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Cleveland Browns vs Detroit Lions

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OSUBasketballJunkie

OSUBasketballJunkie

Never Forget 31-0
yahoo.com

10/20/05


<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=560>Detroit (2-3) at Cleveland (2-3)

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Detroit (2-3) at Cleveland (2-3)</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Preview - Box Score - Recap

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=ysptblclbg3 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2 height=5><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD> Game Info: 1:00 pm EDT Sun Oct 23, 2005
TV: FOX </TD><TD noWrap align=right>Add to Calendar
Buy Tickets </TD></TR><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2 colSpan=2 height=1><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR><TR class=yspwhitebg><TD colSpan=2 height=15><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width=190 align=right border=0 hspace="5" vspace="10"><TBODY><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=ysptblclbg1><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=yspsctbg><TD class=ysptblhdr height=18> Key Matchup - WR</TD></TR><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2><TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3 height=3><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspscores noWrap align=middle width="35%">
Johnson
DET </TD><TD align=middle width="30%">vs. </TD><TD class=yspscores noWrap align=middle width="35%">
Northcutt
CLE </TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=3 height=3><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2 colSpan=3><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR><TR class=ysprow2><TD class=yspscores align=right>17 </TD><TD class=yspscores noWrap align=middle>Rec </TD><TD class=yspscores align=right>15 </TD></TR><TR class=ysprow1><TD class=yspscores align=right>3.4 </TD><TD class=yspscores noWrap align=middle>Rec/G </TD><TD class=yspscores align=right>3.0 </TD></TR><TR class=ysprow2><TD class=yspscores align=right>133 </TD><TD class=yspscores noWrap align=middle>Yds </TD><TD class=yspscores align=right>145 </TD></TR><TR class=ysprow1><TD class=yspscores align=right>26.6 </TD><TD class=yspscores noWrap align=middle>Y/G </TD><TD class=yspscores align=right>29.0 </TD></TR><TR class=ysprow2><TD class=yspscores align=right>0 </TD><TD class=yspscores noWrap align=middle>TD </TD><TD class=yspscores align=right>0 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>After watching his team blow a late lead and lose to a backup quarterback, Detroit Lions coach Steve Mariucci seems to be losing confidence in his own signal caller.


The Lions try to rebound from a tough loss as they visit the Cleveland Browns.

Joey Harrington committed three turnovers and was sacked six times as the Lions lost 21-20 to the Carolina Panthers last Sunday. Harrington was 17-for-28 for 201 yards, with 86 of them coming on one pass to tight end Marcus Pollard.

Harrington and Jeff Garcia split the snaps in practice Wednesday, although Mariucci would not commit to a change at quarterback.
Garcia played last season with Browns before signing with Detroit. He has been sidelined since injuring his ankle and leg in the final preseason game, but doctors cleared Garcia to play against Cleveland.

Harrington, the third overall pick in the 2002 draft, has completed 53.1 percent of his passes for an average of 159.6 yards with eight interceptions and four touchdowns this season.


Garcia started 81 games for San Francisco and Cleveland from 1999-2004. In 10 starts last year with the Browns, he threw 10 TDs and nine interceptions, but Mariucci knows him as a three-time Pro Bowler from when he coached him while with the 49ers.

At least one of Harrington's teammates feels he deserves to be benched.
``There needs to be a change, because something is clearly not right,'' guard Damien Woody said. ``I love Joey to death, but historically, that's the position where the change takes place. When things are going good, he gets the glory, and when it goes bad, he takes the fall.''

While Harrington directed only two scoring drives against Carolina -- both ended with field goals by Jason Hanson -- Chris Weinke replaced an injured Jake Delhomme and threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Ricky Proehl with 32 seconds to play for the winning margin.

Although Weinke was 5-for-7 for 47 yards on the winning drive, Detroit shut down running back Stephen Davis and scored two defensive TDs as linebacker Boss Bailey and safety Kenoy Kennedy both returned interceptions for scores.

``We are playing aggressive defense,'' Mariucci said. ``We are playing smart. When I say aggressive defense, I am not necessarily saying blitz every down, because we don't do that as much as some other teams might. We are making plays at the ball. We are returning them like we practiced. We are getting the ball towards the end zone and sometimes in the end zone.''

