Once again the Browns got pushed around by an opposing RB…  Once again, opposing defensive stars had good days (Urlacher 12 tackles and a sack, Mike Brown 1 INT)…  Once again, the offense was generally stagnant…  Once again, the defensive effort was relatively uninspiring.  On this day, though, the Browns were saved by Chris Crocker and Antonio Bryant. 

 

With 3 minutes to go, Trent Dilfer connected with Bryant on a 33-yard TD.  On the ensuing Bears drive, rookie QB Kyle Orton fumbled on their 3^rd play from scrimmage.  Chris Crocker made a key sack, forced fumble, and fumble recovery.  This set up a short field for the eventual 2 play drive that ended on a 28-yard Dilfer to Bryant scoring strike.

 

Reuben Droughns chipped in with 72 yards on 17 carries, keeping him ahead of the pace for 1,000 yards.  Also significant was Aaron Shea’s 65 yard receiving performance.  Overall this team is doing “nothing special” on either side of the ball, but it has brought them to a 2-2 record.

 

In my eyes, the most important note from this win came from off the field.  Longtime Browns radio announcer Casey Coleman, recovering from pancreatic surgery, was presented with the game ball from Dilfer.  We all wish Casey well in his fight and hope for a quick return to health.

Week 3 of the 2005 NFL season pitted our Browns against the high octane Indianapolis Colts.  In what turned out to be a Fantasy Footballer’s nightmare, the Colts “Edged” the Browns 13-6. 

 

This game was lost because of field position and time of possession.  The Browns didn’t have a single drive begin beyond their own 29 yard line.  Add this to the fact that 6 of the Browns 8 drives occurred in the first half.  Yes, that’s right, only 2 possessions in the 2^nd half!  Chalk this last fact up to dreadful timeout management…  The Browns also were penalized nearly 50 more yards than the Colts.

 

As for game statistics, the Browns’ 3 key skill players (Dilfer, Droughns, and Bryant) all gave slightly above average performances.  With more even time of possession, we may have seen Droughns or Bryant at 100 yards, or perhaps Dilfer at 300 yards.  Defensively, the only real highlight was a McCutcheon interception off of Manning.

 

To their credit, the offense played turnover-free football.  However, the Offensive Line finally yielded its first sacks of the season.  3 of the 4 sacks rendered were to 2004 sack champion / Pro Bowl pass rusher Dwight Freeney.  We all knew LJ Shelton’s streak would end, but we didn’t know he’d get outright dominated.  The Colts certainly showed their split personality in this game, as it was Edgerrin James who churned up yards and dominated the game clock.

 

Crennel continues to show that he has the winning formula for keeping Peyton Manning in check.  However, it is clear that this team just doesn’t have the talent base in the Front 7 to stop a talented RB.

As it turns out, I caught most of the game from our hotel in Chicago!  Thank goodness that the Bears are in the Packers division, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to see this one…  The Browns pulled off a 26-24 victory over the Packers and it is safe to say that the Packers are now on the downward slide…

 

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Trent Dilfer first.  His 336 yard, 3 TD, O INT performance earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.  This is the style of game that we hoped we’d see out of Dilfer, where he does everything he can to avoid the turnover.  Dilfer’s stats were clearly aided by the 62-yard Steve Heiden TD and the 80-yard Braylon Edwards TD.  It was very nice to see these two receivers picking up the slack for the offense.  If Heiden can have 100+ yards in this offense, you really have to wonder what a non-injured Evel Kellen-eivel would have done…  Reuben Droughns looked decent early, but the Browns basically abandoned the run after the 2^nd quarter.

 

Remarkably, the Browns Offensive Line succeeded in protecting the QB for the 2^nd straight week.  Thus far, the combo of Shelton / Andruzzi / Faine / Coleman / Tucker has yielded zero sacks…  ZERO SACKS?  Am I reading that right?  Those who know me can attest that I’ve been lobbying for the Browns to add LJ Shelton for about 2 years.  Maybe it was my soft spot for him because his father, Lonnie Shelton, played for the Cavs.  Shelton has done an excellent job against premier pass-rushers Justin Smith and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, with timely assistance by Joe Andruzzi when needed.  The line faces its biggest challenge this week, against Dwight Freeney, Corey Simon, and Montae Reagor.

