Cleveland Browns (2008 Season)

[billmac91]

Derek Anderson's QB rating is currently a 56. If Braylon could catch the ball it'd be about an 87.

True story.

 

[osugrad21]

DDN

Browns' Steinbach nursing shoulder injury


Wire Reports

Thursday, September 18, 2008

BEREA ? Cleveland Browns starting left guard Eric Steinbach did not practice for the second straight day on Thursday, Sept. 18, and could be a game-time decision for Sunday's game at Baltimore.
Steinbach strained his shoulder in last week's loss to Pittsburgh. He was kept inside for treatment along with linebacker Willie McGinest (hamstring) and wide receiver Donte' Stallworth (quadriceps), one of the team's top offseason signings who hasn't played in either of Cleveland's first two games after pulling the leg muscle during warm-ups before the opener against Dallas.
If Steinbach can't play, the Browns could use Ryan Tucker, who underwent surgery on a fractured hip in May and has been inactive for the first two games.
Head coach Romeo Crennel said wide receiver Braylon Edwards is dealing with an injured shoulder and running back Jamal Lewis is nursing ankle and hamstring injuries. Both were limited in practice Wednesday but were on the field for stretching and drills during the 30 minutes that the media are permitted to watch.
Smith fractures hand
Shaun Smith, who will replace the injured Robaire Smith at right end, suffered a small fracture in his left hand during the Steelers game and will play with a cast on.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Browns aim to rattle Ravens' rookie QB They've got little history to go on with Flacco
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Friday, Sep 19, 2008
CLEVELAND: In NFL terms, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco possesses a very thin resume, but it does include a victory.
Flacco, a rookie, got his first regular-season start against the Cincinnati Bengals two weeks ago, completing 15-of-29 passes for 129 yards, and he scrambled 38 yards for a touchdown run.
That's about all that is known, other than his vitals. He is 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, a first-round draft choice out of Delaware and a quarterback who is viewed as a pocket passer.
That means the Browns' defense will spend a significant portion of time Sunday trying to confuse the rookie.
Flacco can expect a mix of different coverages, blitzes and other things to try to get into his head, Browns coach Romeo Crennel said Thursday.
The Browns' defensive line also is doing its homework to learn more about Flacco.
''He hasn't really shown too many tendencies, but offensive linemen always give tips, so we've been picking up on stuff like that,'' defensive lineman Shaun Smith said.
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[osugrad21]

CPD

Browns' Dawson seeking a Ravens replay

by Tony Grossi Thursday September 18, 2008, 6:53 PM


Joshua Gunter/The Plain DealerThe unrestrained glee of Browns kicker Phil Dawson was easy to find after officials finally ruled his field goal attempt good to tie last year's game at Baltimore.
Phil Dawson is hoping history repeats for the Browns Sunday in Baltimore. No, he's not counting on another carom-shot field goal off the gooseneck support bar to break the hearts of the Ravens. That was a once-in-a-lifetime kick that changed history.
It probably cost Brian Billick his job as Ravens coach. It also caused owners to change the rule and allow field goals to be reviewable by instant replay.
But Dawson believes that a win in Baltimore on Sunday could change the course of the season, just as that 33-30 victory did a year ago.
"It was a special game personally, but also for the team," Dawson said on Thursday. "It really served as a catapult for the rest of the year. We kind of find ourselves in the same position, in terms of needing a big victory. Hopefully, winning a game this week will catapult us and get us on a roll here."

The Browns were 5-4 when they visited Baltimore last Nov. 18, coming off a close loss to Pittsburgh (just like this week). When they emerged with the overtime win over the Ravens, they were convinced good fortune was finally on their side.
That confidence helped them win five of their last seven to finish 10-6.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Browns' big question: Can Braylon get a grip?

by Bill Livingston Thursday September 18, 2008, 6:21 PM



Frankly, the best thing Braylon Edwards brought to the Pittsburgh game was Michael Phelps.
Without one of the outrageous days of which he is capable, Edwards isn't going to come close to his preseason forecast of 17 touchdown catches. That would be double, plus one, the gold-medal Olympics haul of Phelps, Edwards' prune-skinned swimming pal from their Michigan days.
After setting the team touchdown reception record last year with 16, Edwards has not visited the end zone this season. In eight quarters of play, Kellen Winslow has the team's only touchdown.
Winslow's hands usually vacuum up the ball. But no one knows what to expect from Edwards, who has dropped six balls and made five catches so far. One week, he's ready for bronzing in Canton. The next, he's Quincy Morgan.