The Browns faced an aggressive defense in their last game, a 16-3 loss at Baltimore last Sunday. Cleveland's quarterback also struggled as Trent Dilfer went 16-of-30 for 147 yards and an interception against his former team. He also lost two fumbles and was sacked four times.

Reuben Droughns was held to 55 yards on 15 carries and Cleveland, which scored a season-high 26 points in a win over Chicago on Oct. 9, had only 12 first downs.
``We're still in the hole and we've got to battle to get even again,'' Browns coach Romeo Crennel said. ``When you have a performance like we had, everything needs work. We have to get good at the basics and try to give ourselves a chance.''

Browns rookie receiver Braylon Edwards has had a quick recovery from an infection in his right arm, and may be back in the lineup sooner than expected.
Edwards practiced with the team Wednesday on a limited basis and was listed as doubtful for this game.

``I'm not ruling Braylon out,'' Crennel said. Edwards, the No. 3 overall draft pick, was hospitalized for four days following surgery Oct. 8 to cut out the infection. He was expected to miss at least a month.
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Lions, Browns have been slow to solve rushing problem

Friday, October 21, 2005


<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By STEVE DOERSCHUK


BEREA - One thing about the Browns’ and Lions’ running games has been mutually consistent.

Consistency stays somewhere over the rainbow.

Detroit comes to Cleveland on Sunday in a game featuring two backs eager to be the long-awaited, long-term answer.

But ...

Kevin Jones is questionable with a shoulder problem. In his strong rookie year of 2004 (1,133 yards), he posted all three of his 100-yard games in the season’s second half. His feeble totals for 2005 include a 2.7 per-carry average and games of 87, 22, 38, 58 and 21 yards.

Reuben Droughns is healthy coming off his 1,240-yard year in Denver. But he’s a grinder, not a gazelle, and his new team has been reluctant to ride him too hard. He has a per-carry average of 3.8, with games of 78, 50, 76, 72 and 55 yards.

Both of these teams are searching for an offensive personality.

Browns quarterback Trent Dilfer said the Browns simply need to flush the Baltimore game and return to the steady improvement that had been evident since early August.

“Reuben is a good all-around football player,” Dilfer said. “A lot gets made of the run-pass ratio, but we’ve been behind in some games, when you tend to throw the ball more.

“We want to keep teams off balance, be an offense that can do everything. Too many times in this league, you get put in a box offensively, and when you do that you struggle.”

The Lions haven’t had much sizzle in their backfield since Barry Sanders, who went into the Hall of Fame two years ago, retired.

Head Coach Steve Mariucci sees the 23-year-old Jones as “a very good back, capable of some big games” and predicted “the running game will come alive.”

Just three years ago, Jones was backing up Lee Suggs at Virginia Tech. So he still has a lot of proving to do.

Droughns entered the league hoping to become the man in Detroit. The Lions picked him in the third round in 2000. They were in their second season of looking for Sanders’ replacement, and signed veteran James Stewart away from Jacksonville. The Browns also made a run at the workmanlike Stewart.

“I wish the Browns would have got him,” Droughns said. “I might have stepped right in.”

Droughns liked Bobby Ross, the head coach who drafted him, and vice versa. However, Ross got fed up with the NFL late in Droughns’ rookie year, quit, and was replaced by Gary Moeller. Then Marty Mornhinweg took over. Droughns’ career got tangled in a royal Lions’ mess.

Droughns wound up in Denver and seized an opportunity.

Opportunity seems to have passed the Lions forever. The franchise hasn’t appeared in an NFL championship game since 1957, beating Cleveland and its rookie runner, Jim Brown.

“When I was there,” Droughns said, “you kind wondered whether there’s a curse or something.”

Droughns is trying to become the first Brown to rush for 1,000 yards since 1985; so, maybe the experience with curses did him some good. Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail: [email protected]
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<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>1PM: Browns (2-3) vs Lions (2-3)

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</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Site Staff

Date: Oct 23, 2005

THE TIME: 1 PM EST... THE PLACE: Cleveland Browns Stadium... THE CROWD: Cold, wet, and ready for football... THE INFO YOU NEED: Inside this article!
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KICKOFF: Sunday, 1:00 ET
GAMEDATE: 10/23/05

SURFACE: Grass

TV: FOX, Ron Pitts, Brian Baldinger

SERIES: The Lions and Browns will be meeting for the 17th time in regular season competition, with the Lions holding a 12-4 edge. The teams also met four times in NFL championship games in the 1950s, with the Lions winning the title in three of them.

