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Browns' to-do list: Start Frye, prep Quinn, run Lewis

Browns finally recall Jurevicius catches ball

Published on Sunday, Aug 26, 2007

DENVER: Just start Charlie Frye.

That's all the Browns need to do for now, with the opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers only two weeks away.

And yes, keep Brady Quinn in the mix as a backup. No more talk of Derek Anderson having the No. 2 spot. Give Quinn, the Notre Dame rookie, more time in practice, and lots of action when the Browns face the Chicago Bears on Thursday night.

In his second pro game, Quinn was impressive again. This meant more because he faced many of the Denver Broncos' first-team defenders when he took the field early in the third quarter as opposed to the Detroit Lions' third-stringers a week earlier.

Quinn led the Browns to a Please see Pluto, C4

touchdown. By far, Frye and Quinn had better command of the team than Anderson.

Regardless of who is the quarterback, cut the playbook. Create some situations for the offensive line to make a little room for Jamal Lewis.

He might not gain 2,000 yards like the Lewis of his Baltimore Ravens best, but if he stays healthy and they don't outsmart themselves, the Browns should have a 1,000-yard rusher. Lewis had those powerful legs pumping, his shoulder dipping, his mind set on gaining every possible inch.

He racked up 46 yards on 15 carries. He caught two passes for 30 yards. In addition to scoring from the 1-yard-line, he also had rammed forward for a first down in a third-and-1 situation.

He should give the coaches, players and Browns fans a sense of confidence. They have a pro in the backfield. Just hand him the ball when you need some rugged yards.

The Browns did when they had the ball on the Broncos 6-yard line. He carried the ball once for 5 yards, then bulled into the end zone on the next play. That opening 11-play, 80-yard touchdown drive gives fans reason to believe the offense actually practiced this week. It also showed that offensive coordinator Rod Chudzinski dumped those complex and confusing sets he used in the game against the Lions.

As was obvious in the first quarter of Saturday night's game in Denver, the Browns' offense actually had a sense of order. The same happened when Quinn played in the third quarter.

That should be a given for a pro team, but Browns fans know better.

Frye had nice moments in his only two possessions. He scrambled for a first down. He threw a superb pass that Braylon Edwards caught over the shoulder for 24 yards. And yes, Edwards has been pretty reliable catching the ball in three preseason games.

Frye even threw the ball twice to get this Joe Jurevicius!

Of course, the sticky-fingered veteran caught both balls thrown his way the first time he has a chance in three preseason games.

Frye was 5-of-7 for 68 yards. He didn't throw an interception. Only once did he seem to run out of the pocket too early. He showed poise, and he had the team lined up and ready to run each play.

It's basics, but if the Browns don't improve the basics, nothing else matters. Part of doing that is to pick a starting quarterback and stick with him. It's also to work with Quinn to develop him.

This doesn't mean the Browns will make the playoffs, beat the Steelers on Sept. 9 or knowing Romeo Crennel even get around to stopping with the coin-flipping quarterback decision and name a starter by Labor Day.

But this game showed progress on offense.

With the Browns, it's always all quarterbacks, all the time.

But notice how most of the yards gained by Lewis came on the left side of the line, where a young guy named Joe Thomas is at tackle. Notice how Lewis seems in great shape. Notice how Jurevicius can help if they use him. Notice how Kellen Winslow can catch the ball. Notice how the Browns should start two tight ends in Steve Heiden and Winslow, with Edwards and Jurevicius as the two receivers.

All that is just as important as what Frye and Quinn did on this night. Because finding the right players and the right plays to blend with the quarterback is crucial to having any hope of avoiding an early-season disaster against a very demanding schedule. noweb

Terry Pluto can be reached at terrypluto2003@yahoo.com.

DENVER: Just start Charlie Frye.

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