Jacksonville comes into tomorrow's game at 5-4.  The Browns still haven't faced a team under .500 at the time of the game.  That said, after an incredibly difficult portion of their schedule (Atlanta, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, New England, New York Jets), a near-average opponent should seem like a huge step down in competition.  I don't think it is that much of a stretch to say that the last 5 games the Browns have played have been against the 5 best teams in the league. Jacksonville is a nice team, but they aren't in that conversation.  The Browns held their own, going 2-3 in that stretch.

So how will the Browns do against someone more equal in quality?  Against similarly average-y teams to start the year, the Browns fell in heartbreakers to Kansas City and Tampa Bay.  The Browns look like a better team with more of an identity now.  But let's see what the numbers say about Maurice Jones-Drew and  the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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Defending Super Bowl Champs, on the road, against the most accurate passer in the league? BOOM dominating win, check.

Team of the last decade, 3 time Super Bowl winning QB, evil genius coach? BOOM dominating win, check.

Media darling coach and team, great defense led by best corner in the league? ...

Let's see what the numbers say about the third team in a row that should crush us on paper.

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I have been absent from DBN since the Saints game.  It turned out that the bye-week matched up well with a couple weeks of an absurd lack of free time for me.  Anyway, the Browns are back and so am I.  It looks like Colt McCoy will get his third career start, each against elite teams in the NFL.  This week's opponent is the New England Patriots.  First, i should point out that this is a ridiculous name.  It'd be like calling us the Midwest Browns.  Second, the Patriots have Bill Belicheck, probably the best coach in the league and Tom Brady, a top 5 quarterback in the league.

McCoy has looked acceptable, making throws that NFL QBs need to make and avoiding mistakes.  I don't know that I see elite talent, or even above-average talent.  But, average talent and top end preparation and composure can turn you in to a very good quarterback.  The Patriots represent another great challenge for the growth of our young colt.

Let's see what the numbers say about the match-up.

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When you think of the defending Super Bowl champion Saints, you immediately think of offense.  As Chris pointed out earlier this week, defending Drew Brees and his deep ball is a huge challenge for Rob Ryan's improved defense. 

But the Saints haven't been putting up the yards and points that they did last year.  I've heard theories from Super Bowl hangover to Reggie Bush's presense makes everyone better.  Neither of these seem very plausible to me.  Brees and Sean Payton are too professional to have any serious level of let down.  And Bush, well, I am not convinced he is good enough to make the difference between average and great.  I've always thought he was overrated.  More Dante Hall than Marshall Faulk, if you will. 

But regardless, the Saints are still a good and maybe great team.  In a conference where no team is running away with battle for divisions or best records, New Oreleans sits at 4-2 and coming off their best offensive performance of the year, and playing the 1-5 Browns.  It doesn't look good, but let's look a little deeper and see what we find in this matchup. 

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Finally, it is the weekend.  Football is here and we can stop clicking through thousands of comments about semantics and non-football bickering by Steelers fans (and a couple of our... special posters that are susceptible to these conversations).  It is time to put that all aside and talk football. 

In writing these previews, I usually go through what we can expect to happen on each side of the ball by using this year's stats from Football Outsiders.  There is one big problem for that approach this week.  Each quarterback in this game will be making their first starts of the year: Ben Roethlisberger because he is a creep, Colt McCoy because high ankle sprains are what the cool kids are doing. 

This is a problem for the numbers, not only for the QBs, but for the entire passing games of each team.  Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch are very different QBs in terms of talent and skill sets compared to Roethlisberger.  McCoy doesn't have the years of experience of Jake Delhomme nor Seneca Wallace- no this is his first year in the league.  And his first game will be against Dick Lebeau's defense. 

Realizing there will be a huge gap- I'm totally disregarding passing and receiving numbers- let's go forward with the usual stuff...

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At first glance, this seems like a real uphill battle for the Browns.  Atlanta comes in 3-1 with a big win AT New Orleans and a close loss to the Steelers.  Further, they are coming off a 9-7 season and they have found a franchise QB.  The Browns are coming off their first win in four tries and a 5-11 campaign. 

Considering all that, I'm surprised the Browns are only 3 point underdawgs at home.  Let's see what the numbers say about this cross-conference game.  As always, the numbers are courtesy of Football Outsiders.

