DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Time to start grilling Edwards

Browns Insider: Edwards says offense unable to find the groove of '07
by Tony Grossi Thursday October 23, 2008, 6:49 PM


For most of this season, important receptions that would keep Browns drives alive or result in big plays have been slipping away from Braylon Edwards. Unofficially, Braylon Edwards has 10 drops and 20 catches in his post-Pro Bowl season.
Without mentioning the drops, Edwards might have touched on why he's having more trouble hanging on to the ball.

"In terms of the season, it's a situation where I don't think anybody's in a groove," Edwards said Thursday. "I don't think me. I don't think Derek [Anderson]. I don't think the offensive coordinator [Rob Chudzinski]. We've had a couple games when I only got three passes a game. We all have to find a way to get in that groove."

Asked why the offense still isn't in a groove six games into the season, Edwards said, "For whatever reason, we're not playing well. And we're not calling the kind of plays we did last year. We're not going after teams like we did. I think we're struggling, trying to get guys involved.


"A big thing, too, is, with me, I'm a big target, I like going outside. I like going deep. Every route I would like to be a 'nine' route, which is a go route, or a deep post, or a deep comeback. But what's happening is I'm worrying too much about that and I'm not playing football."

It should be noted that every receiver in the history of the sport prefers outside routes, where the possibility of getting creamed by safeties or linebackers is immeasurably reduced.

Edwards admitted the offense, and he, misses Joe Jurevicius running the blue-collar routes inside.

As former coach Sam Rutigliano recently said, once a team knows a receiver doesn't want to run inside, they can easily take away his outside game.







I have a huge grill and some charcoal.. and Edwards ego on the grillplates..anyone care to lite it??

Quoting Braylon here,...

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"In terms of the season, it's a situation where I don't think anybody's in a groove," Edwards said Thursday. "I don't think me."

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So what's he offering to fix it other than using JJ as an excuse ??

I'm not blaming just BE; the WHOLE thing needs fixing.

Well, if our problem truly is that we're not "in a groove", the only way to get "in a groove" is to, well, just get into one. I thought the Giants game was proof that we had done that, or at least were on our way.

I think repetition in practice is a great way to help "get in a groove", but now it's about game-planning for the upcoming game. I guess we see now what the preseason does. I was wrong in thinking guys being injured in the preseason didn't matter that much. Now, the games might not be as important as some may believe, but the preseason sure seems a lot more important now.

However, Edwards is saying the problem is the offense isn't "in a groove." What was his excuse for dropping as many passes as he did last year when this offense was DEFINITELY "in a groove"?

You're pretty much on there,...but how does that explain what we did to the Giants,...the only team in the NFC with ONE loss.

There's something else going on.

http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2008/10/24/sports/doc49015d140f1e6997442002.txt

Offense a puzzle for the Browns
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Friday, October 24, 2008 1:34 AM EDT
By Jeff Schudel
JSchudel@News-Herald.com

The Browns are like that little girl who had a little curl right in the middle of her forehead.

When Braylon Edwards catches a touchdown pass they are very good indeed, but when he doesn’t they are horrid.

With apologies to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

The Browns are 2-4 heading into their game against the Jaguars on Sunday in Jacksonville. Edwards caught a touchdown pass when the Browns beat Cincinnati, 20-12, and he caught one when they beat the Giants, 35-14. He did not score a touchdown in any of the four losses.

Edwards will have to be Derek Anderson’s big-play target on Sunday because the other player fitting that description, Kellen Winslow Jr., definitely will not play against the Jaguars. On Tuesday, Winslow was suspended for the Jacksonville game. He is appealing the suspension. On Wednesday, the NFL said the appeal would be expedited so it could be heard before Sunday, but on Thursday, it was announced the hearing has been pushed back to Tuesday of next week.

“I’m one of the playmakers this team goes to,” Edwards said before practice Thursday. “I think in terms of this season, it’s a situation where I don’t think anybody is in the groove. I don’t think me, I don’t think Derek, I don’t think the offensive coordinator (Rob Chudzinski) — you have a couple games where I got only three passes.

“We all have to find a way to get in that groove, be it me catching the ball consistently, be it Derek making passes, be it the offensive coordinator calling the plays to get us going. I think if we come out against Jacksonville and make plays early like we did against the Giants, it gives Derek confidence, it gives me the swagger I like to have when I play and it gives the offensive coordinator the ability to say, ‘OK, these guys are on. I’m calling this. I’m calling that.’ ”

Exactly what happened to that confidence and swagger, Edwards is at a loss to explain. He has 20 catches, but he has also dropped 10 passes. Anderson has thrown six touchdown passes and six interceptions. He threw 14 touchdown passes and eight interceptions through six games last year.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Except for the unfortunate loss of Joe Jurevicius, who might never play again because of complications from a staph infection, the skill players on offense returned virtually intact. The difference is in the offensive line. For whatever reason, the unit that played so well last year is not functioning as smoothly in 2008.

