Browns Town

4:10:14 PM EDT
Feeling Ecstatic The Browns found a solution to their quarterback problems...at least for the time being.

Over the past week, the Browns have been getting national mainstream attention. Many thought it was Brady's time. On Sunday, It was Derek Anderson's time.

It seemed like everything went the Browns' way. Sure, their defense was shaky throughout the game, but they countered every Cinci score with a score of their own. It was a shootout, plain and simple

Let's go over my Key to Victory to see if they were followed:

1. Avoid Turnovers: The Browns couldn't have done much better in this category. Only one turnover. The Bengals had three.

2: Running Game: Again, the Browns excelled here. I said before the game that the Browns would have to have a productive game from Jamal Lewis and man, did they get it: 216 yards on 28 carries and a touchdown. He looked like the J-Lew that rushed for 500 yards against the Browns in a season. It's good to see him doing this for the Browns. On the other side, they didn't exactly keep Rudi Johnson in check, but they kept him out of the endzone.

3. THE QB FACTOR!!! We couldn't have asked more of Derek Anderson. His performance was one of the best in Browns history. He was one touchdown short of the franchise record and this was only his 3rd career start. Looks like Brady will have to wait a little longer to get in the game.

So, DA really stepped up this week. He might be a one-hit wonder. He might be this year's Tony Romo. Only time will tell. In the meantime, let's enjoy this upset and rejoice at the score: Cleveland 51, Cincinnati 45.


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9:20:09 PM EDT
Feeling Hopeful

I'm sorry for not writing a review for the game Sunday. I've kinda had a crazy week. During the game, i fell and tore some ligaments in my foot and now I'm on crutches.

However, there wasn't much to review in the first place. That was one of the worst played football games that I have ever seen. Honestly, I knew that the Browns would probably lose, but I at least expected them to put up more of a fight. Things are looking grim for Cleveland right now.

But brace yourself, because a new era is about to begin...well, probably soon...maybe..evenually.

Romeo Crennel named Charlie Frye the starter after the preseason. He lasted 1 1/2 quarters. The Browns traded him to Seattle for a second-round draft pick. So, in one week, Frye went from being an NFL starting QB to being a third-string who probably won't play for the rest of the year. The Browns replaced him on the roster with Ken Dorsey, whom they signed to a one-year deal.

Was trading Charlie Frye the right move? To me, he didn't seem good enough to be a starter in the NFL. I had really hoped that Frye worked over the offseason to help his weaknesses, like forcing the ball in double- and triple-coverage and holding the ball too long. Apparently, he didn't.

Now Derek Anderson will be the starter for the Browns when they face the Bengals this Sunday. Brady Quinn will back him up. Crennel said that if things go way out of hand with Anderson, he will put Quinn in. This whole QB situation disturbs me. As much as I want to see Quinn play, I still think it's too early. He wasn't even supposed to be in consideration for the starting job until after the bye week. The original plan was to have him stay on the bench and learn from Frye and Anderson. Lot of good that did. But one thing I like about Quinn is he wants to be in there. He's prepared and ready to play. If he does get in the game this early in the season, one of two things could happen; either he comes in, gets roughed up by the defense and has a bad start to his career (see Alex Smith's rookie year), or he comes in, makes good decisions and becomes a respectable QB. For Romeo Crennel's sake, I hope it's the latter.

For the sake of not sounding biased, I'm not going to offer a prediction. But I will offer my Keys to Victory:

1. AVOID TURNOVERS: Holding on to the football seems to be a tough concept for the Browns. Last Sunday, both Frye and Anderson tried to throw the ball through the defenders instead of passed them. Those two interceptions were thrown right at the defense. They had a total of 5 turnovers. If they don't cut down on the mistakes, they won't have a chance Sunday.

2. Running Game: Last week, Jamal Lewis had 11 carries for only 35 yards. It's been said before: A strong running game sets up the passing game. With the QB situation the way it is, they need a strong game from Jamal. On the other side, their defense needs to find a way to slow down Rudi Johnson.

