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Cribbs excited by expanded role in offense

Mary Kay Cabot


Browns return specialist Joshua Cribbs might soon get his long-held wish of being more involved in the offense.

"We're putting in a nice package just to utilize more of my skills as well as everyone else's," said Cribbs, who made the Pro Bowl last season as a kick returner. "Last year, we put in one or two plays a game, but this year, it will be on a more consistent basis. It's going to be more of an elaborate package for a change of pace."

Cribbs, who was used creatively in OTAs on Wednesday, said defenses better beware.

"They'll have to spend a lot of time going over our plays and trying to do something to stop the package we're putting in," he said. "We have a lot of weapons and new additions that coach wants to use, including [receiver] Donte Stallworth. I was here before Donte and some of those guys, so first comes me and then they're going to work Donte in and everything, so I can't wait."

Cribbs caught only three passes for 37 yards last season and ran the ball nine times for 61 yards, but led the NFL with a 30.7-yard kick return average and finished second in NFL history with 1,809 kickoff return yards. He also led the Browns with 23 special teams tackles and scored three TDs, two on kickoff returns and one on a punt return.

Question is, will he have enough in the tank to star on all the kicking teams and play receiver too?

"I can do all that and more," he said. "I'm young, 24, still a kid, so I have a lot of juice left."

Jurevicius cleanup: Receiver Joe Jurevicius is believed to have had another cleanup on the knee that was scoped in January. Jurevicius suffered a staph infection about two weeks after the January procedure and had the infection surgically removed at that time. He was expected to be ready for OTAs, but the additional cleanup might explain why he's not practicing with the team yet.

Rogers happy: Shaun Rogers, acquired in a trade with Detroit, worked on a dance with his fellow defensive linemen after practice on Wednesday and they were all laughing and joking around. Apparently, the change of scenery has already done him a world of good. In Detroit, he became a symbol for all that was wrong with the team. Here, the pressure's off and he's happier than he's been in awhile.

"I thought [fitting in] would be a lot harder than it is," he said. "These guys have welcomed me with open arms. I knew a few guys prior to this and it's been real fun. There's a lot of camaraderie here."

Rogers, 29, acknowledged that it will take him a little time to adjust to the 3-4 scheme and that he's currently working on his new stance, the new system and the terminology. Because of that, he said, he'll focus primarily on nose before trying end.

"Right now, I'll take baby steps and learn one position at a time," he said. "They're all a challenge because it's not a 'get off and get 'em defense' like I'm used to playing in. It's more being patient and unselfish."

Edwards on Rogers: Braylon Edwards, a Detroit native, is a good friend of Rogers and has high hopes for him.

"When he's on that football field, he's a warrior, he gets things done and that's all I care about," Edwards. "He's a Pro Bowler, he's accountable, and he gets things done."

What's more, Edwards said, he's got a chip on his shoulder. "It will be the same type of situation as when we got Jamal [Lewis] last year," said Edwards. "Jamal had a lot to prove and came out and had 11 TDs. I'm looking for the same thing out of Shaun."

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"Jamal had a lot to prove and came out and had 11 TDs. I'm looking for the same thing out of Shaun."

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I'd be quite happy with 11 TDs out of Rogers.

Actually,he could be the key to the DL this season. I have always liked his talent, and think that he's found a real home now.

I know I'm not alone in wanting to see Cribbs in maybe a Slash type roll a little more. Glad to see them working on it.. Good for us, good for Cribbs and bad for defenses that have to face us.

As for Rogers,, it's no secret that he was viewed in a negative light prior to joining us. But sometimes, all it takes is a change of scene.. Hope that's the case because we sure could use his talent on the line..

Good new, Feel good article,, Thanks for posting it.

I'm really excited to see what this offense will do this year. Not trying to make this a "bash DA" type of comment but if he can minimize his mistakes, this offense should be top tier in the league.

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Not trying to make this a "bash DA" type of comment but if he can minimize his mistakes, this offense should be top tier in the league.

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One would hope that there is progress from the 1st year starting to the 2nd year starting.. He made mistakes, but he also made some great plays as well..

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if Dawson can limit missed FGs,

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He missed 2 last year so I don't know how much more you could possibly limit them than that.


