John Dorsey

Freddie Kitchens

Doug Lesmerises is back after a long Takes break to check in on the departures of the Cleveland Browns GM and coach and where the Browns might go from here. Doug doesn't think this is just same old, same old, and there are ways in which the Haslams are showing progress as owners. So that's the discussion, looking back some and looking forward more as to what the Browns might do next.Thanks for listening to Takes By The Lake from cleveland.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Doug Lesmerises is back after a long Takes break to check in on the departures of the Cleveland Browns GM and coach and where the Browns might go from here. Doug doesn't think this is just same old, same old, and there are ways in which the Haslams are showing progress as owners. So that's the discussion, looking back some and looking forward more as to what the Browns might do next.Thanks for listening to Takes By The Lake from <a href="http://cleveland.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cleveland.com</a>. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 120: What's next for the Browns after John Dorsey and Freddie Kitchens?

Baker Mayfield

Doug Lesmerises is joined by Pete Smith, the editor of SI Browns Maven, to discuss everything going on with this 2-6 team, led by what could happen to help Baker Mayfield look like 2018 Baker Mayfield again.They attempt to turn down the heat on the reactions to this Browns team as they look for answers for the second half of this season and beyond. Thanks for listening to Takes By The Lake from cleveland.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Doug Lesmerises is joined by Pete Smith, the editor of SI Browns Maven, to discuss everything going on with this 2-6 team, led by what could happen to help Baker Mayfield look like 2018 Baker Mayfield again.They attempt to turn down the heat on the reactions to this Browns team as they look for answers for the second half of this season and beyond. Thanks for listening to Takes By The Lake from <a href="http://cleveland.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cleveland.com</a>. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 119: How can the Cleveland Browns make Baker Mayfield more comfortable?

Ken Carman

This episode of Takes By The Lake from cleveland.com is a little different from the norm. The topic of discussion isn't just sports, but life in Cleveland sports. Doug Lesmerises is joined by Ken Carman from 92.3 The Fan to dig into Carman's life as a sports radio host, how he reached this point in his career, what responsibility he feels to Cleveland sports fans, what happens when he offers an opinion that teams or players don't like and everything else that comes with being one of the strongest and sharpest voices and minds in Cleveland sports media.Thanks for listening to Takes By The Lake. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode of Takes By The Lake from <a href="http://cleveland.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cleveland.com</a> is a little different from the norm. The topic of discussion isn't just sports, but life in Cleveland sports. Doug Lesmerises is joined by Ken Carman from 92.3 The Fan to dig into Carman's life as a sports radio host, how he reached this point in his career, what responsibility he feels to Cleveland sports fans, what happens when he offers an opinion that teams or players don't like and everything else that comes with being one of the strongest and sharpest voices and minds in Cleveland sports media.Thanks for listening to Takes By The Lake. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 118: Ken Carman on the Browns and life in Cleveland sports radio

Chris Hubbard

As the Cleveland Browns take their off week, Steven Ruiz of For The Win makes his first appearance on the podcast to talk about Baker Mayfield's progress and whether he's been fixed yet after some issues early this season. A great film analyst, Ruiz takes us through Mayfield's highs and lows and give his prediction on how he thinks the rest of the season will shake out for the Browns and the AFC North. Then Doug Lesmerises comes back with his view about the Browns, which is more optimistic than many views, and his take on one player in particular who is throwing off the offense. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As the Cleveland Browns take their off week, Steven Ruiz of For The Win makes his first appearance on the podcast to talk about Baker Mayfield's progress and whether he's been fixed yet after some issues early this season. A great film analyst, Ruiz takes us through Mayfield's highs and lows and give his prediction on how he thinks the rest of the season will shake out for the Browns and the AFC North. Then Doug Lesmerises comes back with his view about the Browns, which is more optimistic than many views, and his take on one player in particular who is throwing off the offense. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 117: Baker Mayfield's ball placement and Chris Hubbard's blocking

Trent Williams

The Cleveland Browns are 2-3... and no one should be freaking out. On this calm, reassuring episode of Takes By The Lake, Doug Lesmerises is joined by two great guests -- his cleveland.com colleague Ellis Williams and former Case Western Reserve quarterback Dan Whalen.Whalen is up first to break down Baker Mayfield's performance Monday and whether anything about the long-term outlook on Mayfield has changed.Then Ellis jumps on to discuss his proposal that the Browns trade for Washington left tackle Trent Williams and he makes a compelling case. They also discussed Freddie Kitchens’ play calling so far. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Cleveland Browns are 2-3... and no one should be freaking out. On this calm, reassuring episode of Takes By The Lake, Doug Lesmerises is joined by two great guests -- his <a href="http://cleveland.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cleveland.com</a> colleague Ellis Williams and former Case Western Reserve quarterback Dan Whalen.Whalen is up first to break down Baker Mayfield's performance Monday and whether anything about the long-term outlook on Mayfield has changed.Then Ellis jumps on to discuss his proposal that the Browns trade for Washington left tackle Trent Williams and he makes a compelling case. They also discussed Freddie Kitchens’ play calling so far. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 116: Cleveland Browns shouldn’t panic (but maybe they should trade for Trent Williams)

Nick Chubb

Doug Lesmerises is joined by Cody Suek of waitingfornextyear.com to talk about what the Browns learned from their Week 4 win over Baltimore -- and what we learned about the Browns.Did Freddie Kitchens actually completely change as a play caller?What do we think of how quickly Baker Mayfield is getting rid of the ball?Is Nick Chubb a top five running back in the NFL?How much of a priority should it be to sign middle linebacker Joe Schobert and keep him in Cleveland?All that as we figure out what's up with this Browns team looking ahead to San Francisco on Monday night. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Doug Lesmerises is joined by Cody Suek of <a href="http://waitingfornextyear.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">waitingfornextyear.com</a> to talk about what the Browns learned from their Week 4 win over Baltimore -- and what we learned about the Browns.Did Freddie Kitchens actually completely change as a play caller?What do we think of how quickly Baker Mayfield is getting rid of the ball?Is Nick Chubb a top five running back in the NFL?How much of a priority should it be to sign middle linebacker Joe Schobert and keep him in Cleveland?All that as we figure out what's up with this Browns team looking ahead to San Francisco on Monday night. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 115: Is the Browns' Nick Chubb a top five running back?