2005 RANKINGS: Lions: offense 30th (22nd rush, 27th pass); defense 18th (15th rush, 21st pass). Browns: offense 26th (30th rush, 12th pass); defense 27th (29th rush, 23rd pass)

PREDICTION: Lions 17-16

KEYS TO THE GAME: The Browns have been passing the ball nearly twice as much as they run it, which has contributed to 10 sacks allowed the past two weeks. Cleveland wants to improve its passing attack, but must establish the run better before going after a Lions defense that already has 10 interceptions. The Browns want to avoid turnovers because Detroit's own offense has been struggling. Whether Joey Harrington or Jeff Garcia gets the start at quarterback, the Lions want to exploit the Browns' run defense, which is allowing 140.2 yards per game. With their receiving corps still minus Charles Rogers and possibly Roy Williams, the Lions desperately want to build a lead and continue to pound away with RB Kevin Jones.

FAST FACTS: Home team has won past five meetings. Lions: WR Kevin Johnson, who leads the team with 17 receptions, played for Cleveland from 1999-03. Browns: QB Trent Dilfer is 1-7 against the Lions with four TDs and 11 INTs. ... WR Dennis Northcutt needs three punt return yards to break Gerald McNeil's (1,545) franchise record.

LIONS PERSONNEL NEWS:
  • QB Joey Harrington, who has started the last 37 consecutive games for the Lions, shared the practice field reps with backup Jeff Garcia this week but has not yet been told by coach Steve Mariucci whether he will get the starting assignment Sunday at Cleveland.
  • QB Jeff Garcia looked sharper in his practice work Thursday than he did the previous day as he prepares for his comeback after missing six weeks of the season with a broken left fibula and sprained left ankle. Garcia got half the reps in practice this week while coach Steve Mariucci considered the possibility of giving him the start Sunday in Cleveland ahead of Joey Harrington.
  • FB Cory Schlesinger appears fully recovered from the broken left fibula he suffered in the Lions' opening preseason game and is likely to get his first start of the season Sunday at Cleveland. Schlesinger, the lead blocker for RB Kevin Jones, bent his first face mask of the season, an indication to coach Steve Mariucci he's ready to play.
  • LT Jeff Backus, who has started all 69 games since being drafted by the Lions in the first round of the 2001 NFL draft, missed both the Wednesday and Thursday practices with his sprained left ankle in a walking boot but coach Steve Mariucci believes there is still a chance Backus will be able to play Sunday at Cleveland.
  • DE James Hall, who had missed the past two games entirely because of a quadriceps injury, has practiced this week more than he has in the past two but he said he is still not positive he will play Sunday in Cleveland. Indications are that he will test the injury in pregame warmups and play if there is no problem.
BROWNS PERSONNEL NEWS:
  • WR Braylon Edwards is healing quickly from surgery to remove an infection in his arm. Edwards participated in part of practice this week, and even caught some passes. He is listed as doubtful on the injury report, but it would be surprising if he played. The Browns probably will give him one more week to heal.
  • QB Trent Dilfer has heard all week that the Browns need to run the ball more, but Dilfer said the Browns merely need to do better. "If we can execute both the run and the pass we'll move the ball and score points," he said. Dilfer's main focus this week will be avoiding interceptions. Detroit has been adept at forcing turnovers.
  • RB Reuben Droughns probably will get more carries this week. Droughns has run well when given a chance but fans and media have cried for the Browns to use him more. "Any running back will tell you they want to run the ball more," Droughns said.
  • MLB Andra Davis knows the Browns need to improve against the run. Teams have run for 140 yards per game against the Browns, a figure that is just too high.
INSIDE THE LIONS CAMP:
Veteran Jeff Garcia is doing his best to stay patient while coach Steve Mariucci mulls over his quarterback situation, but Garcia is sounding more and more like he is ready to take on the starting assignment Sunday in the Lions' game at Cleveland.
Although Garcia is practicing with the Lions offense this week for the first time since suffering a broken left fibula and badly sprained ankle in the final preseason game Sept. 2, he has shown only occasional signs of rust and there is very little to indicate he is not physically ready to play.
The Lions are 2-3 - tied with Chicago for the NFC North lead - but have struggled offensively, and Mariucci is splitting the practice reps this week between Garcia and incumbent Joey Harrington while he decides on a starter.
Mariucci has given himself no deadline to make that decision.
"I'm not ruling out that it could go up to game time," he said, "but we probably will consider something sooner than that."
Garcia said he is still experiencing some pain and discomfort from the injury, but he also said he did not believe they would be a factor if he got a chance to start against the Browns, the team with which he played last year.
"I'm sure the feel of the game, the speed of the game definitely is an adjustment," Garcia said. "Obviously, I've been sitting for six weeks, watching from the sideline and I've been mentally involved but not physically involved, so that's going to be a determining factor as far as how quickly I adapt and how quickly I get up to speed.
"I don't think come Sunday I'll be even thinking about any sort of soreness or pain or anything like that. Adrenaline does wonders for your body."
Asked if he felt he would be limited in what he could do Sunday, Garcia shrugged off the possibility.
"I don't feel that I am showing any limitations out there," he said. "I think that - especially for not being involved in the action for six weeks - I don't feel like I'm that far behind or behind at all. I still move fairly quickly, I have my movement ... my accuracy is where it needs to be and I feel mentally I'm as sharp as I was six, seven weeks ago."