I'm glad to see them looking at having Cribbs in on more O plays because in the past teams knew that if he was in then he was more than likely the play. Should open more things up for us.....

Cribbs up the middle!

I'm a huge Josh Cribbs fan ... from his play to his personality and demeanor. Love the guy.

But I do wonder how good he can be as an offensive skill player. I just hope the coaching staff doesn't force this idea down the team's throat. We have plenty of playmakers. Plus, Cribbs is so much more important to special teams than I think people realize, and I'm not even talking about returns.

Don't want to see him get tired or hurt when the additional value of having him on offense is much smaller compared to the decimation that losing him on special teams would be.

I'm afraid I'm not convinced that the incremental value of having him on offense is worth it. We'll see.

Wait...you forgot the most important part of Belicheck's old playbook.


3rd and long: Cribbs up the middle!

Now that most of the offense has the scheme down. Coach Chud can now work in more gadget plays. Last year the whole offense had to learn a new system. Now that they know the system, Chud can tinker with some new plays without having to use the whole offseason to get them fine tuned into the basics. Thats something I was looking foward to this season.

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But I do wonder how good he can be as an offensive skill player. I just hope the coaching staff doesn't force this idea down the team's throat

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More than any coaching staff and GM tandam in recent Browns history, this group has shown over and over again, that they are more than capable of making good decisions more often then not.

I think it's safe to say that they won't be over extending Cribbs at all.. he's much much to valuable as a KR... while he shows flashes elsewhere on Offense, he's still the teams KR first and foremost..

I'm thinking that if we know that, so do RAC and Savage... Just a guess however... I could be wrong.

I would agree with that.

He's not likely to be anything more than average to slightly above-average as a WR, but as a KR ... that kid is something truly special.

Purp, I do think he's an option in Short yardage to line up as a receiver and come around, take an handoff and throw one in for a TD or a 1st down.. I see that..

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I agree that they do deserve the benefit of the doubt, but no one is perfect.

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Damn, and I thought you were... guess I was wrong

Dude,, your welcome

Had to stop reading right here:

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I was here before Donte and some of those guys, so first comes me and then they're going to work Donte in and everything, so I can't wait.

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Now back to the rest of the article.

In the past few months reflecting on Cribbs and what I saw from him last year.

I feel his destiny if we choose to pursue it (Chud) and if Cribbs accepts it is actually more from the Backfield (RB) than from a WR position. I think he can be an OK at best WR.

I am pretty sure he can be a tremendous "ADDITIONAL" weapon to this team line up at the RB position.

I am thrilled to see us bring in a more directed package for him and it will take place at certain "feel" times during the game. Hopefully just when a defense tries to gasp for air and catch their breath....boom we bring in this Wide open package with a spread O and Cribbs at the RB. They bring in their nickel and Boom we run him not only with Pitches but at the 3-6 holes...he is a natural to take on recognizing seams and exploding into them - once through he is a danger to score.

Let teams leave a wide open underneath zone and let Cribbs swing out from the RB position and catch that ball in space.

We saw this last season just a tiny view...as the season developed I saw Cribbs line up in the Backfield more n more.

Its nice for once in a while to close my eyes and dream something then open them up and see it come to fruition.

I see Cribbs doing so much in those 2-3 series as a RB - from pitches, to Runs inside the OT, to swing passes, to going in motion and doing a GO route from the outside with only a LB to cover him, To seeing an option pass - our only 2 point conversion last season was a direct snap to Cribbs and a successful Option

Teams will have to devote so much of their preparation against us for just 2-3 series a game....And I fail to see how they can stop it anyways...its a DC's nightmare if you ask me.

Can't wait to see more JMHDream!

I agree.....I wouldn't mind some single wing sets and let him take the shotgun snaps.

Haven't the Browns already had some offensive plays geared toward the use of Cribbs? I seem to remember them attempting a play or two that never quite worked, though I believe they were more along the lines of trick plays. Except for the short pass that Cribbs grabbed and ran it in for a TD. (Can't remember if that was preseason or regular season?)

I do hope they give him a bit more passes his way. Let's see if he's truly improving as a WR. Doesn't appear Wilson is improving. A trick play or two wouldn't hurt either, lol.

