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Quinn's time might be coming as losses mount
By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal sports columnist
Published on Monday, Sep 22, 2008
BALTIMORE: Where in the world does one start in trying to explain or figure what is wrong with the Browns?
The oh-and-three Browns, whose season seems to be slipping away faster than the Antarctic ice shelf?
Following Sunday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens— that's the team with the rookie quarterback and first-year coach — the Browns' coach seemed perplexed; the quarterback, angry; the players, deflated.
The future? Do the math.
The Browns can talk all they want about a season being 16 games with 13 remaining, but they, as their coach said, ''are not a very good team.''
And the Hindenburg's voyage highlighted a lovely afternoon.
The Browns gave the Ravens every one of their scores — with a poor punt, two interceptions and stupid penalties. They then short-circuited any chance of a comeback with silly penalties and poor run defense.
The Ravens played more physically.
The Ravens played smarter.
The Ravens played better.
And the Browns are looking at a season that could total double-digits in losses.
''It's pathetic,'' running back Jamal Lewis said of the Browns being winless after three games. He also said the offensive line did a good job and that the Browns could have pounded the ball at the Ravens all day.
Dissension in the ranks? Anger?
What do you expect when a team loses? Harmony?
Kellen Winslow didn't want to talk after the game. During the game, he got lit up by Ray Lewis after being set up by Derek Anderson, which led to an interception and gave the Ravens a touchdown.
Then Anderson threw another interception to Ed Reed, who returned it for a touchdown.
Reed personally has been dispatching the Browns every season he has been in the league. Seven of his 35 interceptions have come against the Browns, and two have been returned for touchdowns.
Romeo Crennel said the season is close to getting away from the Browns. Guess what? It might already have gotten away. He even raised the possibility that his team is living off last year's success.
Gee, you think?
Where do you start?
Usually it starts at the top, with the coach and management. This past offseason was the season of contract extensions, and when Crennel got his, he said it meant he ''had to win this year.''
Crennel is not oblivious. He knows what is out there if his team does not get better.
Then there are management decisions not to bring in veteran help at receiver in light of the injury to Donte' Stallworth. His absence from the first three games is killing the offense, and it has defenses selling out to stop Edwards and Winslow.
Syndric Steptoe is not a professional threat.
If the team can't count on Stallworth, it's past time to find someone it can count on.
Then there's Anderson, who raised hopes so high last season with his play. In the past 11 games, however, he has thrown 13 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, and he has averaged only 190 yards per game.
Sunday, he missed a wide-open Josh Cribbs down the sidelines for what would have been a huge play, and he threw that poor interception to Reed. Anderson's total yardage: 125.
The chances right now of his collecting that roster bonus in the spring? Never mind.
Some might have called for Brady Quinn on Sunday. But the Browns played right to the Ravens' strengths once they fell behind 21-10.
That allowed the Ravens to rush like madmen and drop deep into coverage. They let the Browns throw short all they wanted, then ran up to punish the receiver.
Quinn's time might be coming, but putting him in would not have helped Sunday. He also would have been throwing to Edwards, who appears to be in the funk of all funks.
Edwards, who wants to be a star and one of the best ever, had three catches for 27 yards. One catch he bobbled at least three times before cradling it. And when the Browns were behind 21-10, his silly block in the back negated a first-down run and led to a punt that set up the Ravens' final touchdown.
Edwards is so far from the player he was last season, you almost wonder whether something is wrong.
Winslow seems to be the lone wolf baying at the moon. His teammates simply are not helping.
The defense could not stop the run. Again.
The Ravens ground out four first downs in the fourth quarter and had the ball for 13:18, including from the time 11:03 was left until 1:51 was left. Thirteen minutes and 18 seconds. That's nearly impossible to comprehend.
This is run defense?
This is tough, physical football?
This is worth the trades that gave up all those draft picks?
There are so many excuses and whines about the Browns' start.
There are injuries. But Reed is intercepting passes and scoring touchdowns with a shoulder injury that would sideline most players.
There's the crushing weight of expectations, as if expecting a team to be good is a bad thing.
There's the schedule, as if nobody else in the league plays a tough schedule.
Next we'll hear about the shoelaces being the wrong color, the valet parking during home games bringing the wrong cars and the players being afraid of spiders.
The Browns right now are like the old model rockets we used to buy or build as kids. After all the anticipation, they got 1 or 2 feet off the ground -- and slunk right back to earth.
Patrick McManamon can be reached at pmcmanamon@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/.BALTIMORE: Where in the world does one start in trying to explain or figure what is wrong with the Browns?
