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By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Sunday, Jul 26, 2009
Chants of ''Super Bowl!'' aren't likely to break out at the first full-squad practice of Browns training camp on Saturday, as they did a year ago.
In 2008, coming off a 10-6 season that fell a game short of the playoffs, the Browns were network television darlings and fans were full of optimism. Now there is little buzz as coach Eric Mangini tries to improve on a 4-12 season that led to the firing of coach Romeo Crennel and General Manager Phil Savage.
As he prepares for the Sept. 13 opener at home against the Minnesota Vikings, Mangini will have much on his plate. Here are some of the questions that must be answered:
1. Who will win the quarterback competition?
If Derek Anderson didn't have the moxie to beat out Charlie Frye in 2007 — remember the difficulty both had throwing a preseason touchdown pass? — Anderson could be mental mush going up against the people's choice, Brady Quinn. But Mangini privately shot down the idea that the system of first-time offensive coordinator Brian Daboll will favor Quinn. Yes, part of Daboll's scheme came from the New England Patriots and Quinn played two years at Notre Dame for former Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. But Mangini said the offense also includes the digit system that Anderson thrived in after Frye was traded in 2007, when Anderson earned a trip to the Pro Bowl. Mangini said the scheme will be skewed, depending on who wins the job.
More crucial for Anderson is his continued lack of touch on short throws, especially swing passes to running backs. Quinn, meanwhile, looked like no more than a dink-and-dunker in May and June minicamps, but that could favor a ball-control style required while the defense is rebuilt. Anderson must recapture his '07 chemistry with receiver Braylon Edwards to prevail over former first-round pick Quinn. Mangini does not seem like the type to care whom the public wants.
2. Will Joshua Cribbs and Phil Dawson hold out?
The 2007 Pro Bowl special teamer and 10-year veteran kicker want their contracts renegotiated, which could be risky business for both. Cribbs, a former Kent State quarterback, has four years left on an extension signed in November 2006 that carries salaries of $620,000, $635,000, $650,000 and $790,000. Disgruntled, Cribbs skipped the team's first voluntary minicamp, but reported for the second after learning in a sit-down meeting with Mangini that ''the team was going on without me.'' Mangini might want to see Cribbs' contributions for himself before committing more money. A source says Cribbs intends to report Friday but hopes his contract will be addressed soon.
Depth is lacking in the receiving corps, but Cribbs has caught just 16 passes in four years. It seems frivolous to think Mangini will play Cribbs on defense, as the coach has suggested, unless Cribbs shows more dedication to the playbook and film study.
Dawson, who has two years remaining on a contract that pays him $1 million annually, skipped both voluntary minicamps. He approached the old regime about a renegotiation in 2008 (as did Cribbs). Dawson has an 82.8 percent career percentage on field goals and his statistics aren't an accurate representation of his value because of the Browns' offensive woes, especially in 2008. But ESPN's Adam Schefter predicted this month that Dawson will not kick for the Browns in 2009. Schefter expects a standoff will prompt Mangini to sign an experienced free agent.
3. Who will be the No. 2 receiver?
The cast of characters to start opposite Edwards is long, but not particularly accomplished. Of the newly acquired free agents, David Patten will be 35 next month and six-year veteran Mike Furrey, a Grove City native, is a slot receiver who would not draw double coverage away from Edwards. Others who will get a chance include Cribbs and Syndric Steptoe, who caught 19 passes in 2008, but none in the last three games.
The absence of a clear-cut No. 2 opens the door for rookies Brian Robiskie (Ohio State) and Mohamed Massaquoi (Georgia), both second-round picks. Robiskie, son of longtime NFL assistant and Browns interim coach Terry Robiskie, seems the more finished product. But few receivers have dazzled as rookies. Kevin Johnson had the best rookie season by a Brown with 66 receptions for 986 yards in 1999.
4. Which Braylon will show up?
Edwards took a page from the Good D.A.-bad D.A. playbook in 2008. After setting season franchise records with 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns (on 80 catches) and making his first Pro Bowl in '07, Edwards fell off the map with 55-873-3 in '08. He also led the league in dropped passes.
