Cleveland Browns (2008 Season)

[osugrad21]

Canton

Sports Spotlight: Browns season reduced to a sad country song

By Todd Porter
CantonRep.com staff writer
Posted Dec 07, 2008 @ 11:45 PM
Last update Dec 07, 2008 @ 11:58 PM
NASHVILLE ?
Johnny Cash had to write a song for this kind of a football season. ?Cry, cry, cry,? or ?All over again,? or ?Ring of Fire,? soon to be an ode to Romeo.

Maybe he made an entire album. In the Music City across the Cumberland, the Browns football season was reduced to a sad country music song, fittingly in Nashville.

It was a foregone conclusion that Cleveland would lose to the playoff-bound Titans at LP Stadium. The Browns had to trot out Ken Dorsey, who?s the backup to the backup, whoever that may be. Dorsey?s a smart fella, and a good guy. He not only looks like Tobey Maguire, but he plays like him before the spider bite.

In actuality, Cleveland?s offense didn?t look any difference with Dorsey than it has with Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn.

At least Dorsey broke through that glass-wall barrier no quarterback on Cleveland?s roster has dared to crash through in nearly a month.

No, not score a touchdown, silly. Let?s not get carried away. The streak stands at 12 quarters and counting. Rest assured, though, when it happens some overpaid and underperforming Brown will do a TD dance. Hey, a man can dream, can?t he?

But Dorsey did break that six-point barrier. It?s not quite putting a man on the moon, but it?s football season in Cleveland and, well, let?s not aim too high.

Cont...

 

[MSURacerDT55]

Bringing back Marty would truly suck....I just hope this report is bogus. There are so mnay young, good assistants out there, that understand the game and haven't built their entire resume on Bill Bellichek.

No doubt Marty wins more games, but who wants to watch the Browns lose in the playoffs by running the football 45 times? If not Cowher, please try and find another Mike Smith or John Harbaugh. They are out their to be found....

Well,call me what you want,but at this point....I can deal with being 13-3 and complaining about playoffs when they get here. Why take a chance on something we dont know about when we know what we get from Marty.

 

[exhawg]

This is a great year for the Browns to have a top 10 pick, in my eyes at least. There should be three top 10 picks who played in Columbus, and this could be the year one of them ends up in Cleveland.

Of course, that probably would make too much sense...

I dream of the day that Browns management gets smart and starts drafting some Buckeyes. As I see it the Brown have 3 big needs right now. CB, LB, and RB. It just so happens that OSU will have 3 top 10 picks that play those positions.
After watching some of the Steelers game yesterday I realized that the Browns are going about OLB in the wrong way as well. They keep getting tall quick OLB's, but from personal experience those guys are easier to block. For a 6'5"+ OT guys like James Harrison are impossible to block. When I played against him he could bull rush me back to the QB. He was so short he always had leverage.

 

[LitlBuck]

After watching some of the Steelers game yesterday I realized that the Browns are going about OLB in the wrong way as well. They keep getting tall quick OLB's, but from personal experience those guys are easier to block. For a 6'5"+ OT guys like James Harrison are impossible to block. When I played against him he could bull rush me back to the QB. He was so short he always had leverage.

Excellent call. I just happened to take a good look at Alex Hall's arms yesterday during the Titans game and they looked like toothpicks. I have no idea where the Steelers get all of these guys from but there are a lot of no-name namers on that team that played to a higher standard than most high draft choices.

 

[exhawg]

Excellent call. I just happened to take a good look at Alex Hall's arms yesterday during the Titans game and they looked like toothpicks. I have no idea where the Steelers get all of these guys from but there are a lot of no-name namers on that team that played to a higher standard than most high draft choices.

They cut Harrison for 3 years before he even made the team. Now he is one of the best players in the NFL. Sometimes I wish I could write all my teams GM's a letter and mail it back 5 years. Just think how good any team would be if they could make every single right move for 5 years.

