Browns Banter: Why Has the Browns Offense Been So Bad in 2008?
Last year, the Cleveland Browns explosive offense made it the media darling with a 2008 schedule to match – including three Monday Night games.
About the only thing you could say about the Browns scoring this season, is that they managed to score points on Monday night, unbelievably beating the New York Football Giants 35-14, and winning on the frozen tundra of Buffalo 29-27.
Is it too unrealistic to expect the real offense to return on Monday night against Philadelphia?
I think so. After all both Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson are out with injuries and third-string quarterback Ken Dorsey proved on Sunday against the Titans why he will climb no higher. Not only is Ken Dorsey rather wooden in the pocket, but he is a slow reader of defense and is a very good target for blitzing linemen.
Chuck Crow/The Plain DealerBrowns quarterback Ken Dorsey is sacked by the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
But despite the quarterback, Cleveland, at 4-9, played seven games with fewer than two touchdowns, Terry Pluto of The Plain Dealer, recently pointed out.
To me, it seems that when Cleveland gets into the Red Zone, it is treated like the DMZ (Demilitiarized Zone) was in Viet-Nam. The players tighten up, then try to sneak in either through a rushing play or a pass – and are usually stopped.
The 2007 season saw the Browns have just two games of fewer than two touchdowns – and one was the 8-0 win against Buffalo at home in a blizzard. The other was the 34-7 defeat at the hands of the Steelers – the game that Charlie Frye started; the game where Frye was in the locker room the second half packing for Seattle.
The 28-9 drubbing at the hands of Tennessee on Sunday, was not only an embarrassment to Browns fans, but a lesson in the team’s offensive futility.
Although Dorsey threw 43 times, nothing comes to mind but a 25-yard pass to wide receiver Braylon Edwards in the first quarter. And although he was only sacked once, he was hit 11 times. The last time I could actually watch the game, Dorsey was limping over to the sidelines as Browns color commentator and former Brown, Doug Dieken, remarked, “Boy, he sure is going to be sore, this week.â€
The Browns rank twenty-seventh in points scored and twenty-ninth in scoring touchdowns in the Red Zone at 38 percent; compared to twelfth and 54 percent a year ago.
What the heck happened? The long Cleveland curse?
First, the sure-handed and team leader Joe Jerevicius, after his sixth surgery to overcome a staph infection to his knee, was placed on injured reserve. Then, injuries and a one-game suspension kept tight end Kellen Winslow out of three games. Both of these guys can catch the ball and take the hit afterward.
Braylon Edwards got a case of the “yipsâ€, and dropped at least eighteen balls so far this season, but more importantly, he has had only three touchdown catches compared to 16 one year ago.
Running back Jamal Lewis ran seven times for about seven yards on Sunday and has dropped from 4.4 yards
per carry last year to 3.5, according to statistics compiled by Pluto.
The Browns also stuck with Derek Anderson too long, even though he completed less than half of his passes.
Brady Quinn did provide a spark in the 33-30 loss to Denver and the 29-27 win over Buffalo but that was short-lived since he fractured his finger against the Bills and has been reduced to standing on the sidelines in street clothes and a gigantic bandage.
So with three games left, why not play the back-ups and see what they can do? Why not play more wildcat with Joshua Cribbs standing back beside Dorsey?
Maybe it is because there are three games left and Romeo Crennel and Rob Chudzinski are both playing for their jobs. It’s not over ‘til it’s over, after all, and if I just play it safe, maybe they won’t blame me for the Browns nose dive, they must be thinking.
Indeed, at times Crennel stand flat-footed to watch his team’s underwhelming performance as if he is already someplace else or is in a kind of shock of what is happening.
A good coach discovers the players best strengths and uses them to make plays and win games.
The coaches seem to be playing a bit of Marty-(Schottenheimer)ball, playing not to lose, playing it safe, playing a prevent defense, when an aggressive offense is what it takes to win in the NFL.
Whether it is Marty-ball, Romeo-ball or Chud-ball, it is not only not working, but has plunged Browns fans into a funk and owner Randy Lerner (hopefully) burning up the phone lines and emails to find replacements for next year.
Monday night is the perfect time to show the Browns can still play football.
Get out the playbook, fellas, plot a few creative plays, go out there and in the spirit of the great innovator Paul Brown, score from the Red Zone and win a game.
As always, go Browns!
Tags: brady quinn, braylon edwards, Cleveland Browns, derek anderson, jamal lewis, ken dorsey, Romeo Crennel
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Ooh ooh I know the answer! Pick me! Pick me!
The Browns offense has been so bad this year because Rusty picked them to be so good!
That was easy.
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Dear Much Delusional,
Forgive my ignorance, but who is Rusty?
Is that the best you can do, Mr. Pee-burg?
By the way, I am picking Steeles over the blackbirds on Sunday based on the heart (not necessarily the arm) of Big Ben, and the fact that although both teams are so f…ing lucky, the Steelers even more so — plus, I’ve said it before, I am afraid God is a Pittsburgh fan.
Both defenses are tough and Baltimore is at home, but loud, obnoxious stadiums serve as incentive for the blood-thirsty cannibals that the Steelers are.
That game is a must see!
Reply
Well of course God is a Steelers fan. First he created Heaven, then Hell, so the Browns would have a place to play too.
Reminds me of a story by the way — did you know originally NFL Films wanted to call the Steelers “America’s Team” back in the ’70s? Yep it’s true. Steve Sabol of NFL Films approached then-owner Art Rooney with the idea to do a documentary on the Steelers called “America’s Team.” To which Mr. Rooney replied something to the effect of: “we’d rather be known as Pittsburgh’s team.”
Any wonder why the Steelers are God’s team?
Pretty cool huh?
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No, not cool.
All I can think of, is God was so displeased with Art Modell’s despicable act, he put a cloud over the Browns.
Or maybe God decided that Baltimore was a more holy place than Cleveland (although both cities are in bad shape), and decided to bless Art with his long-awaited superbowl ring.
The good news is Art got the ring; the bad news, the team would be in Baltimore.
Do the Steelers think of the rivalry between the team and Baltimore, as that of how it was with the Browns before they were moved to Baltimore?
In other words, do the Steelers think of the Ravens as the Browns under a different name –
and the “new” Browns as simply an expansion team?
I still think the Browns should be called, the Cleveland Browns of Baltimore — and left it at that.
Then, Cleveland’s expansion team, using the new stadium, would be the Cleveland Lerners (as in learning how to play or learner’s permit to play football or learner’s bra … you get the idea.)
Or in keeping with Coach Paul Brown’s team, the Cleveland Crennels or Cleveland Romeo, the team than likes love, not war.
I want to root for the right team, but I despise the Ravens so much and of course hate Pee-burgh almost as much.
Can’t wait for the game, Sunday!
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