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The Browns want to make sure they get it right this time when they form their offensive coaching staff, because unless they have success in 2007, both head coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Phil Savage probably won't get a third chance.

And it will be a familiar face that heads up the offense next season. Rob Chudzinski, who was the tight ends coach under Butch Davis in Cleveland in 2004, was hired as the Browns' offensive coordinator. He spent the past two seasons as San Diego's tight ends coach.

Before his first stint in Cleveland, Chudzinski was the offensive coordinator at the University of Miami, including during the team's 2001 national championship season. This is his first crack at being a top coordinator at the NFL level.

"Even though he's young he covered all those bases and had an answer and a thought about all of the things we talked to him about," Crennel said about the 38-year-old Chudzinski's interview. "That doesn't guarantee success but the fact that he had a plan and was comprehensive in that plan that was very impressive."

Chudzinski said he passed up a chance to interview for San Diego's coordinator job, open after Cam Cameron accepted Miami's head coaching job, because he couldn't pass up the chance to return home — he is a Toledo native.

He has some pieces to work with in wide receiver Braylon Edwards and tight end Kellen Winslow. But he also has to decide if the team's quarterback of the future is on the roster.

"I've always been around and been exposed to attacking-style offenses that are built on a balance of run and pass and that utilize the talents of the guys that are part of that offense," said Chudzinski. "Giving those guys a chance to make plays for you in an attacking style is basically what we've talked primarily about."

Winslow was one of several NFL tight ends Chudzinski worked with while with the Hurricanes. He also helped mold the Giants' Jeremy Shockey and Green Bay's Bubba Franks.

NOTES, QUOTES

—In 2005, Joshua Cribbs set a franchise record with 1,094 yards in kick returns. In 2006, he broke his own record by exactly 400 yards.

—LB Kamerion Wimbley, with 11 sacks, had six more than Alvin McKinley and Chaun Thompson had in 2005 when they tied for the team lead with five each. As a team, though, the Browns again failed to get to the opposing quarterback. They totaled 28 sacks, five more than in 2005. McKinley had only one despite starting 14 games.

—TE Kellen Winslow Jr. led the Browns with 89 catches. WR Braylon Edwards caught 61, 28 fewer than Winslow, yet Edwards had 894 yards receiving, compared to 875 for Winslow.

—One reason the defensive coaching staff remained intact was opponents threw only one more touchdown pass in 2006 than when they threw 19 in 2005. It was a remarkable feat considering starting RCB Gary Baxter played only three games, starting LCB Leigh Bodden missed seven games with ankle injuries and nickel back Daylon McCutcheon missed the entire season recovering from knee surgery.

—The Browns are being vague about TE Kellen Winslow's plans for offseason surgery to clean out scar tissue on his right knee. Winslow might have the surgery somewhere other than The Cleveland Clinic, where surgeries on Browns players are normally performed.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think Braylon will respond very well this offseason. Once we have a chance to sit down, talk to him and lay out what our expectations are — not what the media, fans or anyone else — but what the Cleveland Browns' expectations are from him, I think we will be a step ahead of the game with him." — Browns general manager Phil Savage on WR Braylon Edwards.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Leon Williams came on strong at the end of the season and could end up competing with Willie McGinest next summer for a starting job at left outside linebacker.

Williams was made a starter when rookie D'Qwell Jackson suffered a toe injury that ended his season after three games. When Andra Davis was knocked out of the game with a concussion while playing the Ravens on Dec. 17, Williams had to take over calling signals in the huddle. Williams continued in that role in the final two games with Davis on the sideline.

"We talked about the possibility of working him at both spots, but he was a rookie," coach Romeo Crennel said. "Without trying to teach him too much, we knew that we needed the depth inside, so we decided to leave him inside. Somewhere down the road we might experiment with him a little more, but I think he helps the team the most inside right now."

Williams is 6-foot-2, 238 pounds. He said people see how big he is and automatically think he's slow, but that isn't the case. He showed he can make a quick adjustment to close the gap if he starts taking the wrong angle on a running back. Williams made 34 tackles the last three weeks after making three in the first 13 games.

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACK: Starter — Charlie Frye. Backups — Derek Anderson, Ken Dorsey.

