running backs (31st), and slot receivers (27th). Cornerback Eric Wright is developing well, but overall there is a paucity of speed and covering ability among the linebackers and safeties in particular."
8. Heading into the Baltimore game, the Browns were worried about Ravens tight end Todd Heap. The safeties paid special attention to Heap, holding him to four catches for 46 yards. They also kept wide receiver Derrick Mason (four catches, 30 yards) under control. The problem was the Anquan Boldin/Wright matchup. On film, two things were obvious: 1.) Wright's day was as bad as it looked to the fans. 2.) They could have helped him a little more with double-coverages, but they seemed late -- perhaps because of the attention to Heap and Mason.
9. Wright is the Browns' best cover cornerback. The coaches were pleased to see him admit his bad day to the media -- and do the same internally during practices. They believe he is developing the mental toughness to bounce back, and they are eager to see how he does today -- because they expect good things.
10. Fans find it hard to believe, but the Browns ranked No. 8 in sacks last season. They used the team approach, their defensive backs ranked No. 5 in sacks, their linebackers were No. 6. This season, they are No. 23 with three sacks in three games, compared with 40 sacks in 16 games a year ago. So they need to really look at their blitzes.
11. The game plan for Baltimore was for the tight ends, running backs and Josh Cribbs to be the prime receivers -- because Baltimore's defense is softer in coverage with those positions than wide receivers. Against the Bengals, it could be different, so the receivers (Brian Robiskie should be back) might be a bigger part of the offense. Evan Moore seems to have fully recovered from his concussion in the Kansas City game two weeks ago, and the tight end could be important today as he also plays slot receiver.
12. Joy Lavelli (widow of Browns Hall of Famer Dante Lavelli) e-mailed this on the Ring of Honor Weekend: "It was so spectacular to me because old and dear friends and memories were there. They treated us royally with presents and prizes and lo and behold -- there was the gathering room above the Dawg Pound. And the wonderful memory room below . . . to me it couldn't have been better."
ABOUT THE TRIBE . . .
1. The Indians plan to put Matt LaPorta on a serious conditioning program to strength his hips and legs. At times this season, LaPorta was swinging with just his arms. They believe it goes back to his toe and hip surgery last winter, when he had to mostly rest those areas. A power hitter often generates strength from his hips and legs.
2. The Indians aren't close to writing off LaPorta. They want to see what he does in the spring, and will give him first base to lose. They will tell La-
Porta he is needed and that they believe in him. But they plan to work Carlos Santana at first to reduce the heavy duty on his surgically repaired knee. Santana will mostly be a catcher but also will be an option at first base.
3. No matter how the Indians try to explain it, this stat has to be discouraging. Entering Saturday's game, there were 144 American League players with at least 250 plate appearances. The Indians had eight players in the bottom 40 of OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage): Luis Valbuena (No. 144), Lou Marson (142), Michael Brantley (136), Trevor Crowe (131), Asdrubal Cabrera (117), LaPorta (114), Jayson Nix (107) and Jason Donald (105).
4. One thought is to have Marson catch when the Indians face a lefty, as he's hitting .286 against them. His .161 average against right-handers is a major problem. Marson is developing into an elite catcher because of his throwing and game-calling, and he can be a nice combination with switch-hitting Santana.
5. Mitch Talbot (10-13, 4.41 ERA in 2010) ranks 33rd among AL starters in ERA and is tied for 36th in victories. The Indians believe he showed enough to be ensured a spot in the 2011 rotation, along with Fausto Carmona, Justin Masterson and Carlos Carrasco. The Tribe traded Kelly Shoppach to Tampa Bay for Talbot. Shoppach had knee problems early in the season and is batting only .199 with five home runs and 17 RBI for the Rays. While healthy, he hit a mere .214 with 12 HR in 327 at-bats for the Tribe in 2009.
6. The Indians believe Shelley Duncan could help next season as a spare outfielder and DH/pinch hitter. They mention Duncan hitting .277 (.897 OPS) with five home runs in 83 at-bats against lefties. The Indians have a lefty-heavy lineup, so they need a right-handed bat. He can platoon at times with Travis Hafner at DH. He's not a disaster in the outfield. As a pinch hitter, Duncan is 6-of-21 with a homer and a .747 OPS.
