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Offensive tackles fail on key plays
By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal sports columnist
Published on Monday, Dec 01, 2008
CLEVELAND: Last week, a friend of a friend asked what's left to say about the Browns.
It was a fair question then, and it's a fairer question after Sunday's loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Because there sure isn't much remaining in this train wreck of a season that just keeps getting worse every week.
Everyone remembers the runaway train of 2000.
This train is officially derailed and chances of getting it back on the tracks are the proverbial slim and none.
Sunday's 10-6 loss to the Colts at home was the latest fiasco.
Think about it: The Browns did not allow Peyton Manning's offense into the end zone, giving up just one field goal. Manning looked as baffled as Sage Rosenfels looked comfortable a week earlier for the Houston
Texans, which is a mystery that might top the ones related to Area 51.
The Colts' longest play was 17 yards, Manning threw for 125 yards, the Browns had a goal-line stand, the defense forced three turnovers, the Colts scored one field goal on offense.
And the Colts won. Even though they were without an offensive touchdown for the first time since September 2003.
The official Ray Maualuga at outside linebacker watch can begin.
That's what this mess of a season has devolved to.
A draft-pick watch.
Which means that barring some kind of miracle recovery with Ken Dorsey at quarterback, the Browns are looking down the barrel of a double-digit-loss season.
Or, as Joshua Cribbs said it, the Browns want to be ''the best worst team in the league'' this season.
That is an accomplishment of sorts.
As for Cribbs, perhaps it's time to dust him off for Sunday's game in Tennessee and let him take some more snaps. Heading to Nashville to play the team with the league's best record with a third-teamer at quarterback isn't going to do much but bring back memories of 1999 and 2000.
Cribbs brings different dimensions, different abilities. It won't be easy to get him ready for some part of the game, but . . . why not?
The Browns are in this position because their offensive tackles were beaten on some key plays in the fourth quarter.
In the first, Joe Thomas held Dwight Freeney off Derek Anderson on a third-down pass for a bit, but not long enough.
That led to Freeney forcing the ball out of Anderson's hands and into the hands of Robert Mathis, who scored the game's only touchdown.
Then, on the two-minute drill, Mathis completely fooled right tackle Kevin Shaffer. Mathis' forte is speed. He weighs only 245 pounds.
But on this play, Mathis bull-rushed Shaffer and knocked him on the ground. Shaffer fell into Anderson's knee, forcing it to buckle in and likely knocking Anderson out for the season.
That makes two quarterbacks done for the year (probably) — Anderson and Brady Quinn.
And it makes the most effective use of the bull rushes since Moses was found there in biblical times.
Freeney bull-rushed Thomas. Fumble, touchdown.
Mathis bull-rushed Shaffer. Knockdown, quarterback hit and hurt, game over.
How does this happen? Well, the Browns' tackles guarded all game against the spin and outside moves of the Colts' ends.
On these plays, the ends changed things and caught the Browns' tackles by surprise.
Especially Shaffer, who was overpowered.
It's not the first time Shaffer has been overpowered this season. The most notable came when Anderson tried to throw a screen pass against the Baltimore Ravens and Shaffer couldn't even hold his man out for a brief time. That screwed up the timing of the play, which led to an interception and a touchdown for Terrell Suggs.
This one led to Anderson being helped off the field and the sidelines with a left knee injury.
If anything can be taken from this game, it's that one team came up with the key plays against the other because it had a system it believed in and trusted.
Indianapolis has played the ''Cover-Two'' defense under coach Tony Dungy since the days of the Reformation.
The Cover-Two drops corners and linebackers deep and forces the offense to take the long, slow, patient route to the end zone.
It also relies on the four-man rush. With linebackers dropping, the pass rush has to be generated up front.
On key plays, in key situations, Freeney and Mathis generated a needed rush. The Colts did not blitz. They trusted their system, and they had the players who justified the trust.
The Browns . . . well. . . .
Some weeks, they're a throwing team. Some weeks they're a running team. They were a running team against the Colts, and it was a good plan — but not good enough.
Some weeks, the defense can't stop a thing. Some weeks, it plays well against one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
The Browns scored 27, 30 and 27 points in consecutive weeks and lost two of three — the one win courtesy of a 56-yard field goal.
They followed that with six points in consecutive games, both losses.
It adds up to five losses in six games and a meltdown of a season that cannot end fast enough.
Patrick McManamon can be reached at pmcmanamon@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/.
CLEVELAND: Last week, a friend of a friend asked what's left to say about the Browns.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
WADSWORTH, OH
Posted 05:07 AM, 12/01/2008
PUT THE ACDC CD DOWN before you write anymore-you have brain freeze-McManamon! Dorseys in,not Cribbs as QB=cant you see why? Why let a defense wipe out one of the best players in the NFL?? they are dropping like bowling pins at a horsehoe throwing contest-put the crack pipe down !
Alliance, Oh
Posted 07:16 AM, 12/01/2008
Go Browns....and take the Indians with you!
Posted 07:23 AM, 12/01/2008
Wouldn't you just know it...I put my money on Indy yesterday thinking I had a sure bet, then they don't cover the spread because the Cleveland defense finally shows up.