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There was a time where the Bengals were known for their high powered offense, hapless defense.  It was all about Carson Palmer, nothing short of an elite QB, and 2 or three very talented receivers. 

Remember this game?  http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200709160cle.htm

At some point over the last two years, through the defections of guys like T.J. Houshmandzadeh and the injury/decline of Carson Palmer, the Bengals are no longer a top tier offense. On the other hand, the Bengals defense has improved over the same time.  They aren't great, but enough to keep the team in the playoff picture last year and so far this year. 

But the question is, do Cincinnati fans even care?  I mean, the Reds are in the playoffs.

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Injuries.  A nagging hamstring, the dreaded high ankle sprain, concussions, turf toe, pectoral tears, ACLs, and the list goes on.  Injuries can destroy a season, a team, a unit, a career, a franchise.  (see e.g., Browns Defense, 2009).  But here, I'm not talking about the devastating brand.  I'm talking about injuries on a micro- level.  Jerome Harrison, the presumptive #1 RB on the team, won't be 100%. Montario Hardesty, the #2 RB, is sitting out the season.  The starting QB hasn't been healthy since the first half of week 1.  He bravely stayed out there on one ankle for a half, but will miss his second game.  The starting middle linebacker had a set-back on his way back from his second issue with his second chest issue in as many seasons.

The thing is, this isn't unusual, rare, or even all that noteworthy for a football team.  It is a part of a violent game with huge, fast, strong players hitting, tackling, spinning, and blocking all at the same time.  Is this frustrating?  Maybe sometimes.  But its what makes football such an intriguing and enjoyable spectator sport. 

And these types of injuries make statistical analysis of football mean that much less.  The idea of football outsiders' statistics is to take every play and treat it as its own event.  Increasing the sample size of a sport with only a 16 game season.  But variables make it difficult to figure out how much the stats mean.

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I don't know if anyone in the world cares about this game outside of Cleveland and KC.  Last year, these teams met late in the season. They gave us an entertaining game, but the bottom line was both teams were really bad.  Expectations are still low in KC and Cleveland, but KC got a shot in the arm with a big win on Monday night against a perennial division dominating team: San Diego.

The Browns are coming off a disappointing game against another terrible 2009 team: Tampa Bay.  But the Browns 2010 home opener is still very winnable.  Let's see what the stats say...

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I'm pumped for football season.  But during yesterday's game, there were a couple calls that reminded me of the things I'm not looking forward to.  In fact, I'm dreading them.

via static.nfl.com

There are two rules (or points of emphasis or whatever you want to call it) that seriously strain my enjoyment of watching NFL games.  The way pass interference is called, and roughing the passer calls.  If yesterday was a regular season game, I would have been really pissed off at two plays.  I wouldn't necessarily be pissed at the players or even the officials.  I would blame the NFL and would probably boycott watching games the rest of the weekend.

Pass Interference

I get it, we want to allow receivers to have every opportunity to catch the ball.  It has made playing DB almost impossible.  That's fine.  But when terribly minor contact starts getting called, or when the defender is going for the ball, or when the ball is uncatchable and there is a call anyway, I have a big problem. This was the case yesterday when Eric Wright was called for PI on a ball that was way overthrown.  Even if on target, the contact was minimal and Wright was looking for the ball. 

In this case, the issue seems to be the enforcement of the rules, not the rules themselves.  The rule reads: (emphasis mine)

"Actions that do not constitute pass interference include but are not limited to:

(a) Incidental contact by a defender’s hands, arms, or body when both players are competing for the ball, or neither player is looking for the ball. If there is any question whether contact is incidental, the ruling shall be no interference.

(b) Inadvertent tangling of feet when both players are playing the ball or neither player is playing the ball.

(c) Contact that would normally be considered pass interference, but the pass is clearly uncatchable by the involved players.

(d) Laying a hand on a receiver that does not restrict the receiver in an attempt to make a play on the ball.

(e) Contact by a defender who has gained position on a receiver in an attempt to catch the ball.

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I've been mostly disappointed with our linebackers for years and years.  In fact, I'd venture to say that we haven't had a single above average linebacker play an entire season with us since 2001.  I suppose you could convince me that Andra Davis was above average for a year or two.  D'Qwell Jackson?  Well, more on him later, but I'm in the camp that he has been declared underrated so much amongst fans and writers that he is actually overrated. 

