Red Right 88

That’s why Browns minicamp was a nice diversion this weekend. And what a difference a year makes. This time last summer Eric Mangini was busy plotting his “strategy” for the upcoming training camp quarterback debacle and working behind the scenes on the demise of then-General Manager George Kokinis.

This year things are much better, as Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert have taken Mangini’s place at the table where men conduct business. In today’s Plain Dealer, Terry Pluto talked about the ways that Holmgren has righted the ship as training camp looms, with the main point being that Holmgren would make the decision on the quarterback going forward, after he and his team evaluated the current situation.

Now, instead of heading into training camp wondering which quarterback will be taking the snaps on a game-by-game basis in the preseason – a time when teams can evaluate talent in games that don’t count, something the staff didn’t seem to comprehend last year – the team is in solid hands with Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace. And Holmgren has said the decision “is all on me.” And Delhomme and Wallace “are quarterbacks who can help you win the game, if you need it. You don’t just hope they don’t make a mistake. They can make some plays.”

Browns fans are all too familiar with watching a QB – Derek Anderson anyone? – and not only hoping but praying they don’t make a mistake. Now, thanks to Holmgren, we won’t have to worry about that.

In addition, Gil Haskell has been working with Brian Daboll, teaching the offensive coordinator who was routinely over matched in his play calling last year, how to build an offense. Browns fans can be confident that the mistakes of last year, when if a play didn’t work in the first quarter it was redacted from the playbook for the rest of the game, are a thing of the past.

And the Browns have a structure in place where the coaches coach and nothing else. Which can only be a good thing.

All in all, not a bad way to start the week.

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