 

I offer a big “welcome back” to Gary Baxter, who had a decent game against the Packers (including an interception).  The clear defensive star, however, was tackling machine Andra Davis.  Davis finished the game with 19 tackles (12 solo).  Kenard Lang also filled in admirably for the injured Matt Stewart.  Overall, the defensive effort was average.  This can all be expected from a team still learning a new defensive scheme.  There was very little pressure put on Favre, who was missing star WR Javon Walker and still finished with over 300 yards.  For obvious reasons, this has me a bit worried for the Indy game in Week 3.  I’m hoping for big games out of Sean Jones and Brian Russell this week.

 

If this team is ever going to go far, they’ll definitely have to learn how to finish a game.  They were outscored 17-6 in the 4^th quarter.  You can blame this on the failure to run the ball effectively in the 2^nd half.  To their credit, the Packers had several time consuming drives, but the Browns churned out only 7 yards on five 2^nd half possessions.

 

Oh yeah, one more thing…  GO TRIBE!!!!!!!!!

We all knew it was going to be an uphill battle in Week 1 against the Browns’ bastard stepbrothers.  The Browns entered the game with a new offensive scheme and a new defensive scheme.  In addition, the 2005 Browns brought forth 8 new offensive starters and 8 new defensive starters since Game 1 of 2004.  New kick returners, a new punter, a new GM, new coaches, yada yada yada…  Fortunately, the hub of the wheel that makes this wagon go was still the same (Ryan Pontbriand), who is also known as the “Picasso of Long Snapping”.

 

The offense started out great with a 24 yard run by Reuben Droughns.  On 3^rd & 1 a few plays later, the Browns tried to get cute with a flea flicker that fell incomplete to Northcutt.  A punt ended any threat.  The defense also opened up great with a quick “three and out”, then Drive 2 resulted in a Browns’ Field Goal.  Our beloved Browns finished the 1^st Quarter up 3-0.  The Bengals 2^nd drive evolved into what we expected… a “Johnson and Johnson” show… as Chad & Rudi accounted for 55 of 79 yards in a TD-scoring drive.  After a Bengals’ Field Goal, the Browns offense came to life thanks to a 68-yard scoring strike from Dilfer to Frisman Jackson.  Fris ended up with a 128 yard, 1 TD performance that has Fantasy Football players across the world saying “Who?”.  At halftime, the Browns trailed 17-10 and were certainly in the game.  The second half yielded very little results due to interceptions and inability to sustain a long drive.  The Bengals nearly doubled the Browns in the precious “time of possession” stat for the 2^nd half, even though they only posted another 10 points.

 

The Browns did lose the turnover battle with 2 INTs and a lost fumble.  Dilfer’s Modus Operundi is as a guy who protects the ball and generally doesn’t do anything to “lose a game” for you.  The Browns were also killed by penalties, as two TDs were called back.  The first was a 73-yard Northcutt punt return TD, negated by a “block in the back” penalty on Corey McIntyre.  The second was a 38-yard Interception return by Leigh Bodden, negated by an “illegal hands to the face” penalty on Ray Mickens. 

 

The biggest positive I took from this game is that the Browns’ Offensive Line did not yield a single sack!  Other positives included the athletic play of Chaun Thompson (1 sack, 1 forced fumble), Bodden’s pass defense, and the hard running of Reuben Droughns (averaged over 6 yards per carry).

 

On the injury front, the Browns did get a bit dinged…  OLB Matt Stewart and Rookie WR Joshua Cribbs are unlikely to play against the Packers.  Kenard Lang and Nick Speegle will help fill the Stewart void, but the Browns are still determining Cribbs’ replacement on the Kick Return team.  Rumors have Reuben Droughns volunteering for the duty once again, as he has proven to be a successful alternative for returns in the past.  However, a move like this has the makings of a Kellen Winslow-esque Special Teams’ suicide mission to have your starting running back returning kicks.  More likely candidates for the near term include Antonio Perkins, Dennis Northcutt, and Frisman Jackson.

