Browns look to maximize extra prep time

11.03.2009

The Browns' bye week work started Tuesday with a message from Eric Mangini to his players: Let's all get better.

"The important thing that I've stressed, whether it be today or yesterday or at any point, is to be able to focus individually first on what we can improve, and then collectively what we can improve," Mangini said."Those things are the important things that we need to do.We need to get that done this week and that's what we're focused on, all of us are focused on.

"I spent a lot of time with the coaching staff yesterday, this morning and trying to really work through the different things that we think need to be addressed short term, need to be addressed long term. We'll meet more on personnel, in terms of player performances and evaluation and things like that on Thursday, but that's also a component of this.

"I've historically made a lot of strides during the bye week.It's a unique time where you can put some more emphasis on individual technique, can sit down with the players one-on-one and either address their performance, address their concerns, address what they're hoping to achieve over the course of the rest of the season.I look forward to those meetings."

The team practiced Tuesday and will practice again Wednesday before the players are dismissed for a long weekend. They'll continue to take advantage of the extra preparation time by practicing again Monday Nov. 9 before having the usual Tuesday players day off, then narrowing the focus of practice towards the Monday night game with the Ravens Nov. 16.

"We're looking at it from a scheme perspective and also from a personnel perspective," Mangini said. "We will spend some more time as a coaching staff going through, player-by-player, areas where we think either that player can improve, how we can help him improve, some of the points of emphasis that we need to really work on with them -- however we're going to get that in place and really formulate a plan for each guy and also look at the ways that we can develop them into bigger roles or into different roles that we think can help us."

MOVING FORWARD: Speaking Tuesday morning, Mangini addressed the departure of general manager George Kokinis.

"Anytime a decision like that is made it's difficult personally and professionally. George is a friend," he said. "For a variety of reasons things didn't work out. We felt that organizationally this was the best decision to move forward. We have a strong structure in place on both the pro (scouting) side and the college (scouting) side and things will continue to operate effectively on a day to day basis."

Mangini said he's not opposed to the Browns exploring other avenues and potentially adding other people to the mix on the personnel side.

"My goal is to win and my goal is to improve," he said. "There's never opposition to someone that can help us achieve that goal.That's true here.It was true in New York with the Jets.I remember my early experiences with Bill (Belichick) as a young guy.Bill would always listen to anybody's opinion and anybody's ideas, as long as there was a rationale to it, as long as it was well thought out, he was open to it and was willing to introduce those things or try those things.

"I really respected that and learned a lot from him from that perspective.It was the same thing with Bill Parcells. You appreciate the feedback. You appreciate the honesty.You appreciate people trying to constantly improve at what they're doing or constantly help the group improve.You want to hire as many people as you possibly can like that. You want as many players around like that, just individuals that are intrinsically motivated to be the best at their craft and to make sure that the organization is as positive and as productive as possible.

"Every mentor that I've had has had that approach, regardless of how much success they've had and that's probably why they've had the success that they have had."

QUICK HITS: Mangini said a decision on a starting quarterback for the Ravens game would be part of the ongoing evaluation process this week and next...The 4-3 Ravens play at 5-2 Cincinnati Sunday. The Steelers, who are also 5-2, play Monday night in Denver...Last season the Browns came off their bye week and played their best game of the season in a Monday night win over the Giants, who were 4-0 at the time...The Browns are 15-13 all-time on Monday Night Football . This is the first Browns-Ravens Monday night game.