Browns Still Bad a Day Later
Sep 18, 2006
Author: DawgBones.com
One day later the stench of another hapless loss was still in the air at Cleveland Browns headquarters in Berea. Head coach Romeo Crennel said the game tape revealed nothing new, it was a terrible game for the Browns all the way around. In his words Crennel
said the team would scale back what it is trying to do offensively and
defensively and work on perfecting the plays it decides to use. The road gets no
easier this week as the team gets ready to host the 2-0 Baltimore Ravens.
All was not roses in the press conference on Monday. When asked about why veteran LB Willie McGinest was held out of the game and that some are questioning his desire to play in Cleveland, Crennel barked back. He said he did not know why people are saying that, he feels McGinest wants to play and if he were healthy enough he would have played. Kudos to the media in today's press conference they did not allow Crennel to put a Polly Anna spin on the teams performance or the coaches performance.
Crennel continues to show support for his starting QB Charlie Frye and realizes Frye is not responsible for all the drops and interceptions he has been victimized by. He understands that Frye is not perfect, but all in all his performance has been very good. In fact Frye's performance is one of the few bright spots in an other wise dark season thus far.
Crennel was also questioned about some of the "packages" the Browns run on certain downs and distances. On several 3rd and short situations the Browns did not have TE Kellen Winslow II in the game. Crennel was also very defensive about the fact that when he doesn't run the ball enough he is questioned, when he doesn't throw the ball enough he is questioned.
One thing should never be questioned and that is Kellen Winslow's ability to
make plays. He should be on the field at all times, forcing defenses to account
for him on every play.
There is no doubt that dropped balls and turnovers off of them have taken their toll on the offense and the defense. A lack of a fluid offense and moving the chains has
put a monumental strain on the defense which has been on the field for almost 14 minutes longer then the offense through 2 games this season.
What is clearly very alarming is that in the span of less then a week Crennel has made mention of not being the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. One has got to wonder if the pressure and expectations of an under achieving team are taking their toll on the 2nd year coach. Many are wondering if Crennel and his staff have what it takes to turn the season around and get this team to play better in 2006.
On the injury front the Browns came out of the game relatively healthy. Starting CB Gary Baxter is scheduled to have an MRI to see if he has indeed re-injured his pectoral strain. Starting RB Ruben Droughns is also being evaluated for an undisclosed shoulder injury and was scheduled for an MRI on Monday. Droughns missed the first series of the 2nd half of Sunday's game in Cincinnati, but did return and play the rest of the game.
What went without question was the way the team was using veteran LB Chaun Thompson. Thompson was brought into the game and was used a lot at outside linebacker. What is odd with that is Thompson was moved to inside linebacker this off-season. In limited time Thompson once again showed he is one of the Browns best linebackers and hopefully the staff will realize he needs to be on the field much more.
It is not up to the coaching staff to find out what they can and can't ask from their players. A sad indictment when you think about it, that's what they should have been doing in training camp and through 4 pre-season games. While the Browns are busy trying to find out who they are, most teams in the NFL are getting ready to play their 3rd real game of the year.
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