 

Looking forward, the Browns will invade Lambeau in Week 2 to face a Packers team that has just lost its most important receiver (Javon Walker).  Despite the distinct home-field advantage, I expect this game to be close and would not be surprised by a Browns’ victory.  Look for Braylon Edwards to get more looks in Week 2, look for Lee Suggs to see more action than Willie Green due to his speed off the edge, and expect a “calmer” Trent Dilfer who protects the ball a bit better this time around.  A key match-up to watch is Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila against new Left Tackle L.J. Shelton.  How Shelton performs the next couple weeks against speed rushers like KGB and Dwight Freeney will determine his future in a Browns’ uniform… 

 

Enjoy the game next week!  I’ll be out of town, so my blog next week will be more from a box score and highlights perspective.

Even in a sharpshooters most longful belief that starting rookie quarterback Charlie Frye would be successful in his first year, there will be, and should be quick dissolve to the thought. That, which would be called hope in one hand, carrying another heavily weighable dimension with the offensive coaches and some acute fans. Alike in some facets, they would really enjoy for a 'Charlie-to-step-up' in eventualism, but this incitability will go away without an unfortunate injury.

Charlie Frye was the pick for the future, and that is all-good, but the present is now. After all, if the Browns didn't feel strongly enough before and during the draft proceeds about him, why would they have selected him to succeed any QB we currently had?

So, I unforeseeingly agree to this point, relevantly basing, with those that believe that he was the quarterback drafted as the long-term answer.

However, the worst part of it is, there is a 'time' element involved with maturity. You know, just like with us other young guys, we had to accomplish things on the street... we had to learn the ropes, so to speak.

Right now, in my opinion more than anything else with the Browns, there must be a found avenue of relief to solve the lack of pass rush by the Browns defense somehow, someway. If the Browns were to conquer a portion of that, they could be in business-enough to place offensive players in a position of which to succeed.

That includes the likes of Braylon Edwards, the Browns #3 overall pick in the draft, along with Frye, who could both seemingly be a futuristic dream together.

It has all of the relevance in the world to this team to rush an opposing quarterback. Get your team into a position to where you can be more optimistic on offense, to outscore opponents in three-quarters time. Then allow a Charlie Frye to reap some much needed NFL playing time in uneffectual scored, but competitive first-team oppositional - - defensive times.

Thus, the most need in timing is for a veteran quarterback to go through taking the 'brunt' of growing the pain.

Charlie Frye has the current and fortunate time to grow behind Trent Dilfer.

That is a very likeable fortune; One that you can take to the teller of the future.

-Chuck-

Perhaps it is my anticipation of the Buckeyes / Longhorns game, but I’m FEELING DEFENSIVE today…  At long last, I’ve finally pulled together my own thoughts on the season prospectus for the Browns’ defensive squad.

 

The man in charge, Romeo Crennel, brings to town five (count them…  FIVE) Super Bowl rings.  All of these earned as an Assistant Coach with the Giants and Patriots.  We will see an interesting storyline evolve over the next couple years, when we see how Crennel’s defense takes shape and how Belichick’s defense survives.  I’ve always thought it was a shame that Bill Belichick learned how to be a BAD COACH in Cleveland and became a LEGEND elsewhere.  Typical Cleveland luck…

 

Romeo will get a free pass from me on this year’s squad, since many of the key components are holdovers from the previous regime.  But, once next year rolls around and more than half of the starters have been brought in by Crennel, I’m one guy whose leash will get shorter...

 

Once again, I’ll start up front.  This seems to be the unit that will struggle the most.  I’m not sure I remember any team in recent years that basically jettisoned their entire starting squad from the previous year.  Interestingly enough, they pretty much all went to Denver along with former Defensive Line coach Andre Patterson.  Courtney Brown, Michael Myers, and Gerard “Pocket Change” Warren all find themselves at the top of Denver’s depth chart.  Ebenezer Ekuban is now backing up Courtney Brown, which essentially means that he’ll be a Denver starter too (to no one’s surprise, CB is currently injured).  The Browns made a concerted effort to keep Courtney Brown, but he likely would have been converted to an Outside Linebacker in the Browns new 3-4 scheme.  Overall, I say good riddance…  Looking forward, the Browns are currently rolling out Orpheus Roye, Jason Fisk, and Alvin McKinley up front.  I’ve always been a fan of Roye’s work and feel he’s just the kind of “lunch pail” guy you need on your team.  He should easily lead the team in sacks, but I don’t see that being any more than 7 on the year.  Jason Fisk is an experienced NFL Nose Tackle who followed Defensive Coordinator Todd Grantham to Cleveland.  Grantham knows how to get the best out of Fisk, but I feel that Fisk’s best will still not be enough up the middle.  McKinley, like Fisk, is not a long-term answer as he’s only started 2 times in 52 career NFL games.  In this group, Browns fans have to hope for some quick NFL adjustment by former Buckeye Simon Fraser who was signed as an un-drafted Free Agent.  A signing of Jamie Sharper, Corey Simon, or Hugh Douglas would have eased my mind a bit (Douglas is still out there Phil!).

