DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Random Thoughts as the Browns' Workouts Continue

Random thoughts as the Browns workouts continue
Posted by Tony Grossi Plain Dealer Reporter
May 29, 2008 14:34PM

There are three more Browns voluntary practices left and five mandatory practices at minicamp in two weeks. Until then, these are our thoughts on how things are going:

• The offense doesn't need to be more prolific to be better. It has to be more consistent -- from game to game, but also from quarter to quarter. That rests primarily with the quarterback. It's impossible to judge whether consistency will improve until we get into the season. The preseason is not going to be an accurate barometer. It sure wasn't last year. I agree with this. Especially with Quinn getting a majority of the reps. We won't learn a lot about DA's progress until the regular season. So let's try not to read into everything we see and read from now through August.

• You can't tell anything about the offensive line in offseason practices in shorts, but it appears that Rex Hadnot is fitting in seamlessly at right guard. The injury to Ryan Tucker hurts the team's depth at offensive tackle, which is important. If nothing else, Tucker's injury is giving Isaac Sowells much-needed time at both tackle spots. His days at guard appear over.
Very good to hear about Hadnot. I wonder how close McKinney is in his recovery from injury. Despite Tucker's absence, I still feel good about our o-line situation. I hope Tuck makes it back before the season, though I'm guarded in my optimism for some reason.

• It was good to hear Romeo Crennel give Travis Wilson some praise. You've got to believe that Wilson's confidence eroded during his first two NFL seasons. Crennel throws around plaudits like manhole covers. Wilson should be encouraged by the coach's words. Well, he did come in claiming himself as the best WR in the draft. A wake up call was in order. I agree about the praise from RAC. Wilson seems to be getting rave reviews.

• Yes, Josh Cribbs is being incorporated more into the offense. Every time I see him out there, though, I lament the fact he wasn't converted into a third-down back instead of receiver. His blocking alone would save a few sacks a year on third downs. If we was converted into a third down back, I would want him running the football, not blocking.

• The Browns will exercise patience with rookie receiver Paul Hubbard because of his size and athletic ability. Their patience may be tested by his -- so far -- unreliable hands. Two words: Practice Squad.

• I don't understand why the Browns can't specify the extent of Daven Holly's knee injury. "A blown knee" can mean a lot of things. Well, whatever it is, he's out for the season. Does it really matter at this point?

• Before Holly's injury I said I would feel comfortable with the Browns' cornerback depth only if you could guarantee the starters would stay healthy for 16 games. I repeat the statement even after the addition of Terry Cousin. A team needs four competent cornerbacks, minimum, to compete for the playoffs. Maybe Mil'von James will separate from the pack and be the fourth. I just wouldn't put the team in position of counting on it. And it has been reported by you and several others that Savage is not done in his attempt to fix the CB situation. So why the need to reiterate your concerns at this time? We're with you. Let's see what Phil can do.

• When The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot reported the story of Joe Jurevicius' staph infection, Phil Savage termed it a non-story. Yet Jurevicius has not been seen by or heard from the media since the news. I wonder why?
Because Mary Kay likes to make a non-story into a "story". Apparently, so do you.

• When the Browns line up Shaun Smith at left end and Shaun Rogers at nose tackle, that's a lot of beef for opponents to run through on the offense's right side. You've got to figure the Browns' run defense finally will make some strides this year. Andra Davis should be the primary beneficiary of the upgrade up front. We can only hope. Otherwise, enter Beau Bell.

• Every time a down-and-out New England player is looking for work, he brings up the Romeo Crennel connection to drum up interest.
What's so wrong about this? Guys will do whatever they can to rejuvenate their careers. Romeo has coached a lot of players over the years and I've never seen one that didn't want to play for him. Is this really so surprising that former players of his looking for work would mention him as a reference?

grossi

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When The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot reported the story of Joe Jurevicius' staph infection, Phil Savage termed it a non-story. Yet Jurevicius has not been seen by or heard from the media since the news. I wonder why?
Because Mary Kay likes to make a non-story into a "story". Apparently, so do you.

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LOL.....That make me chuckle

I agree on Hubbard going to the PS. If Wilson does as good as they say hes doing, I don't see room for Hubbard. Stick him on the PS, work on his hands, hope no one signs him, then next season if JJ retires bring him up and give him his shot.

And here I thought that I was the only person on this board that has a dislike of the media and how they twist and portray things....

Good job Kardiac.

I've been trying to get my hands on everything single thing I can regarding what's going on in OTAs and this is the first report I've read that had anything negative to say about Hubbard. I thought I had a read a couple of things that said they were pretty pleased with him so far ... nothing glowing ... but nothing negative either.

No reports on Bell from Grossi? Everything I've read says he is doing pretty well.

I've also read that E.Wright has looked very good, Edwards is making it look easy (when he's practicing), and Jackson has been the best of the ILBs.

Some odd bullet points from Grossi, I thought. Not saying he could have just focused on the positive, but he wasted a lot of words with trivial crap.