3. The QB factor: Derek Anderson will be making his first start this season. While he didn't play too bad on Sunday, getting their only toughdown, but he didn't actually impress me. He will start because he's the most experience QB on the roster, but that's not saying much. Like I said earlier, if Derek plays like a blind man in a game of darts, Quinn will be put in to the game. We'll just have to see how it goes down.

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3:44:24 PM EDT
Feeling Anxious All bets are off. If the Browns want to make a point that they are better than people say, this is the time to do it. This is the biggest rivalry in the NFL. Over the last few years, the Steelers have conquered the Browns, losing only once at Browns Stadium since 1999. If the Browns want to win this, this is what they'll have to do. These are my Keys to Victory.

1. Red Zone Scoring: If it's one thing that the Browns struggled with in the preseason is scoring in the red zone. It seemed like every time they got inside the 20, things would fall apart. They can't afford to be like that in this game. They have to take advantage of every scoring opportunity if they want to win.

2. Defense is the key: Of course, they won't be able to win if they don't get stops. The Browns' D was pretty good in the preseason, especially in the Kansas City game. This weekend, the Browns will have to deal with Willie Parker, who can be really tough to stop once he gets going. The Browns have to keep him at bay early and not let him get warmed up. Usually when Cleveland lets a running back tear them up early on, they have trouble stopping him for the rest of the game.

3. Score Early: It always good to get momentum early in a game. One thing that hurt the Browns last year was first quarter scoring (or lack there of). They will be playing at home with some of the best fans in football. If Cleveland can score early and often, they can get the crowd into the game and help rattle the Steelers and Mike Tomlin in his first game.

My prediction: If the Browns do win this, it's gonna be close. Don't expect any blowout for Cleveland this weekend. However, they could shock a lot of people. Browns 23-20


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1:54:01 PM EDT
Feeling Hopeful
Hearing Saliva

The first game is closing in. Let's jump into the second part of my browns preview (don't worry, this won't be as long as part 1)

DEFENSE:

Defensive Linemen: The Browns D-line is anchored by 6'5", 365 pound Ted Washington at noese . On one side, there's Orpheus Roye (6'4", 330). At the other end, there's Robaire Smith (6'4", 320), who has had an impressive preseason.

Linebackers: This is where the Browns shine. Even though they will be without Willie McGinest for an undisclosed amount of time, they are still strong. The standout here is outside linebacker Kamerion Wimbley, who led the Browns in sacks last year with 11. Joining him on the outside is newly acquired Antwan Peek. The inside linebackers will be Andra Davis and D'Qwell Jackson; both had relative success for the Browns last year.

Cornerbacks/Safeties: The guy to watch is second-round draft pick cornerback Eric Wright. This guy was a first-round talent and had a very impressive preseason. I'm anxious to see what kind of season he will have. The other cornerback is Leigh Bodden, a standout from last season. However, he just got arrested and accused with aggravated disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He pled not guilty, but you know that Commissioner Roger Goodell will look into this. The safeties are Sean Jones and Brodney Pool, two young player whose futures look bright.

SPECIAL TEAMS (not much to say here)

Kicker: Phil Dawson

Punter: Dave Zastudil

Kick/Punt Returner: Joshua Cribbs

That's it. Now, I'm a huge Browns fan. However, I still don't think the Browns are playoff-bound yet. They've got a lot of things to prove this season. Best case scenario, i say they go 8-8, and that's if EVERYTHING GOES THEIR WAY. I don't know how Charlie Frye will be. I know that Romeo Crennel didn't seem too confident when he named him the starter. Don't be surprised if Brady Quinn starts before the end of the season. I do see good things happening for the Browns in the future. In the meantime, let's go kick some Steeler butt!

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7:32:29 PM EDT
Feeling Hopeful After a successful preseason and with the first game of the regular season approaching, this seems to be the strongest Browns team in awhile....at least on paper. The starters have been named and it's time for the real deal. Here's a preview of the Cleveland Browns' offensive.

OFFENSE:

Quarterbacks: Romeo Crennel has named Charlie Frye the starter for the September 9th game against the Steelers. No real surprise there. As well as Brady Quinn played during the preseason, it's still too early to name him the starter. After all, he played mostly against second, third, and fourth string defense. It would be really bad to put him on the front lines and have him get torn up. Their other backup will be Derek Anderson.

