Cleveland Browns (2007 & prior)

[osugrad21]

Canton

As painful as it came for Browns, this was progress
Monday, November 6, 2006
By TODD PORTER

SAN DIEGO There is no more glorious a sunset than over the Pacific Ocean - except on Sunday, when it passed over Qualcomm Stadium and an orange sky greeted the Browns as their buses pulled out for the airport.
The sun set with the Browns halfway through their season. A meaningful win that could have turned the season slipped off into the sunset.
With San Diego willing to give them so much, Cleveland accepted nothing more than 3 points until it didn't matter.
As frustrating as this season is growing in Cleveland, it is hard to look at Sunday's 32-25 loss to a Super Bowl-quality team and despise the Browns.
All Head Coach Romeo Crennel wanted was two wins in a row - a winning streak.
"You can say we played good, and we hung with a good football team on the road," Crennel said, his face not looking satisfied. "We still didn't win the game. The way we didn't win it because we couldn't stop them, and couldn't score enough, those things hurt."
How far are the Browns from the Chargers? San Diego has won two games in a row three times this season. It is 6-2 and a legitimate contender for the Super Bowl.
The Browns are contending for the first overall pick again.
"I don't care how many I make or miss," said Browns kicker Phil Dawson, who set a rather dubious team record with six field goals. "I just want to win. I've been here from Day 1. I want to win. I want to win for this team. I want to win for the fans of Cleveland to have something to cheer about."
There was, at least, intrigue to this loss. Would the Browns turn the corner? Nope. They saw the map, though.
There is plenty of blame to go around in this.
A defense that couldn't stop a loaded San Diego offense when it counted most, deserves a good share of goat soup. LaDainian Tomlinson had almost as many yards in his final nine carries Sunday as Cleveland running back Reuben Droughns had had the last two weeks.
Tomlinson finished with 172 yards, 129 in the second half. Droughns had 36, 9 in the second half.
Quarterback Charlie Frye was, in a word, miserable. He missed open receivers, he hung them out to dry, he took sacks, he lost a fumble that was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown and he put some of the blame on a thumb injury not revealed until Saturday.
When it was over, Frye was as critical of his pass protection as he's ever been, and Crennel was as critical of his quarterback as he's ever been.
Those are all good things. It's about time this team stopped walking on egg shells after a game.
"There were a couple of throws he overthrew when guys were open," Crennel said of Frye. "You'd like to see him make some of those."
Frye also missed tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. open in the right corner of the end zone before halftime. A touchdown there would have given the Browns a 16-10 lead and momentum.
The Browns aren't there yet.
It's that simple.
Frye is still learning the position, and he's learning it while getting hammered because he's playing behind either the worst offensive line east of the San Andreas fault, or the worst protection scheme in the NFL.
Finally, Frye complained of being used as the defense's rag doll.
Of his sack, and lost fumble that led to a San Diego defensive touchdown, Frye didn't take all the blame.
"I thought I was protected coming off that side. I thought we were sliding protection," Frye said. "I've got to hold onto the ball no matter what."
Frye isn't blameless. Two sacks were his fault. He had time to throw the ball, or throw it away. Instead, he tried to make something happen.
"Charlie had some good spurts, and he had some bad spurts," Crennel said. "There were some throws I think he could've made, where he ended up overthrowing. There were a couple of situations he hung on to the ball too long. ... We've got to coach him out of some of that because it will hurt us."
It hurt Cleveland on Sunday.
Six trips inside the red zone led to one touchdown. Frye missed plays inside the 20. That is where good quarterbacks are made.
Of course, Frye is playing a different game than most other QBs in the league. He's playing dodge the 300-pound anvil and try to throw the ball.
All in all, this was painful progress. The offense moved the ball. Frye made some plays. He didn't make some plays.
The Browns had a chance to beat a good team on the road. Maybe the sun will shine on this team one day.
It sets on them an awful lot.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

A bolt from the blue
Tomlinson takes over with 172 yards, three touchdown runs

Monday, November 06, 2006

James Walker
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

</IMG> JACK SMITH ASSOCIATED PRESS The Chargers? LaDainian Tomlinson spins through the Browns? Andra Davis (54) and D?Qwell Jackson on a TD run.