Other than INJURIES ... its all trivial BS at this point .... more for learning than anything else ...

all it does is feed info starved fans like U ... but it is basically meaningless ... there in SHORTS DUDE ... *LOL* ..

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GROSSI- Yes, Josh Cribbs is being incorporated more into the offense. Every time I see him out there, though, I lament the fact he wasn't converted into a third-down back instead of receiver. His blocking alone would save a few sacks a year on third downs. KARDIAC-If we was converted into a third down back, I would want him running the football, not blocking.

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The few times I have seen him RUN the ball he has not done well with it......he runs better on returns where he can view the field and pick and choose his lanes. He is an excellent blocker and would do well on 3rd down plays as a blocker.....not running the ball.

Hadnot should bolster the run production on the right side. I've heard he's a much better run blocker than pass protector.

So much "love" for Holly? You'd think we lost Champ Bailey or Deion Sanders for the season with all of these writers "gloom & doom". It's MAY, peeps. Had this happened in July/August and we had to scramble, like we did at center, before we found Hank, I'd be worried.

As far as Shaun Smith at left end and Shaun Rogers at NT? God, I hope not. Didn't we learn last year that Smith was MUCH more effective at the nose? Leave him there...please?

My worst fear continues to be "key" injuries with this team. Last year we were extremely fortunate.

So much "love" for Holly? You'd think we lost Champ Bailey or Deion Sanders for the season with all of these writers "gloom & doom". It's MAY, peeps. Had this happened in July/August and we had to scramble, like we did at center, before we found Hank, I'd be worried.

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exactly,my god he was a 7th round pick of the niners,do we need help at cb ofcourse,but the loss of holly won't hurt as much as some would like to think

Whatever happened to Kamerion Wimbley?


its interesting hes never mentioned, he's going to have to have a big year,

I'm back to the thinking if the Browns are even good enough to stay within 20 points of any of their opponents.



Is that a shocking statement, it is less than one year ago, that the expectation going into week 2 after the pittsburg loss that if the Browns couldn't stay within 20 points of Cincinnati I was going to hope for a new head coach. less than a year.

Now all of a sudden with a brutal schedule Dallas, pigs, Balt, Cinn, Giants, and also games against Buffalo, Houston, Philadelphia, Jacksonville,
ya the Browns were 3-1 in playoff qualifiers last year and didn't qualify but the concensus is they'll win a playoff game this year,
WELL its been since 94 thats 14 years and 11 tries. It seems that the defense up front was already better last year, but the defense in whole was where it was.

BOTTOM LINE players like Andra Davis, Kamerion Wimbley, DqWell Jackson, Sean Jones, Brodney Pool, and WHOEVER lines up at cornerback are going to have to do something to Win the game, by making some kind of play.
YOu can't just show up! or your going to be a 20 pt deficit every game.

I think the Browns are 6-6 the last 12 weeks of the season the first 4 weeks are going to have to go well for them to make the playoffs.

Time is running out so WHATEVER did happen to Kamerion Wimbley?

Why isn't he making plays, he was a #1 pick
Hows that for random thoughts

Holly is so overrated by Browns fans it's not even funny, I don't even feel like adding anything else than that, it's in the games.

I think the change of scenery from SF to here for whatever reason really helped him out. .

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it didn't help him any when he played for chicago,just saying i believe we will find someone who can play as well as holly somewhere,,,,,,,and i know i know before someone else say's it,WE GOTTA GET THAT GUY

j/c Thought this could go here:

Anderson full of confidence
Steve King, Staff Writer
05.30.2008

Nothing about Derek Anderson is the same.

Last year at this time, the Browns quarterback was in a competition for a starting job with Charlie Frye. Behind him was a highly-touted rookie named Brady Quinn.

But now Frye is gone, and while Quinn is still very much a presence on the team, Anderson is the undisputed starter heading into training camp.

He looks the part of his new, improved, more secure role.

What matters now is the body of work over the long haul, and how that allows a player to get ready for the games that count.

And Anderson fully understands this.

"He looks really confident out there," Browns head coach Romeo Crennel said after practice. "He knows the system better, and he's not involved in any competition this time

"What he's doing now is just concentrating on getting better."

Not on getting noticed.

And there's a big difference.

CAMPER OF THE DAY: Let's give it to two players, running back Jerome Harrison and safety Mike Adams. Harrison, who was getting a lot of work with the absence of starter Jamal Lewis (undisclosed personal reasons), was displaying some good moves after taking handoffs and catching passes. More and more, he seems to be starting to come into his own. Adams, a fifth-year pro who flies under the radar while playing behind Sean Jones and Brodney Pool, has as much self-confidence as anybody on the team. That has allowed him to play on hunches and dart to the spot where the ball is going.

