last night Emily and I got a couple of tickets to the Cavs preseason opener against the Bobcats through a family friend. Emily and I have talked about going down to a few games this year to show our support for the Cavs. Being honest – we would have never thought to buy tickets to a preseason game, but when the tickets fell in our laps, it was hard to pass up.
I have to say, the Cavs looked descent last night. I mean, they were not ripping up the floor (15+ turnovers and maybe shooting 40% from the field), but they got the job done. It seems like everyone in the league upgraded their team in the off-season and we chose to get faster with little known players. We will have to wait till the regular season starts to be sure, but I think the Cavs will have a descent season and probably make the playoffs at the last minute.
That being said, when Emily I were watching the game we were talking about whether or not Josh Cribbs would be at the game (he has been at just about every game we have). How do we know this? He is always up on the big screen with his hat and sunglasses on. Josh, in case you are reading this – we can recolonize you regardless of what you wear; we know what you look like! Well, last night, two other Browns’ players were in attendance: Lawrence Vickers and Seneca Wallace. It was great seeing them there and hanging out with the fans! They were laughing and cheering with us – it is amazing how much lighter the mood gets when the Browns just get that first win under their belt.
Go Cavs! Go Browns!
Posted by Rob Shields on October 6, 2010
http://brownsdawghouse.com/?p=190
Remember back to your first date. If you are anything like me, you recall some awkward silences, some warming smiles, and that moment when you are not quite sure how to end the night. Watching the Browns brings back these feeling each Sunday.
It seems as though the Browns want to go out and win ever Sunday, but are not quite sure how to do it. They definitely know how to start the day – they play three descent quarters of football. Definitely not the prettiest quarters of football you have ever seen, but they have been ‘in the game’ at the start of each of the 4th quarters. In fact, of the first four games, they lead at the start of the fourth quarter in three of them. In the first three games, they just didn’t know how to ‘close’ the game out. It isn’t like they forgot how to close out games – lets be realistic no one on the team today (save maybe a few players) were not on the 2007 team that knew how to win.
Today was different. Today, the Browns figured out how to win. Personally, I think it is because we have new players this year that they were able to win today. Peyton Hillis (+Vikers ) and Wallace are not familiar with the typical ‘woe as me’ Cleveland mentality. They are competitors that simply want to win games; they went out today and made it happen. Hillis is proving to be the kind of RB that Clevelanders love – smash-mouth. Cribbs was finally allowed to return some kicks today and quickly reminded us why teams like to kick the ball AWAY from him. Shaun Rogers and our special teams reminded us of what it feels like to block a field goal.
Finally, Holmgren, Mangini, and the coaching staff gave the Browns an identity on offense – we are a running team. Hopefully we can remember who we are in the weeks to come.
Posted by Rob Shields on October 3, 2010
http://brownsdawghouse.com/?p=187
For the past few years my father has made a claim about the best player on the Brown’s roster. No, it wasn’t whoever our backup QB was, or Joe Thomas, not even Josh Cribbs. Who is it? None other than Dave Zastudil.
Dave has been one of the the most consistent players on the team (along side Phil and Josh). To be fair, Dave, Phil, and Josh also got PLENTY of opportunities in games over the past few years. The reality is: we punt a lot, we kick a lot of field goals, and we return waaaaay to many kickoffs.
Midway through last season Zastudil hurt his planting foot’s knee and was put on the IR. He tried his best to come into camp healthy this year, but the knee was still an issue; the Browns were forced to put him on the IR for the season. He is in the final year of a 5 year contract, so it isn’t clear whether he will be back next year or not.
I don’t know what the hope for. On one hand I want our new punter, Reggie Hodges, to have a good year and do very well for us. However, him doing well would almost guarantee that Dave wouldn’t be back for the Browns in 2011. I guess the best possible situation for Dave and the Browns is that we simply don’t have to punt this year – ever. Honestly though, if we make it out of the first quarter of the first game without punting I will be surprised.
Posted by Rob Shields on August 19, 2010
http://brownsdawghouse.com/?p=182