Running Backs: I am really anxious to see Jamal Lewis suit up for the Browns. He only averaged 3.6 yards per carry last year, but this year he came into camp in better shape and ready to play. And think about it. It was just 4 years ago that he rushed for 295 yards against us. His main blocker will be inexperienced fullback Lawrence Vickers. He looked pretty good in the preseason and, at 252 pounds, he's got the size to be a successful lead blocker. Jason Wright will be used as a third down back when they need to get a first down in a short yardage situation. Don't expect him to break a big run. Jerome Harrison has potential. He has great speed, but lacks size and up-the-middle back. He should be used on screens and passes to the flat. Vickers' backup will be Charles Ali.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: This is the year that Braylon Edwards has to step up and be a solid #1. He is one of the most athletic wideouts in the league. He just has to concentrate on..well, actually catching the ball. He had too many dropped passes last year and during the preseason. Another person I'm looking forward to seeing is Kellen Winslow. He needs to have a breakout season as well. He has the size of a tight end with the speeds and hands of a wide receiver. He could be as good as his father. Now that he's healthy, we could see a lot of good things from him. Joe Jurevicius is one of the most underrated receivers out there. He should get more touches if the other teams throw a double team at Braylon. This is also the year that Joshua Cribbs will handle triple duty. He will be kick returner, punt returner, and third string receiver. The Browns also have Tim Carter at receiver and Steve Heiden at tight end.

Offensive Line: The guy to watch here is No. 3 overall pick Joe Thomas. He may be a more important pick than Brady Quinn. This guy is considered one of the best offensive linemen to come out of the draft in awhile. Now, the offensive line for the Brown has dealt with injuries and suspensions. Ryan Tucker is out of four weeks for a substance abuse violation. Eric Steinbach will miss the opener because of an injury. LeCharles Bentley will hopefully be back this year. Until we get those guys back, we'll have to settle for Kevin Shaffer, Hank Fraley, and Thomas.

That's the offensive preview for the Browns. I'll be back tomorrow for the preview of the defense and special teams. Before I finish writing this, I want to say that after their amazing win against Michigan, I am now a big Appalachian State fan. Go Mountaineers!!!


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6:16:41 PM EDT
Feeling Chillin'
Hearing Panic! At The Disco

So let's see. Costly penalties. Dropped passes. Turnovers. That's sounds like the Browns of old.

Ok let's face it. The Browns aren't...um...very... good. There I said it! They had absolutely no offense in the first half (Bush had more yards than we did at halftime), they didn't stop the run at all (150 rushing yards allowed) and there's were just too many mental mistakes. The very first play from scrimmage for the Browns, which would have been a 74-yard touchdown pass to Braylon Edwards, was called back due to a holding call. Stuff like that shouldn't happen. After that, things started to go downhill.

On a crucial play in the first quarter, Frye threw a near-perfect throw to Dennis Northcutt. He had it read completely, but just dropped it. Another pass to Joe Jurevicius was caught, but once again was called back because of a holding call. Also, Joshua Cribbs dropped about two passes. Just an ugly showing by the Browns from top to bottom.

They tried to come back in the second half, but it was too little too late and their hopes were crushed when Edwards bobbled a pass right into the hands of a Saints defender. Their running games was almost completely ineffective, with the exception of Frye. Another thing that really tick me off is on the short yard downs, like a 3rd and 1 play, they ran a full house formation, but instead of putting Droughns in as the deep back, they put in Vickers. He couldn't even get a first down on a 3rd and 1. Can you imagine what Droughns would do in a full house formation?

The only bright spot of the day was KWII's first career touchdown catch. Even though it was in a losing effort. It was great to see. He has just begun the road back to becoming the player he is destined to be.

In all, I give the Browns a D grade. They did a good job staying in the game for awhile. Other than that, this was just another forgetable game.

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9:03:46 PM EDT
Feeling Chillin'
Hearing System Of A Down

The Browns Town blog is back by popular demand! The NFL season is about to start and I decided to give my opinion on the upcoming Browns season. This is what to expect.

