Takes By The Lake Podcast

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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, 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.

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.

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 informa

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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

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.

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 t

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.

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 mean

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 Regi

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 break