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 05:22 AM, 09/22/2008
I do remember wanting to trade Anderson before the draft but everyone jumped ALL over me for it. I didn't think he was the answer and his stock was high, there were a few teams looking for an experienced arm. Anyone still want to argue that?
Wadsworth, OH
Posted 06:37 AM, 09/22/2008
Keep Quinn on the bench until Romeo is gone. Don't let Romeo ruin him like he did with Frye and is doing with Anderson.
Naples, FL
Posted 06:38 AM, 09/22/2008
If you think Anderson is the main reason the Browns aren't winning you obviously are biased and not watching the games. He's played poorly, but please tell me a player on this team who hasn't. The line stinks, the receivers stink, the team is totally undisiplined. Steptoe is running around out there like a lost child. This is a joke.
Posted 06:42 AM, 09/22/2008
Give RC his walking papers now. Why prolong the pain. It's never too early to start over.
Alliance, Oh
Posted 07:13 AM, 09/22/2008
Like the Indians, we'll play better when it doesn't mean anything and brag if we get back to .500. Back to square 1. Could of had some nice draft picks for Anderson, but now you wont get down markers for him the way he is playing!
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 07:31 AM, 09/22/2008
Browns will continue to be LOSERS until they get a true head coach like Bill Cowher. They need a leader, not a follower. Someone who isn't afraid to start BQ in place of DA. Someone who's willing to for it on 4th down instead of kick a FG with time running out. I hope they spend the money and hire Bill Cowher after they fire Romeo.
Posted 07:54 AM, 09/22/2008
The Saturn rockets got us to the moon and worked fine. It was the Vanguard rockets that blew up all the time. Otherwise, your analogy to the Browns is correct. Except that I'm not sure about the 15 feet part.
Posted 07:55 AM, 09/22/2008
sorry, meant 25 feet.
Posted 08:09 AM, 09/22/2008
No discipline. Unprepared. Poorly coached. Lack of talent.
Posted 08:25 AM, 09/22/2008
I agree with Phil.
Port Saint Lucie, Fl
Posted 09:10 AM, 09/22/2008
Too many things have been going on for too long (Travis Bickle,Taxi Driver).The Browns mgt.drafts and trades for guys with a name instead of character and heart.Oh, dittos to the Crennel dismissal;seems it is time for the Buddah to go!
Posted 09:25 AM, 09/22/2008
I picked them for 7-9 and even that looks optimistic now. If they keep this moron as head coach all year 3-13 is more realistic.
Wooster, Oh
Posted 09:28 AM, 09/22/2008
The Crennel coaching deathwatch has begun. If the Browns lose to Cincinnati can he survive? He has the excuse of injuries but everything else is terrible. We're not a good football team... we're confused... we're living off last year... what the heck is his job, anyway?
Posted 09:50 AM, 09/22/2008
Look, obviously many of you (Browns management and coaches included) have no eye for quarterback talent. And I'm talking about the talent and mental state it takes to play quarterback in the NFL. You have to be quick minded and decisive in the pocket, sharp and fast with your delivery and most importantly you must exude confidence as the captain on the field. It all starts with Anderson. If he doesn't believe the team can win, then the team won't believe it can win. Throwing 20 yards to the sidelines for a 2 yard gain is inexcusable and is a sign of quitting on offense. Anderson needs to shape up or be replaced, period. As far as Crennel, he instills absolutely no confidence in Anderson or any of his players for that matter who really need it. His time is coming. He'd better turn to Quinn, the one guy who might still have confidence on this team before it is too late. My prediction: 0-5 start and Crennel is gone.
Posted 10:08 AM, 09/22/2008
I never said i was blaming Anderson for everything. What would you do when you're quarterback has an average rating of 40 through the first 3 games? His passes are terribly inaccurate, he's STILL throwing the ball into double coverages, he's not reading defenses, he has no touch on his short passes, he's hanging his receivers out to dry (see Winslow yesterday), he keys in on his WRs and he cannot overcome adversity. Pretty much everything you need a quarterback to do, he's not doing it.
Posted 11:33 AM, 09/22/2008
Greetings from Baltimore ...It's a beautiful day sunny and 80 degrees. How did the Browns do yesterday ? LOL . Anybody get the tag # on the truck that ran over Kellen Winslow....I got it, it was 52. Ed Reed loves playin your team lemmie tell ya ..that guy kills you ...BYE
Posted 12:07 PM, 09/22/2008
Every comment here is positive! I sure hope Savage hops on this bandwagon and shows some respect for us fans. We're POSITIVE that Crennel MUST GO. We're POSITIVE that Anderson should ride the pines.