INSIDE THE BROWNS CAMP:
The Browns could be without their starting right tackle when they face the Lions.
Ryan Tucker has a chipped vertebrae in his neck and is listed as questionable for Sunday.
Tucker played most of the second half in Baltimore with the injury, and said he is in "pretty constant" pain.
Tucker is the Browns most experienced lineman, and a team leader.
He is a good run blocker and solid pass blocker. But his pass protection was affected Sunday in Baltimore by the injury.
He said he will try to play, but won't know until Sunday if he can.
Kirk Chambers will replace Tucker if he can't play. Chambers started at left tackle for Stanford, but has not started a game in the NFL yet.

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<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Garcia and Lions Dump Browns

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</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Fred Greetham

Date: Oct 23, 2005

It wasn't the type of homecoming for Jeff Garcia that the Browns had planned, as the ex-Browns QB returned to Cleveland and led the Lions to a 13-10 win over the hometown team. Fred Greetham wraps up the game, and provides some post-game notes from a quiet Cleveland Browns Stadium...
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Cleveland – It wasn’t what the Browns were planning.
“We didn’t play very good at all,” Romeo Crennel said. “We didn’t bring any energy in the second half. It was a good opportunity for us to get a win, but we didn’t take advantage of it.”
After dumping quarterback Jeff Garcia with two years remaining on his contract, the Browns were hoping to show him why they got rid of him.
However, Garcia had the last laugh as he led the Lions to a 13-10 win over the Browns in his first start as the Lions quarterback. Garcia scored the Lions only touchdown, but it was enough.
The difference was he made no mistakes and was able to elude the Browns pass rushers. Garcia finished 22-of-30 for 210 yards. He had no interceptions and was not sacked.
“I thought Jeff came in and did a reasonably good job for his team,” Crennel said. “He avoided the bad plays.”
Ironically, Garcia was playing in his first game of the season having replaced Joey Harrington. Garcia had a broken leg in the preseason and was also nursing a sprained ankle.
Meanwhile, Trent Dilfer had another forgettable game as he was just 10-of-19 for 73 yards. Dilfer threw three interceptions and was sacked four times. His top receiver was Braylon Edwards, who had just three catches for 30 yards. His longest completion of the day was a 15-yard pass to Antonio Bryant.
“It was a very frustrating day,” Dilfer said. “I thought we started moving the ball, but the interceptions killed us.
“We’re working hard, but it’s obviously not showing it in the games,” he said. “The mistakes are just too much too overcome.”
Jason Hanson’s 50-yard field goal on the second play of the fourth quarter was the difference as it held up in the win. Hanson had earlier missed a 47-yard field goal, while also making a 47-yarder.
The Browns had their chances but couldn’t produce the big play when it was needed.
After pinning the Lions back to the three-yard line with 7:17 to play, the Browns were unable to stop the Lions as Garcia eluded a near safety as he was in the grasp of two Browns defenders and completed a pass to Scottie Vines to get the Lions out of trouble. Another first down on a run by Shawn Bryson got the Lions out of poor field position. The Browns finally got off the field with 2:22 to play.
The Browns started with 2:09 to play at their own 29, but committed too many penalties in the series to overcome. The Browns picked up a first down on a catch by Edwards as they started to move the ball.
However, back-to-back penalties by Cosey Coleman and Edwards hurt the Browns, putting them in a 2<SUP>nd</SUP>-and-25 situation. Dilfer was then sacked for the fourth time to make it third-and-26. After an incompletion, the Browns punted and didn’t get the ball back as they gave up a first down on three straight running plays up the middle.
