The powers-that-be at the Southern California Browns Backers Association would like to thank all the dedicated Backers that came out to all our viewing sites this past season. It might not have been the prettiest of seasons, but it’s still Cleveland Browns football and we’ll always support it.

We won’t be updating the site as much during the off-season, so be sure to follow us on Facebook for all your latest SCBBA news.

And for those looking for some brighter news to end the season, the Browns now hold the Nos. 4 and 22 overall picks in April’s draft. So get pumped for that!

Be sure to contact site coordinators at all our Viewing Sites to ensure they will be open for the game.

Check out the photo gallery below for some game-day shots from our members.

Were you at the game? Did you take photos? If so, please send to scbrownsbackers@gmail.com to be included in this gallery.

Planning on heading up north to watch the Browns tangle with the San Francisco 49ers on October 30th? Here’s everything you need to know:

Tickets: Call the San Francisco 49er rep Paul Suchomel, directly 415-347-3585. Ask to purchase tickets in Browns Backers sections. [Sections 59, 57, 55, etc and ask for the Browns Backers Group rate price.] The 49ers will handle your ticket purchase. Paul just noted that he expects a sell out soon.

Saturday Night Party: The  Bay Area Browns Backers will host a Browns Backers Party Oct 29th at the Hotel Sofitel from 6:00 pm  on. Eric Metcalf & Kevin Mack will sign autographs, plus Browns Backers Global supplied raffle prizes. Open to all Browns fans & guests.

Sofitel: Stay After the Party: We have arranged a great rate the Saturday before the game at $89 or $110 with breakfast for two at the super fine Hotel Sofitel. Make reservations by calling and ask for the In-House reservation desk at the Sofitel San Francisco Bay at (650) 598-9000. Refer to “Browns Backers” group rate.

Browns Backers TAILGATE: Look for the three “Quality Assurance” motor coaches – our bus company in the bus tailgate area. We will be there about 11:25 a.m. in route from the Sofitel. Join us at the buses!

For those Southern California Browns Backers that were looking for more info on attending the Browns vs Arizona game on December 18, hereis a package opportunity offered by Ralph Andrews of Travel Time Tours. You can email him with any questions or for more details: ttt@traveltimetours.com

Our Main Package will be from our Los Angeles SCBBA area(s) and will include:

December 17-19, 2011 (Sat-Mon) (3 Days – 2 Nights)

•  Deluxe roundtrip motorcoach transportation from select pick-up locations
• 2 nights deluxe accommodations in Tempe (full-service property just minutes from our Saturday Night BB Bash)
• Saturday Night Browns Backers Bash at nearby Sports Bar (guaranteed admission included but beverages, etc. will be “on your own”)
• Sunday morning Tailgate Party at Arizona Stadium in special Browns Backers area (including beer, hotdogs, brats, and burgers)
• Game Ticket
• Complimentary Happy Hour Hors d’oeuvres and ½ price beverages Sunday night back at our hotel
• Deluxe Breakfast buffet Monday morning at our hotel

I will, as always, adjust this package for those having their own game tickets and/or wanting to stay longer or arrive earlier.  And just to cover EVERYBODY who may be in town (locals included) , I will be happy to accommodate those wanting JUST the Game Tickets/Saturday Night Party/Sunday Tailgate Party, etc.

And also, for those planning to arrive by plane, our hotel offers complimentary R/T airport shuttle.

Other highlights included a special appearance by Mighty Mike the Referee, Heisman-worthy bartenders, delicious tamales from LA’s famous ‘tamale guy,’ a visit from the Coors Light guys, and entertaining antics from site hosts Johnny-99 and Vinnie Tessmer.

For more information on the Hollywood viewing site, check out their SCBBA page or follow them on their Facebook page.

Back then, the “right quarterback” had the same attributes as the “right quarterback” does today: Tall, strong-armed, intelligent, etc. But Walsh knew that in order for his offense to work, he needed a signal caller who was accurate first and foremost, and who possessed the ability to make quick decisions in order to get the ball out of his hands in a timely manner.

In Sam Wyche, the Bengals had what some deemed a prototypical quarterback already on the roster. But Walsh clearly didn’t think Wyche was the exact fit to run what is now called the West Coast offense, so the Bengals acquired former sixth-round pick Virgil Carter from the Bears.