Doug Lesmerises is joined by Ellis Williams, the newest member of the Browns coverage team at cleveland.com, to dive into what happened to the Cleveland Browns near the goal line on Sunday night in their 20-13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The Browns scored a touchdown just once in four red zone trips, and more success there would have changed the outcome.So Doug and Ellis take you through the most important plays near the end zone and discuss what was there and wasn't there, and who might have been most responsible for the failures there. There are a lot of different opinions about the Browns offense right now, and we're not saying we're exactly right, but throw this look into everything else you're hearing and reading.Thanks for listening to Takes By The Lake from cleveland.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Doug Lesmerises is joined by Ellis Williams, the newest member of the Browns coverage team at <a href="http://cleveland.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cleveland.com</a>, to dive into what happened to the Cleveland Browns near the goal line on Sunday night in their 20-13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The Browns scored a touchdown just once in four red zone trips, and more success there would have changed the outcome.So Doug and Ellis take you through the most important plays near the end zone and discuss what was there and wasn't there, and who might have been most responsible for the failures there. There are a lot of different opinions about the Browns offense right now, and we're not saying we're exactly right, but throw this look into everything else you're hearing and reading.Thanks for listening to Takes By The Lake from <a href="http://cleveland.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cleveland.com</a>. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 114: What's causing the Cleveland Browns red-zone problems?

On this episode of Takes By The Lake from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is joined by two of his favorite Twitter follows on the Browns to talk about what's going on with the Browns offense through two games.First up is Brendan Leister, a high school football coach who also works for PFF and has a great understanding of what the Browns are trying to do offensively. He talks with Doug about the problems on the offensive line, and what Freddie Kitchens can be doing as a play caller to make this offense run more smoothly.Then it's Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report, who offers his theory of what opposing teams are doing to Baker Mayfield among his many observations. If you enjoy Takes By The Lake, tell a friend to give it a try. Thanks to you for listening to this Cleveland sports podcast from cleveland.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this episode of Takes By The Lake from <a href="http://cleveland.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cleveland.com</a>, Doug Lesmerises is joined by two of his favorite Twitter follows on the Browns to talk about what's going on with the Browns offense through two games.First up is Brendan Leister, a high school football coach who also works for PFF and has a great understanding of what the Browns are trying to do offensively. He talks with Doug about the problems on the offensive line, and what Freddie Kitchens can be doing as a play caller to make this offense run more smoothly.Then it's Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report, who offers his theory of what opposing teams are doing to Baker Mayfield among his many observations. If you enjoy Takes By The Lake, tell a friend to give it a try. Thanks to you for listening to this Cleveland sports podcast from <a href="http://cleveland.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cleveland.com</a>. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 113: Is Baker Mayfield being tricked by veteran defensive coordinators?

Sam Darnold

On this episode of Takes By The Lake, the topic is ... the 0-1 Cleveland Browns. But not what happened last week, but what could happen this week.In previewing the Browns vs. New York Jets game on Monday night, I was joined first by Matt Stypulkoski of NJ Advance Media who covers the Jets. We talked about the Baker Mayfield vs. Sam Darnold matchup of the top two quarterbacks from the 2018 NFL Draft, the Gregg Williams defense in Year 1 in New York and the crushing collapse for the Jets against Buffalo in Week 1.Then I welcomed Charles McDonald of SB Nation, and we talked all about the three best quarterbacks from the 201 8 draft: Mayfield, San Darnold and Lamar Jackson. McDonald is great at breaking down QBs, and he had some great insight into Mayfield. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this episode of Takes By The Lake, the topic is ... the 0-1 Cleveland Browns. But not what happened last week, but what could happen this week.In previewing the Browns vs. New York Jets game on Monday night, I was joined first by Matt Stypulkoski of NJ Advance Media who covers the Jets. We talked about the Baker Mayfield vs. Sam Darnold matchup of the top two quarterbacks from the 2018 NFL Draft, the Gregg Williams defense in Year 1 in New York and the crushing collapse for the Jets against Buffalo in Week 1.Then I welcomed Charles McDonald of SB Nation, and we talked all about the three best quarterbacks from the 201 8 draft: Mayfield, San Darnold and Lamar Jackson. McDonald is great at breaking down QBs, and he had some great insight into Mayfield. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 112: Baker Mayfield vs. Sam Darnold vs. Lamar Jackson

We're previewing the Cleveland Browns 2019 season on Takes By The Lake by thinking a bit about how they got here. But, also what they can do.First, John Kosko of PFF joins Doug Lesmerises to talk about where the Browns roster ranks in the NFL, whether Myles Garrett could be defensive player of the year and how the Browns built to this point.Then Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan joins to discuss how Freddie Kitchens compares to the history of Browns coaches he has covered, why he believes in the structure of the organization now and whether 1-31 was required to get the Browns to this point.It's long, but it's football season. And the Browns have earned our words and our ears. Thanks for listening to Takes By The Lake. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We're previewing the Cleveland Browns 2019 season on Takes By The Lake by thinking a bit about how they got here. But, also what they can do.First, John Kosko of PFF joins Doug Lesmerises to talk about where the Browns roster ranks in the NFL, whether Myles Garrett could be defensive player of the year and how the Browns built to this point.Then Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan joins to discuss how Freddie Kitchens compares to the history of Browns coaches he has covered, why he believes in the structure of the organization now and whether 1-31 was required to get the Browns to this point.It's long, but it's football season. And the Browns have earned our words and our ears. Thanks for listening to Takes By The Lake. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 111: Do the Cleveland Browns have a top-five roster?

Get the latest news and analysis about the Cleveland Browns, Cavaliers, and Indians with Doug Lesmerises and special guests on cleveland.com

Always very informative. Great perspectives on Browns. Only wished we had more podcasts.

Great Podcast

Good guests and analysis. Please continue.

