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Offensive coordinator says it's his job to put team in best position to win. There are things he'd take back
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 07:10 p.m. EDT, Sep 26, 2008
BEREA: Browns coach Romeo Crennel and quarterback Derek Anderson are taking the heat for an 0-3 start to what was expected to be a playoff season.
But apparently offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski has joined the suffering behind closed doors.
''I told these guys when they bleed, I bleed,'' Chudzinski said. ''So if a player is struggling or does anything he's catching grief for, I say that's [on] me.''
That answer was in reply to a question about Anderson's four interceptions in a wind-blown game against the Bengals at Cincinnati last year that cost the Browns a playoff berth. But it could apply to any number of scenarios for the struggling Browns, who have scored a league-low 26 points and rank 32nd in the league in offense with an average of 194 yards per game.
''The buck stops here, and I take full responsibility for anything offensively,'' Chudzinski said. ''I've got to put them in the best position to win, that's my job. When you're 0-3, there's a lot of things you'd like to take back or do differently. It's my responsibility to get us going.''
A year ago, there was buzz that Chudzinski might be one of the next young coordinators to leap to a top job. Anderson called him a ''mad scientist'' this spring, and tight end Kellen Winslow has referred to his former position coach at the University of Miami as a ''genius.'' Four Browns offensive players — Anderson, receiver Braylon Edwards, left tackle Joe Thomas and Winslow — went to the Pro Bowl.
Now Winslow is reluctant to speak to the media, perhaps afraid of what he will reveal in frustration, even about Chudzinski.
''We've got confidence in what he's doing,'' Anderson said Wednesday. ''He's the guy that got us rolling and has made all the guys on this offense what we've been and what we will be.''
Chudzinski addressed a number of topics Friday. Among them:
• On running back Jamal Lewis' comment after losing to the Baltimore Ravens that his 12 carries were ''pathetic'': ''In the heat of the moment in a real emotional game for Jamal, he was upset and the bottom line is I agree. I wouldn't have used the same exact words, but he needs to be a big part of the offense.'' Lewis rushed for 1,304 yards in 15 games (86.9 yards per game) last season, this year he has 156 yards (52 yards per game).
• On Anderson's struggles: ''There's enough things that we haven't done well enough that Derek's the guy right now. If we all play a little bit better, if I coach a little bit better, then you'll see the results will be better.'' Anderson's quarterback rating is 43.5, second-worst in the league.
• On not using two tight ends in the absence of No. 2 receiver Donte' Stallworth, yet to play with a pulled quadriceps: ''What you think and what I think, on defense they think that as well. We've played some great defenses and I give them a lot of credit.'' The Browns have faced the league's first- (Baltimore), second- (Pittsburgh) and ninth- (Dallas) ranked defenses.
• On the lack of downfield throws: ''I don't know that there is any one thing in particular that's taking anything away. It's a matter of us executing and playing together, getting in a good rhythm. I see glimpses of it.'' Anderson's longest completion is 23 yards to running back Jerome Harrison.
• On using Harrison more: ''We will get him in the game more. If you have Jerome in, then Jamal's sitting on the sideline, that's a little bit of the issue. There are some things Jerome needs to work on, blocking and some other technique, detail, fundamental things.'' Harrison has one rush for 2 yards and two catches for 42 yards.
• On alignment penalties: ''It's just a matter of focus. We call them self-inflicted negatives. We are addressing that.''
Andra's reaction
Linebacker Andra Davis addressed an ESPN.com report that said he was one of two Browns who deliberately gouged Baltimore Ravens running back Willis McGahee in the eye Sunday. The league determined Thursday there was no evidence of intent.
''I've been playing in this league for seven years and not one person can tell you I'm a dirty player, that I intentionally try to hurt somebody,'' Davis said. ''They'll tell you that I play hard and I'll do whatever it takes to win. To permanently hurt somebody . . . there's no place in football for that.''
Davis said when he got home Sunday, his wife asked about the third-quarter play at the goal line that sent McGahee to the sideline bleeding.
''You're trying to make a tackle and you've got somebody pushing you at the same time, you're just trying to get him down,'' Davis said. ''The goal line is the last resort. I don't think I hit his face mask until he fell on the ground.''
Davis admitted he was angry about the story, but shrugged it off a day later, saying, ''We've got to win a ballgame. I haven't got time to focus on that.''
Brownies . . .
Stallworth did not practice Friday and is doubtful. Questionable are left guard Eric Steinbach (shoulder), linebackers Kris Griffin (calf) and Kamerion Wimbley (groin) and right guard Ryan Tucker (hip). Steinbach went outside for the first time this week on a limited basis and will try to play, but said he will not take a pain-killing injection to do it. ''You don't want to make it worse,'' he said. . . . Right tackle Kevin Shaffer is wearing a full cast for what he said was a break in the area of the ring finger and on the top of his right hand. He was hurt in the opener and the smaller cast he first tried did not work. ''I didn't really notice it,'' he said of working in a cast at practice. ''I don't have any pain like I did before. I just can't squeeze these [last] three fingers. I'm a big left-hand guy. The right hand, I still punch with it.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
BEREA: Browns coach Romeo Crennel and quarterback Derek Anderson are taking the heat for an 0-3 start to what was expected to be a playoff season.