I don't look for this streak of mediocrity to stop in 2010.  The unit is full of past-their-prime vets that were never all that great to start and marginal young players that NFL teams have often overlooked.  We lack a top tier prospect or a star in his prime and that has frustrated me for years at the LB position (outside of Kamerion Wimbley's first 2 seasons).   Let's see what we got.

1. Starting Inside Linebacker: D'Qwell Jackson

D'Qwell Jackson

#52 / Linebacker / Cleveland Browns

Height: 6-0

Weight: 240

Born: Sep 26, 1983

College: Maryland

Experience: 4 seasons

2009: 6 games, 59 tackles, 1 Forced Fumble, hurt for most of the season

That forced fumble is quite notable.  Even though Jackson has been often mentioned as one of the Browns best players the last 3 years and even though he has been our #1 inside linebacker for about 50 games and made over 400 tackles that was his FIRST forced fumble of his ENTIRE career.

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In terms of talent and expectations, there may not be a more improved position on the Browns from June 2009 to June 2010.  Gone is the old, slow, increasingly awful Jamal Lewis.  Joining the party is another #31 out of Tennessee with good size and an upright running style.  But while, Montario Hardesty is young and exciting, Lewis was counting the days until his retirement.  Also, the versatile Peyton Hillis joins the mix.  Add Hardesty and Hillis to the potentially very good Jerome Harrison, a healthy and young James Davis, and Chris Jennings, and you have a deep, competitive unit that could form the basis of a run-oriented offense: perhaps similar to the style of running game that gave us a successful December last year.

I should point out that the success of the running game goes far beyond these RBs.  First, more than just about any position, a RB is reliant on teammates and playcalling for success.  FBs (which will get their own preview) play a big part, as does the offensive line, of course. Plus, the Browns have two dynamic running threats in Josh Cribbs and Seneca Wallace that can supplement the traditional running game.  They will be utilized, at times, as pure runners- especially Cribbs. But they better fit in other categories for preview purposes.

I'll stay true to Chris's format for this preview, for the most part.

1. Jerome Harrison: Starting Running Back

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Jerome Harrison

#35 / Running Back / Cleveland Browns

Height: 5-9

Weight: 205

Born: Feb 26, 1983

College: Washington State

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Experience: 4 Seasons

2010: 862 Yds, 5 TD, 4.4 YPC; break-out in last three games

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Yeah, I watched the game.  It was pretty good.  The Saints story is pretty cool.  I like Drew Brees a lot.  I cheer for Ohio State grads to succeed, so yay for Will Smith and Malcom Jenkins.  But I'm rarely too pumped up about the Super Bowl game.  It makes me pissed off that the Browns season has been over for like 6 weeks.  I'm a little burned out on football.  And I often just find reasons to hate both teams.  Reggie Bush and Jeremy Shockey led to my rooting for the Colts.  And while Peyton Manning made some incredible throws in the first quarter, and Drew Brees can hit a wide open receiver pretty constantly, I didn't think this was a particularly well-played game.  Lots of blown coverages.  Bad defenses generally. 

So, the highlight of my evening was the half-time show and the commercials.  Besides, that's what the NFL is.  A little bit of game action, a bunch of replays, and a crap load of ads.  (NFL- 11 minutes of actual action per game!)

It was a relatively down year for Super Bowl commercials.  None of the funny ads elicited much more than a giggle.  None of the movie trailers made me excited for them to come to theaters.  None were inspirational or all that motivating.  What follows are my grades on the best and worst of the commercials.

You can watch all of the ads here.

Basically, my evaluation of commercials goes something like this:

1.) What was the goal of the ad? 

The most common goal is humor.  It could be inspiration.  Announcement of a new product or service.  To make the audience say "wow".

2.) Did the ad meet that goal?

If it was supposed to be funny, was it?  What was the reaction of the audience to the ad?

3.) Did the ad relate to the product or service it was trying to sell?

If you spend most of the ad trying to figure out what the heck it is for, it probably was a waste of the company's money to run it. 

4.) Do I have a higher opinion of the product, service, or company after watching the ad?