Enjoy this show

Get the latest news and analysis about the Cleveland Browns, Cavaliers, and Indians with Doug Lesmerises and special guests on <a href="http://cleveland.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cleveland.com</a>

Takes By The Lake podcast

How did Baker Mayfield reach the point of becoming the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, and why does the NFL seem to like a quarterback who doesn't fit the classic mold?On this Takes By The Lake from cleveland.com, we answer both those questions with two guests who know Mayfield well, but in different ways.First up is Jenni Carlson, the sports columnist from The Oklahoman whose work can be found at newsok.com. Carlson talked about Mayfield's arrival at Oklahoma, what fans thought of him early on and during his Heisman year, how he reacted to the mistakes he made in college and what he might be like as the face of an NFL franchise.Then Doug Lesmerises talked with Sam Monson, the lead NFL analyst from Pro Football Focus. Monson was on Mayfield early, believing since the middle of his senior season that he deserved consideration as the No. 1 pick. Listen to Monson explain why that was and why he thinks the Browns and other NFL teams came to the same conclusion.Plus, Monson offers a thought on the future of the Browns after these offseason moves.It's all on the latest all-sports Takes By The Lake podcast from cleveland.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How did Baker Mayfield reach the point of becoming the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, and why does the NFL seem to like a quarterback who doesn't fit the classic mold?On this Takes By The Lake from <a href="http://cleveland.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cleveland.com</a>, we answer both those questions with two guests who know Mayfield well, but in different ways.First up is Jenni Carlson, the sports columnist from The Oklahoman whose work can be found at <a href="http://newsok.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">newsok.com</a>. Carlson talked about Mayfield's arrival at Oklahoma, what fans thought of him early on and during his Heisman year, how he reacted to the mistakes he made in college and what he might be like as the face of an NFL franchise.Then Doug Lesmerises talked with Sam Monson, the lead NFL analyst from Pro Football Focus. Monson was on Mayfield early, believing since the middle of his senior season that he deserved consideration as the No. 1 pick. Listen to Monson explain why that was and why he thinks the Browns and other NFL teams came to the same conclusion.Plus, Monson offers a thought on the future of the Browns after these offseason moves.It's all on the latest all-sports Takes By The Lake podcast from <a href="http://cleveland.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cleveland.com</a>. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 78: Why Baker Mayfield is the franchise QB for a changing NFL

It's an emergency podcast episode shortly after the announcement from LeBron James on Sunday night that he's signing with the Los Angeles Lakers.Doug Lesmerises thought the Cavs should not tank next year with LeBron gone and should do their best to keep winning. But a vast majority of Cavs fans disagreed and are ready for a total rebuild. Doug talks through that thinking and tries to decide if he was wrong. Also, an appreciation for James' 1,0001 games as a Cavalier and the hope that fans won't let their disappointment and anger in the moment turn into hatred toward the greatest player the Cavs will ever see. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's an emergency podcast episode shortly after the announcement from LeBron James on Sunday night that he's signing with the Los Angeles Lakers.Doug Lesmerises thought the Cavs should not tank next year with LeBron gone and should do their best to keep winning. But a vast majority of Cavs fans disagreed and are ready for a total rebuild. Doug talks through that thinking and tries to decide if he was wrong. Also, an appreciation for James' 1,0001 games as a Cavalier and the hope that fans won't let their disappointment and anger in the moment turn into hatred toward the greatest player the Cavs will ever see. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 88: Emergency episode, LeBron left, should the Cavs tank?

Jimmy Haslam

Seth Wickersham

Takes By The Lake is back after two months off, and things, as usual, are hopping with the Browns.On this return episode, host Doug Lesmerises talks with ESPN The Magazine's Seth Wickersham, who wrote the story this week that detailed the issues the Haslams have faced while owning the Browns.Doug and Seth talk about the story and the future of the franchise, and whether these kinds of issues with owners are common in the NFL.TBTL is glad to be back. They're thankful to Seth for joining the show and thankful to you for sticking around and listening to our tour of Cleveland sports.Expect TBTL to be back on a regular weekly schedule now. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Takes By The Lake is back after two months off, and things, as usual, are hopping with the Browns.On this return episode, host Doug Lesmerises talks with ESPN The Magazine's Seth Wickersham, who wrote the story this week that detailed the issues the Haslams have faced while owning the Browns.Doug and Seth talk about the story and the future of the franchise, and whether these kinds of issues with owners are common in the NFL.TBTL is glad to be back. They're thankful to Seth for joining the show and thankful to you for sticking around and listening to our tour of Cleveland sports.Expect TBTL to be back on a regular weekly schedule now. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 104: Can the Browns win with Jimmy Haslam? ESPN’s Seth Wickersham joins the pod

Todd Haley

The Browns traded for their new starting quarterback in Tyrod Taylor and traded for Jarvis Landry, who led the NFL in receptions a year ago. Add that to Josh Gordon, David Njoku, Duke Johnson, Corey Coleman (if they keep him) and the running back they should draft, and an offense appears to be forming.On this Takes By The Lake, veteran NFL writer Andrea Hangst, who has covered the Steelers, the Browns, the AFC North and the entire NFL, joins Doug Lesmerises to talk about how first-year Browns offensive coordinator Todd Haley will use all those pieces. Hangst covered Haley in Pittsburgh and understands how he makes an offense work.Doug and Andrea also break down the trades, examine the opportunity the Browns have in an aging NFC North, discuss how Haley might use Saquon Barkley if he winds up a Brown, and examine the best way for the Browns to use the No. 1 and No. 4 picks in the draft.Doug also drops in a rant about what people are writing and saying about Sashi Brown in the aftermath of these trades. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Browns traded for their new starting quarterback in Tyrod Taylor and traded for Jarvis Landry, who led the NFL in receptions a year ago. Add that to Josh Gordon, David Njoku, Duke Johnson, Corey Coleman (if they keep him) and the running back they should draft, and an offense appears to be forming.On this Takes By The Lake, veteran NFL writer Andrea Hangst, who has covered the Steelers, the Browns, the AFC North and the entire NFL, joins Doug Lesmerises to talk about how first-year Browns offensive coordinator Todd Haley will use all those pieces. Hangst covered Haley in Pittsburgh and understands how he makes an offense work.Doug and Andrea also break down the trades, examine the opportunity the Browns have in an aging NFC North, discuss how Haley might use Saquon Barkley if he winds up a Brown, and examine the best way for the Browns to use the No. 1 and No. 4 picks in the draft.Doug also drops in a rant about what people are writing and saying about Sashi Brown in the aftermath of these trades. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 72: Browns trades build an offense, can mad genius Todd Haley make it work?

