The Brown and Orange Report

[vaughn99]

The 2011 Cleveland Browns season is almost underway. While the changes are most evident: a new coach and personnel along with entirely new offense and defensive schemes; some familiar faces return and along with them comes the promise of a successful campaign.

Returning Starters (Offense): QB Colt McCoy; RB Peyton Hillis; OL Joe Thomas; OL Eric Steinbach; OL Alex Mack; TE Ben Watson; WR Mohamed Massaquoi; WR Joshua Cribbs

Returning Starters (Defense): DL Ahtyba Rubin; DE Marcus Bernard; LB Scott Gokong; LB D'Qwell Jackson; LB Scott Fujita; DB Joe Haden; DB Sheldon Brown; DB TJ Ward

As part of the always staunch AFC North, the Browns often find themselves the bottom-feeder of the four teams. But with a favorable schedule and a positive outlook, 2011 should prove to be the year things start to turn around for the Brown and Orange in the SFL.


Hillis looks to lead the Brown and Orange charge in 2011

Take a report.

[vaughn99]

Berea, OH -- Today the Browns announced the signing of 2 veteran pieces via Free Agency. Former Giant (and University of Miami standout) cornerback Bruce Johnson was signed to a 4-year, $21m contract. Johnson is expected to slide into nickel and dime packages for the Browns and provide a safety-net for the aging Sheldon Brown.

The team also added a piece to the offensive side of the ball, in extending a 3-yr, $1.8m offer sheet to perennial Pro-Bowl fullback Tony Richardson. This will be the 39-year old Richardson's 5th NFL team in his 18-yr career, having played a supporting role in 2 of the league's most dominating performances by HB in the past 2 decades (Priest Holmes & Adrian Peterson).


Are there Swagger ratings in M12?


Take a report.

[TheKingOfVa]

Nice team page

[db56]

Good Work!!

[vaughn99]

Browns Fall to Bengals in Opener

The Browns fell last night to the Bengals 34-24 after squandering a 4th quarter lead and allowing 17 straight points to the visiting team. Aided by Browns offensive miscues, the Bengal D capitalized with 2 scores of their own, as Colt McCoy tossed 3 interceptions and fumbled once, while M12 cover-athlete Peyton Hillis added a give-away on his first run attempt.

The Browns hope to bounce back in week 2 against the 1-0 Indianapolis Colts.

[Munch that Boxx]

good read!

[vaughn99]

The Browns lost their second game in a row while visiting Lucas Oil Stadium and the Peyton Manning-led Colts. Much like their week 1 game, the Browns were hot in the first half, as Colt McCoy led the offense on 2 scoring drives: a 15-yard scoring pass to Ben Watson in the back corner of the endzone in the first and a 7-yard scamper from "the other Peyton" Hillis in the 2nd to give the visiting team a 14-10 lead at halftime.

But Manning would respond early and often in the 2nd half, peppering Dallas Clark with the ball like he was a blackened steak, setting up 2 draw-play run scores for J. Addai and 2 FGs for the ageless Adam Vinatieri to secure the 2 score win for the home team.

Along the way, the Browns lost 2 key pieces to their Defense, as MLB D'Qwell Jackson and SS TJ Ward were both knocked out of the game due to injuries.

In Week 3 the Browns host the 2-0 Dolphins, playing hot after beating the Texans in a nail-biter in Week 2.

[vaughn99]

The Browns fell to 0-3 after dropping a heart-breaker in the rain to the now 3-0 Dolphins, 23-16.

The game opened with the Browns showing promise, with Peyton Hillis moving the ball effectively until what has now become his inevitable first-possession fumble. The Dolphins jumped out ahead, converting the turnover into a score, causing the Browns to start the game from behind, where they would remain until the final whistle.

Browns performers outshone their Dolphin contemporaries in many facets of the game, from passing completion for Colt McCoy (56% to Chad Henne's 50%), to rushing yards for Hillis (99 yds to Daniel Thomas' 41) to redzone scoring %, and even time of possession (even more telling considering Miami held the ball to run out the clock for the final 2 minutes plus), but it was the small things which put Miami into the lead -- a first down streak to speedster Devon Bess and several QB runs from Henne, who ended the day with 6 runs for 19 yards, including the veritable nail-in-the-coffin to the Browns -- when Henne called his own number to convert a 3rd-and-6 for the visitors, after the Browns had spent their 3rd and final timeout in the 4th.

Next week the Browns take on the Titans, having made a splash in the league by acquiring Miles Austin in week 1.