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Schottenheimer says he's not likely to replace Crennel By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 07:58 p.m. EST, Dec 08, 2008
BEREA: Marty Schottenheimer said he has not been contacted by the Browns about replacing embattled coach Romeo Crennel and doesn't see it as a likely scenario if he were approached.
But speaking on Sirius NFL radio Monday, Schottenheimer said he was intrigued about serving in a Bill Parcells-type role with Bill Cowher if he decided to return to coaching.
Cowher played linebacker for the Browns in 1980-82, when Schottenheimer was an assistant. He also coached under Schottenheimer in Cleveland (1985-88, special teams and defensive backs) and followed him to Kansas City (1989-91), where he was Schottenheimer's defensive coordinator.
''That would be very interesting for a couple of reasons,'' Schottenheimer said of working with Cowher in a role similar to Parcells, who is the Miami Dolphins' executive vice president. ''Bill and I have remained very, very close friends throughout our NFL careers and it goes back to when he was a player and I was an assistant. I would be less than candid if I didn't say that that is, at the very least, intriguing. But there are so many movable parts there, it would be like a Rubik's Cube.''
ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported Sunday that Schottenheimer could be an option to replace Crennel, but the Browns were still trying to gauge Cowher's interest in coaching in 2009. Taking a break after spending 15 years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cowher is in the final year of a two-year contract with CBS.
On the radio show, a caller brought up Schottenheimer returning to coach in Cleveland. Schottenheimer went 44-27 with the Browns in 1984-88 before he was fired by owner Art Modell. Schottenheimer's career record is 200-126-1.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Schottenheimer says coaching Cleveland Browns "unlikely" but wouldn't mind working with Cowher

by Mary Kay Cabot Monday December 08, 2008, 4:27 PM

AP file Marty Schottenheimer said today it was "unlikely" he would return to coach the Browns.
BEREA -- Marty Schottenheimer said during an interview today on Sirius NFL Radio that it's unlikely he'd return to Cleveland to become head coach of the Browns again, but admitted he was intrigued about the possibility of returning in a front-office role with Bill Cowher as coach.
"That would be very interesting for a couple of reasons,'' Schottenheimer said on The Sirius Blitz. "You know, Bill and I have remained very, very close friends throughout our NFL careers and it goes back to when he was a player and I was an assistant. I would be less than candid if I didn't say that that is, at the very least, intriguing. But there are so many movable parts there it would be like a Rubix cube."
Schottenheimer was asked by co-host Adam Schein if he'd need complete control over personnel decisions to return to coaching.

"Well, no. I don't think that that's necessary,'' he said. "I had complete control in Washington and it didn't work out very well (laughs). No, those are not issues that are critical in my mind. As a head coach I think you have to be responsible and have control at least of the 53-man roster. To be responsible for the draft, in my opinion, I don't think that's the kind of situation, it's too hard to do what you have to do, let alone be involved making all the final decisions on the draft because, as a head coach in the National Football League, to do that job well (running the draft) I think you've got to be out on the road doing it all the time and, duh, if you're out there, how are you going to get ready to coach your football team? It's just like the thing I enjoy most about working with you guys (at SIRIUS) are the people. The people are good people and that's the only thing that is important to me, is people."
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[osugrad21]

CPD

An order of Cribbs

by Mary Kay Cabot Monday December 08, 2008, 9:21 PM


Browns coach Romeo Crennel said the Browns will use Josh Cribbs more to try to jump-start the offense.
"It looked like Cribbs was a spark, and so I think that we'll have to give him a chance to be more of a spark and try to manage his other duties as well," said Crennel. "That's what I think we can do there."