SAN DIEGO ? Cleveland Browns coach Romeo Crennel refused to call LaDainian Tomlinson by his widely known nickname this week.
In Crennel?s mind, there is only one "LT," and that is Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor, whom Crennel coached with the New York Giants.
But someday there likely will be two LTs enshrined in Canton.
Yesterday, Tomlinson convinced another team he deserves to be recognized as the NFL?s best running back. After a sluggish start, he single-handedly lifted the San Diego Chargers to a 32-25 victory over the Browns.
Tomlinson?s final 11 carries, 10 of which were in the fourth quarter, went for 145 yards. His touchdown runs of 41, 7 and 8 yards came in the final 16 minutes.
He finished with 172 rushing yards, the most the Browns have allowed by one player all season, and averaged 9.6 yards per carry. He also caught three passes for 20 yards and even recovered an onside kick to seal the game when the Browns attempted a late rally.
"He?s the best back I?ve ever seen," Browns tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. said. "He?s awesome."
Browns linebacker Andra Davis said, "He is the best. I knew he was the best before we played him, but he is definitely the best."
Cleveland (2-6) held Tomlinson and the Chargers (6-2) in check in the first half. Tomlinson had just 43 total yards and the Browns led 12-10 at intermission.
The defenses engaged in a stalemate for most of the third quarter, until the Chargers? third possession. Eric Parker returned Dave Zastudil?s punt 16 yards to the Browns 41-yard line, and Tomlinson ripped his first touchdown up the middle on the next play for a 17-12 lead.
The run seemed to ignite San Die- go?s offense, and after Phil Dawson kicked the fifth of his franchise-record six field goals for the Browns, the Chargers drove and scored again.
Tomlinson touched the ball on six of the next 10 snaps, setting up first-and-goal at the 7 with a 12-yard burst up the middle and finding the end zone around right end on the next play.
San Diego did its part to keep the game close, committing silly penalties in addition to some gaffes on special teams. The Chargers had 12 penalties for 130 yards, including a fourthquarter pass interference call on cornerback Antonio Cromartie on third-and-10 that gave the Browns a new set of downs from the 28.
Despite the free yards, Cleveland was unable to find the end zone until Charlie Frye connected with Braylon Edwards on a 4-yard pass with 1:11 remaining. By then, Tomlinson had scored his third touchdown, capped by a two-point conversion, and when he covered the onside kick, the Chargers ran out the clock.
San Diego?s defense didn?t have any trouble pressuring Frye (236 passing yards, one touchdown, one interception). Frye was sacked five times, including a key sack by linebacker Randal Godfrey that caused a fumble and a defensive touchdown in the second quarter for the Chargers? first touchdown of the game.
"We?re going to keep fighting and try to get better, and I think we have gotten better," Crennel said. "We played the Chargers for three quarters and we were right there with them. So now we need to figure out a way to finish it and play for four quarters."
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

BROWNS NOTEBOOK
Winslow wins stat battle with Gates

Monday, November 06, 2006

James Walker
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

</IMG>


SAN DIEGO ? The muchhyped "heavyweight fight" between Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Gates statistically went to Winslow.
Still, Gates ended up with the victory.
Winslow, who entered the weekend leading all NFL tight ends in receptions, returned to his hometown with an outstanding game that included a career-high 11 catches for 78 yards. His reception total tied for second in Browns history.
Gates had just two receptions for 22 yards for San Diego.
Winslow said during the week that he was the best tight end in the league and that Gates and Kansas City tight end Tony Gonzalez were not far behind. "Gates is a great player and I was just trying to have fun with it," Winslow said. "I was not trying to be serious and say that I was the better tight end, I was just trying to have fun with it and get people to watch."
The crowd booed him for most of the game and cheered when he took a hard shot to his left knee late in the game.
Injury update

Starting cornerback Leigh Bodden injured his left ankle on the opening drive and didn?t return. X-rays were negative, but Bodden didn?t sound optimistic about returning to the lineup any time soon.
"They said it?s my ankle, but it?s really high," he said. "It?s a different type of pain. Right now, I can?t even get up on my toes. It just hurts."
Cornerback Daven Holly (illness), outside linebacker Willie McGinest (ankle) and defensive end Orpheus Roye (hamstring) were missing on defense. Offensive tackle Ryan Tucker missed his second straight game because of an unspecified illness.
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Frye?s mistakes hold back Browns
Monday, November 06, 2006
James Walker
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

</IMG>


SAN DIEGO ? Cleveland gained 293 yards but managed just one touchdown and six field goals yesterday in a 32-25 loss to San Diego.
"You?re not happy with six field goals because you like touchdowns," coach Romeo Crennel said. "This offense is still evolving, and we?re going to keep working at it. But I think we?ve shown in the last couple of games that we can move the ball some."
Quarterback Charlie Frye completed 25 of 42 passes for 236 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also fumbled twice (lost one) and made some poor decisions.
Frye said his passing hand was hurt when it hit someone?s helmet in practice Friday. It likely factored into his two fumbles, one of which was lost and recovered for a San Diego touchdown.
Frye has thrown an interception in every game this season.
"Charlie had some good spurts and some bad spurts," Crennel said. "There were some throws that I think he could have made that he ended up overthrowing, and then there were a couple of situations where he hung on to the ball too long. ? I think we need to coach him out of some of that because it will hurt us in the long run."
The Browns? lack of a scoring punch turned into a big day for kicker Phil Dawson, who set a franchise high with six field goals.
Dawson?s 13 field goals this season equal the Browns? touchdowns.
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[JCOSU86]

Charlie Frye is a turnover machine. 9 straight games with at least 1 INT, fumbles, throwing into double-coverage, locking onto a receiver. I hope he get's better. He isn't good right now.

 

[IronBuckI]

Do you think that we can get Troy with a second round pick? He needs to work on not locking on to receivers too, but his decision making is infinitely better than Charley's, IMO.

 

[NFBuck]

Do you think that we can get Troy with a second round pick? He needs to work on not locking on to receivers too, but his decision making is infinitely better than Charley's, IMO.