Cribbs faked a pass and ran it in for a TD once i think. That or faked a run and threw a pass.

I like the way we used him last year, may be only a couple more plays a game. I understand having a package designed toward him, but it should not be routinely used.

The guy's a playmaker and a great decoy for our team. While I don't want him ever used as a regular option, he is a significant weapon. I do believe he'll improve as a reciever the more he plays, but I see him only contributing on reverses and screens. Just having him in there makes the opposing team focus on him.

Since he's so good on special teams though, Cribbs should only get a couple more plays added to the very few offensive plays he gets a game right now, if anymore at all. He is not an option at reciever over Stallworth or Joe or some of our other backups, it's simply not worth it.

If memory serves me, for a good portion of the year we lined him up or had him motion into something that indicated trickery, and then we'd pull back. He ripped off a few decent runs, and had the two point conversion.

I have no clue, but it almost feels like Chud is just being very, very, very patient on this one.

I sort of disagree. I'm not saying he should be put ahead of B.E., JJ, Stallworth, but if he's that much of a potential weapon then absolutely we should use anything and everything we have to use. Also, I think he'd be a better option than any of the young guys with virtually no experience in the NFL. Again, I'm not saying he should get a ton of plays but I think we have to give him more at WR if we're ever going to know how good he really is.

I have no problems giving him Randle el type plays. It seems 9 times out of 10 when pitts ran those plays they worked. It helped them win a superbowl. I dont see pitts doing those types of plays anymore and I think it is one of the reasons for a bit of their decline.

Agreed, I could see Cribbs in a Randle El type of role. Mendenhall could pick up some of that slack? However, I still thin Pitt will decline though it may take a season or two before it's noticeable.

j/c:

I could have sworn that Cribbs threw a pass on a two pt. conversion and that it worked. Wasn't it against either Seattle or St. Louis? It was a Tim Tebow type of play where he started running it up the gut, then stopped and shot put it to the receiver.

I think Cribbs is explosive and versatile. These types of plays will add another dimension to our offense. I was hoping for more of it last year, but I can understand that it takes awhile to get these types of plays in. Hopefully, we'll see more of Cribbs in this role in 2008-2009.

Arizona...it was to Winslow when Derek Anderson faked that he didn't know what the call was.

Thanks man. That was a sweet play!

LOL...I just wish that Derek had gone out for the pass and caught it. *L*

You know BQ would have...

Cribbs, maybe they can teach him to play Db in spot situations, maybe he can get an interception return for a toucdown, instead of interceptions returned into the sidelines.

Browns' Josh Cribbs still looking for more

Keeps setting high standards

Wednesday, July 2, 2008
BY Steve Doerschuk
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER


BEREA There's an inevitable difference between the shape of Joshua Cribbs' ego and, say, Braylon Edwards'.

One marched through Michigan hearing the world tell him what a great NFL star he would be. One trekked through Kent State constantly being reminded he wouldn't be an NFL quarterback — even if he found an NFL job.

Now they are fourth-year teammates whose last game together was the Pro Bowl.

The difference in their paychecks is along the lines of CEO vs. office manager.

Only the staunchest Cribbs supporter would argue he means as much to the Browns as Edwards.

After all, jersey No. 17 (Edwards) scored 16 touchdowns in 2007.

Jersey No. 16 (Cribbs) would have had just five even if two hadn't been called back by penalties.

Yet, who would argue that Edwards is more passionate about making a difference for the 2008 Cleveland Browns? No one on the team seems as convinced as Cribbs that he can change the shape of a game from L to W.

He's thinking and talking real big. Here's the related soliloquy from a young man who turned 25 just a few weeks ago:

"I had a good season. I have to do it again, because if I don't, it's ... who is Josh Cribbs?

"The Pro Bowl was last year. Can't stand pat. Gotta do it again this year.

"I've been proving people wrong my whole life. People said I couldn't play in the NFL. Now people say he can't last, they're wearing him thin. I'm here to prove them wrong.

"I'm young. It's my fourth season. I have a lot left to give to this sport, and I'm gonna do it."

He was just warming up.

BEING THE GUY

He rambles a bit, but hear him out and conclude what you will about his view of the future.