Frye showed little if any improvement from the beginning of the season to the end, but he was handicapped behind an inefficient line. The incumbent will remain until the Browns bring in somebody better. Anderson makes quick reads and has a strong arm, but his feet might as well be in cement. Dorsey is smart, but he just does not have an NFL arm.

RUNNING BACKS: Starters — RB Reuben Droughns, FB Terrelle Smith. Backups — RB Jason Wright, RB Jerome Harrison, RB Chris Barclay, FB Lawrence Vickers.

Droughns never hit the hole as crisply as he did in 2005, and as a result his rushing total dropped from 1,232 yards to 758 running behind the same line that did not block well for Frye. Droughns also had shoulder and ankle injuries. Smith remains a good blocker, but he is limited as a receiver and runner and could be phased out next season. Harrison was limited to 20 carries because his blocking skills are poor. Barclay filled a roster spot when Wright (knee) was placed on injured reserve. Wright is quick, but he is not an every-down back. Vickers has to block better to knock off Smith.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter — Kellen Winslow Jr. Backups — Steve Heiden, Darnell Dinkins.

Winslow was a bright spot in a dreary year. He tied a franchise record with 89 catches and was proud to have played in 16 games after missing 14 in 2004 and 16 in 2005 with injuries. He rubbed opponents the wrong way when he claimed to be the best tight end in the league, but he never said anything demeaning about an opponent. Heiden is underrated as a backup. He rarely drops the ball and he is a willing blocker. A touchdown catch by Dinkins just before halftime sparked a rally against the Raiders.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters — Braylon Edwards, Joe Jurevicius. Backups — Dennis Northcutt, Joshua Cribbs, Travis Wilson. Kendrick Mosley.

Edwards returned from a torn ACL to play all 16 games and catch 61 passes, but he was a major distraction the last half of the season. Jurevicius was the exact opposite. A team player all the way, Jurevicius caught 22 passes in a span of four games after catching 18 in nine games. He missed three games with injuries. Jurevicius was supposed to be a mentor for Edwards, but the message of being unselfish never sank in for Edwards. Northcutt is a timid receiver. He was at his worst in Pittsburgh, when he dropped three passes. He will be a free agent in March and will not be re-signed. Wilson caught only two passes. He was on the inactive list for nine games. Next season he will challenge as the third receiver with Northcutt out of the picture. Cribbs would like to be an Antwaan Randle El type player. He threw one pass on an option play and it was incomplete. Mosley was added to the roster from the practice squad for the final game because of injuries to Jurevicius and Northcutt.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Starters — LT Kevin Shaffer, LG Joe Andruzzi, C Hank Fraley, RG Cosey Coleman, RT Ryan Tucker. Backups — C/G Rob Smith, C LeCharles Bentley, T/G Isaac Sowells, C/G Lennie Friedman, G Fred Matua, T Nat Dorsey, T Kelly Butler.

Problems along the line began when Bentley was injured on the first play of training camp, and they never stopped. Tucker missed seven games with a mental disorder. The Browns were 2-5 in those games. Whether Bentley and/or Tucker will play in 2007 is something Phil Savage has to determine before free agency begins. Andruzzi is broken down with knee injuries, and Coleman, entering free agency, probably won't be re-signed. Matua is untested, Butler slow and Dorsey slower. Smith is a capable run blocker, but he was unhappy with his pass blocking when he played against Houston in his only start. Re-signing Fraley is a priority because of the uncertainty of Bentley recovering from a torn patellar tendon. Friedman played well subbing for Andruzzi. The Browns gave up 54 sacks. Not all were on the line, but this is an area that needs major rebuilding.

DEFENSIVE LINE: Starters — DLE Orpheus Roye, DRE Alvin McKinley, NT Ted Washington. Backups — E Simon Fraser, E Nick Eason, NT Babatunde Oshinowo, NT Ethan Kelly, NT Orien Harris, NT J'Vonne Parker.