The Cleveland Browns have finished last in 13 of the 16 years that the four-team AFC North has existed. Once the Browns finished third and twice they were second. Never have the Browns managed to beat out Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Baltimore all in the same year.So the division matters. And Doug Lesmerises is going to dig into it on Takes By The Lake.Our AFC North tour will feature a full podcast on each of the other three teams, because all of them are transitioning as the Browns are trying to climb their way out of the perpetual basement.First up are the Baltimore Ravens, who are losing their GM, could be losing their coach and are readying a probable quarterback switch a year from now from Joe Flacco to rookie Lamar Jackson.Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun, who has covered the Ravens since 2011, is the guest this week to break down everything in Baltimore. He also gave us his opinion from afar on what he thinks of the Browns and their moves.It's always interesting to know how a team is viewed from the outside. Thanks for listening to Takes By The Lake from cleveland.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Cleveland Browns have finished last in 13 of the 16 years that the four-team AFC North has existed. Once the Browns finished third and twice they were second. Never have the Browns managed to beat out Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Baltimore all in the same year.So the division matters. And Doug Lesmerises is going to dig into it on Takes By The Lake.Our AFC North tour will feature a full podcast on each of the other three teams, because all of them are transitioning as the Browns are trying to climb their way out of the perpetual basement.First up are the Baltimore Ravens, who are losing their GM, could be losing their coach and are readying a probable quarterback switch a year from now from Joe Flacco to rookie Lamar Jackson.Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun, who has covered the Ravens since 2011, is the guest this week to break down everything in Baltimore. He also gave us his opinion from afar on what he thinks of the Browns and their moves.It's always interesting to know how a team is viewed from the outside. Thanks for listening to Takes By The Lake from <a href="http://cleveland.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cleveland.com</a>. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 81: Could the Browns win more games than the Baltimore Ravens in 2018?

Josh Allen

Josh Allen as the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft is the riskiest move the Cleveland Browns could make. On that point, there should be no argument.The debate is whether the risk is worth it.The latest Takes By The Lake podcast from cleveland.com is all about Allen, the raw, strong-armed quarterback from Wyoming who may have caught the eye of Browns general manager John Dorsey.To explain whether the selection of Allen would be a colossal error or a strategic gamble, Doug Lesmerises is joined by two NFL Draft analysts.First is Eric Galko, the director of Optimum Scouting who serves as a lead NFL and NFL Draft writer for the Sporting News. Then comes by Ryan McCrystal of Bleacher Report, who also lists his draft projections at draftace.com.Can they talk Doug into believing that the Browns could draft Allen ahead of Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield and Josh Rosen, and Browns fans could survive it? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Josh Allen as the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft is the riskiest move the Cleveland Browns could make. On that point, there should be no argument.The debate is whether the risk is worth it.The latest Takes By The Lake podcast from <a href="http://cleveland.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cleveland.com</a> is all about Allen, the raw, strong-armed quarterback from Wyoming who may have caught the eye of Browns general manager John Dorsey.To explain whether the selection of Allen would be a colossal error or a strategic gamble, Doug Lesmerises is joined by two NFL Draft analysts.First is Eric Galko, the director of Optimum Scouting who serves as a lead NFL and NFL Draft writer for the Sporting News. Then comes by Ryan McCrystal of Bleacher Report, who also lists his draft projections at <a href="http://draftace.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">draftace.com</a>.Can they talk Doug into believing that the Browns could draft Allen ahead of Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield and Josh Rosen, and Browns fans could survive it? See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 74: Could the Browns taking Josh Allen at No. 1 really be OK?

Takes By The Lake is back. After a long break (too long), the all-sports podcast from cleveland.com returns to preview Browns training camp, and you can expect a weekly dose of TBTL in your lives again.Doug Lesmerises will be joined by a variety of fine guests from around the sports world, but let's be honest -- the Browns are going to be the focus most of the time.For the return episode, the esteemed Jake Burns joins the show to discuss the things that might prevent the Browns from going 12-4 this season, which has long been Doug's predicted record. They talk linebackers and offensive line extensively, and then dig into how far this team could really go in 2019.Sorry for the break, but it's great to be back, and thanks for sticking with Takes By The Lake. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Takes By The Lake is back. After a long break (too long), the all-sports podcast from <a href="http://cleveland.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cleveland.com</a> returns to preview Browns training camp, and you can expect a weekly dose of TBTL in your lives again.Doug Lesmerises will be joined by a variety of fine guests from around the sports world, but let's be honest -- the Browns are going to be the focus most of the time.For the return episode, the esteemed Jake Burns joins the show to discuss the things that might prevent the Browns from going 12-4 this season, which has long been Doug's predicted record. They talk linebackers and offensive line extensively, and then dig into how far this team could really go in 2019.Sorry for the break, but it's great to be back, and thanks for sticking with Takes By The Lake. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 106: What could prevent the Browns from going 12-4?