"Right now, it wouldn't be satisfying until I reach the ultimate goal. I feel if I reach my goals, my team will have done something great. They would have been blocking for me like they always do, and I'd have done something great ... future Hall of Famer, or something like that.

"I mean, I want to raise the limits for myself, because if I say I'm gonna make the Hall of Fame, along the way, in trying to reach that goal, I'm gonna make a lot of achievements for me and my team as well.

"I'm trying to be 'the' guy. I'm not trying to be a guy in the NFL."

Yes, he used a hard 'e' on "the guy."

During a recent conversation with Cribbs, it was not surprising that his response to an assertion — one of the Browns' most important issues coaches face is using him correctly — was, "I agree."

What's to tamper with?

Cribbs returned 59 kickoffs for an almost unheard of average of 30.7 yards in 2007. He spent half the year getting the hang of returning punts, bringing back just one more than 20 yards. In the second half, he consistently broke longer punt returns, peaking in the finale against San Francisco (135 yards on four touches).

For the year, he led the team in special teams tackles with 23. The only area in which he failed to amaze was as a receiver (three catches, 37 yards) and specialty rusher (nine carries, 61 yards).

MORE USE ON OFFENSE?

The question becomes: Would more touches on offense produce more touchdowns?

Again, he rambles a bit, but leaves you pretty sure he'll gladly take more work on offense.

"I feel like they are using me right," he said. "I have a special impact on special teams. I love special teams ... a lot of tackles, a lot of positives.

"There's only so much a player can do. If you try to put him on the offense as well, you kind of think it's going to take back from my contributions on special teams.

"But I feel they're using me right for, like, reverses, passes ... giving me little screen routes that I'm gonna catch and make, little inside routes, quick little pop passes that get in my hands quick and let me do something.

"Just putting the ball in my hands ... it doesn't necessarily have to be a trick play."

Cribbs has not been a captain in his previous three seasons. It will be a shock if he is not a 2008 captain. It doesn't always come out this way in his stream-of-consciousness talks, but the consensus conclusion paints him as a staunch "team" player who would energize any team's locker room.

"I know my role," he said. "Dominate special teams. If a guy on offense goes down or a guy needs a breather, I'm in. We don't miss a beat. We don't eliminate certain plays. I'm there to give the first stringers the rest they need, and not allow the offense to miss a beat. That's all a backup role is."

Cribbs never backs up when he returns kicks. He reads and explodes. His style as a tackler: Always comes in screaming. He knows his approach could get him hurt. He'll worry about that later.

Now? He's as productive an overall return man as Chicago's Devin Hester, even though the latter has a bigger name.

"It's media market," Cribbs said of Hester. "Plus, the Bears went to a Super Bowl. There's a lot of things that contribute to why his name is bigger.

"He's supposed to think he's the better player. It's confidence, not cockiness. He is a great player.

"I feel I'm a better kick returner. I feel he's a better punt returner. I'm trying to get him in both. He's supposed to try to beat me in both.

"It's a competitive thing. I got to know him at the Pro Bowl. He's a good guy."

The Browns were a good team in 2007, going 10-6. The national media isn't projecting them for greatness in 2008, at least, certainly not the way Dallas is being built up.

A wry smile creases Cribbs' face when the Dallas-at-Cleveland season opener comes up.

"Everybody thinks they're supposed to win," Cribbs said. "Everybody thinks they're the team to do it all. That's great, because they're not looking at us. We love that.

"They're a good team, we're a good team. But who do you think is gonna be more relaxed?"

Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail: steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com

Good read Shep. Thanks.

IMO, Cribbs and Edwards are both infinitely important to our offense. It's just in different ways. Edwards showed that he's a big play receiver. Hopefully he can keep that going this year.

Cribbs showed that he's a huge play ST guy. Hopefully he can keep that going this year.

But, they're both just pieces in the big puzzle. The other 10 guys on the field on offense and the other 10 guys on the field on ST are infinitely important, too. One guy doesn't do his job, everybody suffers.

The difference for Cribbs, though, is that he contributes on the defensive side of things. After every single game, my dad says "Did you see Cribbs make that tackle?" or "Cribbs was the first guy down on every ST play!"

But Edwards and Cribbs are extremely important, just like every guy on the team.