Tomorrow is Promised to No One- A Madden 17 Story Line Dynasty

[TheOtherPotterGuy]

Quote: Originally Posted by ayyitskev

I have to say, while the Browns had a very nice preseason I am skeptical to see how the real games play out. If Hogan is going to be the starter, he has his work cut out for him. Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

Same. I only played 5 min quarters in the preseason. When I go back to 13 min in the regular season, it'd be interesting to see how well they can really play. I'll tell you this though, our run defense is not going to be good. We gave up at least 50 yards in the 1st quarter to the first team running backs in each game.

[TheOtherPotterGuy]

Season Preview

Part One: The Offense

Berea, OH- With the opening kickoff just days away, the anticipation is thickening for fans around the league. Here in Cleveland, fans are anxious to see how new head coach James Ashford and the Browns will look when they officially take the field. Before the start of the season begins, lets take a look at the official 53 man roster and the upcoming schedule beginning with the offense. Second year quarterback Kevin Hogan has been given the starting nod and will lead a squad into the 2017 season that, on paper, looks like they could put up some points. It will all depend on the new look offensive line and if Terrelle Pryor and Corey Coleman can develop into capable wide receivers. Here is the 2017 Cleveland Browns offense:

Quarterbacks

Kevin Hogan (76)

Theodore Stills (80)*

Cody Kessler (77)

Running Backs

Isaiah Crowell (85)

Duke Johnson Jr. (79)

Kapri Bibbs (71)

Fullbacks

John Conner (75)

Wide Receivers

Terrelle Pryor Sr. (87)

Corey Coleman (80)

Willie Snead IV (84)

Cordarrelle Patterson (78)

Marquess Wilson (76)

Marquise Goodwin (72)

Tight Ends

Gary Barnidge (86)

Derek Carrier (78)

Seth DeValve (71)

Left Tackles

Joe Thomas (93)

Spencer Drango (74)

Left Guards

Joel Bitonio (82)

Casey Brown (68)*

Centers

A.Q. Shipley (78)

J.D. Walton (74)

Right Guards

Chris Walden (78)*

Alvin Bailey (75)

Right Tackles

Joey Vasquez (77)*

Mike Remmers (70)

* Denotes Rookie Player

[TheOtherPotterGuy]

Season Preview

Part Two: The Defense

Berea, OH- Continuing with our roster preview, we move onto the Cleveland Browns defense. Led by first year defensive coordinator Thomas "Bull" Williams, the Browns D is a complete unknown. They have the talent to be a solid unit capable of keeping the team in games, but they have a young secondary and a front seven that has struggled against the run and putting pressure on the opposing quarterback. They will be tested early this season as they will face several excellent offenses. Here is the Cleveland Browns 2017 defense:

Left Ends

Kroy Biermann (79)

Devin Taylor (71)

Right Ends

Emmanuel Ogbah (84)

Charles Tapper (75)

Defensive Tackles

Danny Shelton (84)

Dominique Easley (82)

Xavier Cooper (77)

O.C Hairston (73)*

Prennis Lawson (68)*

Left Outside Linebackers

Jaime Collins Sr. (87)

Dion Jordan (68)

Middle Linebackers

Christian Kirksey (84)

Demario Davis (77)

Kevin Reddick (70)

Right Outside Linebackers

Kamu Grugier-Hill (78)

Joe Schobert (72)

Cornerbacks

Joe Haden (82)

Jamar Taylor (78)

Trovon Ashley (79)*

Derall Clark (75)*

Briean Boddy-Calhoun (69)

Free Safeties

Jordan Agurs (77)*

Rahim Moore Sr. (76)

Strong Safeties

Will Hill III (82)

Ibraheim Campbell (71)

Kicker/Punter

K Stephen Gostkowski (77)

P A.J. Thigpen (77)*

Returners

Marquise Goodwin (88)

Cordarrelle Patterson (94)