Offense:

Quarterbacks: This is a point of concern for me. Charlie Frye showed in the preseason that he has matured and improved, especially in his decision making. He'll be fine once he gets more experience. I believe that Frye could be the franchise QB we've been looking for. However, the backups are two big question marks. Ken Dorsey got a little playing time in San Fran, but was not very impressive. On the other hand, he will be reunited with former Miami University star Kellen Winslow, which might boost his confidence. Derek Anderson has size (6'6"), but in the last game, had three of his passes batted down by the defensive line. Now, maybe it's just me, but a guy that tall shouldn't have any trouble seeing and throwing over the line. Plus, he threw an INT, fumbled, and tripped over his own lineman's foot. Yikes!

Running Backs: Let's face it: the Browns have been relying on their running game since coming back into the league. And for good reason. Reuben Droughns was a powerhouse last year, being the perfect combination of strength and speed. With a few upgrades on the offensive line and lead block Terrelle Smith returning, he should have another productive season. Jerome Harrison will probably be the second-string RB. He's not big enough to run up the middle (i.e. Eric Metcalf), but he can hurt defenses with his outside running and ability to catch screens and turn them into big gains, kind of like Brian Westbrook. Jason Wright will hold down the third-string and, even though he probably won't get into many games, he's been impressive in the last two preseasons. William Green is on the injured reserve.

Offensive Line: After LeCharles Bentley blew out his leg, and after going through a load of centers, such as Bob Halen, Antonio Ephraim, and Ross Tucker, the Browns seem to have finally found their man in Hank Fraley. He'll be the Browns starting center for at least the first four weeks. That's when Ephraim comes back from his suspension on the count of drugs. Otherwise, there are some good blockers on this line. Cosey Coleman is the biggest (322 lbs) and Andruzzi spent the year before coming to Cleveland protecting Tom Brady in New England. This line can not afford to give up sacks.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: These positions are deep. We've got Braylon Edwards, who is coming back from a torn ACL that forced him to miss the final four games last year and is destined for stardom. Then there's newly acquired Joe Jurevicius, a tall receiver with good hands and, need I say, two Super Bowl rings. Dennis Northcutt, one of the fastest guys on the team, has had six consistent years for us. Travis Wilson seems promising. When we drafted him, he said he was the best WR in the draft, and his play in training camp reflects that. I just hope he doesn't let it go to his head. Finally, this is going to be an important year for Joshua Cribbs. He is starting to develop into a WR and hopefully will get some touches this season. And of course, we have Kellen Winslow II back. Not much to say about him, except that I hope he lives up to his potential.

Defense:

Offensive line: Everything here is the same expect we added a brick wall into the middle of our line. Ted Washington, a 16-year vet, is 6'5" and 365 lbs. Despite his size, it seems that he doesn't get to the quarterback that often (0 sacks last year). He, Orpheus Roye, and Alvin McKinley will have to work hard on that.

Linebackers: This is a spot that I'm really excited about seeing. Not only do they have guys like Andra Davis, Chaun Thompson, and Matt Stewart returning, but he added rookies Kamerion Wimbley and D'Qwell Jackson, and proven veteran Willie McGinest to the mix. That's a lot of firepower. QBs around the league better have eyes in the back of their heads when they come to the Dawg Pound, because these guys will be on them faster than Bob Golic on a doughnut.

Defensive Backs: For a pass defense that ranked 4th in the league last year, their D-Backs are underrated. Daylon McCutheon has been good over the year, but he's starting to get wornout and injured. Leigh Bodden, Gary Baxter's replacement last year, really stepped it up and probably earn the starting cornerback spot. Brian Russel did okay last year. Sean Jones will probably have a break out season this year.

Special Team: This is basically set in stone. Phil Dawson is a really consistent kicker, making 27 of 29 field goals last year. Dave Zastudil is a huge upgrade from Derrick Frost last year. With Cribbs as kickoff return and Northcutt returning punts, everything looks good from here.

So, there you have it. A complete preview to the Browns' '06 season. I hope you enjoyed reading this and I'll try my best to update as often as possible. The first game is this Sunday at home against New Orleans. If you have any comments, complaints, or corrective criticism, I encourage it. So feel free to comment.

