DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Cribbs Finding His Place in Offense

By Steve Doerschuk
CantonRep.com staff report
Posted Aug 06, 2009 @ 07:46 PM

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BEREA — .Now that Browns X-factor Joshua Cribbs has decided against holding out and is in camp, what has he been up to?

Plenty.

Cribbs was one of the busiest men in Berea during Thursday’s lone practice.

No. 16 got more action with the No. 1 offense than in any of the previous five days of training camp. It appeared the new regime has begun in earnest its version of experimentation that, under the previous command, showed promise but never quite came to fruition.

“I think I’m being integrated into the base offense more than I was,” Cribbs said. “I’m not always the guy running reverses. Today’s practice was the first time I ran a reverse in a while.

“And I’m not the screen guy so often. Today was the first time I ran a screen since OTAs.”

Cribbs ran with both the No. 1 offense directed by quarterback Brady Quinn on this day, and the No. 2s under Derek Anderson. At times in the past, Anderson has seemed to avoid Cribbs, but in Thursday’s session, the two hooked up nicely on a downfield throw.

Cribbs is listed at wide receiver, but he caught only two passes last year. He ran the ball 29 times, gaining 167 yards. Often, he would line up at quarterback and take a direct snap. Often, everybody in the house knew Cribbs hitting the field meant that Cribbs would run the ball.

“They’re integrating me in the base offense right now,” Cribbs said. “That’s important, because once I get the base offense down, I can just hop in there any time. I don’t have to be just a gadget.

“Even when we were predictable last year, we still gained a lot of yards (5.8 per carry). I don’t have any thought in my mind that we’re gonna be predictable this year.”

Cribbs, 26, had one of the NFL’s best special-teams seasons ever in 2007, averaging more than 30 yards as a kick returner, scoring on a punt return and striking fear into opposing return men as a tackler.

His production slipped in 2008, but he remains a feared special-teams man whose potential on offense, under new Coordinator Brian Daboll, is intriguing.

The predictability factor could be the key. What if opponents can’t assume Cribbs will get the ball when he’s in?

“I think it’s gonna be difficult,” he said, “because whether it’s coming or not, they still have to think about stopping it. They must cover, because they can’t just leave the door open.

“If I can get in once or twice, three or four times, on some gadget plays, and move the chains, I’ll take it ... as well as getting on the base offense.”

Cribbs is eager to show his wares in Sunday’s intrasquad game at Cleveland Browns Stadium. He seems encouraged about things in general.

“I feel I’m having a good camp,” he said.


http://www.cantonrep.com/sports/x1701871371/Cribbs-finding-his-place-in-offense

“Even when we were predictable last year, we still gained a lot of yards (5.8 per carry). I don’t have any thought in my mind that we’re gonna be predictable this year.”

Braylon mentioned the same thing. If you read closely these are not-so subtle shots at Chud.

What was Chud supposed to do with that train wreck offense?

BTW I think Cribbs' refrence to predictability has more to do with the fact that when he was in there for the Wildcat, he was likely gonna get the ball and run, not pass.

IMO he couldn't 'adjust' because we had inury issues from TC onward, Braylon couldn't catch the ball, Donte was useless, Jamal was playing hurt, DA was a roller-coaster.... etc, etc.

I second that!

I don't think Chud was the problem... although he had to take the blame.

I'm not sure chud was the solution either. In 2007 we were pretty healthy all year and things clicked.. In 2008 we had injuries and the whole thing got derailed... It wasn't entirely chud's fault, but part of coaching is holding things together through adversity and he was unable to do that.

You probably do know more than me... I'm a die hard fan not an expert in all things football. BUT I still don't blame Chud as much as RAC & Phil or injuries for last years record.

I also think the QB quandry hampered Chud's ability to run an effective offense. Hard to game plan for two very different QBs when you never know when the switch was coming.

Many thought DA was long gone last off season, then he gets re-signed late and labeled starter... who knows what chuds playbook looked like up to that point.

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Now that Browns X-factor Joshua Cribbs has decided against holding out and is in camp

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Did I miss something this week? Is Cribbs no longer threatening to not play without a new contract?

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I don't think ANYONE internally thought DA was long gone.

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WHAT? If you let a Probowl QB test Free Agency, you MUST at least plan for him to be GONE!

Phil thumbed his nose at DA's value, then re-signed him when the offers did not pour in... if there had been ONE taker, DA would've been like C-YA!

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Did I miss something this week? Is Cribbs no longer threatening to not play without a new contract?

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The very last thing I heard was that he will be here in Camp and Preseason,, but without a redo on the contract, he's sitting for the regular season..

Unless something has changed, thats the latest news I have.

DA signed his extension very early on in the first day of free agency. That's hardly "testing" it. I think DA called the FO's bluff more than anything.

Hockey puck dung

The rest of the League saw what they weren't getting.

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“I feel I’m having a good camp,” he said.

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Translation: "Pay me."

Of course feels he's having a good camp.