20/20 Browns Hindsight, Buccaneers Game
Dec 29, 2006
Author: DawgBones.com
So many times, we tend to pass judgment too harshly and too quickly. Each week, after we have had a chance to digest the game, here at DawgBones.com we will break down the Cleveland Browns game from the week before. Let us look at the top 5 good things, the top 5 bad things and the top 5 things that failed to impress us in this week’s game. The segment is called 20/20 Browns Hindsight and we hope you enjoy it.
Top 5 Good Things: Buccaneers Game
1. When they did run the ball they ran it well. Reuben Droughns ran as well as he has all season averaging 4.8 yards per carry on 19 totes. Makes you wonder why a team that is having success running the ball doesn't run even more.
2. ILB Leon Williams backed up his impressive debut in Baltimore with an even better effort against the Bucs. Williams tallied 14 tackles, 10 solo, 1 sack and 2 QB hurries in leading the Browns defense Sunday. Again we are asking questions, why did it take an injury to D'Qwell Jackson to get Williams on the field? In 2 games he has made as many impact plays as Jackson made all season.
3. OLB Kamerion Wimbley has been one of the few bright spots all season and Sunday he set a club record for the most sacks by a rookie in a season. Wimbley's 10 sacks are leading the team and his sack and forced fumble of Bucs QB Tim Rattay led to the only points the Browns scored all day. Without a doubt Wimbley will be on the NFL's all rookie team and a strong showing Sunday in Texas may give him a shot at NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year as well.
4. WR Joe Jurevicius is the consummate professional and team leader. Even as the Browns trailed late and the game was out of hand, JJ streaked across the middle like he made his first catch if the season. He has been the Browns best receiver in the 2nd half of the season, maybe next year they will get him incorporated in the offense sooner. We can only hope.
5. CB Daven Holly has been Johnny on the Spot this season. Sunday he recovered a Tim Rattay fumble and returned it 40-yards for the Browns only TD. Holley also added an interception in the end zone that stopped a Bucs drive. Holley has been a pleasant surprise for the Browns in 2006 and his 2 defensive TD's led all defenders.
Top 5 Bad Things: Buccaneers Game
1. The Browns run defense is offensive. On Sunday they faced the Bucs without their top runner Cadillac Williams, the Bucs amassed 153 yards on the ground without him. The inability to stop the run has killed the Browns all year and there looks to be no end to their futility.
2. The Browns 3rd down defense sucks, let's be honest. The Bucs converted 8-17(47%) of 3rd down conversions. Ironically that was the identical number the gave up the week before and they lost. The fact that they can't get off the field on 3rd down and they can't stop the run means they are losing the time of possession battle as well. Sunday the Bucs had the ball for 37:16, 14 minutes and 32 seconds longer then the Browns. Due to that they ran 22 more plays on offense.
3. It was the 2nd consecutive year the Browns hosted a game on Christmas Eve and it was the 2nd consecutive year the offense failed to score. In fact the Browns as a team lost both games by a combined 63-7. At least last year it was against the eventual Super Bowl champions, this year it was against the 3-11 Buccaneers.
4. Kicker Phil Dawson has been disappointing all season and in his one attempt Sunday saw his kick blocked. Now it may not have been his fault, but his numbers are way down this year and it's time we saw afresh leg to challenge him 2007.
5. QB Derek Anderson did what every young QB seems to do when facing the Tampa Cover 2 defense, he tried to force things. As you might imagine it didn't work, he was intercepted 4 times on the day and destroyed any shot of the Browns winning with his errors. It can't all be blamed on Anderson though. On the season the Browns have had 5.3% of their passes intercepted, tied with the Oakland Raiders for worst in the NFL.
Top 5 things that failed to impress: Buccaneers Game
1. The grass. Yes you know the stuff that covers the field! How come the field isn't greener then it appears? How come it isn't in better condition? You would think seeing that the Browns haven't played much football or what we would consider football, on it this year it would be in better shape.
2. Punter Dave Zastudil has been a welcome addition this year, but all 3 of his punts had a chance to pin the Bucs deep and flip field position and all 3 went in the end zone for a touch back.
3. Safety Sean Jones had 13 tackles on Sunday, it was the quietest 13 tackles we can remember. The 3rd year safety was making some big plays early in the year, but has tapered off as of late. Hopefully it's just the proverbial wall he's hitting from his lack of playing time the last 2 years. To his credit, Jones did block an extra point on Sunday.
4. With the Browns sitting at the Bucs 27-yard line and facing a 4th and 10 head coach Romeo Crennel called for a field goal. Phil Dawson ran out on to the field and all looked good, until the ball was hiked directly to Dawson for a pooch punt. Dawson proceeded to kick the ball into the end zone giving the Bucs the ball at their own 20-yard line. It was a net gain of 7-yards! It brought back memories of a 9-yard Derrick Frost punt. It was one of the worst coaching decisions Crennel has made, in a long line of bad decisions.
5. Offensive guard Joe Andruzzi has allegedly been playing hurt all year. On Sunday he whiffed so bad on a block of Chris Hovan it cost QB Derek Anderson his season. Anderson was sacked by Hovan and subsequently had his throwing shoulder separated. Do us all a favor Joe, retire!
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