 

The linebacker corps may be the strongest unit on the defensive side of the football...  The combo of Andra Davis and Ben Taylor / Orlando Ruff up the middle should be better than average.  Ruff has been a decent surprise in camp, after joining the Browns as a Free Agent in July and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him surpass Taylor on the Depth Chart.  I have a soft-spot for former Sun Devil Mason Unck as well and am glad to see him on the team.  The Outside Linebackers have a lot of promise and should prove to have a good mix of speed, athleticism, youth, and leadership.  Matt Stewart has been a formidable starter on Atlanta teams that were quite stingy against the run.  Like Roye, he’s an unheralded guy who sneakily puts together a good season for you.  It seems to be “put up or shut up” time for Butch’s reach pick in 2003, Chaun Thompson.  Thompson shows flashes of brilliance and has a high motor, but has yet to put all the pieces together.  On the bright side, he’s already done way more than Craig Powell ever did (ouch).  Converted DE Kenard Lang and draftees Nick Speegle and David McMillan round out the linebacking squad and will see the field often in Crennel’s defensive schemes.  Grabbing AJ Hawk in Round 1 or Bobby Carpenter in Round 2 of the 2006 draft would give the Browns the “Tedy Bruschi-esque” player that they need for this position.

 

The defensive backfield reminds no one of the Dixon, Minnifield, and Wright era.  Heralded Free Agent Gary Baxter opens the year injured, still suffering with post-concussion symptoms.  It’s never a good thing when your brain is rattled around in your skull.  I’d expect him to start serious contribution by Week 4 at the latest.  Until then, Leigh Bodden starts in his place and will be pressed by Michael Lehan.  Daylon McCutcheon joins Phil Dawson as the only remaining players from the 1999 Browns reincarnation.  McCutcheon never seems to get credit from Browns fans, despite starting 80 of 87 games on the active roster.  This is primarily because he’s only surpassed 2 INTs one time in his Browns career (4 in 2001).  Consider this… if you were facing the Browns, who have perpetually had only 1 quality Cornerback, who would you throw at, McCutcheon?  I think not.  One year late, we finally get to see what the Browns traded up for in Strong Safety Sean Jones.  This “2^nd year rookie”, recovering from a 2004 knee injury, is a wicked hitter that we can only hope has the spirit of Eric Turner in him (RIP, E-Rock).  If healthy, Jones should develop into a Ty Law type that Crennel will shuttle all over the field to make plays.  At Free Safety, FA Brian Russell supplants the released Robert Griffith and makes the starting lineup considerably younger.  So far, I’ve liked what I’ve seen from Russell and hope he keeps up the good work.  Russell is a ball-hawk that tied for the NFL lead for INTs in 2003 with nine.  He has 18 INTs in 3 NFL seasons.  Russell is basically the antithesis of Griffith, who excelled in run support (157 tackles, 93 solo) but struggled against the pass.  Youngsters Chris Crocker and Brodney Pool provide solid depth at the Safety spots.

Forgive a guy for being a bit of a pessimist, but there are just way too many "IFs" surrounding this team to get too hyped up about.  I just want to see some improvement on a week to week basis and reduction of mental mistakes.  6-10 going undefeated in the AFC North would be just fine in my book...

The Chicago Bears have serious issues of their own, it's not just a Browns problem.

Yep, QB Rex Grossman went down in training camp with a broken ankle. Back-up Chad Hutchinson, while not injured, but terrible in pre-season games, got the 'shaft' all-the-way to the released zone.

So, where did that leave the Bears at QB?

