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Do IT this week: Layering
By Pat McManamon
Beacon Journal sports columnist
Published on Monday, Sep 15, 2008
CLEVELAND: Every so often, a moment arrives when the Browns remind you why they are the latest incarnation of the Browns.
That's the team that cannot beat the Pittsburgh Steelers no matter what.
The Steelers are like the mailmen. Rain, snow, sleet, cold, warmth and winds left from a hurricane cannot stop them from their appointed rounds when they play the Browns.
And the Browns sure help them.
Remember the two timeouts used on one challenge last season? The Christmas Eve massacre?
This Sunday night came the most intriguing decisions this side of Sarah Palin.
Both involved field goals. One came late in the game, one late in the first half. Coaches make their reputations on decisions. Romeo Crennel's decisions in this loss left something to be desired.
You can say they were bad only because the Browns lost. This is Crennel's way of thinking, and it has made sense in some instances.
But in this case, the decisions contributed to the loss — and the players compounded things by not helping their coach.
The most mindless moment came in some of the most mind-numbing play seen in a two-minute drill in a long time.
It's understandable the offense would botch a two-minute drill, I guess. It's not like they spend every minute of every day at the team facility studying and talking and practicing football.
There is also a thing called clock management.
The Browns used the Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae management principles on the two-minute drive that ended with eight seconds left and the ball at the 11.
At that point, the Browns had no timeouts left. Going for the touchdown was a high-risk play against one of the league's best defenses. It had to be a throw into the end zone, where it would be a touchdown or an incomplete pass.
Instead, Derek Anderson threw short of the goal line, and Troy Polamalu — who always, always seems to come up with big plays — intercepted the pass.
Many, many questions can be asked about this series. First and foremost is why did Crennel bypass the field goal?
He said the offense had momentum, and there was still a half left to play. But a week ago, Crennel had them kick the field goal when his team was behind by 21 with a little more than 10 minutes left.
That didn't add up, because the Browns needed touchdowns to win and there was less than a quarter to play. This week, he went for a touchdown when his team was behind by seven with an entire half remaining.
With all apologies to a good and decent and honorable and hard-working and loyal and dedicated man, it must be asked: What in the world was wrong with taking the points at that point of the game?
Situations dictate decisions.
In consecutive weeks, the decision defied logic based on the situation.
Anderson made the decision worse by throwing an interception. That followed a silly penalty, wasted time and a 10-second runoff prompted by a clock-stopping penalty.
Happens every time, doesn't it? The Browns play the Steelers and turn into a bunch of bumbling something-or-others.
In the fourth quarter, the Browns had executed a nice drive to move to the Steelers' 20.
Braylon Edwards missed a catchable slant on third down, and here Crennel decided to kick the field goal. This coach loves fourth-quarter field goals with his team losing.
There is logic that the Browns needed two scores to win, and with the field goal and a defensive stop, a touchdown wins the game.
But either way, the Browns needed a touchdown.
If there was a time to go for the first down to get the touchdown, this probably was it.
''I thought the way our defense had been playing we had a chance to stop them,'' Crennel said.
Except expecting the Browns to do something against the Steelers when it's necessary and matters is like asking pigs to fly with lipstick on.
Because when the Steelers need a play against the Browns, they get it. Hines Ward drops a touchdown. On the next play, he catches one. The Steelers need to run out the clock, Ben Roethlisberger completes a pass for a key first down.
When the Browns need a play, they throw an interception. Or they commit two penalties on the Steelers' touchdown drive. Or they let the Steelers keep the ball until 26 seconds are left in the game.
All that happened Sunday night.
Maybe that makes the decision about the field goal irrelevant. Because it just does not seem to matter.
But had the Browns done the right thing at the end of the first half, the second field goal would have made the score 10-9. At that point, the crowd is going nuts instead of grumbling about a decision that was easy to question. If it's 10-9, the Browns have momentum and all they need is a field goal to win.
But that's all based on ifs.
The reality is this: No matter what is done, where it's played or what the weather, the Steelers will beat the Browns.
Patrick McManamon can be reached at pmcmanamon@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/.
CLEVELAND: Every so often, a moment arrives when the Browns remind you why they are the latest incarnation of the Browns.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 08:14 AM, 09/15/2008
Inept.
Posted 09:22 AM, 09/15/2008
When fans were making their gaudy predictions of 10-6 did anyone think to consider the head coach in their analysis ??
Posted 09:47 AM, 09/15/2008
Bumbling.
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 10:46 AM, 09/15/2008
Pat couldn't help but get his two Sarah Palin digs in. Seriously, last night's game was a travesty. I was pumped that we were actually hanging tough with the Squeelers, but the final outcome was so predictable. Even Michaels and Madden were hammering home the logic-defying decisions made by the Browns coaching staff. And it's apparent that the players themselves still lack discipline and a team-first mentality. This should have been one for the win column, but true to form, our Brownies disappointed us once again.