* Denotes Rookie Player

[TheOtherPotterGuy]

Season Preview

Part Three: The Schedule

Berea, OH- Finally we end our 3 part season preview with a look at the upcoming 2017 schedule for our beloved Browns. Coach Ashford will have a rough welcome to the NFL as his team will face all three AFC North foes, the Broncos and the Giants in the first half of the season. After the bye, they will face tough games versus the likes of the Cowboys, Patriots, Eagles and the Texans. We will soon found out what kind of team we have and how far Coach Ashford and GM Sashi Brown still have to go. Here is the 2017 Cleveland Browns Schedule:

Week One

@ Denver Broncos

When: Sunday @ 4:05

Prediction: Browns Lose

Record: 0-1

Week Two

Baltimore Ravens

When: Sunday @ 4:15

Prediction: Browns Lose

Record: 0-2

Week Three

New York Jets

When: Sunday @ 1:00

Prediction: Browns Win

Record:1-2

Week Four

@ Pittsburgh Steelers

When: Sunday @1:00

Prediction: Browns Lose

Record: 1-3

Week Five

Cincinnati Bengals

When: Thursday @ 8:20

Prediction: Browns Lose

Record: 1-4

Week Six

Pittsburgh Steelers

When: Sunday @ 1:00

Prediction: Browns Lose

Record: 1-5

Week Seven

New York Giants

When: Sunday @ 1:00

Prediction: Browns Win

Record: 2-5

Week Eight

@ Cincinnati Bengals

When: Sunday @ 1:00

Prediction: Browns Lose

Record: 2-6

Week Nine

Bye

Week Ten

Dallas Cowboys

When: Sunday @ 1:00

Prediction: Browns Lose

Record: 2-7

Week Eleven

Buffalo Bills

When: Sunday @ 1:00

Prediction: Browns Win

Record: 3-7

Week Twelve

@ New England Patriots

When: Sunday @ 4:15

Prediction: Browns Lose

Record: 3-8

Week Thirteen

@ Washington Redskins

When: Sunday @ 1:00

Prediction: Browns Win

Record: 4-8

Week Fourteen

Houston Texans

When: Sunday @ 1:00

Prediction: Browns Lose

Record: 4-9

Week Fifteen

@ Philadelphia Eagles

When: Sunday @ 1:00

Prediction: Browns Lose

Record: 4-10

Week Sixteen

@ Miami Dolphins

When: Sunday @ 1:00

Prediction: Browns Win

Record: 5-10

Week Seventeen

@ Baltimore Ravens

When: Sunday @ 4:05

Prediction: Browns Lose

Record: 5-11

Even though this team is coming in to the season with new hope and optimism and a new head coach who has the makings to be a star, the Browns have yet to prove anything to anyone. Their roster is talented but unproven and very young. They have not been competive in the division and the rest of the schedule is too tough. That is why we predict this team will go 5-11. We also predict that halfway through the season, Coach Ashford will start 1st round pick and exciting young rookie quarterback Theodore Stills.

[TheOtherPotterGuy]

Chapter 3

James Ashford sighed as he watched film of the Cleveland Browns latest practice on his IPad. On the tape, linebacker Dion Jordan gets around their rookie right tackle Joey Vasquez with ease and taps quarterback Kevin Hogan for a “sack”.

“He is not even the best player on our team.” James said turning off the tablet and leaning back into his chair. “Hell he’s a second stringer for most teams in the league, if we can’t stop him how can we hope to stop Von Miller?”

Offensive coordinator Porter Edwards grimaced and shuffled his feet while defensive coordinator Thomas “Bull” Williams chuckled.

“You don’t. Plain and simple.” The big man said.

“We are going to need to keep a tight end or a back in to help block.” Edwards said. “It won’t stop him but it could slow him down enough for Hogan to get rid of the ball.”