Former Purdue and current NFL rookie Kyle Orton, who apparently is the last man currently standing without cane, has to begin the season in an NFL uniform by team incision. Jeff Blake, formerly a hated Bengal, is set to be the back-up to Orton.

Not a good scenario for the Bears, currently out of good news... other than they have a brilliant personality - (!) - one in Cedric Benson, running back out of the Univ. of Texas. Benson, who has just recently signed, would likely be a decoy, at best, in todays game. He was the last of the first round picks to sign, and frankly, cannot be blamed for his tardiness...

Kyle Orton has had a very successful camp for the Bears and is passing 27/42 in the preseason, for a 'formula' 409 yards. But, even with all of that early pre-year drama, this is the real NFL. Orton has yet to experience that dreadful regular season community that just rips the hide off of young players and brings them back to calf-birth.

-----------------------------------------

Enter the Cleveland Browns, an early 2-1 team and easily recognizable. You know... the one without a weighed-out promise in one hand for hope, because the other hand is so full of [I'll explete myself] according to some "experts".

Will Browns third overall pick Braylon Edwards take on a more definitive role as the Bears remain with pass-weaknesses on defense? Will Antonio Bryant, or a more singularly questioned, Dennis Northcutt, stand up against the Bears weak link in their secondary?

The Browns defense against the run has been so bad, that even Romeo Crennel is pondering a deployment to the defensive line, himself. After all, he is no small fellow in this teamwork jest. But he was a Patriot, a take-one-for-the-teamer, maybe staying at a Holiday INN Express one night somewhere down his past road.

I could be serious about the above Crennel to-the-defense mention, really.

OK, the magic eight-ball says, "no".

The Browns will actually receive some test from the Bears defensive line and LB's. While not the statistical turnover crew necessarily, the Bears do have LB Brian Urlacher who is healthy again, and Urlacher's mate, LB Lance Briggs, available as absolute pair of tackling machines.

That should provide for some interest from the Browns offense, the unit who seek to gain most interest from this game, an opportunity to see the running back position in better wave-sequence. If the Browns running backs can gain the line of scrimmage, the afterfact gets more interesting with those Bears linebackers.

Call "truce" now?

Bears second year tackle from Oklahoma, Tommy Harris, has risen from his locks in college football and it's stardom, to claim himself as the next defensive line NFL great and it's hopeful following. The Bears are relatively quick, in general, on the defensive line the rest of the way. The Bears defense is generally built upon finding new up-and-comers.

So, here we go with testing the running game in Cleveland along with the new-and-improved offensive line. It is perhaps a 'secretly' good thing with Reuben Droughns and William Green as the supporting cast to Lee Suggs, who will not play, to share carries in chance to compete for the starting gig. This setting will enable the coaching staff to find out who really is the best fit in the offense, either by starter or by second or third teams, depending on Suggs' future status.

Suggs' current condition makes more than a few concerned in time element for return. He is looking more and more like a guy that will not start the season, possibly in longer terms.

The Bears, much to liking of defense and Kyle Orton, are 3-1 on the preseason.

But how long can victory last?

-Chuck-

The Carolina Panthers win, 23-20, after a Sultan McCullough fumble late in the pre-season game provides position for the Carolina winning drive. McCullough went from "hero to zero" after scoring a late touchdown, and then, fumbling the ball at a crucial ball-control time right afterwards.

The Browns defense... well, it is still giving opposing runners obvious daylight and very well may be a season-long nemesis in weakness. But, thus far, they are not allowing a lot of points... an important point.

Trent Dilfer had a decent game, throwing for 168 yards on 15-for-23 and one deflected INT in slighty over two quarters.

Browns back-up QB Charlie Frye, is desperation, received some incompletion numbers that make his stats look worse.

The Browns are still making penalty mistakes that are erasing decent plays.

No problem, it's pre-season. I'll wait for a more seasoned product.

-Chuck-

As a follow-up to my blog about the various offseason moves by the Browns’ front office, this blog focuses on one man’s prospectus of the 2005 Browns Offense.