Posted 10:51 AM, 09/15/2008
I love my country and despise its president. Now, I love my team and despise its coach. And, I'm, tired of coming out on the losing end! Crennel must go - sooner than later. Romeo is a loser. 20 wins, despite his hapless leadership, 30 losses, many of which could have been won but for his lack of leadership. 1000 poor decisions, spoiling and frustrating the talent at his disposal. Derek Anderson was a one hit wonder last year, who worked behind an excellent O line. I'm not afraid to say that out loud. Nice guy...Want him to make it. But, I want to cheer for a winner, and he is not a leader. He can't win by throwing at the turf. I know others were not helpful either. But this team lacks leadership. Did anyone catch the way Tomlin lead his team and ran the game along the sidelines? He not only had a clipboard in his hand, but he was animated, spoke to the team, worked the refs, made intelligent decisions, and had a game plan for clock management. That is what coaches do. The only thing they could catch Crennel doing was stare. I wonder if he was even there. But, then, he clearly made the calls that cost the game - AGAIN - so indeed he was there, unfortunately. When will the good guys ever win again???????
Posted 11:13 AM, 09/15/2008
Last nights game was the most dissapponiting game of football i have seen yet. Every year i drive from Toronto Canada to see the Browns. Last nights poor clock management and poor leadership finally made me snap. All coaching issues aside, does anybody else think its time for a change. We should have traded Anderson when his trade value was high and bolstered our secondary and O-line. He is finally showing his true colours. what was with that interception at the end of the first half. I say trade him and put in Quinn. Quinn to win
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 11:15 AM, 09/15/2008
"I love my country and despise its president. Now, I love my team and despise its coach." You sound bitter...
cuyahoga falls, oh
Posted 12:38 PM, 09/15/2008
the problem is also savage; has he placed anything in front of the replacements this team needs in coaching (marty or cowher, folks who are attached to the true Brownies colors: winning ones) and as he watches the man he selected frown like someone just told his job performance had cost him that job, maybe savage will recall---this is the man he selected over anyone else and when is someone going to ask crennel about his own involvement in the lying and cheating done when he was part of the patriots and the record that got him this job? it wasn't all offense, and it wasn't all bill in those lies and cheating eh, romeo? so you say you never knew? lie number who knows what...
Posted 12:38 PM, 09/15/2008
The Boston media continues to laugh at the Browns decision to hire RAC. Learner can't have much patience left.
Posted 12:42 PM, 09/15/2008
Composure, self-discipline, consistently-focused concentration, clear-headedness, clutch playmaking, football intelligence, poise under pressure (the likes of which Hemingway described as the ultimate indication of a man's quality), conviction of self-confidence---what else does this football organization persistently lack? The Steelers, who redirected themselves as soon as they entrusted their program to Paul Brown disciple Chuck Noll, exist as a perpetual contrast. Consider that, as dominant as Pittsburgh has recently been in the series, only yesterday did they finally achieve an all-time edge. That means, of course, that the shoe had once been on the other foot. It changed when Noll---like Shula had done for/in Miami---delivered fundamental football. Hadn't Bill Walsh also learned under PB? What has happened to Cleveland's Browns?
Posted 12:57 PM, 09/15/2008
Uggh, another loss to the Steelers. Browns were in this game, playing pretty good defense. Even some decent offense on a few series. But getting down deep into your opponents end of the field, only to be interecepted, or kick a field goal is sad. Some players are still making mistakes. But more and more it seems like poor coaching is costing them the games. Bad clock management, kicking FGs when they won't help, or going for a TD when a FG would be helpful does "defy logic" as Bob says.
Posted 01:12 PM, 09/15/2008
Wow, the excitement of actually being able to see the Browns on TV and then... Dropped passes, penalties on nearly every series and coaching calls that a High school coach would not make just makes one shake their head. Frustration and now thinking that this will be another losing season. Can't imagine anything better than 6-10. Oh well, maybe we can get a nice draft pick...
edison, NJ
Posted 03:33 PM, 09/15/2008
don"t worry about the browns getting ripped on prime time much longer, after this season they wont be in a "prime time" game until 2025
San Antonio, TX
Posted 04:46 PM, 09/15/2008
The killer is that K2 was wide open in the end zone on DA's pass to just who exactly on the interception at the end of the first half. Our coaching is not very fundamentally sound. I will give Big fat baby Rogers an atta boy for a good game. He seemed to be the only one on the DL that figured out that this is a smash game and he did more than his fare share of smashing. The Refs sure missed blaten holds by the steelers at crucial plays. I guess the steelers not only out played us but definately out coached us. A good team with so much talent and they just can't get it to gether. Bummed out Fan
Akron, oh
Posted 04:47 PM, 09/15/2008
Why is the fact that Winslow was benched in the final minutes of the game a non-issue? Why was the Browns' best receiver sitting during the most important part of the game?