Stow, OH
Posted 09:03 AM, 12/01/2008
I think it's time for the Browns to evaluate the under performing front line as well,gave up 3 sacks,32 rushing attempts for 100 yrds.and this was against guys that the announcers said were very undersized compared to other teams. With a front line such as this the last thing you want is a slow and immobile QB like Anderson back there tripping over his own men.
Akron, OH
Posted 09:18 AM, 12/01/2008
I agree with William, you cannot risk injury to Cribbs as a QB, he's at enough risk in the positions he plays now. Can't really say much else... the quicker this season is over, the better off we are, injury wise. I really hope we can figure it out next year...
Posted 09:28 AM, 12/01/2008
They should do all trick plays next week. Start with a statue of liberty, then a triple reverse. That will add entertainment value to this otherwise waste of a season.
Posted 10:29 AM, 12/01/2008
TOP TEN REASONS THE BROWNS HAD A BAD SEASON
#10 Lousy play calling and offensive/defensive strategy
#9 Failure to take full advantage of Josh Cribbs and Jerome Harrision--key offensive threats
#8 Made the mistake of not wanting to lose the game instead of wanting to win the game
#7 Endured a brutal schedule
#6 Entire organization did not handle the Kellen Winslow staph infection saga well at all--huge distraction
#5 Braylon Edwards couldn't catch
#4 Failure to put ANY pressure on the quarterback
#3 Injuries to A. Peek, D. Holly and Robair Smith--HUGE losses for the Browns this year.
#2 Failure of D. Anderson as quarterback
#1 Failure of Romeo Crennel and his coaching staff to lead, deal with adversity and win games.
Posted 11:06 AM, 12/01/2008
The line has underperformed, but it's time to face the reality that Jamal Lewis is not a star back any longer. The effort is there, but he doesn't have the quickness to run outside or hit the hole quickly. The Browns need a real breakaway threat. If Harrison isn't it, then they need to look for one in the draft.
More than that, though, they need a proven winner to become coach.
Posted 11:30 AM, 12/01/2008
ROMEO Has never been Head Coach Material
He does not like Jerome Harrison for Some unknown reason....He promisses to play him but really never does...
He is a stubborn old man that doesn't give a damn what Savage or anyone else wants him to do....The fans are way down on the list...
FIRE HIM NOW...PLAY THE YOUNG GUYS FIND OUT WHAT WE HAVE....Play Harrison in the same backfield with Lewis Both will gain from the other and we will have a Real Running game.
Posted 12:46 PM, 12/01/2008
It's time to begin writing "Season's Beating's III" for the holiday edition.
Akron, OH
Posted 02:29 PM, 12/01/2008
The sooner we can say goodbye to Romeo, the better!
Also, be honest, D.A. wasn't that bad yesterday. And if we had had offensive linemen that played like they should have, he wouldn't have gotten sacked and probably wouldn't have lost the ball. I refuse to place this loss on him. Also, to all you Cleveland fans (I won't even call you that - you're just ignorant) that cheered when D.A. got hurt, shame on you! That just shows your ignorance. You don't even do that for the opposition, why would you do it for one of ours?
Poor Derrick played yesterday like a deer that's caught in the headlights and the fans certainly didn't give him a chance. I just hope he can find another team that will help him. I think good coaching would make a world of difference in him and Lord knows, we sure haven't had any of that here. By the way, he had a higher quarterback rating than Manning did yesterday. Now isn't that something?
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 02:58 PM, 12/01/2008
I agree with Thelma on cheering when D.A. got injured. That's not only bad taste, but bad football knowledge. The Browns should've traded him last offseason when his value was highest. The only chance we had to get value for him now was five good starts. Now we have none and will most likely not see any positive returns.
Like it or not, we're Browns fans and will be right back in front of the TV or at the game next week. Go Browns!
Akron, OH
Posted 05:24 PM, 12/01/2008
I agree with you Rob. Next week I too will posted in front of the tv with my grimace on. For better or worse the browns are my team. Im just tired of waiting for next year. I dont want to see Cribbs at QB behind this line. He is too valuable to risk.
Akron, OH
Posted 07:10 AM, 12/02/2008
Crennel is too hard-headed to be a head coach.
Holding grudges is not the way to win. What did Jerome H. do to him, any way?
peninsula, OH
Posted 08:18 AM, 12/02/2008
William is a moron. Cribbs would bring excitment to the game and pobably get somewhere. Dorsey became a loser as soon as he left college. He has proven many times he can't hadle playing on the field in pre-season. He is a good football mind but his body doesn't follow.
Posted 08:27 AM, 12/02/2008
You know I don't really mean to sound political but after Obama won I stopped listening to the newes. Now with the Browns seemingly losing every game and the sportwriters doom and gloom articles, I think I am going to take a long break from reading the ABJ & PD. I have to find a new life.
Posted 01:40 PM, 12/02/2008
Oh well, there's always next year. Interesting column here:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AtpmMOLsKclUz8FvOtdEsnc5nYcB?slug=ms-32questions120208&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