Cribbs rushed for six times out of the Flash package for 24 yards, a 4.0-yard average. He also connected with Braylon Edwards on a deep sideline ball, but it was caught slightly out of bounds.
"[Cribbs] plays really hard," said Crennel. "He's got some talent, got some toughness, he's competitive, and so I think all those ingredients make for an exciting player. When he gets the ball under his arm, everybody is excited about it and what he's capable of because we've seen that he can run for touchdowns. We've been working on things all during the year, some we haven't used in the games. His [plays] package has gotten larger as the year has gone on, so I think that if you use him more than that package that you have in, you just pull from those plays and that [plays] package is a pretty substantial package."
Crennel said he's instructed the coaching staff to figure out ways to help the team given the current circumstances, including being down to their third quarterback.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Terry Pluto: So what has happened to the Browns' offense

by Terry Pluto Monday December 08, 2008, 3:29 PM


CLEVELAND -- The answer is seven.
The question is: How many games have the Browns scored one or zero touchdowns this season?
Seven games with one or no touchdowns? That compares to only two last season -- the 34-7 spanking by Pittsburgh in the opener and the 8-0 victory over Buffalo in a blizzard.
Seven games with fewer than two touchdowns?
In 1999 and 2004, there were eight of those games.

The worst was 11 in 2000, their second year after expansion when Ty Detmer and Tim Couch were injured. That led to heavy doses of Doug Pederson and Spergon Wynn at quarterback. In the final two games, Coach Chris Palmer couldn't watch them any more, and began using Kevin Johnson and Dennis Northcutt running plays out of the shotgun.
Which brings us to Sunday's 28-9 loss at Tennessee.
There were 68 offensive (and were they ever!) snaps in that game.
Guess how many featured Joshua Cribbs on the field?
Try 11.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Upon Further Review: Browns' O line struggles and the defense gets progressively slower

by Dennis Manoloff Monday December 08, 2008, 1:52 PM

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerTennessee running back LenDale White steps away from Brandon McDonald during Sunday's game.
Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff watched the CBS tape of the Browns' 28-9 loss at Tennessee on Sunday. Here are some of his observations:

FIRST QUARTER
* On third down at 13:32, Ken Dorsey made a good throw backing away from pressure and connected with Braylon Edwards for 25.
* At 12:05, Donte Stallworth dropped what he might have been able to turn into a first down.
* At 9:48, Brandon McDonald's blitz forced intentional grounding.

* At 9:45, Eric Wright appeared to be blocked in the back, helping clear the way for Chris Johnson to gain 17 on third-and-16.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Return of Marty ball? Reports say Lerner interested in Schottenheimer

By Steve Doerschuk
CantonRep.com staff writer
Posted Dec 08, 2008 @ 09:49 PM
Last update Dec 09, 2008 @ 12:24 AM
Whether Marty Schottenheimer will emerge as a serious candidate for the Browns head-coaching job remains to be seen.

Whether he would be a good choice is a debate Browns fans figure to wage right up to the press conference announcing who will be the team?s sideline general in 2009.

The conversation began long before the latest national report, from ESPN?s Chris Mortensen, indicating that owner Randy Lerner is seriously considering Schottenheimer.

Schottenheimer responded to the report Monday on Sirius Radio, taking a hard-to-get approach.

?I don?t see that as being likely at all. I really don?t,? Schottenheimer told Sirius host Adam Schein. ?I?ve made a major change in my life and, again, the only thing I always say, Adam, as a caveat, I don?t ever make a decision if I don?t have to, and thus, I haven?t made one.?

Those familiar with Schottenheimer will recognize his measured verbosity. He continued:

?First of all, nobody has presented me with an overture and, secondly, I?ve kind of aligned myself and my life kind of where it is, and if they want to pay me $30 million a year, I?ll have to talk about it.

?But actually you couldn?t even take the $30 million because we need it for the government so we can get out of this financial crisis we?re in.

?I have not spoken to anybody from there and the likelihood is, if indeed I were to, I don?t see it likely.?

What if Lerner decides he needs Schottenheimer more than Schottenheimer needs the Browns? What if this turns into a Butch Davis sequel, wherein Davis takes himself out of the running one moment and lands in Cleveland the next?

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[osugrad21]

Canton

Todd Porter: Crennel helps create difficult circumstances

By Todd Porter
CantonRep.com staff writer
Posted Dec 08, 2008 @ 09:53 PM
BEREA ?
There are times when I admire Romeo Crennel. There are times when it?s hard not to respect a man who?s being asked about his replacement even before he?s gone.

These are the circumstances in which Crennel must coach the Browns through three meaningless games to end the season.

But these are the circumstances Crennel has helped create.