Posted 06:54 PM, 09/15/2008
I think Winslow was benched because it didn't look like DA was going to throw to him in the end zone anyways....
Posted 07:29 PM, 09/15/2008
I renounce the franchise pretending to be the cleveland browns And i renounce all their failed "works" And I renounce all their empty promises This poor excuse for a professional sports franchise is not only an embarrassment to all sports, they are also a cancer to the community. They are below worthless, and the sooner they relocate the better.
niles, oh
Posted 07:46 PM, 09/15/2008
till Crennel and Savage are gone our pain will remain
Posted 08:34 PM, 09/15/2008
Never a "the coach must go" kind of fan, I find little in last night's game to defense the comments McMahon or this online community have laid on Crennel. Disorganized, at times foolish, confused and (especially offensively) surprised by the physicallity of football, this season will be the runaway train Palmer left behind if they lose EITHER of the next two games. If that occurs, I cannot see Savage holding on to hope if his old Ravens buddies one-up him with a rookie QB and that "offensive" line. If the Bengals beat the Browns, with Carson Palmer having thrown about 150 total yards this year in two games, I cannot see Savage walking an Ohio street with any sense of dignity... If they do defeat those two divisional opponents, then the week off gives the Browns time circle the wagons for the Monday Nighter against the Giants. By that time--BIG GAME #3 on a loaded schedule, we're told--maybe Crennel will have ironed out the problems that have plagued his head coaching career. Nice guys don't have to finish last, Romeo--but unprepared guys usually do.
Port Saint Lucie, Fl
Posted 09:07 PM, 09/15/2008
Forget the Paul Brown era,that vanished when Modell bought the team.They rode the wave of his spirit to win it all in "64". The Brownies problem is more mental than physical;they need to "break on through to the other side"per Jim Morrison.They need to hire a motivational psycologist to get them out of their funk.Of course good talent and a sharp coaching staff always helps.Ha!
Port Saint Lucie, Fl
Posted 09:09 PM, 09/15/2008
Sorry ,I spelled psychologist wrong.Darn mental lapses,must have caught it from da Browns.
Port Saint Lucie, Fl
Posted 09:10 PM, 09/15/2008
Sorry,spelled "psychologist"wrong.Darn mental lapses,must have caught it from da Browns.
cuyahoga falls, oh
Posted 10:14 PM, 09/15/2008
They are below worthless, and the sooner they relocate the better.---joseph please, joe, say you aren't a nut. you sure sound like one. you and art modell must have bunked together. i love the Browns and the fact they are in cleveland. we just need a new coach and the owner needs to move savage if he doesn't get busy moving this team. get busy, phil: this is what you picked, buddy.
cuyahoga falls, oh
Posted 10:15 PM, 09/15/2008
and i am tired of the cheap beacon way everything runs together on comments...get a real program, please.
Posted 06:40 AM, 09/16/2008
The players will not respond to a coach who is directly responsible for their defeats. You can look at RC's face and into his eyes and see he is in over his head. Somebody upstairs better take action soon before this season gets out of hand.
Posted 08:42 AM, 09/16/2008
First off it's LERNER - they need to get rid of Crennel this team needs to be disciplined - and you need to get rid of Anderson why do you think he was always a back up because he is not consistent - put in Brady and see what he can do!!!! But most of all the players need to play as a team - but the sad fact is these players are about the money not the love of the game.
Posted 09:18 AM, 09/16/2008
Pat, We are here to read about our football team so keep your political feelings to your self. The Browns coach does make decisions that defy logic, but they only effect a football team. If your obvious choice for president were to win we will be second guessing bonehead decisions for the next 4 years.
San Antonio, TX
Posted 05:31 PM, 09/16/2008
Missy, you have two valid questions and the answer is there is no worth while answer. Coaching mistake afte mistake lends it self to chaos in the time and play management of this team. I use to support Crennel but this game proves to me that the majority of the folks are correct. The Browns would be better off with out him. Unfortunately Bill Cower isn't available till 2009. This team needs Cower's gruff hard nose no non-sense method of coaching. Our guys are too soft.
Alliance, Oh
Posted 06:19 PM, 09/16/2008
Kellen Winslow should be on the bench--In motion on 2 and 3, pushed three yards in the backfield on 2nd and goal by James Harrison because he can't block, drops an easy pass. That's why he's on the bench. Might as well put him at wide out with our other no catch receiver Braylon! Maybe he'll stay onside and wont have to block!