Chudzinski and Anderson expected to build on the success of last season, when the Browns scored 42 offensive touchdowns and four others on returns. They scored eight offensive touchdowns in six games this year, which puts them on pace to score 21 this season — half of the 2007 output.

For two weeks, the focus of stories has been on Winslow, first because of an illness that initially was kept secret and now because of the current war of words between the Browns and the tight end.

More important to Edwards and others on offense is the Browns gave up 10 points to Pittsburgh and 14 to Washington and lost both games. Edwards caught three passes for 32 yards in the 10-6 loss to the Steelers and four for 58 yards in the 14-11 loss to the Redskins.

“Offensively, we’re just missing, and it’s a shame,” offensive co-captain Hank Fraley, the starting center, said. “It takes 11 guys on offense to get the job done, and we haven’t been consistent, all 11 of us.

“It has always been a thing here or there offensively. It’s all about that inch. If you’re an inch off, it just doesn’t work right. Our win (against the Giants) was right on. It’s easier said than done, but it’s all about that inch and being consistent.”

Fed-up fans want a change at quarterback, but it won’t happen, at least not this week. Coach Romeo Crennel said Anderson will start against the Jaguars.


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Similar article.

These guys just dont sound like theyre buying into the system. Its like they want to do something else. All of em. I think thats the problem with our offense

How can they not be buying into the system that is the same as last year, when they bought into it?

Now, I will say that some of Chud's play-calling this year has me really scratching my head. We have a very good OL that gives DA time to throw, but we don't seem to run many deep routes. Even if they're incomplete, you at least stretch the D a little.

I'm not sure of that, but, it just doesnt look like it. Theyre half-aaaaaing it, theyre just going through the motions.

its uninspired, cept on monday night. the offense has looked ridiculous since.

I agree with BE here. Our offense has been boring and predictable all year long aside from the Giants game. We need to start attacking defenses and stop being so conservative. DA's strength is to throw the ball down field, and we aren't doing that. I am not making an excuse for DA, but when you don't play to your quarterbacks strengths then you arent going to be very good.

Enough with the BS excuses. Go out, do your job and execute. Sick of this crap. Jamal's groove seems just fine, he does his job and keeps his yapper shut. Take note, Brownies.

I really think your post is pretty funny!



He's not playing well. DA is not playing well. BE admitted he's not playing well.

So what's to grill, his honesty?

A big thing, too, is, with me, I'm a big target, I like going outside. I like going deep. Every route I would like to be a 'nine' route, which is a go route, or a deep post, or a deep comeback. But what's happening is I'm worrying too much about that and I'm not playing football."

Gee..you think opposing DC's love to know that tidbit?
That he doesn't like going over the middle?

I'd say they've already picked up on that one in the film room.



I don't think it was some big trade secret he gave up if that's what you're inferring.

No..but you just exposed a weakness you shouldn't have..and I don't have the quote but he did say the Browns too the Skins too lightly..I wish I could find the quote.
However I did post a Edwards thread to centralize comments about him as opposed to DA..BUT imagine the responses if DA were to say: "I like throwing deep, I wish I didn't have to throw those over the middle and slant stuff.."

DELETED- MASKED PROFANITY

The offense is not in a grove because key guys are not groovy.
Dr. DA & Dr. Hyde....you never know which grove he's in or for how long.

BE drops half as many as he catches. That's not gonna keep a drive in a grove.

KW2 is always gimpy....and now he's in the doghouse.

Donte Stallworth has hardly been on the field. Steptoe isn't a savior.

Cribbs has had it tough this year...and now that he's back taking the kicks, the blocking isn't what it once was.

Poor JJ's in a rut, not a grove.

We're, for the most part, an offensive train wreck. Now, most teams that are struggling offensively like we are, and have a quality back up QB would've already inserted him to try and ignite a fire....but not us, we just keep throwing matches on the same old briquette.

THANK GOD he didn't mention Phil. If he said Phil wasn't being a good GM we would have to run him out on a rail with KW2!

Whew, the title made me think Braylon grew a pair and stood up to PS's BS too!

He did throw EVERYBODY else under the bus a little though, probably wanted to point out that he is not the only player, other than DA of course, who is screwing up. He also added a coach for good measure. I LIKE IT!

Phil should suspend the entire starting offense for being an eyesore to the fans and embarassing the franchise! Then we could get Kenua Reeves to come in with the other replacements and win a Super Bowl.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It's all beginning to unravel....JMHO

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It's all beginning to unravel

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That's what you have when you have a lack of leadership.

