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Is it just me or does he look like hes lost a "step"? Canadadawg and i were talking during the game on Sunday and to us he appears slower and lacks that initial burst returning kicks. Your thoughts?
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Slower and way less wreckless than he used to be.. Tentative almost
We were talking about this very thing in the chat on this site on Sunday.., it came up a number of times.
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He still as the vision that made him a Great Returner, but all that does it gets him to the 30 nowadays.
I'm fine with him on KOs, but would prefer Benjamin on PRs.
As nice as it would be for Josh to be on the podium when we finally get our 'Bardi trophy, I just don't see it happening.
Am I the only one that pronounces hyperbole "Hyper-bowl" instead of "hy-per-bo-le"?
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I don't think he has the burst he use to... he's getting older and to be honest I think as a returner this will be his last year in Cleveland.. I would be surprised if we bring him back next year. I think with all the youth we have on our team they needed some veteran leadership which is why Cribbs is still here...
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If he wants to stay and doesn't cost much, do you keep him around?
Am I the only one that pronounces hyperbole "Hyper-bowl" instead of "hy-per-bo-le"?
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dont mistake reckless abandon for patience.
Josh is fine, he still has one of the highest return averages in the league.
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If he wants to stay and doesn't cost much, do you keep him around?
Me personally I would probably keep him. Problem is we dont what know next years draft holds and Benji could probably take over those duties along with a few others. I have no doubt he would get a shot on another team though. Thankfully it is far down on my All things Browns radar right now. 
If you need 3 years to be a winner you got here 2 years to early. Get it done Browns.
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"Lost a step" will go away WHEN he gets his first TD.
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Someone above stated that he only gets us to the 30, well, considering the new KO rules and how many touchbacks there are, I will take the 30 over the 20 everytime.
The problem with Cribbs is nothing. The problem is that the fans were spoiled by him. He's a record holder, and still one of the top ranked return guys. It is just that the fans expect TD returns every game, and that is not reality.
When Cribbs returns the ball this year I noticed that he is more patient. He used last year to figure out how to succeed without the wedge. Most returners the last couple years are lucky to get back to the 20. Cribbs almost always at least gets to the twenty. But more than often he gets further.
Cribbs also is a leader in the locker room and a true team player. His work ethic and determination is inspiring to young players. Remember, he was undrafted.
I want him to retire a Brown. The city loves him, and he loves the city. Even if his playing time dwindles, I never want to see him in another uniform. Same goes for Dawson.
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the fans expect TD returns every game, and that is not reality.
You would think the fact that he holds the NFL record for kickoff return touchdowns with 8, and it took him seven seasons to get those (and consider how many return opportunities he's had with the way we've given up scoring plays...353 according to NFL.com), would be a clear illustration of what you said, but I guess it isn't.
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When Cribbs returns the ball this year I noticed that he is more patient . He used last year to figure out how to succeed without the wedge. Most returners the last couple years are lucky to get back to the 20. Cribbs almost always at least gets to the twenty. But more than often he gets further.
That is a good way to put what I saw with him. He has changed his return style towards patience over recklessness.
Last edited by Kingcob; 09/18/12 08:05 PM.
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During our first game this season I mentioned he looked like he lost a step, then he turned around and returned a nice one. I shut-up after that.
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i cant find individual pr and kr stats but found team stats... as a team #7 on kr avg.26.3 yds #9 pr avg 12.4 yds
#1 with 8 kr over 20 yds #1 tied wiht 2 pr over 20+
we dont have any over 40+ yet but i am sure its coming
compared to last year ko is up almost 3 yds and pr is up 1.3 yds..
i think he is returning smarter this year and looking good too.
actually found indv. KR #8 28.4 avg PR #12 12.4 avg
last year KR #35 25.0 avg PR #16 11.4 avg
so about the same increase indv as team
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LOst a step.Maybe. Our ST as a whole have been bad,perhaps that might explain your perceived difference.
Indecision may,or maynot,be my problem
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He looks slower and hesitant. I don't even see him down the field as the first guy on coverage. He's always behind a bit.
Before, he took off. Decisive, found a seem, and went full steam. Now he is hesitating, which takes away his whole game. He was reckless and risky- that's what made him good. His game wasn't speed, getting to the edge. It was his vision and fearless style he brought. When that disappears, he's no better than anyone else.
I am actually hoping for some Travis Benjamin on the punt returns.