Hopefully Troy doesn't get anywhere near a Browns uniform for his own sake. I'd like to see him succeed in the NFL.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Browns waste opportunities to score TDs
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Tom Withers
ASSOCIATED PRESS



BEREA, Ohio ? Calling the shots for Baltimore?s offense, Kellen Winslow Jr. feverishly worked his thumbs over the joystick while battling teammate Leigh Bodden?s Cincinnati Bengals in a heated game of Madden in the Cleveland Browns? locker room.
One day after a discouraging loss, the players were doing all they could to forget their troubles.
"That?s how we take our frustrations out," Winslow said.
In the video world, the Browns can have their way.
In reality, they still have a long way to go.
Failing to take advantage of excellent field position and a San Diego defense missing two top players, the Browns on Sunday dropped a 32-25 decision to the Chargers, who scored 15 points in the fourth quarter to avoid the upset.
Cleveland had its chances, moving the ball inside San Diego?s 20-yard line six times. But the Browns couldn?t convert those trips into touchdowns and had to settle for field goals from Phil Dawson, who set a club record with six. They didn?t score a TD until there was 1:11 left.
"It?s frustrating," offensive left tackle Kevin Shaffer said. "We left a lot of points out on the field."
Coach Romeo Crennel said there was no common thread in the Browns? inability to find the end zone. The offensive line, still missing right tackle Ryan Tucker (undisclosed illness), had untimely breakdowns in front of second-year quarterback Charlie Frye.
And San Diego?s defense made adjustments that seemed to rattle Frye, who went 25 of 43 for 236 yards with one interception but forced several ill-advised throws that should have been picked off.
"There is not one particular thing," Crennel said. "Sometimes it?s a breakdown in protection, sometimes it?s a missed block on the back side and sometimes it?s a missed block on the front side."
Frye, who was sacked five times, spent much of the game scrambling from trouble ? and sometimes into it.
Crennel blamed much of Frye?s uneven performance on him trying to do too much. He locked onto receivers and missed open ones. When Frye should have throw the ball away, he held it. And when he should have shown patience, he panicked.
"He overthrew some balls and missed some reads that he could have taken. Most of it was Charlie trying to make a play," Crennel said. "Sometimes, when you have a receiver who is hot, you try to focus in on him a little bit. We did a little too much of that. "In his growth and development, he has to learn that he can?t force a ball to a guy. He has to read the progression and take what the defense gives him."

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

Browns fail to protect Frye so far
Tuesday, November 7, 2006
By STEVE DOERSCHUK



BEREA The lessons of Tim Couch taught the Browns' current regime to immerse its young passer in this "P" soup:
Promote, preserve, protect.
It's not working. The regime medics might need to give Charlie Frye pain pills.
It is interesting to note that Couch got hauled away from his 14th NFL start with a broken leg, the product of taking his 56th sack.
Presuming Frye can shake off the bruises and blurs from Sunday's loss at San Diego, he will make his 14th start as a Brown on Sunday in Atlanta. One thing about Frye: He keeps getting up. He hit the big five-oh Sunday - he has been sacked 51 times as a pro - and he plays on.
His worst jolt Sunday didn't come on any of the five sacks credited to the Chargers.
On a play blown dead, second-year pro Derreck Robinson blasted Frye in the back. The 25-year-old QB laid belly-down while penalty flags rained down.
"It was a tough hit on him, but he wanted to continue," Head Coach Romeo Crennel said Monday. "We let him go ahead. We'll look at him and see how he does during the week. If there is a problem, we'll get it taken care of."
Is Frye's play becoming a problem in Crennel's mind?
His passer rating is among the league's lowest, and weak offense is one reason the Browns have more wins than only one team, Arizona.
At San Diego, Frye passed erratically and at one point dropped the ball to hand the Chargers a touchdown.
Beyond his numbers - 25-of-43 for 236 yards, one interception, one touchdown - what did Crennel see?
"He did some good things and did some bad things," Crennel said. "He overthrew some balls and missed some reads. Most of it was Charlie trying to make a play."
Frye is trying to master unpredictable rushes. One way to burn a blitz is to hit the "hot" receiver left open because the blitzer is attacking the passer. Staring down receivers could be a problem.
"In some cases," Crennel said, "(staring down a receiver) did happen. On one play, Kellen Winslow was inside. Charlie kind of looked at Kellen and two linebackers broke on the ball."
The Chargers didn't have to take play-action fakes too seriously. Reuben Droughns' longest run was 8 yards. On his other 18 carries, Droughns averaged 1.5 yards.
"(That) put some pressure on the quarterback to try to execute and perform," Crennel said. "In his growth and development, he has to learn that he can't force a ball to a guy. He has to read the progression and take what the defense gives him."
Crennel shifted to the "preserve" theme.
"Sometimes he tries to make the play because he knows his team needs a play." Crennel said. "We tell him that it's OK to throw the ball away. In this growing process, he's going to learn that and we're going to help him."
The Browns got six field goals from Phil Dawson, but Frye needed touchdowns to offset LaDainian Tomlinson and Co.
"I think the red zone problems are the same problems we have overall," Crennel said. "On a run, the play is blocked well up front but it isn't blocked well on the backside. Now, the play gets screwed up.
"The next time, the play isn't blocked so well up front and the runner tries to cut the ball back. The play gets screwed up again."
It wasn't a great second game for new Offensive Coordinator Jeff Davidson. Protecting Frye emerged as the same problem it had been under Mo Carthon, which is puzzling because the Chargers' two top sackers didn't play.
"In the second half," Crennel said, "we were able to solidify things a little bit and give (Frye) some more time."
Frye couldn't take advantage, throwing erratically with a sore thumb.
The hit by Robinson made him forget about the thumb.
Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail [email protected].