Edwards connected with Anderson in training camp until fellow receiver Donte' Stallworth gashed his heel when Edwards was jogging in socks. Then Anderson suffered a concussion Aug. 18. Edwards must put aside the offseason trade talk and the revelation that he was partying with Stallworth in Miami Beach on the night Stallworth struck and killed a pedestrian while driving drunk. Not vying with tight end Kellen Winslow for top diva status might help Edwards.
5. Who are the five best offensive linemen?
The second-best battle of training camp will be at center, where No. 1 draft pick Alex Mack will try to unseat Hank Fraley. But the right side is wide open, and then there's Mangini's request that left guard Eric Steinbach beef up. Ryan Tucker, George Foster, John St. Clair, Rex Hadnot and Floyd ''Pork Chop'' Womack also will compete to join two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas in the lineup.
6. Is Brodney Pool's starting job in jeopardy?
New defensive coordinator Rob Ryan might have unwittingly raised a question about Pool, entering his fifth season, when he said in June, ''Free safety in our scheme is a very difficult position to play.'' But the current roster doesn't appear to include a candidate to beat out Pool. Former New York Jets safety Abram Elam has mentioned on his blog that he will learn both spots, but he seems more suited for strong safety. Picking up a veteran who is released this summer is not out of the realm of possibility.
7. Will a new scheme help Kamerion Wimbley?
The first-round pick in 2006 set a rookie record with 11 sacks, then slipped to five and four the next two seasons. Ryan said Wimbley will be moved around, which should help, and believes he has ''great ability to rush the passer.'' Perhaps the intense Ryan and assistant coaches Bryan Cox (defensive line) and Matt Eberflus (linebackers) can unlock Wimbley's potential.
8. Who will start at tight end?
Winslow, who was high maintenance, was traded to the Tampa Bay Bucs and underrated Steve Heiden is coming off major knee surgery in December. The Browns probably won't get 80 catches from the position, as they did from Winslow alone in 2006 and 2007. Second-year man Martin Rucker, a standout receiver at the University of Missouri, will battle former Buffalo Bill Robert Royal, a seven-year veteran not known for his deft hands. If Heiden's not ready, who starts will probably come down to whether Mangini and Daboll want a blocker or a receiver.
9. Which of the former Jets will make the most impact?
Mangini acquired six players who spent 2008 with him with the Jets. The leader in the clubhouse as to which will have the biggest role is linebacker Eric Barton, slated to start inside next to D'Qwell Jackson. But Elam, a Kent State product, will get his time to shine replacing strong safety Sean Jones, gone to the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency. Elam has made 17 starts in three seasons.
10. Which veteran is in the most jeopardy?
Not including Stallworth, who will probably be cut by the Browns when his league suspension ends, most fans would think it would be Anderson. But General Manager George Kokinis said at the March meetings the team planned to keep both quarterbacks, although he didn't say for how long. Quinn's 2009 base salary is $655,000 (with escalators if he takes at least 70 percent of the snaps), Anderson's is $1.45 million. The Browns can keep Anderson until 2010, when he carries a $7.45 million salary and $2 million roster bonus. Dawson and Fraley ($1.3 million in '09, $1.63 million in 2010) are probably more at risk than the loser of the quarterback competition.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/. Follow the Browns on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Browns
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Comments
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Naples, FL
Posted 08:53 AM, 07/26/2009
Remember one thing when people criticize Quinn for not having the ability to throw deep and Anderson, not having "touch" on the short throws, you can't teach a strong arm. DA can improve on his short throws but Quinn will never have the cannon that DA has. May the best man win and that is the guy who will put W's on the board for the Browns, no other criteria required.
Stow, OH
Posted 11:09 AM, 07/26/2009
The main problem with DA is the fact that he can not run away from a pass rush and since he has no touch the ball either ends up incomplete or he gets sacked.With all the pass rushing schemes in the NFL now there are very few offensive lines that can sustain a pocket passer like DA.
There is more than 1 way to spread a defense besides throwing down field,a quick pass to a wide out or running back will be just as effective at keeping a defense on their toes.Bernie couldn't run either but he had a great touch for soft passes and avoided many sacks this way.
Posted 01:11 PM, 07/26/2009
I hate to say it because I'm not a DA hater, but Anderson is basically another Testeverde clone (e.g. canon arm, no touch, not enough smarts or leadership ability). In my opinion, Quinn has the intangibles (smarts, poise & leadership) much like Sipe & Kosar did! He just needs an opportunity to play to get better! Remember, he's only played 2 and 1/2 games! Anyone who thinks he is a stiff on that basis, doesn't know a fraction of what he/she thinks they know. Go Browns!