The Pittsburgh Steelers hold a 14-2 edge on the Browns this decade and a 33-6 advantage since the Browns returned in 1999.What could ever cause that to change?On this episode of Takes By The Lake, Doug Lesmerises is joined by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN to break down the Steelers as we finish our podcast tour of the AFC North.We dealt with the Ravens and the Bengals, and now it's on to the team that has won the AFC North in eight of the 16 years since the NFL went to four-team divisions in 2002.The Steelers have made the playoffs in 10 of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's 14 season. How long will he stick around? How can the Steelers keep winning after he's gone? How will they replace linebacker Ryan Shazier this season? What should they do about the contract status of running back Le'Veon Bell?The Steelers, in many ways, are in flux. But in some very important areas, they're the same winning franchise they've almost always been. And how can the Browns possibly get past them?Jeremy and I get into all that and more on the latest episode of Takes By The Lake. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Pittsburgh Steelers hold a 14-2 edge on the Browns this decade and a 33-6 advantage since the Browns returned in 1999.What could ever cause that to change?On this episode of Takes By The Lake, Doug Lesmerises is joined by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN to break down the Steelers as we finish our podcast tour of the AFC North.We dealt with the Ravens and the Bengals, and now it's on to the team that has won the AFC North in eight of the 16 years since the NFL went to four-team divisions in 2002.The Steelers have made the playoffs in 10 of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's 14 season. How long will he stick around? How can the Steelers keep winning after he's gone? How will they replace linebacker Ryan Shazier this season? What should they do about the contract status of running back Le'Veon Bell?The Steelers, in many ways, are in flux. But in some very important areas, they're the same winning franchise they've almost always been. And how can the Browns possibly get past them?Jeremy and I get into all that and more on the latest episode of Takes By The Lake. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 84: Will the Browns ever get better than the Pittsburgh Steelers?

The Browns season is around the corner and you can't start it without listening to our humongous preview on Takes By The Lake.Doug Lesmerises is joined by four guests in a supersized episode to dig into the hopes, the talent, the past miseries and the promise of the 2018 Cleveland Browns.First up is Clayton Braham, a fan who makes his own hype videos and explains what fans are hoping for, rooting for and worried about with the Browns.Next is Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, one of the most plugged-in NFL writers in the country to explain the talent on the Browns roster, what the expectations should be for GM John Dorsey to eventually shape a playoff team and the talk around the rest of the league about what's happening in Cleveland.Then comes Neil Paine, the author of a fascinating recent story on fivethirtyeight.com examining the numbers behind the Browns futility of the past two decades. If your heart has suffered with the Browns, let Neil explain to your head why it happened, and it will help you move on for the future.We finish with Melissa Jacobs, formerly of ESPN and Sports Illustrated who now writes at her website thefootballgirl.com. Melissa grew particularly interested in the Browns through Hard Knocks, and from California she offers a national perspective on whether the rest of the NFL is rooting for the Browns, or just figuring they'll continue to be a joke. She knows the league and provides needed persperctive outside the Browns bubble.This edition of TBTL is longer than unusual, but it's worth it. Enjoy these guests and let them get you ready for what should be an intriguing season of Browns football. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Browns season is around the corner and you can't start it without listening to our humongous preview on Takes By The Lake.Doug Lesmerises is joined by four guests in a supersized episode to dig into the hopes, the talent, the past miseries and the promise of the 2018 Cleveland Browns.First up is Clayton Braham, a fan who makes his own hype videos and explains what fans are hoping for, rooting for and worried about with the Browns.Next is Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, one of the most plugged-in NFL writers in the country to explain the talent on the Browns roster, what the expectations should be for GM John Dorsey to eventually shape a playoff team and the talk around the rest of the league about what's happening in Cleveland.Then comes Neil Paine, the author of a fascinating recent story on <a href="http://fivethirtyeight.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">fivethirtyeight.com</a> examining the numbers behind the Browns futility of the past two decades. If your heart has suffered with the Browns, let Neil explain to your head why it happened, and it will help you move on for the future.We finish with Melissa Jacobs, formerly of ESPN and Sports Illustrated who now writes at her website <a href="http://thefootballgirl.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">thefootballgirl.com</a>. Melissa grew particularly interested in the Browns through Hard Knocks, and from California she offers a national perspective on whether the rest of the NFL is rooting for the Browns, or just figuring they'll continue to be a joke. She knows the league and provides needed persperctive outside the Browns bubble.This edition of TBTL is longer than unusual, but it's worth it. Enjoy these guests and let them get you ready for what should be an intriguing season of Browns football. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 96: Browns 2018 season preview extravaganza, from punching bag to promise

Kirk Cousins is a top-15 quarterback who could allow the Browns to maximize their draft picks while getting this franchise back to winning quickly.So says Evan Silva of Rotoworld, who joined Doug Lesmerises on Takes By The Lake from cleveland.com this week to talk all about the Browns.Doug and Evan talked cocoon thinking in the NFL, where unique thoughts are discouraged; the misuse of young Browns players last year by Hue Jackson; whether this Browns front office is as accomplished as many people think; and what is the best path for the Browns this offseason.Evan thinks it starts with Cousins. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kirk Cousins is a top-15 quarterback who could allow the Browns to maximize their draft picks while getting this franchise back to winning quickly.So says Evan Silva of Rotoworld, who joined Doug Lesmerises on Takes By The Lake from <a href="http://cleveland.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cleveland.com</a> this week to talk all about the Browns.Doug and Evan talked cocoon thinking in the NFL, where unique thoughts are discouraged; the misuse of young Browns players last year by Hue Jackson; whether this Browns front office is as accomplished as many people think; and what is the best path for the Browns this offseason.Evan thinks it starts with Cousins. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 70: Kirk Cousins opens other paths for Browns to succeed

Myles Garrett held a house party in the Philadelphia Eagles backfield in the Browns third preseason game on Thursday night. So what might the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft do for the Browns in his second season?On this episode of Takes By The Lake, Doug Lesmerises is joined by Brendan Leister, an analyst for Pro Football Focus and an assistant high school coach in the Cleveland area who does a great job breaking down the Browns on Twitter.We delved into everything about the Browns, with a strong focus on Garrett and on defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Beyond Garrett, there's clearly more talent on the defense this year, but will Williams use it correctly?We also hit on a major point that Browns fans need to think about. How much does the run game really matter to the Browns success this season? You may be surprised by the answer.So it's another great discussion with a really smart person who understands this Cleveland football team.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Myles Garrett held a house party in the Philadelphia Eagles backfield in the Browns third preseason game on Thursday night. So what might the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft do for the Browns in his second season?On this episode of Takes By The Lake, Doug Lesmerises is joined by Brendan Leister, an analyst for Pro Football Focus and an assistant high school coach in the Cleveland area who does a great job breaking down the Browns on Twitter.We delved into everything about the Browns, with a strong focus on Garrett and on defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Beyond Garrett, there's clearly more talent on the defense this year, but will Williams use it correctly?We also hit on a major point that Browns fans need to think about. How much does the run game really matter to the Browns success this season? You may be surprised by the answer.So it's another great discussion with a really smart person who understands this Cleveland football team. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 94: Can Myles Garrett become one of the NFL's best players?