“I think it is our job as players to do a better job of executing,” Steve Heiden said. “We can’t shoot ourselves in the foot. I have said that for a couple of weeks now. We have to make a conscious effort when we have field position to make plays and not have turnovers or penalties.”
Kevin Jones came in averaging 2.7 yards per carry had, but he along with the other Lions’ running backs were able to get the necessary yardage when it was needed down the stretch.
Garcia gave the Lions a 7-3 lead with 5:26 to play in the second quarter on a one-yard bootleg around the right end.
The Browns bounced right back as their only touchdown of the game was provided by a kickoff return by rookie Josh Cribbs.
It only took 12 seconds for the Browns to re-capture the lead as Cribbs took the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for the score to give the Browns a 10-7 lead.
QUICK HITS
Serious About the Run: The Browns were serious when they said they wanted to commit to the run as they ran five straight plays before throwing a pass to start the game. A slant pass from Dilfer to Edwards for 14 yards broke the streak of rushes.
Droughns finished with 100 yards on 19 carries. He was the first back to rush for 100 yards since Lee Suggs did to end the 2004 season against the Texans.
On the first drive, Droughns had five carries for 34 yards on the first drive setting up the Browns first score, a 30-yard field goal by Phil Dawson to give the Browns a 3-0 lead.
On the second series from starting from inside the ten, Droughns broke off a 31-yard run on the second play and had 67 yards on his first seven carries. He had 83 yards on 11 carries in the first half.
He had just 17 yards on eight carries in the second half. He had 95 yards on 17 carries with 5:37 to play in the third quarter and finished with 100 yards on 19 carries and a 5.3 average.
“I think they gathered together and played better (in the second half),” Crennel said. “We didn’t play as well and they were able to slow him down.”
Nice Return: The 90-yard kickoff return was Cribbs’ first career touchdown. The last time the Browns returned a kickoff for a score was Nov. 7, 2004 when Richard Alston went 93 yards for a touchdown against Baltimore. He is the fifth Browns rookie to accomplish the feat.
Many Happy Returns: WR/PR Dennis Northcutt passed Gerald “Ice Cube” McNeil to become the all-time leader in Browns history in punt returns on his first return for 10 yards. McNeil had 1545 yards in punt returns. Northcutt had two returns for touchdowns called back by penalty this season.all-time punt return leader. He finished with three returns for 27 yards and now has 1570 yards for his career.
Third Down Blues: The Browns were 0-of-8 on third down, while the Lions were 5-of-14.
Zero Day: The Browns had zero sacks on Garcia, as well as zero interceptions.
Possession to the Lions: The Lions had the ball 37:17 to the Browns 22:43.
Not So Welcome Back: QB Jeff Garcia returned to Cleveland where he played the 2004 season with the Browns. After a slow start, he finished 22–of-34, for 210 yards, including a one-yard touchdown run. He did not get sacked and did not turn the ball over.
Garcia started 0-of-2. His first pass was incomplete intended for Paul Smith. His second was intended for former Brown Kevin Johnson. Garcia’s first completion was a 15-yard pass to wide receiver Mike Williams. Garcia looked confused at times as he called a timeout in the first quarter and second and took two delay of game penalties, as well, while at the line of scrimmage.
The Browns were unable sack Garcia. At times, they had pressure, but he was elusive to escape it.
Garcia said a caustic reception from Browns fans helped. "I thrive off the crowd's reaction", the new Lions starting QB told reporters, "It's all about being the underdog."
Big Play: Garcia hit Williams for 8 yards and Matt Stewart stripped Williams of the ball and Orpheus Roye fell on it at the Lions’ 48. Stewart started his first game in place of Kenard Lang. The Browns were unable to take advantage of the play and had to punt.
Former Browns: Besides Garcia, WR Kevin Johnson and LB’s Earl Holmes and Wali Rainer played for the Browns. Rainer was captain of the special teams for the game and had two tackles. He is listed as the third team linebacker. Holmes had seven tackles to tie for the team lead. Johnson suffered an Achilles injury to his right foot in the first quarter and did not return. He had no receptions after coming into the game as the Lions’ leading receiver with 17 receptions.
