AFC North: Josh McDaniels
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| Mark J. Rebilas/US Presswire | |
| Ray Lewis and the Ravens are 3-3 and looking to break a three-game losing streak against the undefeated Broncos this Sunday. |
It’s trick-or-treat time for the Baltimore Ravens.
Their first six games have seen a little bit of everything. Baltimore was considered by many pundits to be the best team in the NFL after its 3-0 start. But currently the Ravens are on a three-game losing streak and have rapidly fallen to the middle of the pack.
The Ravens clearly have the talent to play with anyone. But their streaky nature has many wondering if Baltimore is that dominant team of September or the struggling team of October.
"We’re both," Ravens center and six-time Pro Bowler Matt Birk said. "That’s who we are. We’re 3-3, that’s a fact. Another fact is there is more season ahead of us than there is behind us. And I think one thing is, all good teams get better as the season goes on."
With midseason approaching, Sunday’s game against the undefeated Denver Broncos (6-0) will say a lot about where the 2009 Ravens are heading.
A victory over one of the NFL’s elite would instantly put the Ravens back in contention. But a loss would extend Baltimore’s losing streak to four games, and although not impossible, teams that lose four in a row during a season struggle mightily to get into the playoffs.
"There’s a little more urgency to it because we’re all aware that we need to get a win," Ravens tight end Todd Heap said this week. "That’s our main focus this week, is going in and getting one win. That’s our only goal."
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This has to feel like deja vu for the Ravens.
Baltimore was 3-3 at the same point in 2008, the first season under coach John Harbaugh. But things clicked for the Ravens as they won eight of their final 10 games to earn the final wild-card spot in the AFC. Entering the postseason as a hot team, Baltimore won two playoff games before losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC title game.
With a stacked roster and a much-improved offense, there is reason to believe the Ravens can get hot again. But there are some differences between last year’s run and this season.
For starters, the AFC North is a three-team race this year. The Ravens took advantage of the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns last season by sweeping those four games. This year the Bengals (5-2) are tied for first place with Pittsburgh (5-2), and neither team has shown signs of slowing. Cincinnati already has a win over the Ravens in Baltimore, and the teams will meet again Nov. 8 in Paul Brown Stadium.
Secondly, Baltimore’s defense has seen a major drop-off in the first six games. The Ravens, who finished No. 2 in total defense in 2008, are ranked No. 19. Baltimore’s pass defense has been particularly porous and is ranked No. 23 in the NFL.
But Baltimore had two weeks to correct its issues during the bye. Losses to the Bengals, New England Patriots (5-2) and Minnesota Vikings (6-1) have been very close, in which a blown coverage, dropped pass or missed kick could have made the difference.
"Most of our games have come down to the end," Birk said. "Some of them we finished and some of them we haven’t. Good teams finish."
Denver also is coming off a bye week and has played as well as any team through the first six weeks. The Broncos’ defense is allowing a league-low 11 points per game.
Baltimore will try to do to the Broncos what the Patriots, Bengals and Dallas Cowboys (4-2) could not. The Broncos defeated all of those teams and showed the mental and physical toughness under first-year coach Josh McDaniels that has made them an early Super Bowl contender, setting the table for this huge matchup in Baltimore.
"It doesn’t get any better for football," Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said of this statement game. "There are a couple teams left undefeated. I’m OK with not being undefeated, because I want to do some other things. Those guys are in a great position right now. All we have to do is just go play football. The bottom line is the Broncos are playing very sound football right now. They have a reason to be undefeated."
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| Robert E. Klein/Icon SMI | |
| Former Belichick disciples Eric Mangini and Josh McDaniels face off as head coaches for the first time on Sunday in Denver. |
As the New England Patriots continue their immense success throughout this decade, the coaching tree of Bill Belichick also continues to grow in the NFL.
In that respect, Sunday will be a landmark day as two assistants Belichick raised from the ground up will face off as head coaches when Eric Mangini’s Cleveland Browns (0-1) travel to play Josh McDaniels of the Denver Broncos (1-0) at Invesco Field.