The Cleveland Browns are fun again, and that's a victory in itself.One team wins the Super Bowl each year, which leaves 31 other fanbases in search of a joyous season that ends short of a championship. At some point, the Browns have to win a Super Bowl. But Thursday night's win over the New York Jets gave some indication that the season-long pursuit is going to provide a lot more reasons to scream, shout and smile.On this episode of Takes By The Lake from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is joined by a Browns fan just like you. His name is Tony Hall, and he's an assistant principal in the Washington, D.C., area. He's active on Twitter as The Cleveland Guy, and as a sports fan born and raised in Cleveland, he helped me do what everyone was doing after Thursday night.Talking out this win.So sit down and listen for the same topics you're discussing with your friends, as we touched on the play-making ability of the defense, whether Baker Mayfield can keep this going and what kind of threat rookie receiver Antonio Callaway could become.I had one major questions for Tony - does this mean going 1-31 was worth it?And I had a warning about a culture discussion I think may be looming around the Browns. Because they didn't win on culture. They won on better talent. Thanks for listening. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Cleveland Browns are fun again, and that's a victory in itself.One team wins the Super Bowl each year, which leaves 31 other fanbases in search of a joyous season that ends short of a championship. At some point, the Browns have to win a Super Bowl. But Thursday night's win over the New York Jets gave some indication that the season-long pursuit is going to provide a lot more reasons to scream, shout and smile.On this episode of Takes By The Lake from <a href="http://cleveland.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cleveland.com</a>, Doug Lesmerises is joined by a Browns fan just like you. His name is Tony Hall, and he's an assistant principal in the Washington, D.C., area. He's active on Twitter as The Cleveland Guy, and as a sports fan born and raised in Cleveland, he helped me do what everyone was doing after Thursday night.Talking out this win.So sit down and listen for the same topics you're discussing with your friends, as we touched on the play-making ability of the defense, whether Baker Mayfield can keep this going and what kind of threat rookie receiver Antonio Callaway could become.I had one major questions for Tony - does this mean going 1-31 was worth it?And I had a warning about a culture discussion I think may be looming around the Browns. Because they didn't win on culture. They won on better talent. Thanks for listening. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 98: Cleveland Browns win on talent, not culture, and they're fun again

The Cleveland Browns get talked about in political circles in Washington. The Indians get talked about. The Cavs get talked about. Hugh Hewitt makes sure of that.The political commentator on NBC and MSNBC and long-time radio host is a big hitter in national politics and served as a co-moderator for several presidential debates. At his core, Hewitt is a 62-year-old kid from Warren who wants to talk sports with his friends.That's what Hewitt said happens in the green room before political talk shows - sports talk. So we asked him to bring that talk to the latest episode of Takes By The Lake with Doug Lesmerises.Part of what we want to do in our all-sports podcast is interview well-known guests who are diehard Cleveland fans. Hewitt is the latest guest on that list. He's lived in Washington and California since growing up in Ohio, but he's still a Browns season ticket holder.We talked some about the intersection of sports and politics, and whether we could see a current sports figure run for president. We examined the idea of LeBron James playing in Washington, D.C. But primarily, we got Hewitt's thoughts on the Indians, Browns and Cavs, a lifetime of rooting for them and what it's like for him now, when Cleveland sports gives him something to brag about. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Cleveland Browns get talked about in political circles in Washington. The Indians get talked about. The Cavs get talked about. Hugh Hewitt makes sure of that.The political commentator on NBC and MSNBC and long-time radio host is a big hitter in national politics and served as a co-moderator for several presidential debates. At his core, Hewitt is a 62-year-old kid from Warren who wants to talk sports with his friends.That's what Hewitt said happens in the green room before political talk shows - sports talk. So we asked him to bring that talk to the latest episode of Takes By The Lake with Doug Lesmerises.Part of what we want to do in our all-sports podcast is interview well-known guests who are diehard Cleveland fans. Hewitt is the latest guest on that list. He's lived in Washington and California since growing up in Ohio, but he's still a Browns season ticket holder.We talked some about the intersection of sports and politics, and whether we could see a current sports figure run for president. We examined the idea of LeBron James playing in Washington, D.C. But primarily, we got Hewitt's thoughts on the Indians, Browns and Cavs, a lifetime of rooting for them and what it's like for him now, when Cleveland sports gives him something to brag about. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 86: Cleveland sports fervor in the hallways of Washington