BROWNS AT FALCONS
Sunday, 1 p.m.
Georgia Dome, Atlanta TV Channel 19

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Passing on judgment of passer

Crennel says it will take more time to make accurate assessment on attributes of Frye

By Marla Ridenour

Beacon Journal sportswriter

BEREA - Six times at or inside the 20 with only one touchdown. Five sacks, bringing the total at the season's halfway mark to 29. The sixth loss, three by seven points or less.
There were few things from Sunday's 32-25 loss to the San Diego Chargers that Browns second-year quarterback Charlie Frye would want on his resume. Fans who listened to CBS analyst Steve Tasker hammer Frye for locking onto his receivers had to wonder if the University of Akron product is the franchise's long-term answer.
On Monday, Browns coach Romeo Crennel didn't sound so sure, either. Frye is 4-9 as a starter going into Sunday's game at the Atlanta Falcons, but Crennel seems optimistic Frye will turn it around.
``We probably need to give him a little bit more time to finally make that assessment,'' Crennel said. ``Early on, he was under pretty good duress. That makes it tough to make a valid evaluation. Going forward, we'll see that he's a capable quarterback.
``He's got good talent, good ability, good leadership ability, got some toughness. The guys rally around him. At that position you've got to have that.
``Not everybody has John Elway's arm. Not everybody has Peyton Manning's ability to read defenses and make checks,'' he said. ``There are 32 quarterbacks in the NFL and a guy can be successful if he's got those intangibles, and he's got some of those intangibles.''
Thus far, Crennel said Frye's biggest flaw is trying too hard (and waiting too long) to make a play. Frye is hearing the same thing from his teammates.
``I tell him this all the time: The more he gets banged around making a play, the more he's going to realize, `Make a few moves or whatever, but then get rid of it,' '' tight end Steve Heiden said. `` `Don't take the hit, the punishment. Your body's not going to last doing that.' And he knows that. He's starting to figure it out.''
Left tackle Kevin Shaffer said, ``Of course, we encourage him, in practice especially, to throw it away or slide. I think he's learning and moving along real well, especially for a second-year quarterback.''
Crennel admitted Tasker's point was on the mark.
``In some cases, that did happen. One in particular: Kellen (Winslow Jr.) was inside and he looked at Kellen the whole way, and two linebackers broke on the ball,'' Crennel said.
``He overthrew some balls, he missed a couple reads. We weren't able to get the running game going, which puts more pressure on the quarterback. He's got to learn he can't force the ball. He's got to read the progression and take what the defense gives him.''
The coach didn't believe an injury to Frye's right thumb in practice Friday was a factor. Crennel wasn't even sure what happened.
``I don't know if he hit somebody's arm, shoulder or what,'' Crennel said.
Crennel didn't second-guess the team's decision not to bring in a veteran backup for Frye. Winslow doesn't believe Frye needs one.
``Charlie is fine. He just has to have good protection,'' Winslow said. ``The good quarterbacks in this league, the Tom Bradys and Peyton Mannings, they have a lot of protection. We need to do a better job protecting No. 9.''
Tucker might return
Crennel said starting right tackle Ryan Tucker might be back in Berea in the next few days. He has missed two games with an undisclosed illness.
``He was going to see the doctor again today. Hopefully, he'll be back in the building this week and we'll see what he can do,'' Crennel said. ``We'll have to evaluate where he is in his conditioning.''
Whether or not Tucker can play Sunday, the presence of one of the Browns' captains might be a boost, at least for the offensive linemen.
``It will be exciting to have him back -- his energy and his attitude,'' Shaffer said. ``He's a personality. We enjoy hanging out with him. His locker room presence is what we miss the most.''
Bodden ailing
Starting cornerback Leigh Bodden suffered a high left ankle sprain when teammate D'Qwell Jackson dived and landed on him when they were trying to make a tackle. After missing two games with the same injury to his right ankle, Bodden can't believe his bad luck.
``It doesn't feel as bad as the other one,'' Bodden said, ``but you never know. It is a high ankle sprain again. It's frustrating and disappointing.''
Brownies . . .
Crennel seemed optimistic that defensive end Orpheus Roye (hamstring) and linebacker Willie McGinest (ankle) could play this weekend after sitting out Sunday. Crennel said defensive back Daven Holly (illness) was hospitalized for a couple days. Holly hopes to be back this week, but said conditioning could be an issue.... Crennel didn't think it was necessary to contact the league office about what players thought was a cheap shot on Frye after the whistle by defensive end Derreck Robinson. Crennel said he won't be surprised if Robinson is fined.