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This is the fourth installment reviewing the 2009 season by position.  Part 1- OL; Part 2- QB; Part 3- RB

No position underwent such an overhaul under the Mangini regime than Wide Receivers.  At the end of 2008, our depth chart included a stone-handed, hard-headed, physically-gifted jackass, a soon-to-be suspended underacheiver, and a bunch of never-would-be's.  Not to mention a supremely talented soilder with a tickicking time bomb for a knee.

Today, I'm not sure if the pass catchers on the team are better or worse.  I do know that there is less drama.  And the unit looks a lot different.  Here's what our WR's did last year and what we can expect in the offseason.

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In part 1 of this series, I looked at the strength of the team: the offensive line.  Now I will turn to one of the worst parts of the 2009 team: the quarterbacks. 

That's not to say I think QB is the biggest need going forward.  Or that there is no potential for these QBs to get better.  Just that for the 2009 season they were awful. 

I considered making this a one word article: (can you guess it?)

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This is the first article in a series looking at the Browns 2009 season position-by-position.  The focus of these Reviews will be on the traditional and advanced numbers.  I will also do a quick peak into 2010, noting potential off-season losses and needs.  

Let's start with what I believe was a major strength of this team; the offensive line. 

The Players

LT: Joe Thomas (16 starts - Pro Bowl; All Pro)

LG: Eric Steinbach (16 starts)

C: Alex Mack (16 starts)

RG: Floyd Womack (13 games, 9 starts)

RT: John St. Clair (14 games, 14 starts)

Backups: Hank Fraley (15 games, 4 starts), Rex Hadnot (9 games, 6 starts), Billy Yates (7 games),

Run Blocking

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The Browns begin 2010 by playing for their first 4 game winning streak since 1994.  They are also playing for pride, for the fans, for eachother, for the coaching staff, and to show the new President, Mike Holmgren that they are worth something individually.

The Jaguars are playing for the outside chance at a playoff spot.  They need lots of help, but stranger things have happened.  Play with scenarios for the AFC wild card race here. 

I'm an idiot.  I'll be at the game freezing my butt off.  But, heck, I get to one game a season, I'm going to enjoy myself and cheer my lungs out, regardless of the weather.

On to the stats:

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The Raiders might be one of the harder teams to figure out this season.  On one hand, they have some of the worst quarterback play that I can remember.  That's saying something coming from a guy that watches the Cleveland Browns every week.  They have been beaten at home by terrible teams like the Chiefs and Redskins.  They have been blown out by embarassing margins against the Jets (38-0) and Giants (44-7). 

On the other hand, they have won games against some of the better teams in the league.  The Raiders won a defensive struggle (!) against the Eagles.  They dominated the second half and caused 4 turnovers to upset the Bengals. They rode Bruce Gradkowski (!) to a big passing day in coming back to beat the Steelers.  And they ran all over the Broncos just last week in a game where 3 crappy QBs played for the Raiders (Charlie Frye, JaMarcus Russel and J.P. Losman).

Let's try to make a little sense of their matchup with our Brownies.

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Since my computer blew up and the replacement has yet to come in, this article comes to you by way of a public library computer.  That means slow connections and time limits.  And a shorter version of my Got Numbers? weekly preview.  It also means I won't be able to comment on this DBN until Monday and cannot edit this story, like I usually do.  (I can read DBN from my phone, but I haven't successfully posted from it).  So, sorry for any typos, spelling mistakes or blatant errors or omissions.

Not that anyone will mind.  This week's game features two terrible teams with a combined record of 5-21 this season and 6-26 last year.  And very, very few people will even know it is going on.  It is blacked out in Kansas City. And it won't be shown in most of Ohio. These two proud franchises and fan bases now have little to cheer for and struggle to make their way to the games.

The Browns are coming off their second win of the season and have played, generally, better football since the bye week.  But, let's see just how ugly we can expect this game to be.

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Ever since the bye-week, when George Kokinis left the team and Randy Lerner promised changes, there has been countless rumors about dozens of possible leaders for the Browns' front office.  But one name seems to have gone beyond rumor and speculation to a bonafide candidate and, now, the favorite to lead the franchise's future.

As reported by the Akron Beacon Journal and ESPN, Mike Holmgren is in the middle of a two-day visit/interview/sell-job with Randy Lerner and the Cleveland Browns.  The position at issue is neither for coach nor GM.  Instead, it is for be the head/president/czar of the football operations of the Cleveland Browns. Holmgren has met with Lerner and has also met with Mangini over the last 2 days.

