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Coach Crennel questions if team is trying to live off last year's success
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Monday, Sep 22, 2008
BALTIMORE: A slightly bewildered coach Romeo Crennel openly wondered whether his team was living off its success from last year after the Cleveland Browns rolled over 28-10 against the Baltimore Ravens Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium.
The Browns are off to an 0-3 start, after the season began with high expectations.
''Right now as the result of that second half, we're not a very good football team,'' Crennel said. ''I don't know if we're trying to live on the success we had last year, but that's not working. We're going to have to do a lot better or this thing is really going to get away from us.''
Some might say it already has gotten away from the Browns and that they're looking to last year as opposed to looking forward. Braylon Edwards, however, defended his team.
''I don't believe that to be true. I saw a team that was there in the offseason working hard. I see guys who got better as a team,'' he said. ''I see Kellen Winslow studying and watching film to get on the same page as [Derek Anderson]. I see myself doing the same thing. The addition of Donte' [Stallworth]. Josh [Cribbs] moving up in an offensive role.
''I saw the confidence that was there. I saw guys getting hurt before training camp. I saw players get hurt during training camp. I saw a lack of rhythm. I've seen all these things.
''I know guys are playing hurt right now. I know guys that aren't 100 percent that you won't know about because that's just what we do. We go out and give it everything we have, no matter what the consequences.''
Edwards said it's a matter of the team getting healthy again.
No call to Quinn
Anderson struggled for the third time this season.
For the year, the Browns' quarterback is 43-of-93 passing for 405 yards, two touchdowns and five interceptions. He threw three interceptions Sunday and had a passer rating of 22.9.
Anderson's decision-making could be called into question on at least one of those picks. With the Browns still in the game — down 14-10 — he overthrew Syndric Steptoe, hitting Ed Reed in the chest and 32 yards later, Reed landed in the end zone to put the Ravens up 21-10.
Crennel was asked whether he considered going to Brady Quinn.
''No, because the game was still in reach, and if we had scored, it would have been a 10-point game. Derek had had most of the work during the week and we still had a chance,'' he said.
Yet Anderson didn't exactly get a ringing endorsement. After the loss, Crennel said the coaching staff would re-examine all positions. When asked whether it included the quarterback position, he answered: ''I said every position.''
Struggles continue
Wide receiver Edwards remained unimpressive, catching only three passes for 27 yards.
He also didn't help his cause when he got called for an illegal block on a second-and-1 play. Running back Jamal Lewis picked up the first down, but the penalty nullified it. On successive downs, Anderson took a delay-of-game penalty and a sack.
''I felt good. I had some nicks and bruises, but they held up. I got better out there,'' Edwards said.
Lewis shows fire
Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis might have lost a step since his heyday, but he showed he can still affect a game.
While slamming Winslow all day, Lewis delivered one hit to the tight end that popped the ball in the air, allowing cornerback Chris McAlister to pick it off and give the Ravens some momentum. Four plays later, fullback LeRon McClain scored a touchdown on a 1-yard plunge.
O-line woes
The Cleveland Browns planned for offensive lineman Ryan Tucker to make his season debut against the Ravens, but that didn't happen.
Instead, Tucker occupied a prominent spot on the inactive list. The team also placed left guard Eric Steinbach on the inactive list, leaving the Browns with a makeshift offensive line and backup center Seth McKinney playing out of position.
Jamal Lewis said that despite the line shifts, holes were there for him to run through.
Other inactives for the game were: Ken Dorsey (third quarterback), Stallworth, safety Sean Jones, linebackers Kris Griffin and Willie McGinest, and tight end Martin Rucker.
Scary moment
Officials halted the game during the second quarter as trainers examined Ravens safety Dawan Landry after he absorbed a hit from Jamal Lewis. Landry never lost consciousness and had movement in all of his extremities. Doctors diagnosed him with a spinal concussion.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/sportsblitz/
BALTIMORE: A slightly bewildered coach Romeo Crennel openly wondered whether his team was living off its success from last year after the Cleveland Browns rolled over 28-10 against the Baltimore Ravens Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 08:37 AM, 09/22/2008
No one should be bewildered by the Browns loss. They are a poorly coached team. I wish for once that they would let a fan like myself coach the Browns for one week of practice and one game. Here are some things I would do differently than Crennel. 1. I would have my team ready to play every week. (game planning, mental approach and physically he is being out coached before the game even starts. 2. I would not stand on the isdelines with this dumbfounded look, like I have no clue. (I would be getting in someone's face no matter how much money they make or how much they practiced during the week. I.E. bringing in BQ for DA, what is there to lose) 3. I wouldn't make excused after the game. (If these guys are still thinking about last year, it is the coaches responsibility to change that approach) A football team is an extension of their coach and right now their record says it all.
akron, oh
Posted 11:24 AM, 09/22/2008
that's why
Posted 04:50 PM, 09/22/2008
And the really sad part is that the Browns actually averaged about 4.8 yards on the ground. Lewis got rolling early. Vickers played well and - when allowed to - so did Harrison. Too bad the passing game was in the toilet.
Hagerstown, MD
Posted 07:15 PM, 09/22/2008
Bring in Bill Cowher next year. Find a GM. Forget about starting Quinn until decent blocking has been established. It will be a shame if Quinn gets beat to death like Tim Couch did.
