Playing the Lottery 80-86-07-08
Jul 22, 2008
Author: Tree

80-86-07-08

No these really aren't lottery numbers, and no, I can't fix the lottery for us so we can all cash in, get rich and retire to Berea. Its simply a way to look into the future by looking into the past. Looking at the 80, 86, and 07 seasons, and wondering if we can see some of the same magic in 08. So what do those seasons have in common? Those seasons represent some of the best in Browns history since the merger.

There has been much said about our 2007 season, and our new starting QB, Derek Anderson. The '07 season has been one of the best in memory led by an exciting gun slinging QB. Forget for a minute the whispers of an unofficial QB battle in camp this season. For now this is DA's team, and we had a hell of a season last year. So good of a season in fact that the '07 season stacks up as one of our best since the merger. That being said, it'd be interesting to note how it stacked up against to other high-water marks the Browns set in 1980, and 1986, as we look forward to 2008.

1980 Cleveland Browns 11-5

22.3 pts a game ranked 8th
349.2 yards a game (5th)
244.7 yards passing (2nd)
104.6 yards rushing (26th)

Sipe only Endured 23 Sacks
Sipe was ranked 2nd in yardage 4,132 yards
Sipe was ranked 1st in QB rating 91.4

30 TD's 14 INT's

Ranked 3rd in league for completion % at 60.8%

The Kardiac Kids thrilled Cleveland fans for the first time since 1964, and we came as close as we had been to a championship in nearly twenty years. Unfortunately that season was to end in Red Right 88, but the memories and that season will go down in fan lore as one of the best in memory. As a kid, this is one of my earliest memories of being a Browns fan.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


1986 Cleveland Browns 12-4


24.4 pts a game ranked 9th
337.1 yards a game (9th)
234.4 yards passing (8th)
103.1 yards rushing (27th)


Kosar Endured 39 Sacks
Kosar was ranked 4th in yardage 3,854 yards
Kosar was ranked 7th in QB rating 83.8

17 TD's 10 INT's

Ranked in 9th league for completion % at 58.4%

Bernie did more with less. He probably doesn't get the credit he really deserves for his efforts and the punishment he took even though he is a much beloved figure in Cleveland Sports. He truly carried the Browns on his shoulders for a decade.

Never was there a more cerebral player at the position than Kosar. He got through on sheer guts and his knowledge of the game. He took hits on the chin that would've knocked out Ali, but still kept punching like Smokin' Joe Frazier. Eventually the hits caught up to him, as the Browns just weren't able to give Kosar the protection he desperately needed and asked for. That season started with a black cloud hanging over it with star Don Roger's death, but the team rose to the occasion only to have one of the finest seasons in memory ending in the "Drive" and a loss to Denver for the AFC title. My "Kingdom" for a defense and a clock eating rushing attack. Had the Browns had either the story may have ended differently.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


2007 Cleveland Browns 10-6

25.1 pts a game ranked 8th
351.3 yards a game (8th)
232.9 yards passing (11th)
118.4 yards rushing (10th)

DA only endured 14 Sacks
DA was ranked 9th in yardage 3,787 yards
DA was ranked 17th in QB rating 82.4

29 TD's 19 INT's

Ranked 28th in the league in completion % at 56.4%

A Revamped Million Dollar Line was the first shot across the bow at NFL franchises that dared use Cleveland for a door mat in this past season. Grinder Jamal Lewis was added to the mix to make the Browns one of the most formidable rushing attacks in the NFL. He bruised and battered the opposition to 1,300 yards in just 14 games. Edwards, Winslow and Joe Jurevicius headlined a multiple threat aerial assault lead by up and coming gunslinger Derek Anderson. Josh Cribbs provided a short field and some special teams fireworks on every play whether he was tackling or returning a kick or punt. As heartbreak and Cleveland would have it, our chances of a post season return went down in flames against Paul Brown's 2nd franchise "The Bengals" in a 4 INT performance by DA this past season. Seems like Deja Vu all over again, huh?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As much as we might get down on DA and the way we ended our season, DA still comes out on top as having one of the better seasons we've seen by a Browns QB in past years. Both because of this and in spite of some of the good performances DA has had, fans will wait on baited breath to see if he can follow it up in '08, or if we need to go to the reliever. Many wonder who will be the starter at the end of '08, and into '09.

Oh, this is nothing knew. If you are new to Cleveland Football, get used to it. Sipe was challenged at times for his starting role, as was Kosar. What's Cleveland football without a lil' QB controversy now and then? You'd think we'd be used to this by now. There's a Kelly Holcomb lurking around every corner, every year. So let's move past that, and look at this next season, and season's past with fresh eyes.

When it comes to comparing one era to another, or one QB to another, it can get tricky if not down right confusing. Today's league is a pass happy league where the rules benefit the offense. Back in Sipe and even Kosar's era, defensive backs were given the liberty of playing more bump and run, and could play the pass a lot more aggressively. Numbers in this day and age are far easier to come by for a QB, especially if he's got protection vs. QB's in the past who's receivers were regularly harassed and when QB's had a bounty on their heads.

What you can see from these comparisons of our Browns from eras past is at least one thing or two that can translate into success for a QB. This still holds true today. DA had way better pass protection than either Sipe and Kosar enjoyed, and the rushing attack was excellent for the 2007 Cleveland Browns when compared with the '80 and '86 versions of the team. It appears to me also, that if one were to be able to use a time machine and grab a QB out of the Browns 3 past seasons, that you'd probably take Kosar as he seemed to do the most with the least talent around him, and with little or no pass protection. One would have to wonder how Kosar would fair behind the '07 line that only gave up 14 sacks, and that ranked near the top of the league in rushing yardage, pass blocking and run blocking rankings.

Today's game favors the offense, primarily the passing game, and allows QB's and receivers to post up much more yardage and points than the game allowed for in the past. Because of the differences in the game that has evolved over the years, I am not sure how easy it would be to compare Sipe to Kosar to DA, or how fair and accurate that would be to do so. But for nostalgia's sake, it's worth the trip, just to remember the good times. Hopefully by remembering the good times, which are at times bittersweet, we can continue to keep the good times rolling.

Good Pass Protection, and a Top Caliber Rushing Attack are a QB's best friend. Hopefully we'll have more of the same in the future. That will be vitally important to our playoff aspirations and crucial to the further development of our QB's, but most importantly it'll be a hell of a lot of help towards making some more great Browns memories.

Maybe our luck is about to change. I got a feeling it will, and I'm holding onto my ticket till our number is called. I'm betting on those numbers this year in the hopes we can cash in and finally get was has been long overdue us. It'll come, the numbers are with us, and the wait has been long enough.

Here's to a great '08 season and to the kickoff of this year's training camp. Hope to see some of you there at the games or in Berea.

Go Browns.

Back to DawgBones.com