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Browns running back frustrated over lack of chances, wants ball in his hands
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Wednesday, Sep 24, 2008
BEREA: Jamal Lewis is frustrated.
With an 0-3 team record, it's easy to understand why the Browns' running back feels that way.
For the first time all season, the running game appeared to be clicking against a staunch Baltimore Ravens defense. The evidence is in the numbers.
Against the Ravens, Lewis gained 56 yards on 12 carries for a 4.7-yard average. But in the second half, the Browns collapsed. Penalties? They were there, including one by Braylon Edwards that nullified a Lewis run for a first down. Turnovers? Three of them. Combine them and the Ravens score 21 unanswered points and force the Browns to play catch-up through the air. The result: the Browns' third consecutive loss.
''The offensive line played well [Sunday]; they played good in the run. I felt the runs were effective. . . . There were holes there,'' Lewis said. ''For the holes that were there, I thought we could have punched it in there a lot more.''
Until the Ravens game, the Browns had struggled to run the ball.
The Browns are 30th in the league, averaging 3.7 yards per carry. Last year, they ranked 10th in the NFL in running the ball, gaining 1,895 yards on 440 attempts, averaging 27.5 attempts per game and 4.3 yards per carry.
With almost a quarter of the season done and the Browns winless, getting production from the running game appears to be vital.
Coach Romeo Crennel understands Lewis' frustrations.
''When you look at [his numbers], you would say that he probably should have carried the ball more. Then, like I said, we come out in the second half and before we know it, it's 21-10 instead of 10-7,'' Crennel said. '' If it's 10-7, he probably gets more carries but . . . then you're behind in the game, you feel like you need to catch up a little bit, and so that changes the play-calling a little.''
The Browns' offensive problems have been well documented and extend beyond the running game. Quarterback Derek Anderson has had his share of problems,as has wide receiver Braylon Edwards.
It didn't help the offense that Crennel kept guard Ryan Tucker inactive against the Ravens even though guard Eric Steinbach also couldn't play, leaving Seth McKinney to play out of position and shore up the left side of the line. That's been a constant refrain for the Browns this season: injuries, injuries, injuries. Although that is the case, the reserves still must step up and perform.
Lewis answered directly when asked what can be done to repair the Browns.
''It's not my job to fix this football team. It's my job to come out here and do what I do, and that's try to run the football,'' he said. ''And obviously that's really not working that good right now.''
Crennel understands.
''[Jamal] was ready to play [that] game and he wanted to go down there and show that he was still the running back that [the Ravens] got rid of, and he was a good running back,'' Crennel said. ''So he wanted the ball more, and I can understand his frustration about not being able to have the ball more, in that game particularly.''
Brownies . . .
Lost in the furor surrounding the loss to the Ravens were a couple of milestones for Browns players. Third-year running back Jerome Harrison scored his first NFL touchdown on a 19-yard screen pass. Rookie linebacker Alex Hall had his first sack.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/sportsblitz/
BEREA: Jamal Lewis is frustrated.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 06:48 AM, 09/24/2008
Jamal came to play, and he has a valid complaint. When RAC doesn't use the only weapon that is working for the team, then I question his coaching ability. RAC must go. And give Jamal the ball 40 times against the Bengals. Can you say Cowher!
Posted 08:11 AM, 09/24/2008
Going back to Baltimore you had to assume as a coach that Jamal wanted to have a big game and was hyped up for it, so he should have been a major part of the plan. It is just another example of bad coaching. RAC definately needs to move on.
Posted 08:13 AM, 09/24/2008
Lewis is a solid workhorse, but with the defense playing as badly as it has, we need to put the ball in the hands of game-changers. Give Harrison more touches - he averages like 10 yards a carry!
Posted 09:25 AM, 09/24/2008
If Cranial "understood" as much as he says he does he wouldn't have the abysmal record he has.
akron, oh
Posted 11:18 AM, 09/24/2008
do any real fans post on these new boards? btw 88 could win this division when they come back healthy after the bbye don't post
Port Saint Lucie, Fl
Posted 12:07 PM, 09/24/2008
Time to diversify and use some imagination until everyone is healthy,ie.the Dolphins vs.Patriots.An attitude adjustment wouldn't hurt either.play like you from a steel town like the Steelers.
Port Saint Lucie, Fl
Posted 12:08 PM, 09/24/2008
from a steel town
Posted 12:35 PM, 09/24/2008
If Jamal and Harrison play within a two back set things will start to open up for Winslow and Edwards. We have to play more Harrison. Combine him with Lewis and you have our own version of the Thunder and Lightening, which has proved sucess when used correctly.
Posted 12:38 PM, 09/24/2008
Also, if you ONLY put Harrison in to run a screen play that won't work. Even i called screen to Harrison when he came in the game and i'm a washed up O lineman with no coaching experience. I was very surprise the Ravens didn't pick it up, expecially when they blitzed their DBs that side of the hashmarks.
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 04:32 PM, 09/24/2008
The Brown's play calling could not be any more generic even if they put on black and white uniforms. They have no creativity, a QB that telegraphs where he's gonna throw and players that are showing no heart at all. This all comes back to one common denominator...CRANIAL! He's gotta go and go now!
Posted 04:43 PM, 09/24/2008
Sorry, but unless Chud is just a pretty ornament for the team he has to take a big chunk of the responsibility for calling passing plays where he should have called runs and for not getting Harrison into the game. However, i will blame RAC for not slapping Chud.