 

I strongly believe that an offense “starts up front”, so let’s take a look at the Offensive Line.  The powers that be wisely surmised that a complete overhaul of the 2004 O-Line was necessary.  Three (3) new starters were brought in to supplement Jeff Faine and Ryan Tucker, and all appear to be upgrades of their 2004 counterparts.  L.J. Shelton, a man-mountain in his own right, replaces Ross Verba at Left Tackle.  Shelton found himself in Dennis Green’s doghouse because of conditioning, but has been a solid player in the past.  Verba became a malcontent, was subsequently released, and appears to have made a colossal error in overestimating his market value.  At last look, Verba remains an unsigned free agent and has said he’d retire if he doesn’t make Top 5 money at his position.  Have fun collecting those NFL pension checks, Ross…  Joe Andruzzi will likely help Coach Crennel instill the Patriots winning attitude and is known to be a fierce run-blocker.  Cosey Coleman doesn’t necessarily excel at anything, but he won’t hurt you much either.  Coleman has been pursued by the Browns as a free agent his last time on the market as well.

 

At Quarterback, Trent Dilfer was brought in via trade to keep the seat warm and help groom his heir apparent Charlie Frye.  Browns fans are hoping that Frye can lead this team to as much success as fellow Ohioan Bernie Kosar.  Based on training camp and 2 preseason games, he appears to have the make-up and ability to take over sometime in late 2005 or early 2006.  In the meantime, Dilfer will play the type of football that is un-exciting but provides minimal mistakes.  I sincerely hope that Josh Harris is not sent to the street just for the sake of having a “veteran backup” in Doug Johnson.  Johnson doesn’t offer much to this team.

 

The Running Back corps is as good as it has been since the Browns returned.  When it all shakes out, I expect Reuben Droughns to emerge as the starter.  As I write this, Droughns has churned out 30 yards against the Lions and has made some tough yards while the O-Line is learning to gel with one another.  Suggs is presently injured, but if William Green continues his strong camp Suggs could find himself in a significantly reduced role.  I’m also really hoping that Sultan McCullough makes this team as a Special Teams player.  He played well against the Giants and was solid on Special Teams for the Redskins the past two years.  At Fullback, the Browns boast one of the best lead blockers in the game, Terrelle Smith.  Maurice Carthon’s offense will likely make more use of Smith as both a runner and receiver. 

 

By all accounts, Antonio Bryant has been one of the top players in training camp.  In today’s game versus the Lions, Dilfer connected with Bryant on a sweet 51-yard TD and Bryant has made a couple other great grabs in the middle of the field.  Both Dennis Northcutt and Bryant appear to have surpassed the speedy Andre Davis on the depth chart.  With Braylon Edwards on the rise, it really will not surprise me to see Davis dealt.  Rookie “street free agents” Brandon Rideau and Josh Cribbs have impressed the coaching staff and could end up as the #4 and #5 WRs if Davis is dealt.  Cribbs has had a nice day on kick returns against the Lions today, averaging 35.3 yards per return so far.

 

Kellen Winslow has done his best to completely ruin the Tight End position for the Browns.  The 2004 broken leg suffered on an on-side kick last year was a bit disgusting because they likely wouldn’t have won that game anyway the way the offense was playing.  The motorcycle stunt from this offseason, while he was still recovering from the previous broken leg, has further stunted what could have been a very promising NFL career.  I really don’t think Winslow has the same “ceiling” as an NFL player after this recent batch of injuries.  Steve Heiden and Aaron Shea have played admirably in his absence.  Heiden had an incredible 3 TD performance in the 58-48 barn-burning loss against the Bengals last year.

 

This team still is far from being an offensive force and lacks “star power”.  As Browns fans, we pin our hopes on the future when Frye is hooking up regularly with Edwards, Bryant, and Winslow.  Today's game-winning TD pass from Frye to Edwards gives the Browns a "new hope", but I fully expect the Browns to have a Top 8 pick AGAIN in the 2006 draft.  Regardless of what Droughns, Suggs, and Green bring to the table, it will be difficult for the Browns to pass on potential gamebreakers like Reggie Bush and Deangelo Williams.  Next year’s draft is extremely deep in Left Tackles and many hope that Savage and Co. will focus on the big boys up front such as D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Marcus McNeill, Jonathan Scott, Winston Justice, or Eric Winston.  Those of us that are Buckeye fans too wouldn’t be too disappointed in a selection of A.J. Hawk either, though!

 

Next blog: Feeling Defensive?