Bedfordtimesregister.com - Two perspectives on the 2008 football campaign

Unlike certain other members of the Record Publishing Co. sports office, I can't wait until football season -- if only because the Indians have reverted to their form of the early 1980s.

Although it's still very much midsummer, the gridiron season isn't that far off. Camp is in full swing for NFL squads and high school two-a-days in Ohio began July 31, one of the earliest start dates I can remember.

Thus, I decided to have a little gridiron chat with my inner fan -- once I got his mind off current events.

Journalist Michael: Well, old pal, I presume you're in a much better mood than last year at this time.

Fan Mike: C.C.'s gone ... C.C.'s gone ...

JM: For goodness sake's, man, snap out of it!

FM: Huh? Oh, sorry. Well, I am happier in terms of football at this point. This is going to be a great season for the Browns. I can see it coming.

JM: There's certainly more optimism coming out of Berea than anytime since the late 1980s.

FM: Yeah, only this time the defense is inverted from the Dawg Pound years. All signs point to a great pass rush with a questionable secondary. Oh well, last year proved one thing to me.

JM: Namely?

FM: Winning games with offense is a heck of a lot more fun than winning games with defense.

JM: I can't argue with that. But like I said last summer, it all comes down to a workable offensive line. For the first time in recent memory, the Browns were near the bottom of the league in sacks allowed. They only gave up 19 and five of those happened before Charlie Frye got the boot.

FM: Talk about brave moves. If Romeo doesn't make that switch, the Browns go 5-11 last year. At the same time, if Derek Anderson didn't develop into a Pro Bowler, there's a good chance Crennel's back as someone's defensive coordinator right now.

JM: So I presume you're not taking sides on the whole Derek Anderson vs. Brady Quinn situation?

FM: As far as I'm concerned, the Browns could have Raymond Philyaw at quarterback. As long as he's going his job, it doesn't matter to me.

JM: Nice Gladiators reference. I didn't even know you liked arena football.

FM: It's a good way to keep my mind off the Indians.

JM: Right.

FM: Anyway, it's going to be a great season. I say 10-6, despite the schedule from Hades, and our first division title since 1989.

JM: I say 9-7 with it coming to down to a tiebreaker for the division title with Pittsburgh.

FM: By the way, bud, I'm still not too thrilled about you marrying a Steelers fan ...

JM: Knock it off. We've been through all that.

FM: All right. Let's talk about the RPC beat. Think you can give me a better read this year on who's going to be the best team in your coverage area?

JM: Yep. My money's on Aurora. They've got everybody back from a 9-1 squad, they've got a lineman who's committed to Ohio State and a coaching staff which knows how to win in the postseason.

FM: Solid. Doesn't the strength of their region make you nervous, though?

JM: Sure, Division III, Region 9 is a nightmare. So are pretty much all of the local playoff regionals. Remember we had six teams make the playoffs last year; by the end of the regional semifinals, they were all eliminated.

FM: Fair enough. Any early predictions for player of the year?

JM: Right now, I'm really torn between a pair of Wyoga Lake Road running backs.

FM: Explain.

JM: At Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, John Pettigrew has already proven he's the real deal. He'll be a senior this year, he's coming off a season where he scored 18 touchdowns and he'll be the feature back in an offense that likes to throw the ball less than Wisconsin in the 1990s.

FM: On the other hand ...

JM: On the other hand, Walsh Jesuit's Camero Ontko suffered a bout of mononucleosis in mid-season and still nearly rushed for 1,000 yards -- as a sophomore. Those in the know at Walsh are already talking about him destroying school rushing records and kid's body already fits the Big Ten's size mold for running backs.

FM: Sounds like a good dilemma to have ... I wonder if C.C. would look good at linebacker for the Browns...

JM: You're hopeless, sometimes, you know.

E-mail: mleonard@recordpub.com

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