Tracy Boulian/The Plain DealerIt's a scene all-too-familiar with Browns fans, as Braylon Edwards and the ball are separated by an opposing defensive back --- in this case, Deshea Townsend of the Steelers last Sunday.
Outwardly confident, Edwards shuns interviews when in a slump. It's not a good sign when a player leaves it up to his teammates to defend him. Yet there was quarterback Derek Anderson in midweek, talking about how a "wind shift" caused his interception in the second quarter against Pittsburgh on a long pass. But Edwards didn't make much of an effort to knock the ball down. The wind made balls duck and dive, so maybe the Steelers game should be thrown out. Except it can't be. A drop-plagued opener could be attributed to rustiness after Edwards' injury in exhibition season. Now it's a trend.
To sharpen his focus, the Browns throw footballs with numbers on them at him. He calls out the digits while the ball is in the air. They also use colored footballs to heighten visual acuity.
"Bright colors," said coach Romeo Crennel.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Browns Insider: Steinbach's sore shoulder may shuffle McKinney into lineup

by Tony Grossi Thursday September 18, 2008, 7:29 PM


Thomas Ondrey/The Plain DealerWith starting guard Eric Steinbach (left) struggling with a shoulder injury, veteran lineman Seth McKinney (right) may get the start at left guard on Sunday.
The depth at guard collected by the Browns this year is getting tested. The struggling offense might have to line up Seth McKinney and Rex Hadnot as the starting guards in Baltimore on Sunday.
Left guard Eric Steinbach missed his second practice in a row with a shoulder injury. Although coach Romeo Crennel wouldn't rule out Steinbach, it's rare for players to be active after missing the two busiest days of the practice week. Steinbach, however, has missed only one game because of injury in 82 career games.
McKinney and Hadnot have been the starting guards at practice.
Also in the mix is Ryan Tucker, who has been working at the right guard spot for the first time this week since his unusual hip fracture injury in off-season practices in May.

Tucker said he has overcome at least one barrier this week.
"The first time I was out there I was a little scared," he said. "That's something you don't want to do over again. So that was part of it, just getting my confidence back where I can run and plant and do what I need to do to play this game. I've gotten over that hurdle.
"Now it's just getting the speed part of the game back. I wish I could snap my fingers and be there tomorrow, but that's not how things work. Hopefully, I'll get out there sooner than later."
Asked if he thinks he could play on Sunday, Tucker said, "That's a question I couldn't answer."

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Another turning point for Browns?
Win at Baltimore gave Browns shot in the arm in 2007
Friday, September 19, 2008
By STEVE DOERSCHUK
[email protected]

BEREA The kick banked off the left upright, ricocheted over the crossbar, bounced off the gooseneck support and went ... backward.

The Browns' 2007 season, sullied a week earlier with a narrow loss to Pittsburgh, jerked harder into reverse. The game was over. The Browns were 30-27 losers. They were 5-5, and that five-game hot streak in which only New England beat them suddenly was ancient history. Then they rolled the videotape.

Officials saw that the ball had gone off "the stanchion," the technical name for that gooseneck support. Whether or not someone fudged on replay rules and acted out a white lie to honor the truth, no one ever said. But they concluded that Phil Dawson's 51-yard crazy kick first went over the crossbar before hitting the stanchion, and that the rule book says such kicks are good.

The game went to overtime tied at 30. Dawson won it with a 33-yard field goal.

"It was a special game personally but also for the team," Dawson said during Thursday's practice during the leadup to playing Baltimore. "It really served as a catapult for the rest of the year.

