Here it is, late July, when optimism is at its cyclical peak. On the cusp of training camp, the team is fully stocked with some 90 players, all presumably healthy. Phil Taylor, the exception, even seems more likely to play most of the season than it first appeared when his pectoral muscle tore this spring.
Once again, the Browns aren’t expected to win much this year. Pundits pick them as cellar-dwellers, and Vegas will sell you the “over” at just 5.5 wins out of 16. This can serve as more motivator than prophecy.
I approach every season with the expectation of making the playoffs. Like most everybody, I’d be surprised if they do, but I still set that as the baseline standard for a successful season. Some fans say they’d be tickled to see seven wins, because they’re realistic. I’m just realistic enough to know I can’t protect my fanatical heart from disappointment by tempering my goals for the team in advance.
As for this blogger personally, I also expect big things. I’ve been in a latency phase these past few years. But I started this blog ten seasons back with an intention to chronicle the Browns’ first Super Bowl season. I’m gonna kick things up a notch and hope this correlates with an exciting season, at least on the level of that crazy ride from 2002, which happened to feature a second-year head coach, a rookie first-round running back, and a herd of second-round wideouts.
These 2012 Browns are loaded with a huge rookie class, most prominently at RB, QB, RT, and with the supplemental selection of Josh Gordon, WR. This season will hinge largely on their emergence. I’m not usually keen on taking a running back in the first round, but Trent Richardson seems a worthy exception, especially given the effort at building the offensive line first.
Curiosity called me to look up which rookies have make the Pro Bowl since 1990, 47 in all. Here’s the breakdown by position:
- RB 10
- LB 9
- KR/PR 8
- OL 5
- DB 5
- WR 4
- DL 2
- P/K 2
- TE 1
- QB 1
If anything, this validates the Browns’ draft strategy with Richardson. As for the new QB, Brandon Weeden, it’s a position of growing pains, but he’s more mature than most. He may lead the league in interceptions, but he’ll have good protection and a viable running game to give him a chance to establish some downfield mojo with a deep if unpolished crew of receivers.
It’s July, so anything can still happen. It’s time for the projections to bring their shadows to Berea and show themselves in full sun. We’re ascending; it’s only a question of how fast it will take for this latest cast to align into something stellar.
Game on.
