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As opener looms, coach says team can't take anything for granted
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Monday, Sep 01, 2008
BEREA: Fifty-three players could report to work this morning thinking all is right again in Brownstown.
But coach Romeo Crennel will quickly slam the book on that fairy tale.
The Browns played about half the preseason with seven starters and Pro Bowl returner Joshua Cribbs sidelined because of injury. The offense's big three — quarterback Derek Anderson, running back Jamal Lewis and receiver Braylon Edwards — are slated to return to practice today, and they might be joined by strong safety Sean Jones and outside linebacker Antwan Peek.
As preparations begin for the regular-season opener Sunday at home against the Dallas Cowboys, Crennel will not let his players believe that they can merely click their heels and everything will be back to normal. He will guard against a feeling of overconfidence because the bulk of the regulars are back.
''I don't know who's thinking that, but I'm not thinking that,'' Crennel said. ''I don't think you can ever do that in football. No one really knows. That's why you line up and play the game. That's why you practice every day. That's why guys have to be at the top of their game to have a chance to win.''
The status of free safety Brodney Pool (third concussion in four years) and Cribbs (high ankle sprain), both hurt Aug. 18 against the New York Giants, remains questionable at best. Against the Cowboys, the Browns also will be without their top two right guards, Ryan Tucker (hip surgery in May) and
Rex Hadnot (strained right knee suffered Thursday against the Chicago Bears). Taking over is Seth McKinney, who started the first eight games a year ago.
The Browns never had their projected starting lineup on the field in training camp or for the four preseason games, all losses. Along with Tucker, newly acquired No. 2 receiver Donte' Stallworth came to camp with a hamstring injury that kept him out a few days. That would seem to spell trouble for an offense that ranked eighth in the league last season, a 10-6 campaign that fell a game shy of the playoffs.
Edwards, who cut his foot while jogging after practice Aug. 9 and needed stitches, doesn't believe that the Browns will be behind in terms of timing and chemistry.
''You're talking about a team that's been together for a year,'' Edwards said Friday on Jim Rome's nationally syndicated radio show. ''We've done this all offseason; guys stayed and have been together in Cleveland when we could have been other places. We'll be fine. You're talking the pros. It doesn't take a lot of chemistry to do what Josh Cribbs does. He does all that on his own, anyway. We'll be fine when the game starts.''
General Manager Phil Savage was thinking the same way Saturday.
''One thing that's a little bit different nowadays is we basically practice year-round,'' Savage said. ''This group has a full year under its belt, we've had [offseason practices] and minicamp, we've had a partial training camp in terms of the group being together. Is it an issue to a degree? Maybe. But I really don't think it's that big of a deal.
''At times we've been a little disjointed because of the injury situation, but I don't see that as more of an issue any more than with any other team. Hopefully, we're able to put this to bed and move forward.''
Stallworth spent last year with the New England Patriots and saw a perfect season spoiled with a loss to the Giants in the Super Bowl. He was encouraged that most of his injured teammates were on the sideline for the 16-10 home loss Thursday night to the Bears. Among the notables missing were Cribbs, Jones, Pool and Lewis.
''With this huge [opponent] we've got coming next week, we're going to need everybody at full strength. It's a long haul,'' Stallworth said. ''Hopefully, we can keep everybody as healthy as we can. Starting now, it's for all the marbles.
''We have a lot of goals, but most important is for us to continue to jell and make sure we're all on the same page. We do have enough talent to go far in this tournament at the end of the year. But talent alone doesn't win you games. I've been witness to that. We've got to keep our heads down and keep grinding one day at a time.''
Enough already
Savage seemed tired of endless rumors about free agent Ty Law coming to the Browns. Law, a five-time Pro Bowler who spent the previous two years with the Kansas City Chiefs, played for Crennel with the Patriots. One of the Browns' biggest concerns is depth at cornerback behind starters Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald, both in their second year.
''Everybody wants to take the magic pill and go get the big name,'' Savage said.''It's not always the big name that's the answer. This is what we're going with. As Romeo said, maybe if we lose five guys, we'll make some calls.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
BEREA: Fifty-three players could report to work this morning thinking all is right again in Brownstown.
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