Former Browns head coach Romeo Crennel was another Belichick assistant, but Crennel also learned mostly under Bill Parcells before arriving to New England. McDaniels, 33, and Mangini, 38, are more considered Belichick prodigies as former entry-level assistants with the Patriots.
McDaniels and Mangini, both friends, were part of the same staff in New England from 2001 to 2005. McDaniels was a defensive assistant in 2002-03 under Mangini, who at the time was a defensive backs coach. Now they’re adversaries and a significant part of the NFL’s current youth movement of head coaches.
"Back then I’m sure neither one of us really thought much about that, but we are where we’re at," McDaniels said. "I’m sure he’s looking forward to the game as I am."
All indications are that McDaniels left New England on good terms, while it’s no secret the ire Belichick has for Mangini after the "Spygate" fiasco.
Therefore, Mangini said he doesn’t expect any good-luck notes from Belichick this week, despite two of his former pupils facing each other Sunday.
"I’m sure [Belichick is] concentrating on whoever they’re playing this week; I don’t remember who they’re playing this week," Mangini said. "I’m sure that’s what he’s focused on. Hopefully, it won’t come down to luck. It will come down to the way that we prepare."
Jury still out?
Overall, Belichick’s disciples have had mixed results as head coaches.
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| Robert E. Klein/Icon SMI | |
| A former offensive coordinator in New England, McDaniels started out with the Pats as an assistant under Mangini. |
Mangini was 23-25 in three seasons with the New York Jets before he was fired in 2008. Crennel was 24-40 in four seasons in Cleveland, and Notre Dame’s Charlie Weis currently faces a lot of heat in South Bend during his fifth season.
McDaniels is the only undefeated coach of the bunch after winning his debut in miraculous fashion. After trailing 7-6 late, Broncos receiver Brandon Stokley caught a tipped pass and turned it into an 87-yard touchdown with 11 seconds remaining to take a 12-7 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
The sequence already is an early candidate for play of the year in the NFL.
"We’re very fortunate to be 1-0," McDaniels admitted. "But we also feel we played hard for 60 minutes and never gave up."
Was it all beginners’ luck or Belichick-like skill?
"They did a lot of things right leading up to that point," Mangini explained. "They were in that position. Sometimes the ball bounces that way."
The Browns actually interviewed McDaniels for their coaching opening that eventually went to Mangini. McDaniels said the experience was very valuable, and later that offseason he wowed the brass in Denver to land the Broncos’ job.
A lot was being made of McDaniels' inexperience after some early run-ins with star players Jay Cutler, who was traded to the Chicago Bears, and receiver Brandon Marshall. But in Week 1 Denver played very hard for its rookie head coach and looked organized down to the final seconds in beating the Bengals.
"One of the early lessons that I learned is that it doesn’t matter how old you are, what you look like, you could be 80, you could be 20, right on down the line," Mangini said. "If the players know that you’re giving them an opportunity to get better, and a chance to win, that’s what they respect. With a guy like Josh, he does that."
Broncos middle linebacker and former Brown Andra Davis said it’s clear in Denver that McDaniels is seasoned despite his youth.
"He’s been around football all his life," Davis said. "His father is a legendary coach out there in Ohio. He’s coached under a Hall of Fame coach in Belichick. So he knows football.
"It doesn’t matter the age. If you know what you’re talking about, guys are going to follow and pay attention."
Important meeting
This is a big early-season matchup for both teams and its head coaches.
Mangini and McDaniels are working hard to change the culture and quickly put their imprint on their teams. The easiest way to do that is by winning games.
The Broncos are off to a good start, and going 2-0 in the AFC West would put them in a great spot where many are automatically crowning the San Diego Chargers (1-0). The Browns (0-1), meanwhile, are trying to avoid the dreaded 0-2 start, where they would quickly fall behind in a tough AFC North.
Cleveland also has a tough road game next week against a division rival and AFC contender in the Baltimore Ravens (1-0), making this week’s game even more important.