"We kind of find ourselves in the same position."

Dawson's Baltimore bank shot was a field goal for the ages. It came against the franchise that used to be the Browns, barely after Matt Stover, the only remaining "old Brown" and a graduate of Dawson's high school, kicked a 47-yard field goal to give Baltimore a lead.

Someday, Dawson will tell his grandchildren about it. Now? He discusses it with his 7-year-old boy, Dru.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Browns Notebook: Tucker could be in, Steinbach out
Friday, September 19, 2008
By STEVE DOERSCHUK
[email protected]

BEREA Ryan Tucker, the Browns' most distinguished offensive lineman since the old Browns left for Baltimore, is ready for his 2008 season to begin.

It's 50-50 whether Tucker can make it to the field for Sunday's game at Baltimore. It might make a difference if he can. After he got the hang of playing right guard last year, the running game turned into a force, and the team won five of its last seven games.

"As far as being ready," Tucker said Thursday, "I'm not up to my standards yet, but I'm coming."

Tucker has been practicing. He is a possible replacement for left guard Eric Steinbach, who has missed practice this week with a shoulder injury.

Tucker, 33, has played every line position over the years and is confident he could play left guard if he is cleared.

That would allow Rex Hadnot, a natural right guard, to stay put. Veteran Seth McKinney is another option at left guard.

Tucker suffered a broken hip during spring practice. After surgery to repair the injury and an arduous rehabilitation, Tucker was nervous about practicing again.

"The first time I was out there, I was a little scared," he said. "This (the injury) is something you don't want to do over again.

"I had to get my confidence back to where I could run and plant and do what I need to do. I got over that hurdle. Now it's getting the speed part of the game back.

"The strength is there."
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[LitlBuck]

I really don't want to see Tucker starting unless he is completely healthy. He is the only guy on the team who can play both tackle and guard positions on either side and it would be a big mistake to start him when we have both McKinney and Hadnot available to play the guard positions.

Regarding the rumors about Brady and Kansas City, I have not heard them at all from any Cleveland radio or Browns beat reporters so I I don't think there's much validity in that story. I am also still somewhat concerned about DA's decision-making my throwing that interception at the end of the first half against Pittsburgh. He did that too many times last year and I want to see him for an entire season again before we get rid of Quinn. Also, if any trade talks even come up a #1 draft choice would have to be part of the deal along with Croyle.

 

[NFBuck]

Now Steinbach is injured too? Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck. The real Browns are back.

 

[DGADBTWSOM]

Now Steinbach is injured too? Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck. The real Browns are back.

Back? You naive fool. Haven't you learned? They never left us. They just did well enough to not make the play-offs, raise our interest again just to dash them the moment someone said "Super Bowl Contender" back in July.

 

[NFBuck]

Back? You naive fool. Haven't you learned? They never left us. They just did well enough to not make the play-offs, raise our interest again just to dash them the moment someone said "Super Bowl Contender" back in July.

Ain't it great?

 

[NastyDogg72]

I really don't want to see Tucker starting unless he is completely healthy. He is the only guy on the team who can play both tackle and guard positions on either side and it would be a big mistake to start him when we have both McKinney and Hadnot available to play the guard positions.

Regarding the rumors about Brady and Kansas City, I have not heard them at all from any Cleveland radio or Browns beat reporters so I I don't think there's much validity in that story. I am also still somewhat concerned about DA's decision-making my throwing that interception at the end of the first half against Pittsburgh. He did that too many times last year and I want to see him for an entire season again before we get rid of Quinn. Also, if any trade talks even come up a #1 draft choice would have to be part of the deal along with Croyle.

I couldn't agree with you more about Quinn, I don't see any way that Savage would make a deal for him right now. Savage was the one who made the aggresive moves on draft day to GET Quinn, making a deal at this point would give the perception of those moves being something of a failure. Savage is not about to throw in the towel on the Quinn pick before ever seeing him on the field in a Brown's uniform. Nobody is going to offer fair compensation for him in relation to what Cleveland gave up to get him.