Hello Braylon: After starting the week as doubtful, WR Braylon Edwards played in the first possession for the Browns and caught a 14-yard slant pass from QB Trent Dilfer. Edwards finished with three catches for 30 yards to lead the Browns.
Big Drop: WR Antonio Bryant dropped a ball that hit him between the 8 and the 1 on his jersey on third-and-11 which would’ve given the Browns a first down. Bryant finished with one catch for 15 yards. The Browns were trying to get in position to at least tie the game and it forced the Browns to punt.
“That would have helped if we would’ve made that play,” Crennel said. “He just dropped it, it looked like to me.”
Slow Start and Finish: Dilfer was just 4-of-7 for 25 yards, including two interceptions in the first half. He was sacked once and had a QB rating of just 25.0. Through three quarters, Dilfer was just 5-of-9 for 34 yards. He was sacked four times and had three interceptions. He finished 10-of-19 for 73 yards and a QB rating of 22.4.
Crennel was asked if he thought of replacing Dilfer with rookie Charlie Frye.
“No, not really,” he said. “I thought we would stay with (Dilfer). We were just one play away.”
When asked what the problem with the offense, Crennel responded.
“We haven’t executed very well the last three games.”
Crennel was asked what to do about the offense.
“We have to do whatever we can to improve our performance.”
Top Tackler: LB Orlando Ruff, who did not start the game, was the leader in tackles for the Browns with nine. DL Orpheus Roye, CB Daylon McCutcheon, S Brian Russell and LB Andra Davis all had eight.
Shank You: P Kyle Richardson’s first punt was for 33 yards, but his second punt went off the side of his foot for just 19 yards. He finished with six punts and an average of 37.3.
Injury Update: CB Gary Baxter suffered a pectoral strain and did not return. LB Mason Unck sprained his ankle, but returned in the second half. For the Lions, besides Johnson (Achilles), DT Shaun Rogers injured his knee and did not return.
Did Not Play: For the Browns, QB Charlie Frye, OL Nat Dorsey and OL Mike Pucillo. Dorsey was active for the first time, but did not play.
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Dilfer was brought in to be a steady guy that won't lose the game for you. He goes 10-16 for 79 yards, with three of those incompletions being interceptions. All three were on him too. One or two more losses like this and Frye needs to get a look. Chances are, that Frye will actually try to throw it to a receiver, instead of of looking solely to his TE's and RB's. The line is giving him time, and we have a serviceable running game, with Droughns in there. No excuses for Dilfer in this one.
 
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I think its possible they will go with Frye, obviously the line is better than the line Couch had so at least he will have a chance and Frye is pretty mobile.....what is there to lose?

Dilfer was terrible, but Antonio Bryant needs to catch the ball when its thrown to him in the numbers on third and long, deep in the fourth quarter....:(
 
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bucknuts44820 said:
I think its possible they will go with Frye, obviously the line is better than the line Couch had so at least he will have a chance and Frye is pretty mobile.....what is there to lose?

Dilfer was terrible, but Antonio Bryant needs to catch the ball when its thrown to him in the numbers on third and long, deep in the fourth quarter....:(
Click to expand...
I agree, but there's no way Bryant could've expected Dilfer to throw him the ball. He's got to get more than one look in the first quarter, and two in the fourth quarter.
 
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It was a good football game. But you have to go with Frye now, he cant do any worse than Dilfer who was horrible at seeing the field, his accuracy is the worst of any pro player I have ever seen... Droughns looked great...
 
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