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

BROWNS BEAT: There still are some items of interest at 2-6
Wednesday, November 8, 2006
BROWNS BEAT STEVE DOERSCHUK

Bulls at Cavaliers 8 p.m. Thursday
Quicken Loans Arena
Cleveland
TV TNT


The Browns' season is over, but if you'd be so kind, your continued readership is appreciated with half the games still to be played.
I frequently tell people the beat is interesting, regardless of the record.
The social circus always plays on, even after practical or mathematical elimination.
Here are some midseason thoughts in a stab at keeping it readable.
n Suppose it had been put to a fan vote Tuesday:
Would you like to see Charlie Frye continue as the No. 1 quarterback after this year?
I think Frye would have carried the yes votes, say, 58 percent to 42.
Most people, I think, want to see how he looks with more experience and a better line.
n I think Butch Davis would still be talking about snot bubbles in Berea if he'd picked LaDainian Tomlinson instead of Gerard Warren in 2001.
I think Tomlinson's deadly sin in Davis' eyes was playing college ball at Texas Christian rather than a football factory.
Yeah, three other teams passed on Tomlinson, too.
n I'm not feeling an 8-0 finish for the Lake Erie guys, but they should win three or four more games.
They beat the most flawed teams (Raiders, Jets) on the first half of the schedule.
The six teams that beat them have a combined 32-15 record.
The second-half slate is comparatively soft. Throw out the 6-2 Ravens, and the seven other foes (Steelers twice) have a combined 22-34 record.
n Given the fact my college-aged son was 10 months old the last time the Browns came close to winning an AFC title game, given the dearth of thrills over two decades, it's amazing how many Browns fans are hanging around out there.
During a pregame stroll through the upper deck in San Diego, I struck up a chat with some Browns fans.
One fellow moved from Parma to Nevada 20 years ago. The house he bought near Las Vegas has quadrupled in value, which made him think of an irony. Browns tickets cost four times as much and don't bring one-fourth the old fun.
As several Browns ran out of the tunnel, the cheer from Browns fans speckled around the stadium actually was kind of loud.
It wasn't anything like the Steeler invasion in Cleveland last Christmas Eve, but let's see how the 'Burghers hang if their 2006 fog gets spread over 15 years.
A British band named Strawbs recorded a humorous song some of us remember from college. One of the lines was, "Where are the tears you should be crying right now?'' It made me think of how Browns fans are feeling about the 2-6 Steelers right now.
n Who says the Browns are inconsistent? They're 1-3 on the road and at the stadium.
n Romeo Crennel never got carried away with preseason predictions, but he did make it clear he wanted to at least win one more game than last year.
Not exactly a gimmee now to get to 7-9 from 2-6.
n If Mo Carthon had been let go after the 2005 season, I think Trent Dilfer would have stayed.
I think that would have helped Frye, who is asking veteran wideouts questions he should be asking oldsters who play his position.
I think Dilfer could have made a spot start at San Diego, letting Frye rest a bum thumb.
n Think hard and you remember a few fun expansion-era days. None was better than Dec. 29, 2002.
The Browns needed to beat Atlanta to make the playoffs. The old roar was in the air when William Green broke away for a touchdown, and when Michael Vick threatened to ruin it all with a late drive.
I remember Earl Holmes bolting like a cannonball to greet his teammates on the bench after helping finish a goal-line stand. Maybe everyone should have stayed a little longer to enjoy that day in the sun.
Since then, counting the playoff loss at Pittsburgh, the Browns are 17-40.
They haven't faced the Falcons since 2002. If life were balanced, this would signal the start of a 40-17 run.

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Browns: Ex-Kent State QB feels he needs to repay team
Wednesday, November 8, 2006
By Steve Doerschuk repository sports wRITER

BEREA Joshua Cribbs won't say what the Browns are paying him now. He laughs about what they paid him then. "I came here on a $2,000 signing bonus," he said.
Charlie Frye, the other Mid-American Conference quarterback who joined the Browns last year, commanded 400 times that much.
Still, Cribbs was - and is -grateful. Teams weren't crawling over piles to lure him as an undrafted rookie last year, before anyone guessed a Kent State quarterbacxk could flash forward into a star kick returner.
In fact, coming off Sunday's 32-25 loss at San Diego, Cribbs said he feels obligated to "repay the Browns" both for giving him a shot last year and extending his contract through 2012 last week.
Cribbs would not disclose terms, but says, "They really took care of me.''
Cribbs and Dennis Northcutt account for the only aspect of the Browns that frightens opponents. Cribbs ranks third in the NFL in kickoff return average behind the Patriots' Laurence Maroney and the Jets' Justin Miller.
Northcutt leads the league with a 16.9-yard punt return average.
Northcutt knows his time in Cleveland might be short. His contract expires after the season.
When Northcutt coouldn't play recently, Cribbs replaced him both on punt returns and as an extra receiver. Even though Cribbs might become the permanent replacement in 2007, he says Northcutt has reached out to him.
"I'm taking a lot of lessons from Dennis,'' Cribbs said. "He's a great teacher a great person.
"We don't talk about what he's gonna do after this year, but he gives me all his knowledge. And he really knows the game.''
Evidence opponents know Cribbs has come in the form of two kickoffs out of bounds, including one at San Diego on Sunday. The penalty is possession on the receiving team's 40-yard line.
Earlier in the game, Cribbs eased the pain of Charlie Frye's fumble-turned-Charger-touchdown when he brought back the ensuing kickoff 47 yards to midfield.
"Everybody was going across the field,'' Cribbs said. "I made the executive decision to cut it back.
"Did I want to score. Always. Did I get all I could? I felt I did.''
Cribbs was tracked down by one of San Diego's best athletes, rookie Antonio Cromartie, who was drafted six spots after Kamerion Wimbley in this year's first round.
The Chargers might have been in trouble without Cromartie, who also caught Northcutt to stop an 81-yard punt return at the 10.
Cribbs got off to a slow start, averaging less than 23 yards on kick returns through three games.
Over the last five games, he has averaged 31.5 yards per return.
He said the Browns first approached him about a contract extension after he had four breakaway returns in a two-game stretch against the Raiders and Panthers.
"I stayed out of it,'' he said. "I let my agent and the team handle the business. I just worry about playing.''