But apparently offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski has joined the suffering behind closed doors.
''I told these guys when they bleed, I bleed,'' Chudzinski said. ''So if a player is struggling or does anything he's catching grief for, I say that's [on] me.''
That answer was in reply to a question about Anderson's four interceptions in a wind-blown game against the Bengals at Cincinnati last year that cost the Browns a playoff berth. But it could apply to any number of scenarios for the struggling Browns, who have scored a league-low 26 points and rank 32nd in the league in offense with an average of 194 yards per game.
''The buck stops here, and I take full responsibility for anything offensively,'' Chudzinski said. ''I've got to put them in the best position to win, that's my job. When you're 0-3, there's a lot of things you'd like to take back or do differently. It's my responsibility to get us going.''
A year ago, there was buzz that Chudzinski might be one of the next young coordinators to leap to a top job. Anderson called him a ''mad scientist'' this spring, and tight end Kellen Winslow has referred to his former position coach at the University of Miami as a ''genius.'' Four Browns offensive players — Anderson, receiver Braylon Edwards, left tackle Joe Thomas and Winslow — went to the Pro Bowl.
Now Winslow is reluctant to speak to the media, perhaps afraid of what he will reveal in frustration, even about Chudzinski.
''We've got confidence in what he's doing,'' Anderson said Wednesday. ''He's the guy that got us rolling and has made all the guys on this offense what we've been and what we will be.''
Chudzinski addressed a number of topics Friday. Among them:
• On running back Jamal Lewis' comment after losing to the Baltimore Ravens that his 12 carries were ''pathetic'': ''In the heat of the moment in a real emotional game for Jamal, he was upset and the bottom line is I agree. I wouldn't have used the same exact words, but he needs to be a big part of the offense.'' Lewis rushed for 1,304 yards in 15 games (86.9 yards per game) last season, this year he has 156 yards (52 yards per game).
• On Anderson's struggles: ''There's enough things that we haven't done well enough that Derek's the guy right now. If we all play a little bit better, if I coach a little bit better, then you'll see the results will be better.'' Anderson's quarterback rating is 43.5, second-worst in the league.
• On not using two tight ends in the absence of No. 2 receiver Donte' Stallworth, yet to play with a pulled quadriceps: ''What you think and what I think, on defense they think that as well. We've played some great defenses and I give them a lot of credit.'' The Browns have faced the league's first- (Baltimore), second- (Pittsburgh) and ninth- (Dallas) ranked defenses.
• On the lack of downfield throws: ''I don't know that there is any one thing in particular that's taking anything away. It's a matter of us executing and playing together, getting in a good rhythm. I see glimpses of it.'' Anderson's longest completion is 23 yards to running back Jerome Harrison.
• On using Harrison more: ''We will get him in the game more. If you have Jerome in, then Jamal's sitting on the sideline, that's a little bit of the issue. There are some things Jerome needs to work on, blocking and some other technique, detail, fundamental things.'' Harrison has one rush for 2 yards and two catches for 42 yards.
• On alignment penalties: ''It's just a matter of focus. We call them self-inflicted negatives. We are addressing that.''
Andra's reaction
Linebacker Andra Davis addressed an ESPN.com report that said he was one of two Browns who deliberately gouged Baltimore Ravens running back Willis McGahee in the eye Sunday. The league determined Thursday there was no evidence of intent.
''I've been playing in this league for seven years and not one person can tell you I'm a dirty player, that I intentionally try to hurt somebody,'' Davis said. ''They'll tell you that I play hard and I'll do whatever it takes to win. To permanently hurt somebody . . . there's no place in football for that.''
Davis said when he got home Sunday, his wife asked about the third-quarter play at the goal line that sent McGahee to the sideline bleeding.
''You're trying to make a tackle and you've got somebody pushing you at the same time, you're just trying to get him down,'' Davis said. ''The goal line is the last resort. I don't think I hit his face mask until he fell on the ground.''
Davis admitted he was angry about the story, but shrugged it off a day later, saying, ''We've got to win a ballgame. I haven't got time to focus on that.''
Brownies . . .
Stallworth did not practice Friday and is doubtful. Questionable are left guard Eric Steinbach (shoulder), linebackers Kris Griffin (calf) and Kamerion Wimbley (groin) and right guard Ryan Tucker (hip). Steinbach went outside for the first time this week on a limited basis and will try to play, but said he will not take a pain-killing injection to do it. ''You don't want to make it worse,'' he said. . . . Right tackle Kevin Shaffer is wearing a full cast for what he said was a break in the area of the ring finger and on the top of his right hand. He was hurt in the opener and the smaller cast he first tried did not work. ''I didn't really notice it,'' he said of working in a cast at practice. ''I don't have any pain like I did before. I just can't squeeze these [last] three fingers. I'm a big left-hand guy. The right hand, I still punch with it.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
Comments
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Posted 11:49 AM, 09/27/2008
Chud says that if Harrison in in then Jamal is on the sidelines. Did it suddenly become illegal to have two RBs in the backfield, or does Chud just lack the vision to see what some other teams are - and have been - doing? RAC may not be the best HC, but I lost faith in Chud after the second Cincy game last year.