Posted 12:28 PM, 09/22/2008
I warned all my friends about Anderson after the Pro-Bowl he played terrible in that game and they dont play any defense.Its time to put Brady Quinn in.I think Crennel's time is up 0-3 , 26 points of offense last in total yards a game, come on give Brady the chance he deserves.Its gut check time for the Browns or we will be looking at another high drat pick..
Akron, OH
Posted 12:33 PM, 09/22/2008
Why Oh why, do we watch? just to have our hopes of an enjoyable football season crushed? At least we can count on the Browns to be the SAME OLD, SAME OLD
Posted 12:44 PM, 09/22/2008
Firstly, - Pat, your boring on the radio and in print. Please, stop. Let's all ponder this --- How is it Pat can "paragraph" all he wants and waste paper (which, even though he is correct - he is BORING in saying it), but the e-mail all get's joined together. YO, BEACON JOURNAL and all other papers, CONSISTENCY!!!!!!!!!! You can condense e-mail, but not paper???? Don't try and say it's so kids understand proper written language. Most read ABJ online!
Akron, OH
Posted 01:18 PM, 09/22/2008
I just want to say to that Ravens fan that your team is not a super Bowl Contender either. As for the Browns I dont forsee the front office getting rid of Romeo anytime soon. As for Quinn lets not kill his career ala Tim Couch either. It doesnt matter who the Qb is when the line sucks!!!! I hate to say but we the Cleveland Fans are in for a long and painful season....
edison, NJ
Posted 02:18 PM, 09/22/2008
browns lose sunday, our friend romeo won"t be coming back after the bye.
Stow, OH
Posted 02:32 PM, 09/22/2008
Wow ,where do you begin ?This team has sooo many problems going on . Every decent defensive coordinator knows that if you double up on Winslow and Edwards the Browns are sunk .Anderson is at best a second string quarterback who is on a very bad team .Having no running game and a coaching staff that is totally clueless is the perfect storm for a collapse like we witnessed yesterday.To sit there and say "I didn't put Quinn in because we still had a chance to win "shows you how far gone Crennel is .Leaving a good QB on the bench to rot when you are getting your heads bashed in is not the way to build his ego either.
newport, NC
Posted 02:35 PM, 09/22/2008
Hesus guys Marty got fired for less, so did Sam & Chris. But I don't think Bill Cower is the answer. To many ties to Pittsbourg. Romeo is a "BEllAPUKE" team killer sent by "BELLAPUKE" to &*$#up THE BROWNS. Homgren (sp) yes thats the answer. Really tired of the same &rap decade after decade....Yea, bring Sam Retigleano (sp) back. Thats the ticket. FOR THE FANS SAKE DO SOMTHING!!!!!!
San Antonio, TX
Posted 03:25 PM, 09/22/2008
It is obvious that the team stunk the joint up sunday. That is after teasing us with a 7-0 lead. It seems to me that our blitz packages don'y work. Are they that much diffrent then say the Ravens,Steelers or New England. If they are why isn't the Defensive coordinator looking at film of all those teams and see what will work. That doesn't seem to be a bad suggestion. The same can be said of our offense. Where are the picks,the motion to get CB out of position. We run a dead offense. That is sad since we do have talent.
Wooster, Oh
Posted 03:36 PM, 09/22/2008
I'm sure glad Chris from Baltimore wrote. Without his sharp critical eye we'd never know how terrible the Browns are.
Akron, OH
Posted 03:43 PM, 09/22/2008
Derek Anderson wears a size 15 shoe barely can stand straight, how can you expect him to scramble, sit his awkward behind down and let Brady Quinn earn his pay.
Posted 06:15 PM, 09/22/2008
The media folks in Boston are laughing and have been ever since this stiff was hired. He was described by those covering the Patriots at that time as a follower who executed faithfully Belichik's defense. He has no leadership or organizational skills and we won't even talk about his communication capabilities, This team has problems in many areas as we all know but it can't begin to turn around until a true professional head coach is hired.
cuyahoga falls, oh
Posted 11:06 PM, 09/22/2008
as their coach said, ''are not a very good team....'' led by a crennel who was a very good defensive coach when his own headcoach was stealing everyone's signals, and a foolish and uncoordinated head coach when he doesn't have that advantage... we could reincarnate paul warfield, bobby mitchell and jim brown to play in donte stallworth's absence, and romeo wouldn't know what to do with them...his decisions could be made by fifth grader who knew nothing about the game...
Posted 12:11 PM, 09/23/2008
GET RID OF ANDERSON AND GO STEELERS!!!!