Roye battled shoulder, hamstring and knee injuries all season. Washington is 38 and was inconsistent. McKinley is entering free agency and did nothing to make the Browns want to re-sign him. All three should be replaced, but it won't be easy in one offseason given the needs on the offensive line and elsewhere. Kelly (knee) and Parker (foot) ended up on injured reserve and are backups at best when healthy. Fraser had 4.5 sacks, second most on the team, but he was a liability in run defense. Oshinowo is listed at 300 pounds but is too small to play nose tackle in the 3-4 defense. Harris was signed from the Steelers' practice squad late in the season.

LINEBACKERS: Starters — SLB Willie McGinest, MLB Andra Davis, ILB D'Qwell Jackson, WLB Kamerion Wimbley. Backups — ILB Leon Williams, ILB Mason Unck, ILB Chaun Thompson, OLB David McMillan, OLB Matt Stewart, OLB Nick Speegle, ILB Clifton Smith.

The Browns decided to make linebacker the foundation of the defense by using three of their first four draft choices at the position last April. Wimbley led the team with 11 sacks, Jackson was second with 115 tackles, and Williams made 10, 17 and seven tackles in his last three games. Davis led the way with 133 tackles despite missing the last two games with a concussion, but only four were for losses. That in part is because the defensive line did not occupy blockers well enough. McGinest, who made 67 tackles, is well past his prime, but he is valuable as a team leader. With four new linebackers, including McGinest, there was no place for Thompson, McMillan or Stewart to settle in. Unck is one of the top special teams players on the roster; he finished second to Cribbs with 23 stops. Smith and Speegle were late-season additions because of injuries to Davis and Jackson (toe).

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters — RCB Gary Baxter, LCB Leigh Bodden, SS Sean Jones, FS Brian Russell. Backups — S Brodney Pool, S Justin Hamilton, CB Daven Holly, CB Jereme Perry, CB Ralph Brown, CB Daylon McCutcheon, S Ben Emanuel, CB DeMario Minter

Jones was the only starter in the secondary to play all 16 games. Russell (staph infection, three games) and Baxter (pectoral, both patellar tendons, 10 games) finished the season on IR. McCutcheon missed the entire season recovering from knee surgery, and Bodden, the Browns' best cornerback, missed seven games with sprained ankles. Some good came from the injuries. Holly emerged as a nickel back and tied Jones for the team lead with five interceptions. Brown and Perry are candidates to play the dime back next season. They will get competition from Minter, a fifth-round rookie who also missed the entire season recovering from knee surgery. Emanuel was added with three games left when Russell was placed on IR. Baxter vows to be the first player to recover from twin patellar tendon tears and play the next season. Baxter's intention is good, but the Browns will be looking at cornerbacks in free agency and the draft. Russell can be a free agent. The defensive coaches want him back because he is the glue that holds the secondary together.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Phil Dawson, P Dave Zastudil, LS Ryan Pontbriand, KR Joshua Cribbs, PR Dennis Northcutt.

Dawson had the worst year of his career in 2006. He was just 5-for-10 between 40 and 49 yards. He was 28 of 42 (67 percent) from that distance over the first seven seasons. He was working with his fourth holder, Zastudil, in four years, and the middle of the field in Cleveland was treacherous in November and December. Pontbriand's snaps were automatic, and Zastudil nestled 25 of 78 punts inside the 20. Northcutt finished with an 11.1-yard punt return average. His skill there will be missed, but he is a liability as a receiver, and the Browns do not have the luxury of using him exclusively as a punt returner. Cribbs is a threat to break a long return on every kick. Toward the end of the season, his average slipped, partly because some of the injured players had been on the kick return team, but he still averaged 24.5 yards a return.



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Tucker missed seven games with a mental disorder

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Wow this is the first I heard of this. Has this been reported before?

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Has this been reported before?

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Yea I have seen it around, its usually reported as an undisclosed mental illness or something. I have heard rumors on what it actually is but Id rather not say since it may not be true.

Good read and I hope BE's light does come on and he realizes what is important and what is not. I'll root for the guy because it it'll make the Browns a better team and that is priority one.

I just hope he didn't pull a Bob Hallen ...good luck to Tucker, but time to move on.

For a national pub, Inside Slant seems to get it right more than they get it wrong. I could quibble about some details (D'Quell played in all but three games, instead of just three) etc... but they've nailed our big picture pretty well.

When it's obvious to folks outside Berea and us homers that we need to do a major build on both lines, that says something.