But to get their wish, one Belichick pupil will have to outcoach the other this Sunday.
“It’s a very difficult preparation,” McDaniels said of facing Mangini. “He’s going to test you in every way, shape or form possible. You know his team is going to be very well-coached.”
Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker
If the Denver Broncos want a starting-caliber quarterback in return for Jay Cutler, the team must call the Cleveland Browns.
No other potential trading partner has a quarterback to offer who could give the Broncos anything close to the same value as Cutler. The Browns have two players: Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson.
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Quinn, a Notre Dame alum, is a prodigy of Charlie Weis, whom Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels learned under while both were with the New England Patriots. The offensive system McDaniels will run in Denver should have similar concepts to what Quinn learned at Notre Dame. That makes for an easy transition.
Sure, Quinn lacks experience. But if McDaniels can tutor Matt Cassel and make him into a star in one year with zero starts since high school, McDaniels could certainly work with Quinn, who played four full seasons in college and has three NFL starts.
In the event Denver doesn't like Quinn, the Browns also have Anderson available. He is physically gifted in terms of arm strength. So if the Broncos want to go deep more often than not, Anderson would be the pick.
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| NFL.com Video | |
| The best moments from Jay Cutler in 2008. |
Anderson proved that with the right tools around him he could be a viable NFL quarterback. He won 10 games with the Browns and threw 29 touchdown passes in 2007, which is the year he made it to the Pro Bowl.
So take your pick, Denver, because the Browns have a lot to offer at the quarterback position.
Unless the Broncos believe drafting a rookie quarterback and letting him try to lead the team to the playoffs is wise, then working out a deal with Cleveland is the best move Denver could make.
Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker
Shelley from Washington, DC writes: Hey James, love the Blog. I'm a longtime Steeler and I've gotten a little obsessed with the ongoing Cutler-Broncos drama, but people have started suggesting that the Broncos trade Cutler to the Browns for Quinn. Now, as a Steeler fan, I think that would be the worst news for us this offseason--we already have Carson Palmer and an up-and-coming Flacco to deal with and the thought of another top-notch quarterback in the division is frightening. So my question is, is this sort of deal (Cutler for Quinn) something the Browns/Mangini would actually go for? Thanks!
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| Doug Pensinger/Getty Images | |
| Could Cleveland be a possible destination for Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler? |
The Cleveland Browns are extremely tight-lipped about their offseason plans. But there is enough smoke to link them as a possible destination for disgruntled Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler.
Let's examine the pros and cons to making such a move.
Pros
1. The Browns have two QBs available
The Browns can offer Denver what no team interested in Cutler can: a starting-caliber quarterback. Not only that, Cleveland has two young signal-callers in Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson.
2. Cleveland drafts high
Cleveland owns the fifth pick in the first round. Because a straight-up trade is not beneficial to the Broncos, draft picks are very important. Any package involving Cutler likely would include a pick or two. And compared to possible destinations such as Tampa Bay and Minnesota, Cleveland has higher picks in most rounds. The Browns also own two second-round picks -- their own and Tampa Bay's -- because of the Kellen Winslow Jr. trade. Second-rounders are extremely valuable to teams because the contracts are not as expensive as first-rounders.
3. Eric Mangini isn't tied to Quinn or Anderson
New head coach Eric Mangini is not particularly set on either quarterback, and it's evident when he says he could open a quarterback competition if both players remain on the roster. Reading between the lines, that means neither signal-caller impressed Mangini when he turned on the game tape from last season. Part of the problem with the previous regime is that the front office and ownership wanted Quinn to play, while the coaching staff tried to stay loyal to Anderson, who earned 10 wins in 2007 and went to the Pro Bowl. This created division from within. With Mangini there is a clean slate, no favorites, and the potential to move either player regardless of pedigree.
Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker
Here are five important issues for the Cleveland Browns this offseason:
1. Hire a head coach and GM
The Browns should not make another move until they hire a new head coach and general manager. The franchise currently is in flux after firing both former head coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Phil Savage. Cleveland is currently interviewing Scott Pioli of the New England Patriots. If he gets the job, Pioli is expected to be able to pick his own head coach.
2. Evaluate the QBs
Cleveland has two young quarterbacks on its roster in Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson. Quinn was already deemed the starter by the old regime and there is a good chance he will hold that title no matter who is hired. But the new regime coming in still has to evaluate the situation and determine if it's smart to keep both quarterbacks. Anderson is due a large, guaranteed $5 million roster bonus in March. So the new people in charge will have to decide quickly whether it's smart to fork over the money for depth or try to get someone else to pay it.
3. Should Romeo stay?
The Browns have fired Crennel as head coach, but they haven't completely ruled him out to return in some capacity. Crennel, who is still on the books, was a tremendous defensive coordinator before coming to Cleveland. That could be a possible role for him if former boss Pioli gets the job and former coaching stablemate McDaniels is the head coach. McDaniels' specialty is offense, while Crennel's is defense. It would make sense on a lot of levels. But it's always awkward to have the old head coach still on board while a new head coach works to establish his own identity. That is definitely something the Browns would have to consider.
4. Keep or scrap the 3-4 defense?
Speaking of Crennel, the Browns spent the past four years drafting players and building to run a 3-4 defense. One of Crennel's and Savage's biggest failures is that Cleveland never ran the 3-4 very well over that span. So a coaching change may be the perfect opportunity to go back to a more conventional 4-3 scheme. A lot of drafted players, such as Kamerion Wimbley, Alex Hall, and D'Qwell Jackson, were specifically brought in to run the 3-4. That is all they have run at the pro level and would need to be coached up to make that adjustment.
5. Identify your core
A year ago, it seemed like the core of young players such as Anderson, return specialist Joshua Cribbs, receiver Braylon Edwards and tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. would be solid building blocks for the future. But this year all of those players are in limbo. Anderson and Winslow could be trade bait in the offseason. Cribbs and Winslow have expressed a desire for new contracts in the past. Edwards is unhappy in Cleveland and approaching the final year of his deal, as well. This group led the Browns to 10 wins in 2007 but could be broken up in some form based on the decisions of the new regime.
Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker
The Cleveland Browns better move fast.
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| Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images | |
| Broncos owner Pat Bowlen could make it difficult for Cleveland to land its ideal targets. |
There is a new glamour job available with the Denver Broncos. This came after the team surprisingly fired Mike Shanahan Tuesday night following a late-season collapse.
Prior to this move, Cleveland was competing with teams such as the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions for candidates. The Browns were considered on equal footing with this group. But now the Browns have some serious competition from the Rocky Mountains.
Denver is considered an A-plus destination with a highly respected owner in Pat Bowlen. Shanahan was the second-longest tenured coach in the NFL, which garnered a lot of respect around the league for Bowlen's emphasis on stability.
As time goes on, the Browns and Broncos likely will share some of the same targets on their wish lists.
For instance, what if Denver now covets New England Patriots GM Scott Pioli, who is Cleveland's first choice? Pioli would have to take the time to seriously compare the pros and cons of the two teams.
Also, what if the Broncos choose to entertain coaching candidates Eric Mangini, Josh McDaniels or Steve Spagnuolo, which are more possibilities for Cleveland? Which team do you think is more attractive to these coaches?
The Browns do not want to get in a one-on-one power struggle with the Broncos. There is little comparison between the two organizations when it comes to success and stability, and those are two very important factors.
It's difficult to ignore the fact that the Browns are hiring their fourth coach in 10 years, while Denver had only Shanahan for the past 14 seasons.
So the Browns better make a final decision soon -- very soon -- before the Broncos begin their overtures and interviews. Cleveland doesn't want this hiring process to get to a point where attractive candidates start comparing its resume with Denver's.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Jamison Hensley
Hensley joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun for 11 years. A graduate of the University of Maryland, he lives in the Baltimore area with his wife.
