Cleveland Browns (2008 Season)

[osugrad21]

CPD

Browns fans see Derek Anderson air show at Family Night

Saturday, August 02, 2008 Mary Kay Cabot
Plain Dealer Reporter

Derek Anderson and Braylon Edwards plan on connecting plenty of times under the bright lights this season, and they provided a sneak preview Friday night during Family Night at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
A loud and boisterous crowd of 26,108 watched Anderson and Edwards pick up where they left off last season when delivered on 16 touchdown completions en route to their trips to the Pro Bowl.
If their two TDs Friday were any indication of what's to come, they might as well go ahead and make their reservations for Honolulu right now.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Crennel is pleased with Wright's snuff

Saturday, August 02, 2008 Mary Kay Cabot
Plain Dealer Reporter

Cornerback Eric Wright made the play of the night on defense when he picked off a Brady Quinn pass on the goal line intended for rookie receiver Paul Hubbard.
At the time, Quinn and the second-team offense were working against the first-team defense in team drills. Quinn went 5-of-6 on the drive, including two passes over the middle to Steve Sanders.
"It felt good to come out and make a pick like that in front of the all these fans," said Wright. "I try to come out and keep getting better every day. We're under the lights trying to get better, and what a better way to try to improve than practicing in front of all these fans."

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[osugrad21]

CPD

Browns training camp log: Day 10

by Mary Kay Cabot Friday August 01, 2008, 11:06 PM



What happened: A crowd of 26,108 fans came out for Family Fun Night and fireworks. Cavs coach Mike Brown and his son Cameron were among the VIPs on the sidelines.
Quarterback Derek Anderson and receiver Braylon Edwards hooked up twice for TDs, once in team drills and once in the two-minute drill. Brady Quinn threw a pick, working with the second-team offense against the first-team defense.
Crennel expects defensive end Corey Williams to return Sunday from a shoulder injury. Seems to be an epidemic of hamstring injuries on the team.
Injury report: The following players were idle: LB Antwan Peek (knee), Steve Heiden (knee), G Seth McKinney (ankle), FB Lawrence Vickers (hamstring), WR Kevin Kasper (hamstring), DE Corey Williams (shoulder). TE Kellen Winslow and WR Josh Cribbs were limited with hamstring injuries.

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

McDonald eager to fill bigger role for Browns Young cornerback makes plays, helps to fill vacancy after Bodden
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Saturday, Aug 02, 2008
CLEVELAND: Brandon McDonald showed this week why the Browns were comfortable enough to trade veteran cornerback Leigh Bodden in the offseason.
Squaring off against one of the first-team receivers in a two-minute drill, McDonald lulled quarterback Derek Anderson into thinking that he had an open man. At the last moment, McDonald pulled off a theft.
Impressive, to be sure, but McDonald remains even-keeled.
''Really I'm just trying to come out and work as hard as I can to maintain my position and, at the same time, try to help the team win some games,'' McDonald said. ''Yes, I'm pretty satisfied, but I'm pretty hungry. I'm always trying to get better day in and day out.''
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[LitlBuck]

Good to hear Derek hooking up with Edwards on some good deep throws. Hope things continue to improve. Also sounds like he is getting in rhythm with Stallworth.

Quinn and Sanders hooked up a few times which is a good sign because we might need Sanders to fill in JJ's spot.

 

[NJ-Buckeye]

Gotta be tough for Quinn to be throwing to second team receivers behind second team line against first team defense

 

[LitlBuck]

I would like to see Brady gets some meaningful playing time this preseason because the majority of NFL QB's do not make it through a entire season.

 

[Buckeneye]

I say let him start 2 pre-season games, then let DA start 2 more.

We'll see who's better there.

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Cleveland Browns' Braylon Edwards seeks to make his dreams a reality, Bill Livingston says

Sunday, August 03, 2008 Bill Livingston
Plain Dealer Columnist

No man is an island, even in his fantasies. When Braylon Edwards dreams, he has company.
"I see a big banner on a building downtown," the Browns' wide receiver said, channeling his inner LeBron James. James' huge "witness" banner hangs near The Q.
"Only the banner is of our entire team," Edwards said.

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Injuries take toll early on in camp

Sunday, August 03, 2008 Tony Grossi
Plain Dealer Reporter

The Browns hit the halfway point of their training camp with nine players nursing injuries and not practicing.
Foremost among the injured are receiver Joe Jurevicius (out probably until November with an infected knee), linebacker Antwan Peek (through preseason after knee surgery) and offensive lineman Ryan Tucker (expected back later this month after June hip surgery).
The other six players on the Browns' injured list are expected to return to practice sometime this week.