Unlike Wyche, Carter wasn’t your prototypical quarterback in that he only stood 6-foot-1, weighed 192 pounds and didn’t posses a strong arm. But he was smart and accurate, which is exactly what Walsh envisioned for his offense. Carter went on to lead the NFL in completion percentage in 1971 and was third in overall passing. He was the first player to successfully implement Walsh’s system.

Fast-forward to present day where Browns’ team president Mike Holmgren hopes he has found a quarterback to implement his system. Like Carter, the biggest knock on Colt McCoy is arm strength (or lack thereof). He lasted into the third round of the 2010 draft because teams were worried about whether or not he could make all the throws required of a pro quarterback. But Holmgren snatched him with the 85th pick because he too runs a version of Walsh’s West Coast system and sees a signal caller born to run his offense.

In theory, the West Coast predicates itself on using short, horizontal passes to stretch a defense sideline-to-sideline, as opposed to more traditional offenses that want to stretch a defense vertically. In essence, the WCO uses those short passes to help open up longer running plays and create opportunities for deeper passes to be completed at a higher percentage.

But in order for the offense to work, it needs a quarterback that can read a defense quickly, get the ball out of his hands in a timely manner and, most importantly, be accurate with his throws. If his passes are off the mark or delivered too fast or too slowly, the receiver’s timing will be affected and the entire play may break down. Thus, there’s no need to have a quarterback with Aaron Rodgers’ arm strength running the show. (Although it certainly doesn’t hurt, as the Holmgren-led Packers can attest to with Brett Favre.)

In the Browns’ first preseason game, you can see why fans are starting to get excited about McCoy’s potential. He completed 9-of-10 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown while running Pat Shurmur’s offense to near perfection. He looked comfortable and poised and spread the ball around with little to no hesitation. If he can carry that performance into the regular season, there’s no reason the Browns can’t at least be competitive.

Now, nobody is suggesting that the Browns are playoff bound or that McCoy is heading to the Pro Bowl anytime soon. One preseason game does not a player or team make, and the WCO generally takes a few seasons to master. But for a franchise that has desperately searched for direction for nearly a decade, this is a positive start for Cleveland. And it’s not like McCoy didn’t posses these same attributes in college: his completion percentage never dipped below 65.1 in any of his four seasons at Texas, and he finished his junior season with a comp. percentage of 76.7 and his senior season with a mark of 70.6. He also posses the intangibles that every team wants to see out of its quarterback, including strong leadership skills and the willingness to work on his craft (which was on display this summer when he sought out Favre’s help in Mississippi).

In McCoy, the Browns seemingly have the perfect fit at quarterback for Holmgren and Shurmur’s offense. It stands to reason that he’ll make significant strides this season and who knows, maybe Cleveland will have found its own Virgil Carter.

Source: Washington Post

On behalf of the Cleveland Browns organization, coaches and players, I want to thank you for your support. We are truly grateful for your commitment and patience during this period.

Now that the National Football League and NFL Players Association have come to terms on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the 2011 season is underway. I wanted to take this time to share some thoughts with you following this great news.

We believe the terms of the new agreement are fair to the teams and players and that both sides will benefit as we move forward. Most importantly, the agreement allows us to get back on the field and provide our great fans with the excitement of Cleveland Browns football.

Our focus continues to be on improving our team and preparing for the season. I am thrilled to have new head coach Pat Shurmur and his outstanding staff in place and ready to take the players to the next step in their development — and the team to the level of success our partners, sponsors and fans expect and deserve.

I feel good about the rookie class General Manager Tom Heckert and his staff has coming in and think our overall talent level will improve, especially as we add key free agents. Our prospects for a successful season were strengthened by the dedication of the many players who assembled on their own to train and prepare as a team so they would be ready to hit the ground running when football activities resume.

Our preseason and regular season plans are in full motion. We are very excited to host Training Camp in Berea and encourage all fans to attend.

We are moving ahead. So, again, I thank you for your continued support. It is vital to our success on and off the field. I’ve come to learn, and very much appreciate, that with Browns fans – It’s Always Football Season!

Go Browns!

Mike Holmgren, President