The Los Angeles Rams built their version of a dream team in 2018 and it pushed them into a Super Bowl.Adding veterans through trades and free agency around a core of drafted talent led by quarterback Jared Goff, running back Todd Gurley and defensive lineman Aaron Donald, the Rams went from 4-12 in 2016; to 11-5 and a first-round playoff loss in 2017; to 13-3 and the Super Bowl this season.Neil Paine of fivethirtyeight.com detailed the Rams strategy in a story this week titled “The Rams Went Shopping for a Super Bowl -- And It Worked."It’s a great read on an NFL blueprint that hasn’t worked for some teams, but absolutely can work for the right team in this era.And when I read it and thought about Goff, Gurley and Donald, all I could do was think about the Browns and Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb and Myles Garrett.So Neil was kind enough to join us for a second time, after taking part in our Browns season preview before the 2018 season. On this episode of Takes By The Lake, we talked about the Rams executed their plan and how the Browns could be in position to follow a version of that plan this offseason.If you’re tired of comparisons between the Rams and the Browns, this is not the place for you. If you’re continually enthused and curious about how the Browns could mirror the Rams' success, stick around for a discussion of how a dream team in Cleveland could be just what the Browns are heading toward.Thanks again for listening to Takes By The Lake with Doug Lesmerises of cleveland.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Los Angeles Rams built their version of a dream team in 2018 and it pushed them into a Super Bowl.Adding veterans through trades and free agency around a core of drafted talent led by quarterback Jared Goff, running back Todd Gurley and defensive lineman Aaron Donald, the Rams went from 4-12 in 2016; to 11-5 and a first-round playoff loss in 2017; to 13-3 and the Super Bowl this season.Neil Paine of <a href="http://fivethirtyeight.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">fivethirtyeight.com</a> detailed the Rams strategy in a story this week titled “The Rams Went Shopping for a Super Bowl -- And It Worked."It’s a great read on an NFL blueprint that hasn’t worked for some teams, but absolutely can work for the right team in this era.And when I read it and thought about Goff, Gurley and Donald, all I could do was think about the Browns and Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb and Myles Garrett.So Neil was kind enough to join us for a second time, after taking part in our Browns season preview before the 2018 season. On this episode of Takes By The Lake, we talked about the Rams executed their plan and how the Browns could be in position to follow a version of that plan this offseason.If you’re tired of comparisons between the Rams and the Browns, this is not the place for you. If you’re continually enthused and curious about how the Browns could mirror the Rams' success, stick around for a discussion of how a dream team in Cleveland could be just what the Browns are heading toward.Thanks again for listening to Takes By The Lake with Doug Lesmerises of <a href="http://cleveland.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cleveland.com</a>. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep: 105: The Browns should plan to build their dream team

Bill Belichick

Jim Brown

Bill Belichick, NFL coaching legend, considers Jim Brown one of the top two or three people he's ever met. But Belichick fears that Brown's contributions to sports and society may eventually fade away.In the new book, "Jim Brown: Last Man Stadning," author Dave Zirin puts everything Brown was and everything Brown has done into context. It's a complicated legacy, but it's one that should be remembered and appreciated on many levels.On the latest Takes By The Lake from cleveland, Doug Lesmerises is joined by Zirin to talk about Brown and to analyze his contributions in light of today's political and social context.The theme that Zirin returns to is Brown's manhood, which explains many of his actions, both good and bad. Whether you are a Brown expert, or whether you know him only as a former Browns star running back and not much more, this conversation with Zirin should help you understand Brown. And if you are a Cleveland sports fan, you need to understand Brown. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Bill Belichick, NFL coaching legend, considers Jim Brown one of the top two or three people he's ever met. But Belichick fears that Brown's contributions to sports and society may eventually fade away.In the new book, "Jim Brown: Last Man Stadning," author Dave Zirin puts everything Brown was and everything Brown has done into context. It's a complicated legacy, but it's one that should be remembered and appreciated on many levels.On the latest Takes By The Lake from cleveland, Doug Lesmerises is joined by Zirin to talk about Brown and to analyze his contributions in light of today's political and social context.The theme that Zirin returns to is Brown's manhood, which explains many of his actions, both good and bad. Whether you are a Brown expert, or whether you know him only as a former Browns star running back and not much more, this conversation with Zirin should help you understand Brown. And if you are a Cleveland sports fan, you need to understand Brown. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 85: Bill Belichick worries Jim Brown will be forgotten

Quarterback, defensive end, cornerback, offensive tackle, running back?Quarterback, running back, receiver, cornerback, offensive tackle?What's the best way for the Cleveland Browns to use their five picks in the first two rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft?On this episode of Takes By The Lake, Doug Lesmerises tackles that question with Luke Easterling of The Draft Wire, who writes about the draft on the USA Today website.We run through the best options for the No. 4 pick - Saquon Barkley, Bradley Chubb or a trade down - and then examine the cornerbacks, tackles, receivers and running backs that will be available when the Browns pick at No. 33 and No. 33 earlier in the second round. Plus, we zero in on a running back who could be perfect for the Browns with the last pick in the second round at No. 64. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Quarterback, defensive end, cornerback, offensive tackle, running back?Quarterback, running back, receiver, cornerback, offensive tackle?What's the best way for the Cleveland Browns to use their five picks in the first two rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft?On this episode of Takes By The Lake, Doug Lesmerises tackles that question with Luke Easterling of The Draft Wire, who writes about the draft on the USA Today website.We run through the best options for the No. 4 pick - Saquon Barkley, Bradley Chubb or a trade down - and then examine the cornerbacks, tackles, receivers and running backs that will be available when the Browns pick at No. 33 and No. 33 earlier in the second round. Plus, we zero in on a running back who could be perfect for the Browns with the last pick in the second round at No. 64. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 75: The perfect way for the Browns to use their first five NFL Draft picks

Benjamin Allbright

Insider

Benjamin Allbright is an NFL analyst and radio host in Denver who has connections around the NFL and a full view of the league.His NFL power rankings, based off his own mathematical formula, have the Cleveland Browns as the No. 10 team in the league through four games.So Doug Lesmerises invited him back on Takes By The Lake.They talked about those rankings in the interview, and of course it's early and a small sample size can easily skew rankings like this. Allbright said his rankings give a lot of credit to staying close in games, and in the three games they didn't win, the Browns have been really close.But beyond a ranking, Allbright has been very impressed with the Browns defense, and he's been a strong believer in Baker Mayfield since the middle of last season.He's a great guest and it was an interesting conversation. So enjoy this Takes By The Lake episode from cleveland.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Benjamin Allbright is an NFL analyst and radio host in Denver who has connections around the NFL and a full view of the league.His NFL power rankings, based off his own mathematical formula, have the Cleveland Browns as the No. 10 team in the league through four games.So Doug Lesmerises invited him back on Takes By The Lake.They talked about those rankings in the interview, and of course it's early and a small sample size can easily skew rankings like this. Allbright said his rankings give a lot of credit to staying close in games, and in the three games they didn't win, the Browns have been really close.But beyond a ranking, Allbright has been very impressed with the Browns defense, and he's been a strong believer in Baker Mayfield since the middle of last season.He's a great guest and it was an interesting conversation. So enjoy this Takes By The Lake episode from <a href="http://cleveland.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cleveland.com</a>. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 100: The Cleveland Browns are being underestimated, with NFL insider Benjamin Allbright