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[osugrad21]

CPD

Despite book's praises, Cleveland Browns Andra Davis considered average by most, Terry Pluto says

Despite book's praises, LB Davis considered average by most
Sunday, August 03, 2008
There are times when numbers say one thing, my eyes another. I love a book called Pro Football Prospectus, which uses stats to explain every facet of the game. I love how the authors reveal the Browns ranked No. 30 in throwing screen passes and threw one on first down all season. Or how Kellen Winslow ranked fifth among all offensive players by drawing 13 penalties, or how Braylon Edwards was second with 12 dropped passes. That matches my memory.
But the authors write, "Andra Davis was one of the top run-stopping linebackers for the second year in a row." In fact, they ranked him sixth in the NFL, with runners averaging only 2.1 yards per carry in his area -- and saying he ranked 10th in percentage of runs stopped in the league. I talked to one NFL stat specialist, who explained that counting drops, penalties and screen passes are purely objective stats. But deciding what a player does in terms of tackles in his area is subjective -- it comes from grading film and opinion. Most NFL teams rank Davis as average, at best. They love his attitude and toughness, but speed is a question.

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[LitlBuck]

Dispatch

Browns don't miss training camp drama
Sunday, August 3, 2008 3:18 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Phil Savage
BEREA, Ohio -- For the first time since rejoining the NFL in 1999, the Cleveland Browns are enjoying a routine training camp.
There's no quarterback controversy like last year, when Charlie Frye, Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn fought for the job.
There has been no devastating injury like in 2006, when center and prized free-agent acquisition LeCharles Bentley suffered a knee injury at the start of camp.

After last year's surprising 10-6 season, the Browns are viewed as one of the NFL's up-and-coming teams.

The man who has built the roster, general manager Phil Savage, barely survived his first season in 2005 before winning a power struggle with team president John Collins. Since then, he has methodically built the Browns into a contender.

On Wednesday, Savage spoke with The Dispatch.

Question: How different is this year for you?

Answer: This camp has definitely had a different feel to it. In '05, you're kind of culling through the team to figure out which players you want to keep around. In '06, we had a little more of an expectation, but then we had the LeCharles injury on day one. Last year, all the focus was on the quarterbacks and (coach Romeo Crennel) being on the hot seat and me being on the hot seat. So this is the first time we've really been able to focus on football. It's nice. But at the same time, if you were going to equate it to high school, we're going into our senior year, so it should be somewhat settled down.

Q: How comforting is it to know the Browns have reached a point that if you're 0-2, people won't be calling for your head?

A: The biggest issue the Browns had from '99 to '05 was a lack of continuity. That goes beyond the head coach and GM. It's got to go through your scouting department. It's got to go through the coaching staff. It's got to go through the front-office staff. We finally have some stability.

Continued

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Rookie may be someone to watch Linebacker Alex Hall drafted in 7th round could be a good find
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Sunday, Aug 03, 2008

CLEVELAND: Everyone has to go looking for linebacker Alex Hall.
His college football coach found him at a recruiting fair in Hall's home state of Maryland, and the Browns found him in the seventh round of the NFL Draft in April at the tiny Division II school of St. Augustine College in Raleigh, N.C. Ultimately, they might be glad they did.
The 6-foot-5, 250-pound prospect has caused a couple of double takes at the Browns' training camp. Possessing size and speed, he might develop into a pass-rushing specialist. In the Browns' practice in front of more than 26,000 fans at Family Night on Friday, he showcased those skills by getting a sack.
Hall confessed that he was a bit overwhelmed when he arrived in Berea, but that is changing.
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[LitlBuck]

I say let him start 2 pre-season games, then let DA start 2 more.

I do not think there you will see that. While Quinn will get quite if you reps with the first-team offense, I highly doubt he will even start one game unless there is something wrong with Anderson. Savage and Romeo have both stated that he is their number one QB and you don't want to delineate that by starting another QB even if it is a exhibition game.

The 6-foot-5, 250-pound prospect

I have not looked this up but I want to say that when he was drafted this past Spring his weight was only around 225 pounds. With his quickness if he has put on an additional 25 pounds, he might be able to help the Browns right away with Peek being out to at least the beginning of the season.

 

[osugrad21]

DDN

Browns WR Edwards destined for greatness


By Carlos "Big C" Holmes
Staff Writer

Sunday, August 03, 2008

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards had a breakout season last year and now entering his fourth year in the league is poised to have a blockbuster season in 2008.
This will be quarterback Derek Anderson's and Edwards' second year playing together in the offense of Rob Chudzinski who is expected to open up the playbook and unleash a major air attack on opposing defenses featuring their All-Pro receiver.
Record season?
Edwards is having one of his best training camps since being drafted by the team and is looking to translate that performance to the playing field on Sundays ? and Mondays ? this fall.
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