Canton, OH
Posted 05:02 PM, 07/26/2009
I believe in the ManGenius. . . .
akron, oh
Posted 05:56 PM, 07/26/2009
Does it really matter if Quinn has a cannon for an arm if the rec. can't hold on to the ball?
copley, oh
Posted 10:46 PM, 07/26/2009
Does it really matter in general.We will just get a new coach in 3 to 4 years anyhow lol.I just want to beat Pittspuke one time this year.And hope for some respectablitiy with this team.Dont get me wrong love the Browns but tired of rebuilding.Gee just like the Indians lol.
Posted 11:23 PM, 07/26/2009
I really think D.A. will not be in a Browns uniform when the season starts. There's always some team out there that needs a QB due to injury or very poor performance. San Fran (no explanation needed), Jacksonville (little faith in Garard), Minn (if no Favre), Houston (injury to fragile Matt Schaub) or even Seattle (Hasselback's back problem) could be looking for a QB.
The defense will be better than most expect them to be. Man-Kok has installed depth and more importantly leadership at every level of the defense and that will bring good results when compared to past seasons.
Robiskie will be the league's surprise rookie this year due to his large amount of playing time.
Yes I'm optomistic and being positive and yes, every year people start makign predictions that explode after the first 6 games. But i have a lot of faith in this coaching staff based on what they've done with he roster so far.
8-8 is not that far of a stretch.
Mentor, OH
Posted 09:09 AM, 07/27/2009
The rumors of Quinn having an arm or shoulder injury are all over the internet. He was blaming some pain and soreness on his inability to throw intermediate or deep passes in mini-camps. That resulted in Steve at the Canton paper and others observing that Quinn did not complete any passes over 4 yards past the line in several of the days he played. Quinn supposedly blamed his pain.
Last year when Quinn hurt his finger he said it did not interfere with throwing and he was throwing as well as ever. His receivers confirmed the ball was the same as ever. Then after poor games he said it was his finger. So when Quinn put his poor throws in mini-camp on physical problems no one was surprised.
But the rumor was that after mini-camp he did extreme workouts including lifting that he was advised against. He worsened the injury and is now trying to avoid surgery by rehab.
So far no one has confirmed or denied these rumors.
If Quinn is headed to surgery we will have to go through this whole thing again next year. As all the Quinn fans will claim he would have should have been the starter no matter how well DA ends up doing as the starter. I would rather settle the issue now and trade off the loser. So I hope Quinn's arm is fine.
Look for DA to emerge as the winner. Mangini does not care that Quinn is local or a first round pick. Dink and dunk will not cut it.
Mentor, OH
Posted 09:24 AM, 07/27/2009
There is nothing about Kosar and Quinn that make them comparable, at all. Fans need to stop their desperation in trying to find a QB that had success that did not have a strong arm. Kosar threw a very accurate deep ball. True he did not have the strongest arm, but people confuse the two.
Kosar was tall and had far less mobility than DA. Kosar had a killer go for it we are gonna win mentality like DA. Quinn and Kosar have nothing in common except both were on the Browns and did not have the strongest arms. Beyond that they could not be more different. DA and Kosar actually share more traits than Quinn and Kosar. Kosar had a feel and knowledge of the game, a sense of what was going on better than almost any QB ever. Neither Quinn or DA comes anywhere near having that. If you saw Quinn in college that is not at all the kind of QB he was.
Sipe was a small weak armed Brett Favre. A gunslinger like DA is accused of being. He was more likely to force a pass than dink and dunk any day. Again Sipe did not have the strongest arm but it did not prevent him from throwing a decent long ball. Not as accurate as Kosar or on a line like DA. But Sipe had the corp of receivers that knew they had to go get the ball which was often underthrown.
So those of you that did not actually see Sipe and Kosar need to stop the comparisons Quinn is nothing like either of them. Neither was a dink and dunker and both was more than willing to give a play a shot even if it was not "open".
They had the intangibles of winners. They were willing to go for it. The exact opposite of Quinn. Much more like DA.
Time for the two QBs to get an equal shot in camp and preseason games and let them settle it on the field. No more give the job to this guy because he is from Ohio or a high draft pick. Earn the job.