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The problem is that the fans were spoiled by him.
I've been wanting to say that. 
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Before, he took off. Decisive, found a seem, and went full steam. Now he is hesitating, which takes away his whole game. He was reckless and risky- that's what made him good. His game wasn't speed, getting to the edge. It was his vision and fearless style he brought. When that disappears, he's no better than anyone else.
This sums up my feelings on it as well. Another thing that "reckless" style gave him was the ability to reach full speed by the time he got to the defenders, and Josh, when running full speed, is a load to bring down and was able to run through many tackles that would bring down most returners. Now that he doesn't reach that speed early enough, you see him going down usually on the first attempted tackle (because he's not shifty).
Love the guy, but that's just what I see.
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While it may appear that way, it has more to do with the new ball placement on the kickoff. This has reduced his ability to get up to full speed, he has to do it in a much more confined space, and it has also shortened the distance he has to find and choose the open spot. If someone blows their gap assignment on coverage, he'll be gone.
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The problem is that the fans were spoiled by him.
I've been wanting to say that.
He spoils us with his play.
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There is so much to like about Josh Cribbs. His commitment to the team and to the Cleveland area.
He is one guy I really pull for. However, I think his days with the Browns are numbered. Meaning I seriously doubt he will be with the Browns next year.
He is not a part of the offense anymore. He is almost strictly a special team player, and he is making more money than the Browns will want to pay a man in such a limited role.
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There is so much to like about Josh Cribbs. His commitment to the team and to the Cleveland area.
He is one guy I really pull for. However, I think his days with the Browns are numbered. Meaning I seriously doubt he will be with the Browns next year.
He is not a part of the offense anymore. He is almost strictly a special team player, and he is making more money than the Browns will want to pay a man in such a limited role.
He gets a few returns for TD this year and this opinion changes, IMO. I love his attitude, competitive nature, and devotion.
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The problem is that the fans were spoiled by him.
I've been wanting to say that.
He spoils us with his play.
but, on Monday we all need to go back to our real life and real jobs with our real problems while he gets to keep being him.
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He gets a few returns for TD this year and this opinion changes, IMO. I love his attitude, competitive nature, and devotion.
Hew, ifin's you don't mind, I'm gonna quote you as a jumping-off point...
First, if he gets "a few" return TD's this year...yeah...opinions would change. 
Kinda talked about the Joe Thomas thread, but it's more appropriate here.
Cribbs is the textbook definition of the word "mercurial." He's received far too much love because he's been a really great, albeit seriously limited player on what has been a perennially bad team over the last fifteen years. Never good enough to maintain an every-down role, he's been the face of the franchise over the last seven or eight seasons. That doesn't speak to how good Cribbs has been, but rather to how pathetic the talent-level was. When the face of your franchise is a special-teamer, it's a sad, sad state and a defining sentence to just how starved the fanbase has been for some real football hero's.
Now it's time for me to ride the fence. It'll be interesting to see if any minds are dented enough to not recognize this for what it really is.
Having said what I did earlier, even though IMHO Cribbs has lost a little burst and doesn't play with the reckless abandon he's shown in the past, Cribbs is still in the top-5 of all special teams players in the league. The slower you get, the less reckless you appear to be. "Flying around" and bashing into things doesn't doesn't carry the same vibe when you change it to say "crawling around" and bashing into things. To me he's just lost a little giddy-up which is expected for a guy approaching 30 in the NFL. But that doesn't mean he's washed-up. In spite of the fact I was second to 'Dogg in terms of going against the grain and taking shots at Cribbs I always called him IN-arguably the best special teamer in the NFL. Sure, Hester was a better returner, but Cribbs was an amazing gunner as well. That put him above-and-beyond anyone else and that isn't even debatable.
So now where is he? He's older, a lil' slower, but still effective. Two seasons ago (or was it last year?) I felt he was slowing and wearing down because the dopes calling the shots wasted his energies doing things that didn't really help the team. Then he got hurt and missed some time. After he rested up and came back, I believe it was his second game back when he broke one for a TD. Even then he wasn't as fast as he used to be, but still effective because unlike most returners he's big enough to break a tackle.
Now that the NFL has reduced the return game to half of it's previous effectiveness and the team has finally figured out that the offense with Cribbs as a full-time receiver is a waste on several fronts, the days of him being the face of the franchise are over.