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Posted on Wed, Nov. 08, 2006
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Browns bomb first half

Winslow, special teams, defensive backs earn good grades

By Terry Pluto

The Browns are at the halfway point of the season. Here are my midterm grades for the team:
THE RECORD: The schedule has been brutal. Consider that in the first eight games, the Browns have faced only one team (the Oakland Raiders) with a losing record. An argument can be made that the New Orleans Saints (6-2) and the New York Jets (4-4) are not especially strong teams, but both have had surprisingly good first halves of the season. The Cincinnati Bengals (4-4) are worse than expected. The Browns beat the two worst teams on their schedule (Raiders, Jets). They lost a sloppy opener to the Saints and were overwhelmed by the Bengals. In the end, the Browns are 2-6. That projects to 4-12. Ouch! GRADE: D. QUARTERBACK: This is his second season, but Charlie Frye is playing like a rookie. Coach Romeo Crennel talks about Frye's ``good spurts'' and his ``bad spurts.'' He has to cut down on the turnovers. There have been 12 interceptions in the first eight games. Four have been on tipped passes off the hands of his teammates, but there also have been passes that should have been picked off but were dropped by the defense. Frye also has lost four fumbles. In six of the eight games, he has thrown an interception in the fourth quarter. He can scramble. He is a strong leader respected by the players. With 29 sacks, he's on his way to a team record -- assuming he survives the season. That projects to 58 for the season. The highest totals for a quarterback in the past were 53 sacks for Paul McDonald and 51 for Tim Couch. Frye is learning things the hard way, which usually is the case for a young quarterback on a losing team. GRADE: Here's a quarterback with only 13 pro starts. He was saddled with an ineffective offensive coordinator and a shaky offensive line. This is not to say everything with Frye is good. It's not, but it's so early in his career, the only fair grade is INCOMPLETE. THE OFFENSIVE LINE: It has been a big part of Frye's problems. Yes, he sometimes has held the ball too long rather than throw it away and avoid a sack, but the line has not protected him with any consistency. The injury to Pro Bowl center LeCharles Bentley was devastating. Veteran Joe Andruzzi has played hurt much of the year. Fellow guard Cosey Coleman also has been playing with aches and pains. Right tackle Ryan Tucker is out indefinitely with an undisclosed illness. That opened the door to Kelly Butler, who might take Tucker's job. Tucker had the highest grade of any Browns offensive linemen a year ago from the coaches. Kevin Shaffer has been OK, but has not made a big improvement over previous left tackles. Hank Fraley has been average at center. The Browns don't have an offensive lineman who would be considered above average, and that's a big, big problem. GRADE: D. There's hope of improvement now that line coach Jeff Davidson is offensive coordinator. RUNNING BACKS: We're talking Reuben Droughns, who will need to average 100 yards a game for the rest of the season to reach 1,200 for his third consecutive year. Droughns has only 418 yards so far. He was bothered by a sore shoulder. Rookie Jerome Harrison was supposed to help as a scat back, a third-down receiver. He has carried only 12 times and doesn't seem to be in the plans for now. At least the days of the fullback sweep are over with the departure of former offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon. GRADE: D+, although the offensive line is partly to blame. Guards are a key to success on the ground, and the Browns' guards have struggled. As Crennel said: ``All running backs look the same when you're not blocking.'' TIGHT ENDS: The strongest spot on the offense. Kellen Winslow has 51 catches and could break Ozzie Newsome's team record for receptions (89). If Winslow stays healthy, just wait until next year. He came into this season having played only two pro games in two years because of injuries. This is like his rookie year, and he might be the first Browns draft choice of the expansion era to make the Pro Bowl. Steve Heiden and Darnell Dinkins are solid. Here's a surprising stat: Heiden has more catches (15) than Joe Jurevicius (13) or Dennis Northcutt (14). Yes, those guys have missed some games to injuries, but Heiden is the second tight end. Winslow is the primary target. GRADE: A-. WIDE RECEIVERS: Braylon Edwards has 30 catches, but it doesn't seem like it. To be fair, Edwards is coming off major knee surgery and wasn't supposed to play until Oct. 1. He was ready for the opener. He drops some balls. He has the physical tools to be an impact receiver, but we probably won't see that until next season, when his knee has healed fully. Jurevicius missed a couple of games with a rib injury, then Carthon underused him, so the Browns really haven't seen what they've expected from their veteran free-agent signing. Northcutt hasn't done much at receiver; Joshua Cribbs is still learning the position. GRADE: D+. SPECIAL TEAMS: Cribbs (kick returns) and Northcutt (punt returns) are among the best in the NFL. Phil Dawson is 14-of-16 on field goals. Dave Zastudil is averaging 44.5 on punts. This is the strength of the team. GRADE: A. Other than allowing the Jets to return a kickoff for a touchdown, this unit has made few mistakes and has delivered several big plays.
DEFENSIVE LINE: Ted Washington has been a disappointment at nose tackle. He's certainly an upgrade over Jason Fisk of 2005 but has not been the run-stopper that was expected. Orpheus Roye has been hurt and not playing to his usual high standard. Alvin McKinley is an average lineman. Nick Eason and Simon Fraser have given some good work off the bench. The Browns are giving up 142 yards a game on the ground, not good. GRADE: D+. LINEBACKERS: It's a shame they can't keep Willie McGinest healthy. The New England Patriots let two prominent free agents sign with the Browns: Andruzzi and McGinest. Both have a lot of miles on their bodies, and neither has been as productive as the Browns had hoped. Rookie Kamerion Wimbley has 4 ? sacks and could become a star, making a fast transition from defensive end in college to outside linebacker. Andra Davis and rookie D'Qwell Jackson have been reliable as the inside linebackers. GRADE: B. DEFENSIVE BACKS: Don't know how they've managed it, but the Browns have played nearly the entire year without their top three cornerbacks: Daylon McCutcheon, Gary Baxter and Leigh Bodden. Only Bodden has a chance of returning this season. Safety Sean Jones is the biggest surprise of the season and could become a star. Veteran Brian Russell has helped to hold the ever-changing secondary together. Look for Brodney Pool to continue to mature. No part of the team has done more with less than these guys. They have allowed only seven touchdown passes all year with such no-names as Ralph Brown, Daven Holly and Jereme Perry seeing lots of action. GRADE: B+. DEFENSIVE COACHING: Coach Crennel and coordinator Todd Grantham have been creative and have assembled a defense that is playing better than its raw talent. Problem is, the defense usually is on the field too long -- and eventually wears down. It's time to see more of Brodney Pool, even if it's at cornerback. GRADE: B+. OFFENSIVE COACHING: What a mess! Carthon was fired as offensive coordinator after six games. No need to discuss all the strange play-calling or the lack of support from the players. Fans have heard it all, and it's just discouraging. New offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson has had two games and about eight practices to shape things up. It's far too early to make a judgment on him, other than to say he has brought more organization to the offense. GRADE: D-, and that goes to Carthon. Davidson gets an Incomplete. HEAD COACHING: Crennel has struggled in his second season. No matter how they spin it, Crennel had to be forced to make the obvious move and replace Carthon. His background is defense, and it shows. It was a mistake to allow Carthon to continue so long, especially since the Browns had one of the worst offenses last season. His players seem to be listening; there are few discipline problems. Crennel is in a difficult spot, and his leadership will be tested as he tries to keep his team playing hard and winning some games in the second half. GRADE: C-, the handling of Carthon being the biggest failure. FRONT OFFICE: It has been a hard two years for General Manager Phil Savage, who did not inherit much talent. The best news is the rise of Jones and Winslow from the 2004 draft, the last for Butch Davis. The top pick from this year is Wimbley, who can be a star. Second-rounder Jackson is starting. Third-rounder Travis Wilson might be the replacement for Northcutt next year, as the veteran is a free agent. Wilson rarely has played, however. Frye is a good pick from the third round of 2005. Don't give up on second-rounder Pool, who has lots of talent. First-rounder Edwards has been hurt and inconsistent. Some free agents have worked, some have not. Some have been hurt. One thing the Browns don't need is a new GM. It would be nice to see Savage find some gems in the late rounds. You have to like how he brought in Simon Fraser and Cribbs as undrafted free agents. Savage should have acted earlier in the Carthon situation, but he wanted his coach to make the decision. GRADE: B-, but it's really early to judge -- especially with the draft. It's usually in the third year when most players bloom, and Savage has had only two drafts. His grade might be much higher at this time next year.