Because for every one time Crennel does or says something that makes one stop and wonder if he can work in Cleveland, he?ll say or do two other things that makes one wonder whether he should even finish out the string.

Like Monday ...

?I think the circumstances on this team have changed as we look at it and what we have to do is, we have to realize the limitations that we have to work with,? Crennel said.

He thinks this?

He needed to see the tape of the Tennessee game to think this?

Crennel should have known what all of you knew before the Titans ever kicked off to the Browns on Sunday. If Crennel didn?t know his team was limited with a third-string quarterback in Ken Dorsey before this game, well, all he?s doing is confirming the magnitude of clumsy coaching that has been the 2008 season.

Crennel wants to tweak and adjust things for this mega Monday night game in Philadelphia. Again, he?s a week late with this idea.

Dorsey is who we thought he was. So, too, is Joshua Cribbs. Crennel wasn?t convinced until film review Monday
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[osugrad21]

CPD

Browns official: Lerner determined to wait until season's end before considering changes

by Tony Grossi/Plain Dealer Reporter Tuesday December 09, 2008, 6:21 PM

Ron Schwane/AP file photoBrowns owner Randy Lerner is sticking to his intentions of waiting until the end of the season before making decisions on the fate of GM Phil Savage (left) and coach Romeo Crennel's staff.
Everyone wants to fire Romeo Crennel now! Reassign Phil Savage now! Move on to the next Browns regime right now! That's not the way it's going to work, according to Bob Kain, the Browns' vice chairman.
"What we plan to do is exactly what Randy Lerner said [on Nov. 25]," Kain said on Tuesday. "Immediately following the season, he's going to review everything and he will make decisions. It's what he said to the press and it's what he's said to Romeo and Phil.
"Nothing has changed. He has a good relationship with Romeo and with Phil. They both have worked unbelievably hard with the Browns. He's not happy with the results, obviously, and will review everything. He's also respectful of these guys."
With Crennel falling into seemingly lame-duck status, Savage's full authority on football matters being questioned and the Browns losing four of their last five games to go to 4-9, speculation is occurring almost daily.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

More than wins are on the line for Browns now

By Steve Doerschuk
CantonRep.com staff writer
Posted Dec 09, 2008 @ 06:48 PM
BEREA ?
What?s left to woof about for Browns fans? Where do they turn their droopy eyes, other than to the draft?

If the Browns win their last three games, pigs will fly, money will fall from the sky, and Cleveland may drop out of the top 10 in the 2009 talent lottery.

It is more likely that a team using a quarterback with a career 2-9 record as an NFL starter and reeling in a 1-5 slump will continue to lose.

If the Browns lose their last three, they will draft no lower than No. 8.

On the other hand, extending their current 4-9 record to 4-12 likely would get them no higher than No. 6.

Draft order for non-playoff teams is based solely on how shabby one?s record is. The worse the record, the higher the position. If non-playoff teams have the same record, the one with the easier schedule ? based on opponents? winning percentage ? drafts sooner.

Following Sunday?s loss at Tennessee, the Browns are tied with Jacksonville for seventh place in the draft order. Both have 4-9 records. Remember, strength of schedule, not head-to-head competition, is the tie-breaker.

Jacksonville would win the tie-breaker at this point, because it has played an easier schedule. Jaguars opponents are 94-75, Browns foes 98-69-2.

BROWNS ON THE MOVE

Cleveland could move up if Jacksonville beats the struggling Packers on Sunday and the Browns lose their Monday night game at Philadelphia.

The following Sunday?s ?Battle of Ohio? should be something else, pitting the reeling Browns against the 1-11-1 Bengals.
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[JCOSU86]

Kain said there has been no contact whatsoever with Cowher or Schottenheimer and there wouldn't be contact until after Lerner conducts his season-ending review.

And there is part of the problem, folks. The Browns have no fucking plan. At the very god-damned least they should have had "theoretical" conversations like "IF a job were offered to you would you consider it and for want cost?" to whomever.

Pathetic franchise. They have wasted the loyalty of some very damned good fans.