It also should tell fans already, that '07 won't look tons better than '06 did- not without some real offseason magic by Savage and help from above...

...and when was the last time the Browns were ever graced with Divine Intervention?

________________________________

Right now, we have one of the smallest and least experienced cores of quality personnel in the entire league. Even if all the coaches hired in '05 were ballzout great, we would have been still lucky to have won even 6 this past year, strictly because of our lack of decent players teamwide... and especially in the positions that really count.

Now, we're scuttling our entire offensive staff and starting over (again) with rookies in key decision-making spots.

A 2-year turnaround with a 3rd year playoff bid looks pretty unrealistic now, doesn't it?

My personal Life's Calendar now has more pages flipped than pages that remain. I sure hope to God that My Favorite Team gets it's turds in a pile soon.

One ring.
Just one ring.
Is that too much to ask?



sigh.

Outside of a few errors, it's a pretty decent article overall,,, thanks Stabber,, Good read.

Man, did they peg our line issues or what? Phil are you listening?

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That indeed makes it sounds like Phil and Romeo's fates are tied at the hip as I brought up some time back.

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I would say that's true,,, But isn't it always the case between GM and HC.. I mean, at least most times.... What makes this so different or unusual?

Nice read.

I originally thought that Crennel would be on the hot seat more than Savage, but it does not seem to be the case.

A couple of thoughts on the article - doesn't surprise me that Winslow wants the surgery done elsewhere. How many staph infections do the players have to get at that clinic before they buy some Clorox? He got one himself last time there.

Another thought is on Tucker. I've seen his injury listed as an undisclosed "mental disorder." Playing on our line all those years could certainly account for that. Wonder what it is? Hope the best for him, he put in some quality time here.

Interesting article..some good points..


Chudzinski said he passed up a chance to interview for San Diego's coordinator job, open after Cam Cameron accepted Miami's head coaching job, because he couldn't pass up the chance to return home — he is a Toledo native.


Note to those who say no one wants to come here..even though he's not a NFL PROVEN OC..even he knows whats going on with the team..he left before Rac made a decision on him when he got hired, YET HE WANTED TO COME BACK...says a lot..

"I think Braylon will respond very well this offseason. Once we have a chance to sit down, talk to him and lay out what our expectations are — not what the media, fans or anyone else — but what the Cleveland Browns' expectations are from him, I think we will be a step ahead of the game with him." — Browns general manager Phil Savage on WR Braylon Edwards.


Note to those WHO WANT A EXPLANATION or assume Phil is overlooking Brababy's antics..he said they WILL LAY OUT what THEY EXPECT him to do and not said, what they WILL DO if he doesn't meet those expectations...read between the lines..

I'm not going to comment on the individual units just yet..we speak about those all the time anyway.

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Tuck may or may not discuss his problem. Until that time it won't do any of us any good to wonder, or worry about it.

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I have my suspicions and hope they're wrong and more importantly, I hope he has a complete recovery and wish him and his family all the best.

Wasn't really expecting him to discuss it or disclose anything. It isn't anyone's business. My comment was just normal curiosity. The main thing is that I hope the best for him.

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My point is I don't know if Savage has the option of changing Crennel at this juncture. I think there is a good chance that Lerner has let Phil know that if Romeo has to pack his bags, so does Phil......

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Well Yeah,, That's what I said,, they are tied together,, I agree. I'm asking what makes this any different than any other or most other GM and HC relationships/situations? And if all or most other situations are the same, then whats makes this so unusual?

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That might explain why Romeo is still here and explain why Savage seems to be the force behind who is hired as asst. coaches.

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Well Yeah,,, I hate to sound like a broken record here, but again, whats so unusual about that. I can't think of a GM that hasn't had a major hand in chosing asst coaches,,,,, perhaps with the exception of those that work with Parcells or Belichick or maybe someone like Holmgren as well.

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Some have been good enough to point out the draft set-up isn't that unusual, but it seems very unusual for the GM to really set a head coaches staff. I don't think that is normal at all

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I agree, it would be unusual for a GM to set a HC's staff.. But what I'm not sure of, is if that's what's actually happening here.. Of course, you have your opinion about that,,,, Oh and speaking of opinions

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and since I am talking to you, I will ad that this is my opinion

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Wisea$$

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I will take it I am not explaining my position rather than you are just a little dull

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Hey Hey Hey, I'm always the life of the party,,,, I'm never dull don't you go starting rumors now

Your point is that you don't think that Savage has the owners permission to fire RAC... Ok, I got that. No problem..