It's coming to pass unfortunately. More and more on the board will see it in time.

The end of this regime is here.

When Braylon learns to catch the football maybe what he says will hold some interest. Until he catches a few he should SHUT HIS MOUTH.

I don't see Savage's reaction as him defending himself - he was defending the Browns organization.

I mean, you have winslow selling out the team over staph (yeah, right, he wants a new check, and my guess is his agent is pushing it), winslow says it was staph, yet he doesn't have the balls to say how he got it?????? Something's fishy with winslow. I mean, if you put holes in your body that don't belong there..............well?

Hey Kellen, end all the speculation: spill your guts on how you got staph this time. If you can pin it on the Browns, do it, cause if you're right, everyone will back you up.

If you can't pin it on the browns, pin it on the new hole you put in your body - man up and be a "solja" and take the blame.

Bottom line - pin it on the Browns, or pin it on yourself. Since you aren't blaming the browns, it's pretty damn obvious.

Do you feel Savage's interview made the situation better or worse?

He could have just stopped with the statement the team issued. But he had to say his peace. I don't particularly care for those type of people. Him talking made the situation worse ... how is that in the best interest of the Browns ... the very thing he says comes first?

I knew when I typed it that my opinion would be unpopular. A lot of people like Savage around here. But that's JMHO.

Thanks for taking a few bullets for me! We are in agreement on Savage. It's a ME proposition for him. That's why he's out there in the media like he is.

That's why I drummed up that whole Collins thing. Just to see if something is there.

O.k I'm not done grilling Edwards..he not only dropped the coals..he dropped the lighter fluid, the grill, the meat, the ribs,the corn,the plates, the condiments..the kool aid..the chips, the pickles..

I got laughed at when I advocated to trade him straight up for Boldin BEFORE this season started...who´s laughing at me now

Boldin is a poss-WR and a go to guy...Edwards never was or will be...he is a #2 flashy WR who has all the talent but not the brains and concentration....the more I see him play the more I see Chambers pt.2

and I keep preaching it: Edwards is a bigger problem to this Offense than DA....who doesn´t see this just doesn´t get it I guess

Braylon even dropped these..

Steptoe dropped one too, but that's OK, he caught it first, then dropped it.

Winslow, caught stuff that wasn't even thrown to him, get's penalized for it. Yet, we don't use him when we really need to.

And we should have had 7 less points, because any other receiver on our team, would not have got that jump ball in the endzone.

Well, at least we know he'll never get staph........hell, he can't even catch a cold.

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People need to stop excusing his drops by suggesting his big catches make up for it. THEY DON'T.

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Then is it fair to say that we need to stop excusing DA's painfully inaccurate throws and poor decisions because once in a while he makes a great decision and throws a bullet right where it needs to be?

DA failures had nothing to do with Brayless's drop..that ball was in his grasp and he flat out dropped it.

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Sorry, I'm not going to let you turn this into an Anderson thing.

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Fine.

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This thread is about Edwards dropping two balls in the 4th that probably help us win the game. If you want to disect Anderson, do it on an Anderson thread

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I have and you continue to deflect blame onto Edwards and the defense... But, just to make you happy, Edwards needs to get his head out of his butt and catch the ball.. his drops have cost us all year and there is no way to measure how much because some of them could have been game changing catches and one never knows what happens AFTER THEM...

Good enough?

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DA failures had nothing to do with Brayless's drop..that ball was in his grasp and he flat out dropped it.

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Braylon is a better wide reciever than any other reciever on this team. Who could we get in a trade, that's a wide reciever that can replace him. He's been a factor in our team sucking, but so has the other recievers.

Someone brought up the point that Winslow should get the ball more. I totally agree. He seems to be a forgotten soul in this offense. A year or two ago, he was the guy who was the clutch player in every comeback. He made that outstanding catch against the cardinals which was reviewed but couldn't be given to us because they can't review him getting knocked out by a player. He also catches the ball better than anyone on our team, certainly in the clutch.

I just don't see who we could replace Braylon with who would be better. Getting someone like Hines Ward isn't easy. Even Anquan Boldin probably wasn't possible. The Cardinals definitely wouldn't take Braylon, it would have to have been a three way deal.

Every team has a primadonna reciever with issues. It comes with the territory, lol. Braylon's better than most second tier recievers.

So do we cut him, then we suck big time. And how could he be replaced on offense if we traded him.

Fact is folks, Browns are gonna have to stick with him. Now me, I like Braylon. He's infuriated me lately, but I have placed most of my blame elsewhere. He could be better, but other things have major issues which I place significant blame on.

Just like last year and the year before, I'm sticking with B-EZ. Players need to block, the QB needs to throw, and the reciever catches. The QB and WR need to be on the same page for a play to work. Braylon would be better with a better QB, period.