James nodded as he stood up and walked over to the hotel window. The sun was just starting to set behind the Rocky Mountains in Denver, Colorado and it was casting dark, elongated shadows on the bustling city below. The first game of the 2017 NFL season was tomorrow and the town was alive with excitement and anticipation.

“Hogan will need to release the ball as quick as possible.”

“That’s the plan. I have plenty of slants, roll outs and quick outs drawn up.” Edwards said. “It’d be like when we played Ohio State and they had Ryan Shazier.”

Williams laughed. “Well that’s good because you will be seeing plenty of Ryan again.”

Both Edwards and Williams were hired by James when he took the head coaching job. He wanted people who not only have experience coaching in tough situations but coaches who could relate to the players. Porter Edwards was a former standout wide receiver from the University of Oregon. Standing at 6’5, his lanky frame and long arms made him a tantalizing prospect for the NFL. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins but failed to make the team. After participating in several different teams training camps, he decided to retire from the league to pursue coaching. He was a wide receivers coach and an offensive coordinator for different colleges until he was made the head coach at Purdue where he had tremendous success. He never won a championship but he came close and obtained some major bowl victories. The NFL came calling again and he spent the last couple years as the wide receivers coach with the Oakland Raiders before James brought him aboard.
Thomas “Bull” Williams has a similar career path as Edwards. He was a defensive tackle at the University of Texas where he shined as one of the best run stoppers in the country. Standing at 6’6 and 320 pounds, Williams earned the nickname “Bull” from his teammates at Texas and it stuck with him throughout his life. He was drafted in the 2nd round by the Philadelphia Eagles and had a solid first couple of years before a knee injury cut his playing days short. He retired and went back to Texas where he became the defensive line coach for the Longhorns. He had success there and was then hired to be the defensive coordinator for the Ole Miss Rebels. After creating stout defenses for the Rebels, he was hired by the Detroit Lions to be their defensive line coach for a few years until James came calling this past off season.

“Well boys.” James said as he glanced at the giant image of the man of whom they were speaking about glare at him from the billboard across the street like a benevolent God. “Tomorrow we’ll see how well we have prepared. In the meantime, get some sleep. You will need it.”

Williams came over and clapped James on the shoulders with his huge hands that nearly made his knees buckle. “Honestly I don’t think any of us will sleep much tonight, but relax coach. You only get one first time coaching a NFL game in your life.”

He laughed. “And I am ready for it to be over.”

The two coaches left the hotel room talking about strategies. James went over to his bed and grabbed his phone. After a few swipes, he pulled up a number and dialed. After a few moments, the call connected and a little girls face with soft chocolate eyes and brown ringlets appeared on the screen.

“Hi Daddy!” She said.

“Hey Pumpkin.” He said with a smile. “How are you?”

“Good! Guess what we got!?”

“Um.” James said scrunching up his face. “Flowers?”

“No!”

“Candy?”

“Nope. I wish though!” She said giggling.

“I give up.”

“Look!” She stood up and showed off a Cleveland Browns jersey that had a big number 6 and the name ‘Ashford’ on the back. “See!?”

“Wow that is pretty cool.” He said. “What’s the number 6 stand for?”

“That’s how old I am!”

“Ah silly me.” James said with a soft laugh. “Where’s your mom?”

“In the kitchen making cupcakes!”

“Oh that sounds good.”

“Mhm.” She said with a grin. “It’s for the game tomorrow. They have little puppies on them!”

“Well they were supposed to be big menacing dogs but it didn’t work out so well.” Said a beautiful brunette with sparking green eyes. “But it’s the thought that counts right?”

“I am sure they are just fine.” He said. “How are you Erin?”

“I am great.” She said. “Missing you as usual but we are doing well. How are you doing?”

“My stomach feels like it’s going to fly away.”

“Ah, no need to be nervous. Just be you and everything will work out. Remember your first game at Vanderbilt?”

“Mmm. I seem to recall we lost that game.”