In short, Holmgren would have the final say on the hiring of a new GM, on Mangini's future, and on Mangini's replacement or staff changes.  Without doubt, he would have serious input in any future trades, drafts, and would dictate the personnel and football strategies and cultures of the team. 

Mike Holmgren is a quarterback guru and offensive genius.  From BYU in the 80s to the 49ers in the 90s to Green Bay and finally, Seattle, he has helped design explosive offenses and develop some of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game of football.  He learned from a couple of the game's greatest innovators this side of Paul Brown and lead two different teams to Super Bowls, including a Super Bowl victory in Green Bay.

Tony Grossi is now reporting that Holmgren's agent, Bob LaMonte, is also in town and that is an almost sure sign that a deal is close:

That means the Browns likely are negotiating to wrap up a deal to make Holmgren the Browns' head of football operations. 

LaMonte is known to get involved with his many coaching and executive clients only when a deal is near.

While this is still heavy on the speculation, this is more certainty than we have had with other rumors.  Still, this could all be Holmgren using the Browns to get more money and interest in his services from another team, such as the Seahawks, who want him back as GM.

Homgren was reportedly the number 1 choice of Lerner, even going back to last year, but Holmgren wanted to take 2009 off.  It is easy to see why:

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We hate the Steelers.  No doubt about it.  With a big upset, we could all-but-kill our nemesis' chances at defending their title.  Is it possible?  Amongst Browns fans, there is a general feel of optimism going into this game.  It may be misplaced, but it is not completely without reason.  Namely:

1.) They are struggling.  They have lost 4 straight.  Including games at home to the overrated Bengals and the terrible Raiders and on the road to the average Ravens and really horrible Chiefs.  They've battled injuries on both sides of the ball, locker room divisions, and pressure from fans and media.  And they haven't handled any of it well.  Their defense is filled with questions and their offense isn't scoring.  On the other hand, they have lost these four games by a combined 15 points, so maybe a little bad luck is in there

2.) We are playing offense.  In two of the last three games, our offense has looked like it belongs in the NFL.  Quinn is in the midst of his longest stretch as a starter and looks more and more competent and comfortable (um, 7 TD and 0 INT in the last 3 games?!). 

3.) Variables.  We are still the underdog (currently, we are 10 point underdogs- according to sportsbook.com).  And underdogs need variables.  Things like- a home game, on a very short week, at night, historical rivalry, in terribly cold (19, wind chill 0), windy (31 MPH + whatever extra off the lake) and wet (70% chance of snow) weather. Also, injuries.  You know that the Browns have been ravaged by injuries, but the Steelers are struggling too.  Troy Polamalu is out, William Gay and Hines Ward are questionable.  And even though the Browns have a bunch of injuries, it has lead to some surprises and solid play from guys we don't have much information on. (e.g., Moore, Roth, Trusnik, Adams, Rubin)

I'll still go through some of the numbers, but not in as much detail as normal.  Partially because I don't have as much time (damn short week) and partially because I don't think these numbers mean much of anything given the above 3 factors.

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This season is getting even harder to watch.  We now have starting RB Jamal Lewis, our best defensive player- NT Shaun Rogers, and starting FS Brodney Pool on injured reserve to join our 2 starting ILBs, starting TE, our pro bowl caliber punter, and a bunch of other would-be contributors. Seems like doom for our 30th ranked defense (in efficiency by DVOA).  But that's not all.  Our top pass rusher (OLB Kam Wimbley) and another starting member of the front 7 (DE Kenyon Coleman) are nursing knee injuries and hadn't practiced as of last check.  And to top it all off, we are playing an incredibly talented and very efficient offense in the San Diego Chargers.

And I don't think anyone expects Brady Quinn and the offense to be able to keep up with the dozens of points Philip Rivers and co. will be putting up against our ravaged defense.  Let's see what the numbers say.

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Visiting from SBN's Cleveland Browns site: Dawgs By Nature.  You all probably aren't too worried about the Cleveland Browns this week.  What with the 1-9 record, the coach dealing with constant distractions and injuries gutting our already suspect defense, you may think this is a glorified bye week.  But if you do have any questions about the Browns, list them here and I'll do my best to answer from a die-hard Browns fan's perspective.

Go Browns!