 

[osugrad21]

Link

Jury still out on Frye, Savage in same boat
By:Jeff Schudel, Morning Journal Writer
11/08/2006



http://www.zwire.com/site/printerFriendly.cfm?brd=1699&dept_id=46370&newsid=17436718

EIGHT games remain for Phil Savage to determine whether Charlie Frye should be the Browns quarterback for 2007 and the years ahead.
By the end of the season, assuming Frye finishes it on his feet, he will have made 21 starts. That should be enough for a trained talent evaluator like Savage to project how Frye will play in the future.

For all the attention Frye has received, Savage is the one on trial, more than the quarterback and more than coach Romeo Crennel, because Savage chose to hitch his wagon to Frye rather than trade up in the 2006 draft for Matt Leinart or Jay Cutler.

The argument for sticking with Frye is strong, but is based mostly on intangibles. He is a team leader, he is fearless and he gets up hit after hit without saying a negative word about his offensive line. The closest he came to criticizing his protection occurred Sunday in San Diego when he said too many sacks were given up early.

A reporter asked if they were "coverage sacks." Frye would have taken his linemen off the hook by saying they were, but he shook his head. The line that protected him well against the Jets, a team that does not blitz often, could not handle the Chargers' blitz.

But blaming everything on the offensive line is wrong. That does not explain why so many of Frye's passes sail over the receiver's head or are behind the target, nor why he holds onto the ball so long.

Frye has thrown 12 interceptions halfway through the season. Not all were his fault. The pass that went through Dennis Northcutt's hands and was intercepted and returned for a touchdown in the Carolina game was Northcutt's error.