She chuckled. “Yes, but you kept it close against a team that many thought would be in the National Championship. You are great at this and the players respond to you. Tomorrow is going to be the start of great things for the Cleveland Browns.”

“I should hire you to be my personal motivator. You are always so eloquent.”

“Well I do have a law degree.” She said cheekily. “Besides, we are married, you get me for free as long as you take out the trash and rub my feet.”

“How I managed to be that lucky I will never know.” James said.

“Me either.” She winked.

“Daddy you will score a bajillion points tomorrow!”

James laughed. “That would be something wouldn’t? And all because you have that jersey.”

She beamed and strutted her jersey around the room.

Erin shook her head amusingly. “Alright I better get this little one to bed.”

“If you must.”

“I know you won’t, but try and relax tonight ok?”

He nodded. “I will.”

Erin smiled. “I love you babe. I can’t wait to see you on TV tomorrow.”

“I love you too.”

“Night daddy!”

“Goodnight pumpkin.”

The phone disconnected and James placed it on the charger. He turned on the TV to the local news that was in the middle of a sports report.

“What a way to start off the season eh Bronco fans?” Said a man with dark hair that was slicked back with copious amounts of gel. “We get the Brownies who are being coached by a first year guy with no NFL experience and quarterbacked by Kevin freaking Hogan. Anything less than a blowout will be disappointing.”

James scoffed.

“With Trevor Siemian injured, Paxton Lynch will more than likely get the start tomorrow but that doesn’t matter.” The man said. “Our first round pick versus their suspect secondary? Cake. Let Demaryius Thomas run wild and release the beast in Von Miller. The Browns will head home with their tail between their legs with the final being 38-7 Broncos.”

James turned the TV back off and lean backed into his pillow. He was filled with nerves and uneasiness but there is one thing he knew for sure, he could not wait to shut up all the damn critics.

[TheOtherPotterGuy]

Around the League

Top Stories

NFL Kickoff

NFL fans rejoice as the 2017 regular season kicks off with the Colts taking on the Chargers.

AFC Battle

The Cincinnati Bengals and the Oakland Raiders are ready to do battle.

Great News!

Vikings fans are happy with the news that QB Teddy Bridgewater is healthy and will start.

Can they do it again?

Will the defending Super Bowl Champs be able to have success without Tom Brady?

Before the season even starts, reporters and sports gurus from around the country look at each teams roster, preseason play, and past season play and determine which teams are the best. This year, the Green Bay Packers will start off the year at number one followed by the defending champions, New England Patriots. At the other end of the spectrum, the Cleveland Browns and the Chicago Bears are bringing up the rear. Here is a look at the 2017 preseason power rankings:

2017 Preseason Power Rankings
RK (LW)	Team	Record	Next Game
1 ()	Green Bay Packers
2 ()	New England Patriots
3 ()	New Orleans Saints
4 ()	Philadelphia Eagles
5 ()	San Diego Chargers
6 ()	Arizona Cardinals
7 ()	Kansas City Chiefs
8 ()	Carolina Panthers
9 ()	Dallas Cowboys
10 ()	Baltimore Ravens
11 ()	Buffalo Bills
12 ()	Jacksonville Jaguars
13 ()	Atlanta Falcons
14 ()	Minnesota Vikings
15 ()	Seattle Seahawks
16 ()	New York Jets
17 ()	Miami Dolphins
18 ()	Washington Redskins
19 ()	Oakland Raiders
20 ()	Pittsburgh Steelers
21 ()	New York Giants
22 ()	Indianapolis Colts
23 ()	Tennessee Titans
24 ()	Cincinnati Bengals
25 ()	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
26 ()	Detroit Lions
27 ()	Houston Texans
28 ()	San Francisco 49ers
29 ()	Los Angeles Rams
30 ()	Denver Broncos
31 ()	Cleveland Browns
32 ()	Chicago Bears

Next, lets take a look at each divisions standings and where the critics think each team will end up at the end of the year:

NFL Standings - Updated: Sep 1, 2017
NFC EAST	W	L	T
Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas Cowboys
Washington Redskins
New York Giants
NFC NORTH	W	L	T
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
Detroit Lions
Chicago Bears
NFC SOUTH	W	L	T
New Orleans Saints
Carolina Panthers
Atlanta Falcons
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC WEST	W	L	T
Arizona Cardinals
Seattle Seahawks
San Francisco 49ers
Los Angeles Rams
AFC EAST	W	L	T
New England Patriots
Buffalo Bills
New York Jets
Miami Dolphins
AFC NORTH	W	L	T
Baltimore Ravens
Pittsburgh Steelers
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
AFC SOUTH	W	L	T
Jacksonville Jaguars
Indianapolis Colts
Tennessee Titans
Houston Texans
AFC WEST	W	L	T
San Diego Chargers
Kansas City Chiefs
Oakland Raiders
Denver Broncos

Finally lets reveal our top 3 players who we believe will be the contenders for the prestigious MVP award at the end of the year. In order for their teams to be successful, these 3 players must have a good season:

Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan

Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers

Minnesota Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater

[TheOtherPotterGuy]

Matchup Preview

Can the Browns Steal a Win at Mile High?

Denver, CO- It is finally here Browns fans! At 5:05 eastern standard time, the Cleveland Browns, led by first year head coach James Ashford, will take the field to take on the Denver Broncos.

"It's exciting that's for sure." Coach Ashford said. "But we have prepared all year for this and I believe in my guys. They will get the job done."

Despite having only 2 winning seasons since 1999, Browns fans can't help but feel optimistic about the upcoming season and the future.

"Well what else are we supposed to do?" Said long time fan Phil Rivera. "When you are at rock bottom there is no where to go but up right? Besides this new coach can't be any worse then Mangini am I right?"

The Browns have a tough schedule this season and it starts off with a date against the feisty Denver Broncos at Mile High stadium. Quarterback Trevor Siemian will start in place of the injured Paxton Lynch and will look to make a case to have the starting job permanently.

"He's a smart guy with good instincts and a nice arm." Defensive coordinator Thomas Williams said. "So we are going to need to mix up our coverages and throw a couple different looks at him to see if we can throw him off."

All eyes, however, will be on the Broncos defense. Led by All Pro linebacker Von Miller and cornerbacks Chris Harris and Aqib Talib, they will look to pressure new starting quarterback Kevin Hogan and force him into making bad throws.

"Miller is a beast man." Hogan said. "He can disrupt any play at any given time. We are going to have to be extra vigilant today if we want to succeed."

If the Browns hope to have any offense at all, it will all need to start up front, especially with two rookies anchoring the right side of the line where Miller loves to line up.

"He will test them early and often." Offensive coordinator Porter Edwards said. "But I have faith that those guys will hold their ground. This is going to be a great learning experience for them."

The Browns need running back Isaiah Crowell to be able to get going early. If he can establish a good running game and Hogan can limit his mistakes, Cleveland might have a chance in this game.

Prediction: Denver 31 Cleveland 13

Players to Watch

LOLB Von Miller (99)

WR Demaryious Thomas (92)

CB Chris Harris Jr. (92)

Matchup Preview *|* September 10, 2017
	@
Cleveland Browns (0-0, 0-0 Away)		Denver Broncos (0-0, 0-0 Home)
Injury Report QB Paxton Lynch/ Broken Thumb 1 Week RT Garry Gilliam/ Dislocated Ankle 2 Weeks Game Notes

[TheOtherPotterGuy]

So when I was doing dynasties with NCAA I would play the game and then at the end I would go over the highlights so that I can take pictures to add to my game recap. Well I played the Broncos game but I didn't realize that the ability to look over highlights would disappear at the end of the game. (Which is a shame because it was a really great game.) So I apologize but this game recap will not have any pictures.