Well, the Browns have shown a little competence throwing the football for the first time in about 20 games.  Granted, it was against one of the worst defenses I can remember in the NFL, but at this point, we'll take it.  Now the Browns take on a team fighting for a Division title and playoff positioning.  I'm still waiting for the Bengals to self-destruct, and perhaps that started to happen last week, when the Raiders knocked them off in Oakland. Taking the season as a whole, however, the Bengals look like a pretty strong team.

This isn't your slightly-older-brother-in-law's Bengals.  Cincinnati has scored 24 or more only twice in ten games.  Carson Palmer, Chad Ochocinco and Chris Henry still are capable of putting up points through the passing game, but the strengths of this year's Bengals is purportedly their defense and the running of Cedric Benson.  Let's see if the numbers agree.

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Ugh.  According to Advanced NFL Stats, the Browns are 32nd in total team efficiency and the Lions are 31st (Football Outsiders actually has the Lions 32nd, Raiders 31st, and the Browns 30th).  This will be a game played by two of the most terrible teams in the NFL.  Is this year's version of the Browns the worst in team history?  That sounds like a post I might write during the offseason.  For now, we get to preview an awful football game. 

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The Plain Dealer is reporting that TE Steve Heiden and P Dave Zastudil have been placed on the IR.

Heiden hurt his ankle in Monday Night's game against the Ravens.  Zastudil has been battling an injury for several weeks and had to sit out Monday Night's game. Reggie Hodges assumed the punting duties and probably will keep the very demanding position for the rest of the season. 

Heiden had 10 catches for 73 yards and a rare Browns' TD.  Pride of Ohio University, Zastudil already had 25 punts downed inside the 20 (out of just 49 punts!) and was averaging 44.7 yards per punt.

Replacing them on the roster are two players claimed off waivers:

- Pittsburgh LB Arnold Harrison. Has 7 tackles this year for the Steelers and 30 tackles in his 3 seasons, all with the Browns' Rival.  He was undrafted out of Georgia.

- Green Bay WR Jake Allen.  I can't find much about him, except it appears he was on the Packers practice squad all of 2008 and 2009 until being signed and active for 1 or 2 games.  He had no catches or stats in those games.  He was undrafted out of Division III Mississipi College (where he was a D-III All American).  He is 6'4" 198 lbs.

Browns lose.  16-0.  Defense played very good.  Not sure what the offense did with the extra week.

Discuss.

I love college football.  I don't need any excuse to watch the Central Michigan Chippewas vs. the Toledo Rockets on a random weekday night.  One fun part of catching college games is projecting the most talented individuals' career path.  Are they NFL caliber? Where will the fall in the draft?  Do I want them on the Browns? 

Now, I have refused to join these conversations on DBN and elsewhere for the first half of the NFL season.  Partially, because I wanted to focus on this years' Browns, this years' Buckeyes, etc.  Mostly, the 2010 draft was too far away.  Too much could happen.  The no-doubt #1 pick, a QB, could have a severe shoulder injury.  Some big DT could go from a late day one pick to a clear top-3 player based, in part, on one of the most dominating games every by a player at his position.  The Browns could win a couple games and change their draft position from top 3 to top 12. There was too much speculation, not enough information, and I just wasn't mentally prepared to discuss the draft. 

Well, now the Browns are clearly a bad team.  They are 1-7, the bottom of just about every power ranking, and even with a very soft second half schedule, it is impossible to see them winning enough games to fall out of the top 10 in the draft.  So, now that it is the second half of a bad Browns season and the stretch run of the NCAA season, draft talk seems inevitable. 

So here are a few college games I plan on watching this weekend and the players that I will be keeping an eye on.  I look forward to hearing your suggestions on other players or games to keep an eye on:

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Another new regular feature here at Dawgs by Nature will take a look at some of Football Outsiders' useful "innovative stats" and see how we match-up against our opponent of the week.

This week's opponent?  The evil purple team from Maryland: The Baltimore Ravens.  It is still widely assumed that the Ravens defense is dominant and scary, largely because Ed Reed and Ray Lewis are still cheating and killing people making most of the tackles and interceptions in Baltimore.  And that the offense is led by aging WRs, a "hard-nose running game" (as opposed to the unpopular "soft-nose" running game), and an inexperienced QB.  But do the facts and numbers match up with what we think we know, or what some ESPN guy told us?  Let's find out.

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