For the life of me, I don't know why you feel that way.. but hey, your allowed.

In my small, somewhat dull, (and lately, i'm told Dolt-ish) mind, it makes no sense for Randy Lerner to wait if he feels that RAC and/or Savage isn't getting the job done.. If and it's a HUGE IF, Randy in any way shape or form feels as if this tandem can't get it done, I think he would have fired them already... Done and overwith. Doesn't make any business sense to wait..

Now if Randy and Savage are on the same page and they, in tandem agreed that RAC should stay, I think that's a big vote of confidence.. another big IF and JMO..

Bottom line, we disagree,,, and that's fine.. Whew,,, Did I actually type all of that?

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Ballpeen and Damanshot: LOL! Why don't you two just fight and get it over with? 3:00 at the park! Be there!!

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Naa,,, not necessary,,,, Peen knows I can out run him anyway

I think there is a good chance that Lerner has let Phil know that if Romeo has to pack his bags, so does Phil......at least in the short term as things stand today.

U continue to assume that they're tied to the neck, that's not so.
Rac can be let go BY HIMSELF.
Not one thing that has come to light has even hinted that if one goes the other goes too..

That might explain why Romeo is still here and explain why Savage seems to be the force behind who is hired as asst. coaches.

Yet U ignore whats been laid out as to WHY those assistants were let go and why Opie is behind the scenes hiring or approving of the new guys.
U simply can't link that as Phil being tied to Rac for job security..
Lerner/Collins were responsible for hiring Rac NOT PHIL...once U figure that out , U'll see U can't tie the two together.

Here's the funny part of it,,,, I actually like Peen... Can you imagine that

He's can-tank-er-us and I enjoy the banter... we rarely agree on anything.... and that's fine by me..

So peen, here's where you step in and say you don't like me, and that your not can-tank-er-us,,,,, Because to agree with me on anything would probably be considered a MORTAL SIN...

Then I'm toast

This comment isn't directed at you Peen.

Regardless of how this next season turns out, I don't want Savage tied to RAC's fate. I want stability at the top. IMO, I think Savage should stay on for another 2-3 years no matter what. A GM needs time to build a team. A coach has a shorter timeline (especially if he loses control of the team).

Keep Savage as GM. I want stability in that position.

I'm not going to argue that point, I basically agree.. But what if the talent he brings isn't what it's cracked up to be,,,, do you fire the coach and keep the GM or the other way around... Just wondering

Your Right, his picks do need time to determine if they are good or not..

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Phil has done a pretty good job bringing in talent. More than anyone else I can name since '99 anyway

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I would definitely agree with this.... his 2006 Draft (sadly) already trumps absolutely every other draft we've had since '99 with the only conceivable exception being 2004 with Sean Jones & Winslow being the sole reasons for that.

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with the only conceivable exception being 2004 with Sean Jones & Winslow being the sole reasons for that.

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And because of injuries, that took almost 2 years to see the benefit.

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IMO, I think Savage should stay on for another 2-3 years no matter what. A GM needs time to build a team.

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Thanks, Punch

I've been thinking this for weeks...
ever since RAC's future came into question, Phil's name hasn't been far behind. Seems like we've tied the two at the hip, just because they came in at the same time.

Coaches come and go, but the shape/quality of the team is made by the decisions at the top.

Any more, the GM is the most important player on any team's roster.

Bottom line: to build a winning team from what we had as raw materials ain't no sprint-it's a Marathon. 2 seasons just isn't enough time to know whether Phil is any better than the coaches who have come and gone under his watch. A new GM needs about 5 years to show what he's worth. that's when draft picks start showing as a team, and philosophy starts to show on the field. Any results before that can't be relied upon, are because some of that will be from the previous guy's watch.

Who made up this ridiculous "3-year success timeline," anyway?

How far up does the knee have to jerk?
Every single time?

damn.
I'm growing impatient with impatience.