Takes By The Lake podcast

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Ep. 110: Why the Browns' success this season should be no surprise Aug 27, 2019

Show notes

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.

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Ep. 109: A dream scenario for the Browns and Indians Aug 20, 2019

Show notes

With this Takes By The Lake, everyone should be celebrating what's to come with the Browns and Indians, as a season of football hope is ahead, to be coupled with a September pennant race.

There are two guests who join Doug Lesmerises this week. First up is Samantha Bunten, a loyal Cleveland sports fan who now works for NBC's Sunday Night Football in New York. She talks both Browns and Tribe.

And then it's Gage Will of Everyone Hates Cleveland, a site that examines the Indians with an analytic bent. We talked about the race with the Twins, the starting rotation and the future of the roster and what it means for 2020.

Thanks so much for listening to Takes By The Lake from cleveland.com.

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Ep. 108: Do the Browns or Indians have a better shot at a division title; and Ohio's best dodgeball player Aug 13, 2019

Show notes

On another Takes By The Lake from cleveland.com, dodgeball is in the air, as Matt Levine of Twinsburg stops by to explain everything about the game and how he turned himself into one of the better dodgeball players in the nation.

But first, with the Indians in first place in the AL Central, and the Browns a real pick to win the AFC North, Chris Fedor joins Doug Lesmerises to discuss which Cleveland team is a better first-place pick. Plus, Doug and Chris talk a little Cavs with the release of the NBA schedule.

Finally, Doug tried to have some fun with fake names used at restaurants ... and you just made it dirty.

It's just another week at Takes By The Lake.

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Ep. 107: What to watch for in the Browns preseason opener Aug 07, 2019

Show notes

The Cleveland Browns play their first preseason game Thursday night at home against the Washington Redskins, and Doug Lesmerises of cleveland.com is here to help you figure out what to watch.

On this second episode of Takes By The Lake since a return from hiatus, Doug is joined by Kareem Copeland, the Redskins writer for the Washington Post, to talk about rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins, the first-round draft pick from Ohio State. Plus, Kareem explains the entire complicated Washington QB situation, which will play out Thursday night.

Then it’s time to talk about what to watch for the Browns, from the right guard spot to the 4-2-5 defensive alignment, to the changed responsibilities of the linebackers. Even if the Browns' headliners won’t be out there much, there should be a lot to learn.

Also, Doug started this episode with something he had to get off his chest about the supposed misery of the people involved with winning Cleveland’s first championship in 52 years.

Thanks for listening to Takes By The Lake.

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Ep. 106: What could prevent the Browns from going 12-4? Jul 24, 2019

Show notes

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.

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Ep: 105: The Browns should plan to build their dream team Feb 01, 2019

Show notes

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.

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Ep. 104: Can the Browns win with Jimmy Haslam? ESPN’s Seth Wickersham joins the pod Jan 25, 2019

Show notes

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.

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Ep. 103: How Baker Mayfield is like almost every other rookie QB Nov 09, 2018

Show notes

If you’re having any doubts about Baker Mayfield, eliminate them.

This isn’t a guarantee, but a reassurance.

Most rookie quarterbacks look the way Mayfield has looked this season for the Browns, some good, some bad, some flashes of brilliance, some moments of confusing frustration.

Most rookie quarterbacks, however, don’t get caught in a power struggle between a head coach and an offensive coordinator that ends with both of them getting fired.

So, Mayfield has that going for him.

On this week’s Takes By The Lake podcast, Doug Lesmerises dove into the history of rookie quarterbacks with a writer who studied them as in depth as anyone. Justis Mosqueda wrote a story for optimumscouting.com that is worth your time and will explain a lot.

Rookies have troubles. It’s normal. By Mosqueda’s data, of the 58 rookie quarterbacks who played a lot since the 1970 merger of the NFL and the AFL, only 11 really helped their teams.

Struggles are normal. On this latest episode, we talked all about this history and what it means for how you should view Mayfield’s season.

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Ep. 102: How the Browns can find their Sean McVay Nov 02, 2018

Show notes

It's an obvious comparison, but that's fine. The Browns shouldn't stop thinking they can find the coach that can help them start winning immediately.

Just like the Los Angeles Rams did.

Jared Goff was the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Jeff Fisher was his coach. Goff, who sat for the first half of the season, struggled when he finally played and went 0-7 his first season. Fisher was fired with a 4-9 record after 13 games, and the Rams hired Sean McVay in the offseason.

Goff improved. McVay led the team. They went 11-5 last season and now they're 8-0.

You're up Browns.

Baker Mayfield was the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Hue Jackson was his coach. Mayfield is 1-4 as a starter, though he also led a victory in relief in his first game against the Jets. Jackson was fired with a 2-5-1 record after eight games.

Now, the Browns need to make the right hire with their new coach.

To figure out how to do that, we have two great guests on Takes By The Lake this week.

First is Rich Hammond of the Orange County Register, who has covered the Rams since they returned to Los Angeles. He wrote a great story about how the Rams hired McVay that you need to read. And he told me how the Rams got it right, even with a front office that often gets it wrong. So there's hope for the Browns.

Then we have Benjamin Solak, who wrote a smart story about matching the Browns coaching candidates to Mayfield on thedraftnetwork.com. He also knows current Minnesota offensive coordinator and former Browns quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo well, since Ben covers the Philadelphia Eagles and DeFilippo served as the Eagles QB coach in 2016 and 2017.

It's a great conversation on how the Browns can get this coaching hire right. Sorry we didn't get to a Takes podcast for the last two weeks, but we're glad to be back and glad to have you back.

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Ep. 101: The Indians are out, the Browns are up -- the future for both teams Oct 12, 2018

Show notes

The Cleveland Indians are done after a third straight playoff appearance, and the Cleveland Browns actually have some people thinking about the playoffs after a 2-2-1 start.

So what's next for both teams - next season and next Sunday?

On this Takes By The Lake podcast, Doug Lesmerises dipped into two teams and enlisted the help of three guests.

First, our two voices on the Indians:

• Steven Kubitza writes about the Indians at belivelandball.com and joined to discuss what happened in the sweep at the hands of the Houston Astros in the American League Division Series and how many more championship contention seasons this Indians core has left.

• Joe Coblitz writes about the Indians and their minor league system at burningriverbaseball.com and he joined to discuss what minor leaguers are on the horizon for the Indians and the best way for the front office to use its minor league system to try to win in the next few years.

Then we hit the Browns with an old friend:

• Jake Burns is all over the web as a film breakdown expert on the Browns, with his work appearing on The Orange and Brown Report, as well as on Twitter. And now Jake is working with cleveland.com, providing a film breakdown once a week right on this site.

Make sure you check on his piece this week, and don't miss him each week at cleveland.com.

Thanks for listening to another episode of Takes By The Lake from cleveland.com

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