PLAYS OF THE DAY: Quinn threw a nice slant route to wide receiver Joshua Cribbs and then was right on target again on an out route to wideout Kevin Kasper. ... Cornerback Eric Wright reached out to break up a pass to rookie wideout Paul Hubbard. ... Rookie linebacker Alex Hall knocked down a pass to tight end Darnell Dinkins on a quick slant route. ... Cornerback A.J. Davis alertly picked up a fumbled pass and darted the other way. ... Anderson fired a laser to wideout Travis Wilson on a crossing pattern. ... Rookie cornerback Damon Jenkins intercepted a pass on a corner route into the end zone.

NOT AGAIN: After everything that happened last year with balls hitting the goal post -- on Phil Dawson kicks -- quarterback Ken Dorsey nailed the crossbar dead-on when he was a bit too high on a pass attempt

CENTER OF ATTENTION: Seth McKinney, who started eight games at right guard last season before being lost with a shoulder injury, was working some at center. The Browns have more depth this season at guard, allowing some players who were there in the past to go to other spots.

CATCHING ON: Rookie free agent wide receiver Nate Hughes worked throughout practice catching punts.

THAT NUMBER THING: New cornerback Terry Cousin took the jersey number -- 25 -- of recently released corner Kenny Wright. Another new corner, Jereme Perry, is wearing No. 40.

THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH: Former Browns standout running back Kevin Mack, now the assistant director of player programs for the team, looks younger -- and in better shape, almost football shape, in fact -- every time you see him. He took in Wednesday's practice and almost looked fit enough to don a pair of shoulder pads as he walked off. Mack, who will turn 46 in August, played for the Browns from 1985-93.

JUST VISITING: Former NFL general manager Charlie Casserly, now working for CBS, viewed practice as well. Several Browns assistants, including Marshall and strength and conditioning coach Tom Myslinski, came over to talk to him.

WORKING OVERTIME: Hubbard stayed long after practice catching balls hurled from the rotating tires machine.

QUOTABLE: "As often happens with young guys, they get overwhelmed at some point and take a step back, then have to work to catch up." -- Crennel on the learning curve of some of his rookies.


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"...THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH: Former Browns standout running back Kevin Mack, now the assistant director of player programs for the team, looks younger -- and in better shape, almost football shape, in fact -- every time you see him. He took in Wednesday's practice and almost looked fit enough to don a pair of shoulder pads as he walked off. Mack, who will turn 46 in August, played for the Browns from 1985-93."

Great to hear his name again. A beast of a back who gave you all your money's worth and more.

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I thought his first year with us, he was just a beneficiary of being in the right place at the right time with some of those big plays he made. And I still feel that way.

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I hate when people say things like this. Ever watch some of Ed Reed's INTs? People act as if when a CB makes an INT and it just happens to be a tipped ball or deflection right to them that that doesn't deserve to be called a good play. Being in the right position is very important for a DB. Reacting to tipped balls and being in position to make the play is what makes them good at their position.
Holly's not a probowl CB by any stretch, neither was Bodden. But to diminish their achievements making comments like "benefitting from being in the right place at the right time" is crap. That's their job. To act as if the players with the big INT numbers don't get most of their picks this way is showing a lack of understanding of the game.
Sorry to rant, but I just hate when people use that excuse to down a players achievements.

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CAMPER OF THE DAY: Let's give it to two players, running back Jerome Harrison and safety Mike Adams. Harrison, who was getting a lot of work with the absence of starter Jamal Lewis (undisclosed personal reasons), was displaying some good moves after taking handoffs and catching passes. More and more, he seems to be starting to come into his own

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I said it last year, and I'll say it again. Harrison will be a good back for this team. He showed in limited carries last year what he can do, I got a feeling this year he will bust out. IMO, he could be better than that hype machine Reggie Bush, and I would love to see him have a great season this year. Him and Jamal could be a very effective 1-2 punch.

Sorry, while I think you make a valid point, I don't believe it is that black and white. I wasn't trying to diminish Holly's achievements (I feel like I am his biggest supporter sometimes), but I think he improved leaps and bounds between the year where he had the the picks to last year where he didn't.

It is possible to get some good luck once in a while, and it seemed that on SOME of those plays he was the recipient of some good luck. If the QB had been a little more accurate, we could have been talking about Holly getting burnt instead of a pick 6. It's been 2 years, but that's the way I recall some of those plays.

I remember not being really sure about him at the end of '06 and wasn't sure he was even going to make the team the following year. But he really surprised me last year. I think he became a pretty solid player.

Maybe the coverage skills of Mike Adams is the reason why Savage likes the situation at safety. let's hope so.

That's the first thing I thought of. BE has done it several times, so it's not exactly way off.

I'll agree that he did make some significant improvements after that first year. He's a good player. Just drives me nuts when people say INTs are gimmes. I played a little DB years ago, and while there are times when it seems that the QB is throwing right to you, you still have to have the awareness to make the catch. Same with tipped balls. How many times have you seen a ball tipped and the DB just can't handle it. Some of Boddens INTs where the overthrown ball type. But even in those situations, you have to make adjustments to make the catch.
I wasn't trying to jump on you, it just one of those things that many use to discredit a players achievements. Not saying that that is what you did, just saying.

lol...

well I knew that man..