BEREA — The greatest Brown of all time is impressed with the latest man charged with returning the frustrated franchise to its former glory.
“What you have is a man with a plan, and it’s about football,” Hall of Fame running back and team adviser Jim Brown said of coach Eric Mangini. “He deals with order. This football team will be smart and solid. I see a man that runs the show.”
Brown stopped to talk with reporters Saturday afternoon after watching the final practice of a three-day mandatory minicamp. He’s been around the team for years and is always quick with an opinion, even if it might hurt someone’s feelings.
“Of course there’s a contrast,” he said, when asked about the switch from Romeo Crennel to Mangini. “You’ve got one boss and you know who he is and he knows what he’s doing. He’s emphasizing intelligence and understanding more than just your job.
“Those are all the things we did with the ’64 team. When you understand the concept of team, then you’ve got a certain kind of advantage. When you allow individuality to take over your organization, then you’re going to have a weak setup.”
Brown’s 1964 squad was the last professional team in Cleveland to win a championship. No one is predicting a title following a 4-12 showing in 2008, but the Mangini Effect has given hope to people desperate for something to grab onto.
“The coaching understands what it takes to win,” linebacker D’Qwell Jackson said. “It’s exciting to see where it can take us.”
Mangini has had the job for a little more than five months. He just concluded his first offseason program and there are seven weeks before training camp begins Aug. 1. We’ve learned a lot, but there’s still plenty left to discover.
First, what we know.
(bullet) Smarter is better.
A day hasn’t gone by without Mangini or a player extolling the virtue of intelligence. Linebacker Eric Barton said he followed the coach from New York because Mangini’s so smart, Jackson raved about Barton’s quick thinking on the field and Mangini quizzes the players on their knowledge of the system.
When they left Saturday, he told them to study the playbook for an hour a day in the time off before camp.
“I know Coach Mangini is a knowledge-oriented person,” tight end Steve Heiden said.
“People are really taking on the system and studying a ton,” quarterback Brady Quinn said. “We’re visiting guys in their homes, everyone’s studying together.”
(bullet) Mangini means business.
His practices routinely stretch longer than two hours, he doesn’t melt in the rain and he can scowl with the best of them. A penalty or fumble requires an automatic lap by the offender, and there have been enough infractions to wear a path in the grass.
“Toughness comes from knowing what you’re doing, being confident and having a player with a certain kind of attitude,” Brown said. “He’s going to get the players he wants. I see (the toughness) just by looking at certain drills.”
(bullet) Versatility has value.
Minicamps, especially the first of a regime, are the time to establish a philosophy. Part of Mangini’s grand scheme is that the more a guy can do the more value he has.
So he’s working the offensive linemen at different positions, has the young players trying all the special teams and is moving receivers, cornerbacks and linebackers from side to side.
Even if you’re set in a spot, he wants you to know the responsibilities of others.
Now, what we’ve yet to learn.
(bullet) The depth chart.
From quarterback to cornerback to No. 2 receiver to defensive line, the competition will carry over to training camp. Quinn and Derek Anderson enter camp even, according to Mangini, and rookies Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi will battle veterans David Patten and Mike Furrey to start opposite Braylon Edwards.
The offensive line is even more jumbled. With the exception of left tackle Joe Thomas — and probably rookie center Alex Mack — the spots are up for grabs. Not only that, Mangini is trying to create enough position flexibility that he can pick the five best linemen then fit them into spots.
“This really isn’t a time for any questions to get answered,” Mangini said. “This is more of a time when you’re gathering information.”
(bullet) How mentally tough they are.
Mangini wants a disciplined team and takes calculated steps to accomplish that. But without pads, two-a-days in 90 degrees and games on the horizon, a team’s true character can’t be revealed.
Jackson said he’s looking forward to training camp to find that out.
“We seemed to be fragile a lot last year,” he said. “Hopefully this year we’ll be better, just by us being out here in the rain, just by the tempo of practice, situational practices.”
(bullet) How good they will be.
Preparation, discipline and intelligence can only take you so far. At some point, someone has to use his athletic ability to make a play in a crucial situation. Does this team have enough talent?
“That’s a great question,” Brown said. “I don’t know if I can be the one who can answer it. The coach can only do what he can do. Ultimately you’ve got to have certain talent.”
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.

In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.

Need help? Email Us.