But the interception Frye threw Sunday was a bad pass. Braylon Edwards leaped to catch it. Edwards got both hands on the ball. Any receiver will say he should catch the ball when that happens, but the pass left Edwards exposed. He was creamed by a Chargers safety, lost control of the ball and the pass was intercepted.

During the past offseason, Frye worked on his arm strength.

Coaches were pleased and his passes did not flutter as they did last year. He showed he has a marvelous touch on deep passes when he hooked up with Edwards for completions of 75 yards against Cincinnati and 58 against Baltimore. He hooked up with Joe Jurevicius for 52 yards against the Chargers.

Throwing long is not what arm strength is about. One scout who has studied Frye says Frye cannot throw the 10- to 15-yard out pattern with enough velocity. He has the touch to drop a pass over the receiver's shoulder, but he can't whistle the ball in a tight area when he has to, the scout said.

An example of that occurred in the game Sunday when Chargers linebacker Randall Godfrey almost intercepted a pass intended for Kellen Winslow Jr. Winslow broke up the pass.

"In the NFL, the quarterback has an eight-inch window on those patterns," the scouts said. "Teams know Frye can't throw it so they take away other parts of the field."

That analysis explains why Frye holds onto the ball as long as he does - that and indecisiveness that comes from having played less than a season.

Savage made the calculated decision to not sign a veteran quarterback in the offseason. That Frye would hit rough spots in his first full season starting was easier to predict than the San Diego weather.

It is the situation Frye is facing now why we advocated signing Vinny Testaverde. Testaverde could tell Frye how to counter what defenses are doing, but Savage decided to stick with Ken Dorsey and Derek Anderson.

Savage is in a difficult spot. Brady Quinn is the top-rated quarterback in the draft. Obviously, it is too early to know whether Quinn would be available when the Browns pick.

Taking a quarterback with the first pick would be admitting the Browns were wrong about Frye and it would mean 2006 was a wasted season. Plus, this team has so many other needs, starting with three defensive linemen, a right offensive tackle, two guards, a cornerback and a running back. That's eight picks without taking a quarterback.

When Savage spoke at a Hall of Fame function in May, he said if Frye doesn't establish himself in two years, the Browns would have a new general manager, meaning Savage would be fired for being wrong about Frye and Browns owner Randy Lerner would be forced to hire new leadership and start over again.

So far, there are as many questions as answers about Frye.

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Browns: Frye welcomes pressure at QB
Thursday, November 9, 2006
By Steve Doerschuk REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

Browns at Falcons Sunday, 1 p.m.
Georgia Dome, Atlanta
TV Channel 19


BEREA Defenses and critics are teeing off on Charlie Frye.
How's the kid's mental state holding up after a supbar game at San Diego?
"This is a tough position to play," the 25-year-old quarterback said before Wednesday's practice. "If I didn't want that pressure, I would have played golf ... or another position in football.
"I like that pressure."
Any quarterback of a 2-6 team is the bogey man.
"You've just got to stay on the grind," Frye said. "If you ever read a book that has a good ending, everybody goes through trials and tribulations.
"I'm very strong-minded ... not a lot of things are gonna get me down.
"I'm very competitive. I love playing football. So, I'm gonna take the ups and the downs, and hopefully going forward there's gonna be less downs."
Fans still are wincing over the illegal hit that put Frye at sea level in San Diego. He got blasted from the blind side by 290-pound Derreck Robinson after the whistle blew.
"I'm still a little sore," Frye said. "I was relaxed, and he got me pretty good. It's just unfortunate that it happened.
"I'm in there getting treatments. I'm feeling better."
Frye has been sacked at least five times in four games. Contrast that to what the Browns are dishing out: Zero to two sacks in five games.
Having taken 29 sacks, not counting the brutal Robinson hit, might Frye be getting gun-shy? "Not in the heat of the game," Frye said. "You've just got to move on to the next play."
In terms of stats, the good news is Frye sits just two spots behind Michael Vick in fourth-quarter passer rating. The bad news is Vick ranks No. 31.
Frye's passer rating is 69.2, better among regular 2006 QBs than only rookies Matt Leinart and Vince Young, retread Joey Harrington and lost Raider Ken Walter.
Frye has a respectable completion percentage, 61.7, but he has thrown 12 interceptions, more than any QB except Ben Roethlisberger (14). Some of the interceptions aren't his fault, but concerns about his accuracy and field vision remain. Frye touched on ways he wants to get better in the season's second half.
"Taking less sacks, getting the ball out of bounds," he said. "Obviously, the turnover ratio is important."
Has Frye tipped off defenses by staring down receivers?
"A little bit," he said. "That's something else I can work on ... trying to look guys off."
Frye is still figuring out how best to use high first-round picks Kellen Winslow Jr. and Braylon Edwards.
"It's tough to make them understand what my reads are," Frye said. "They do a pretty good job of understanding where I'm trying to get the ball. The more they can understand and the more we can communicate during the week, the better off we'll be."
Winslow and Edwards are headstrong, opinionated types who say their pieces as games unfold.
"It's just one more thing you're thinking about," Frye said, "but most of the time they're just suggesting things to the coach ... what routes to run or where they can get open. If that stuff works then it's gonna be better for us."
The Browns talked around how severely Frye's thumb injury affected his throwing at San Diego. Frye said he banged the thumb on a helmet in practice last week. He appeared on Wednesday's injury report, but there are no indications he won't play at Atlanta.