Now if Anderson rights the ship and Quinn doesn't get a shot at the job I do see him forcing the trade in the offseason, after all the kid didn't come to the NFL to be a backup. If the situation dictates that he isn't going to get a shot in Cleveland then nobody could blame him for wanting to move on. I'm obviously not a Browns fan but as a diehard Steelers fan I pay almost as much attention to your team as I do my own, keep your enemies closer you know, and I wonder if Quinn was really given a fair shot at the starting job this past offseason. It just seems as though Crennel was so caught up in the glow of 10-6 and his contract extension to see what alot of other people are seeing in that teams are "figuring" out Anderson.

The Old Man always said "If you aren't getting better, you are getting worse" there is no such thing as status quo. Just an observation, but it seems as though Cleveland is out there trying to run the identical offense from last season. We all know that in the NFL, especially with 6 games a season against division opponents, you have to be constantly evolving. You always have to be a step ahead of the team lined up across from you. Last season the Brown's offense was a step ahead, it now seems as though the tide has reversed. Just wondering what some of you guys thought.

Good luck this weekend against Baltimore, I hate those Bastards.

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Browns must dig in against run Stopping Ravens' running backs is key for defense in effort to secure first victory
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Saturday, Sep 20, 2008

BEREA: When the Browns take the field Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, they will be looking to slay a three-headed monster known as the Ravens' running game.
Led during the opening week ? the Ravens had an unexpected bye last weekend courtesy of Hurricane Ike ? by Le'Ron McClain (19 carries for 86 yards) and Ray Rice (22 carries for 64 yards), the Ravens this week expect a healthier Willis McGahee to join them.
Browns defensive coordinator Mel Tucker knows exactly what to expect.

''I anticipate that they are going to try to run the football,'' Tucker said. ''I think they are going to try to run it, get the quarterback in manageable third-down situations and try to convert. I think that's what we have to be ready for.''
Given that the Ravens opened the season by rushing for 229 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals, the fact they want to run the ball isn't unexpected. The Ravens got 12-of-20 first downs courtesy of the run and rushed on 25-of-32 first-down opportunities against the Bengals.
''They are very similar to our offense with the different formations, shifts, their core runs and passing concepts, but I think they are committed to running the ball,'' Tucker said. ''They show a lot of unbalanced sets. They ran unbalanced about 19 times last week, and that's quite a bit.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Browns-Ravens: Five things to watch By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 07:15 p.m. EDT, Sep 20, 2008
1. Ravens running backs Willis McGahee, Le'Ron McClain and Ray Rice vs. Browns' run defense.
McGahee, who rushed for 1,207 yards and seven touchdowns last season, is expected to return after knee surgery kept him out all of the preseason and the first game. McClain, moved from fullback for the second half of the opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, picked up a career-high 86 yards on 19 carries and caught two passes for 24 yards. Rice, a 5-foot-8 rookie from Rutgers, added 64 yards on 22 carries and caught three passes for 19 yards. Considering that Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco will be making just his second start, coach John Harbaugh is expected to emphasize the run to take the pressure off the rookie from Delaware. The Browns beefed up their defensive line with offseason trades for Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams, and the two are tied for third on the team in tackles with 12. This will be the first real power running attack that the Browns have faced, and they'll have to do it without defensive end Robaire Smith, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. ''They know we're banged up, so I expect them to run the ball as much as they can. Also, try to get McGahee back in the groove,'' defensive lineman Shaun Smith said.
2. Browns receiver Braylon Edwards.
All eyes will be on Edwards, who has dropped six passes in two games. Setting team single-season records with 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2007, making his first Pro Bowl and hob-nobbing with stars such as Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, who attended the game Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers, seem to have gone to Edwards' head. He also missed three weeks of training camp with a gash in his right foot. ''It's always troubling when a player goes through times like he is going through, when he is dropping balls that we need him to catch,'' Browns coach Romeo Crennel said. ''We are trying to do everything we can to help get him out of his slump. We've got numbers and colors on the ball to try to improve his focus so he can relax and make some of those plays we saw him make last year.''
Cont...