Tyrod Taylor

Never before had Tyrod Taylor started an NFL game and completed fewer than half his passes.So that 15 for 40 performance in the rain against Pittsburgh on Sunday, that wasn't him."I put that on the whole unit," offensive coordinator Todd Haley said Thursday. "That's kind of the point that I'm making that we need to speed this process of trust because to be a good or big-time passing offense, you better have trust in everyone."So look for trust in week two. And look for what happens when there's no rain. In a dome against New Orleans, the Browns should get a much better idea of their 29-year-old veteran quarterback. According to Pro Football Focus, there were 149 uncatchable passes thrown by all 32 NFL teams last week. That's an average of 4.6 per team.By the PFF numbers, Taylor threw a league-high 14 uncatchable passes. But Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger threw 10. So what was happening in FirstEnergy Stadium made life difficult on both quarterbacks.To break that down, Doug Lesmerises is joined by two guests on Takes By The Lake this week. First is John Kosko of Pro Football Focus, who took us inside the numbers on Taylor, Desmond Harrison, Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward and the rest of the key Browns.Then Doug was joined by previous TBTL guest Dan Whalen, the former All-American quarterback from Case Western Reserve who told us what he thought of Taylor's game, what it's like to throw in the rain and how he would balance Tayler and Baker Mayfield if he were in charge of the Browns. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Never before had Tyrod Taylor started an NFL game and completed fewer than half his passes.So that 15 for 40 performance in the rain against Pittsburgh on Sunday, that wasn't him."I put that on the whole unit," offensive coordinator Todd Haley said Thursday. "That's kind of the point that I'm making that we need to speed this process of trust because to be a good or big-time passing offense, you better have trust in everyone."So look for trust in week two. And look for what happens when there's no rain. In a dome against New Orleans, the Browns should get a much better idea of their 29-year-old veteran quarterback. According to Pro Football Focus, there were 149 uncatchable passes thrown by all 32 NFL teams last week. That's an average of 4.6 per team.By the PFF numbers, Taylor threw a league-high 14 uncatchable passes. But Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger threw 10. So what was happening in FirstEnergy Stadium made life difficult on both quarterbacks.To break that down, Doug Lesmerises is joined by two guests on Takes By The Lake this week. First is John Kosko of Pro Football Focus, who took us inside the numbers on Taylor, Desmond Harrison, Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward and the rest of the key Browns.Then Doug was joined by previous TBTL guest Dan Whalen, the former All-American quarterback from Case Western Reserve who told us what he thought of Taylor's game, what it's like to throw in the rain and how he would balance Tayler and Baker Mayfield if he were in charge of the Browns. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 97: Was that Browns QB Tyrod Taylor's worst game, and will he get better?

The Browns season is almost upon us, and whatever kind of success you are predicting for the Browns in 2019, one thing that's true is that you shouldn't view it as a surprise.Fresh off a full week of Browns stories at The Ringer, Rob Harvilla joins Doug Lesmerises on the podcast to talk about his piece among the more than 10 stories that the national website did on the Browns. Rob wrote in particular about what it's like to be a fan now that the Browns are cool. But we also dig in on the whole series.But first, old TBTL friend Evan Silva jumps on to talk everything about the Browns and to offer his predictions for the year. Evan just co-founded his own website, EstablishTheRun.com, and he talks about just how good the Browns receivers are compared to the rest of the NFL ... and just how bad the offensive line could be. Plus, he has some fantasy analysis of your favorite Browns players.It's another all-Browns episode from TBTL, and thanks for listening. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Browns season is almost upon us, and whatever kind of success you are predicting for the Browns in 2019, one thing that's true is that you shouldn't view it as a surprise.Fresh off a full week of Browns stories at The Ringer, Rob Harvilla joins Doug Lesmerises on the podcast to talk about his piece among the more than 10 stories that the national website did on the Browns. Rob wrote in particular about what it's like to be a fan now that the Browns are cool. But we also dig in on the whole series.But first, old TBTL friend Evan Silva jumps on to talk everything about the Browns and to offer his predictions for the year. Evan just co-founded his own website, <a href="http://EstablishTheRun.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">EstablishTheRun.com</a>, and he talks about just how good the Browns receivers are compared to the rest of the NFL ... and just how bad the offensive line could be. Plus, he has some fantasy analysis of your favorite Browns players.It's another all-Browns episode from TBTL, and thanks for listening. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 110: Why the Browns' success this season should be no surprise

Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers, Eli Manning, Alex Smith and Aaron Rodgers all entered the NFL between 2000 and 2005. They've owned the league for more than a decade, winning games and piling up passing yards.Soon, the league will belong to a new group of quarterbacks. And the Browns Baker Mayfield should be part of that group.On this episode of Takes By The Lake from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises was joined by Kevin Cole, the director of data and analytics for rotogrinders.com, to discuss how to evaluate all these new quarterbacks.We also got into the Browns defense and how it was built, but mostly, this was about Mayfield. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers, Eli Manning, Alex Smith and Aaron Rodgers all entered the NFL between 2000 and 2005. They've owned the league for more than a decade, winning games and piling up passing yards.Soon, the league will belong to a new group of quarterbacks. And the Browns Baker Mayfield should be part of that group.On this episode of Takes By The Lake from <a href="http://cleveland.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cleveland.com</a>, Doug Lesmerises was joined by Kevin Cole, the director of data and analytics for <a href="http://rotogrinders.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">rotogrinders.com</a>, to discuss how to evaluate all these new quarterbacks.We also got into the Browns defense and how it was built, but mostly, this was about Mayfield. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 99: How Baker Mayfield fits into the NFL's quarterback revolution

The Best Multi-Part Documentaries, with documentaries on Obama, Federer vs Nadal, the making of Star Wars, Netflix vs Blockbuster and more. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Multi-Part Documentaries

The best podcast episodes on parenting. Interviewing experts and talking through common issues surrounding parenting. This topic is filled with important lessons and insights for anyone listening. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!