Go Get 'em, Brownies!

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4:24:03 PM EST
Feeling Chillin'

Minnesota 24, Browns 12

This game was so frustrating that after Dilfer threw the interception in the endzone, I turned it off. The Browns need help. Fast. Their offense was once again non-existant and their defense made some major mistakes. And once again, penalties and turnovers played a big part in this game. Let me break it down.

First of all, the offense was so out of sync. Dilfer had no protection from the line (again) and ended up getting sacked five times, fumbling twice, and throwing two interceptions. Droughns looked good for the most part, but the Browns should have given him the ball more often in the second half. What really left me puzzled was the final drive in the first half. At the two-minute warning, the Browns had the ball on the Minnesota Viking's 33- yard line. Then, with the clock stop at 0:47, Droughns had a 6-yard run. But instead of Dilfer stopping the clock with a timeout or a spike, he calls a quick play. Two false start penalties and an imcomplete pass later, the Browns have to settle for a field goal. This was so frustrating that they kept blowing opportunities like that. Like I said, I turned the game off in the fourth quarter. They did get an irrelevent touchdown later in the game, but it didn't matter.

So, this week was another failed mission and the Browns now have to focus on the 8-3 Jaguars. That should be fun. However, I heard that Leftwich broke his ankle in the last game, so the Browns might have a slim chance to compete.

Next game: December 3rd - vs. Jaguars

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5:44:23 PM EST
Feeling Chillin'

Sorry for keeping everybody waiting. Been busy with projects for school.

Browns lead series all-time: 32-27-0

Last meeting: September 22, 2002: Browns 31, Titans 28 (OT)

Keys To Victory:

1. Avoid Mistakes: Last week against the Texans, the Browns fumbled the ball away two drives in a row. The Texans capitalized on both of them by getting field goals both times. The Browns lost by a field goal. If it weren't for those fumbles, they might have won. Along with penalties, these are the kind of mistakes that lose games. The Browns need to play well without costly mistakes or the game will be over quickly.

2. QB Needs Good Game: Whoever starts at quarterback for the Browns, whether it be Trent Dilfer or Charlie Frye, needs to play a good game. Dilfer has been struggling the last few weeks, but Crennel has decided to stick with him. If he struggles again this week, we should see Frye get a chance. Don't expect the running game for the Browns to be too effective this week. Reuben Droughns was arrested for DUI. If he plays, it'll be great. If he doesn't, they don't really have a replacement. Lee Suggs is still out with a broken thumb and William Green is questionable.

3. Take Avantage of Titan Injuries: The Tennessee Titans have been injury-prone all year. One of their main receivers, Drew Bennett, is hurt, which hurts their receiving core. Also, there are 10 players listed questionable for the Titans, some of them on the defense. The Browns need to take advantage of this and the offense needs to come alive.

Dawg Bones!: The Browns, as a precaution, signed RB Jason Wright. He probably won't see much playing time unless Droughns gets hurt

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5:04:08 PM EDT
Feeling Chillin'

Lions 13, Browns 10

Rushing Yards: DET - 119, CLE - 118

Passing Yards: DET - 210, CLE - 56

Total Yards: DET - 329, CLE - 174

Yesterday's game was painful, to say the least. The only highlight of the day was my homeboy Cribbs' 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Other than that, the day was forgetable. It was nice to see the running game finally start to flourish. However, this week, it was the passing game that looked like crap. Dilfer, by far, had his worst game as a Brown, finishing with a QB rating of 22.4. Another thing that was painful was the fact that Jeff Garcia completely tore up the Browns' defense. I was impressed by the way Garcia performed, especially coming off of a broken ankle that he suffered just six weeks ago. Overall, it was a disappointing showing by the Browns yesterday.

Bad news about the Browns secondary. Gary Baxter had surgery today to repair a torn pectoral muscle suffered in yesterday's loss and will miss the remainder of the season. This injury hurts the Browns pass defense. He was the best defensive free agent pickup this offseason. I hate to see him miss the season. This means that some of the younger guys, like Sean Jones and Brodney Pool, will have to step up and pick up some of the slack.

Next game: Sunday, October 30: At Houston Texans

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