7. Once a third-base prospect, Jared Goedert, 25, fell from grace by hitting only .217 with five home runs and 19 RBI in 184 at-bats after the All-Star break at Class AAA Columbus. His overall numbers between Class AA Akron and Columbus are solid (.283, 27 HR, 83 RBI, .890 OPS), but the second-half decline and his 18 errors in 81 games at third leave a huge question mark.
8. It's a different story for 23-year-old Cord Phelps, a second baseman from Stanford who hit .317 (.892 OPS) with Columbus. The switch hitter batted .316 against lefties, .317 against righties. He had only six HR in 243 at-bats, but he's a line-drive hitting machine. The Indians gave him their minor-league award for the most balls hit hard -- 42 percent. They will play him at third in the Instructional League, hoping he can make the adjustment and compete for the job in 2011. The Tribe's third-round pick in 2008 played some third in college.
ABOUT THE CAVS AFTER WATCHING FRIDAY'S SCRIMMAGE . . .
1. One of the biggest adjustments to Byron Scott's motion offense will be to get the Cavs away from spreading out on the court, standing and waiting for a pass -- then taking stationary shots. Their job was to give LeBron James room to dribble and set up his shot. Now, Scott wants them on the move -- and either slashing to the basket, curling around picks for jumpers -- or working off a pick-and-roll play.
2. You can see the Cavs breaking off their movement, waiting for a pass to come. It's why he has Daniel Gibson (who looked pretty good) handling the ball at times. Scott wants Gibson to stop limiting himself to being a stationary shooter.
The faster pass -- not always evident -- is ideal for new point guard Ramon Sessions, who was the most impressive player in Friday's scrimmage. He gobbles up loose balls and long rebounds. He throws superb bounce passes to set up fast-break layups, and he drives and easily draws fouls.
3. Several players threw long passes to start the break, rather than have one guy dribble it -- that is a pleasant change. Because the Cavs have had grueling practices all week -- their legs were tired Friday night. Also, when Anderson Varejao (at a funeral), Mo Williams (groin injury), Antawn Jamison (sore knee) don't play -- the offense suffers.
4. Assistant coach Chris Jent has been working with J.J. Hickson to improve the big man's medium-range jumper. Scott has been putting Hickson on the wing -- not solely to shoot jumpers -- but to use his quickness to drive around bigger players and get to the rim. Hickson also is a forceful finisher when he runs the court and scores on a fast break.
5. According to ESPN.com's John Hollinger, the Cavs had three of the NBA's top five in shooting percentage "near the rim." They were James (.712), Hickson (.657) and Varejao (.656). James set up those other two for easy shots -- and it will be interesting to see if their high-percentage shooting near the rim continues.
6. Remember seeing poor 7-3 Zydrunas Ilgauskas about 30 feet from the basket chasing a guard while trying to defend a pick-and-roll play? Scott doesn't want his big men that far from the rim, so that should stop.
7. Forget replacing an MVP at small forward, simply sorting through the small forwards will be a challenge. Jawad Williams is a solid stationary shooter, but a poor rebounder and ineffective driver. Joey Graham is a bullish defender, but not much of a shooter. Danny Green and Anthony Parker can play some small forward, but their size is better suited for shooting guard. That is why Scott is thinking about Jamison at small forward, although he may have defensive problems against quicker players.
8. While Scott's offense is not designed for a lot of possessions in the low post, the Cavs think they can score inside in some instances with Hickson and Jamison.
9. Maybe Christian Eyenga (first-round pick, 30th overall in 2009) becomes an NBA player, but he is a galaxy away right now. The Congo product is very raw. At 6-5, he can run and jump, but seems to have few real basketball skills needed to be a small forward or shooting guard.
10. The Cavs did a super job with the giveaways and family atmosphere created at Rhodes Arena in Akron for the scrimmage. More than 4,000 fans showed up on a high school football night. Yes, it was free, but that's still impressive. Well done by the marketing department.
To reach Terry Pluto: terrypluto2003@yahoo.com, 216-999-4674