But that doesn't mean the days of Cribbs as a very productive member of the team are over as well.
He comes at what I'd call a bargain-basement price for a guy who, while no longer the best in the league, is still one of the best in the league. Cribbs still has something left in the tank and if we're going to win some close games this year we'll need him, and I don't just mean on special teams. I think we need to use him in some gadgets and even as an end-zone jump-ball guy. He'd end up on a defenses 2nd or third corner and in that narrowly-defined role he can do some things. IMHO the coaches have over-used him in the past, but are under-utilizing him now.
Wait..that's riding the fence. Nevermind.
To me, the thing to watch will be whether or not he begins to sulk like he has in the past. If he keeps his head down and his mouth shut to the media and does his thing, he'll turn into a leader on this team, and be the "old guy" that the youngsters look up to. It all comes down to him knowing his role and still putting out his best efforts. If he does that, Cribbs still brings a bunch of things to this team.
***Gordon, I really didn't think you could be this stOOpid, but you exceeded my expectations. Wussy. Manziel, see Josh Gordon. Dumbass.***
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I'm going to piggyback off your piggyback...
Lets take a look at the rest of the NFL. Name 1 returner right now that you would take over Josh Cribbs? Name one player that you would rather have when the ball is kicked off or punted to get down there and make a tackle? Who else in the league has done it so consistently, so well, and so efficiently for so long?
Josh Cribbs is an asset to this team. He is a gunner, a returner, and can be used as a WR whenever he is needed. You give him the ball and he is dangerous. Just because he isnt "flying around" to use the rest of the peoples words doesnt mean he is not doing his job. He is still the best gunner in the league. He is still top 5 in returns.
The return game has been a major change in the past few years with rule changes. Sprinting out into coverage doesnt get it done anymore. You have to pick and choose your spots and attack them. Our special teams blocking hasnt been elite, but Cribbs has made the most of it.
If you want to push someone out the door...Josh Cribbs isnt the guy. He is a PHENOMENAL backup WR and an asset to have on the team in that regard. He is the BEST special teams player in the NFL.
Period. Lets put this to rest...can we lock this thread? Questioning Josh Cribbs is a fools errand.
You wanna push someone out the door, lets move towards guys like Owen Marecic, Montario Hardesty, Scott Fujita, Oniel Cousins and other guys who contribute NOTHING to the team, not the best special teams player in the National Football League
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Is it just me or does he look like hes lost a "step"? Canadadawg and i were talking during the game on Sunday and to us he appears slower and lacks that initial burst returning kicks. Your thoughts?
I think it's clear Cribbs has lost some burst. Today confirmed that yet again. However, today also showed that he's an effective player, even if the explosion that made him the best overall special teams player in the game has eroded.
The real question is going to be what happens after this year when his contract is up.
He's been phased out as a wide receiver, where the Browns have brought in younger, faster talent.
He's been somewhat phased out as a kickoff returner due to league rules.
He's clearly losing some of his speed and quickness, reducing his effectiveness as a return man, and just as importantly as a gunner.
Then there's his family reportedly "begging" him to quit.
I don't know that I'd expect to see Cribbs in a Browns uniform in 2013. What are we going to do? He won't sign a one-year deal with us. He'll get more than that from some team more desperate than we are for special teams help. So would we sign him to three more seasons, knowing that he's not the player he was five years ago? Also knowing that we will need all the free agent dollars we can get to fix all the other more critical holes?
It's no guarantee that he's gone, but if I were speaking with the next generation of Browns fans, I would tell them to pay special attention to the TV when Cribbs is on, because there's a good chance it'll be the last chance anyone gets to see him in a Browns uniform.
I've been critical of him over the years, but in his prime he was THE best overall special teams player in the NFL. That's saying something. He deserves to be remembered in a positive way for those efforts. He is greater than any of the great special teams players we've had, from "Ice Cube" McNeil to Eric Metcalf. Cribbs was a better returner than they were but was an excellent gunner as well.
I would love to see him break one more before he has to ride off into the sunset...
***Gordon, I really didn't think you could be this stOOpid, but you exceeded my expectations. Wussy. Manziel, see Josh Gordon. Dumbass.***
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Wouldn't surprise me if he retired after this season. He seems to have enough irons in the fire to not wind up being featured on ESPN's 30 For 30 "Broke 2: Electric Boogaloo".
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Wouldn't surprise me if he retired after this season. He seems to have enough irons in the fire to not wind up being featured on ESPN's 30 For 30 "Broke 2: Electric Boogaloo".
yea.. i think he will call it a wrap too.. i mean we aren't gonna get a ring anytime soon.. so he might as well save his health.
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The weird thing about Cribbs this year is that while appearing to have lost a step he consistently finds creases and gets good yardage.
He's still effective.
LOL - The Rish will be upset with this news as well. KS just doesn't prioritize winning...
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The weird thing about Cribbs this year is that while appearing to have lost a step he consistently finds creases and gets good yardage.
He's still effective.
221 KO returns yards on the game. Yes the fumble tarnishes his overall game, but that's a good days work if your a kick return man.
Throw in another 12 yards on one punt return too.
His 562 total KO returns yards this season should be enough to lead the League baring a better performance this week from another player. (he came in to today in 5th place)
His 31.2 yard average per attempt would place him 3rd in the League. (he came in to today in 6th place)
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221 KO returns yards on the game. Yes the fumble tarnishes his overall game, but that's a good days work if your a kick return man.
Unfortunately all that shows is you're being kicked off to, way too many times.
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Look at Cribbs when he got here as a rookie and look at him now.
He was asked to bulk up and he did. Along with that, with a certain amount of bulk, some agility is lost. That's what we are seeing.
When you are asked to bulk up and increase your role on the O, that's what you do. Trying to play a lot of downs as a string bean only helps lead to injury. So we have a more bulked up Cribbs with slightly less agility.
It is what it is......
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
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The weird thing about Cribbs this year is that while appearing to have lost a step he consistently finds creases and gets good yardage.
He's still effective.
I agree. He is quite effective. The bulk he has put on since he became a Brown has cut down on his agility but being a veteran now he follows his blocks much better and has a better ability to break tackles.
Sort of balances things out.
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He was asked to bulk up and he did. Along with that, with a certain amount of bulk, some agility is lost. That's what we are seeing.
That's your opinion but I along with many don't share it.
In fact, Cribbs actually lost weight this past off-season:
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web page
"Cribbs is also one of the best covering kicks and punts too. His return to that role will help infuse some energy into the unit which was one of the worst in the NFL last season.
He dropped 15 pounds during the offseason much to the delight of Shurmur.
“I think it will help him,” Shurmur said. “As you become a player on the back nine of your career, I think it really helps you to not carry extra weight, that’s just my opinion, if you’re a skill player so I think I expressed that to him.”
We aren't seeing a bigger, slower Cribbs. We're just seeing an older, slower Cribbs....who happens to be lighter by 15 pounds.
Look, last year the whispers were that he appeared to be losing his burst. Shurmur and Co. saw it, too. So they tried to get him to slim-down to get it back. It hasn't worked. The speed we used to see is gone and it won't be coming back.
It happens to all players. No shame in it.
***Gordon, I really didn't think you could be this stOOpid, but you exceeded my expectations. Wussy. Manziel, see Josh Gordon. Dumbass.***
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the thing is though...
Cribbs never had this huge burst everyone is talking about. What Cribbs did the best was find the creases and get through them, and he shrugged off tackles like he was vintage Earl Campbell...
Cribbs was never a burner, he just found space and exploited it. Thats what he still does, and hes still consistently the first gunner down the field.
Lets get off the Cribbs hate wagon and get to other worries...of which there plenty
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221 KO returns yards on the game. Yes the fumble tarnishes his overall game, but that's a good days work if your a kick return man.
Unfortunately all that shows is you're being kicked off to, way too many times.
Well there is that, but his average is in the top 5 - 3 in the League. That's not too shabby for the Old Timer lol. I don't anticipate that he will be resigned for the type of money he received in his last and current contract.
I know It's been said that his family would like him to retire, but some how I don't get the feeling when Cribbs is playing, that he is ready to call it a career.
He was knocked out and came back to play and be their for his team mates Yesterday. Mean while Alex Smith has been out for a few weeks and I don't recall him being laid out on the field in la la land.
I think that there is still a lot of fight left in that Dawg. 
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thats true...but Cribbs even admitted his brain basically shut down, and prevented itself from swelling.
Smith has a history of concussions.
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thats true...but Cribbs even admitted his brain basically shut down, and prevented itself from swelling.
Smith has a history of concussions.
I wasn't aware of such. 
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