The Observer, November 3, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 9
NFL Guru: Lack of offense slowing Browns
The Cleveland Browns sit at 2-5, tied for last in the AFC North at the midway point in the season. The team has taken a step backward while battling one of the league's toughest schedules, but there are some signs of hope for the second half of the year.
The biggest concern for the Browns is their anemic offense.
Averaging only 15 points per game, the offense is clearly the unit in need of the most improvement. Quarterback Charlie Frye continues to develop, but his 11 interceptions have proven costly, contributing to the team's -8 turnover ratio.
When Frye is throwing the ball well, however, his receivers have been doing a good job of getting open and making plays downfield. The group has been led by tight end Kellen Winslow, who is finally healthy and playing like a first round pick, emerging as the Browns' leading receiver with 40 catches for 393 yards.
Running back Reuben Droughns has played poorly, partially due to underuse. Droughns has rushed for at least 100 yards when he has had 20 or more carries, but that has occurred only twice so far this season. In many games the Browns have abandoned the run before Droughns has had the chance to be effective.
Much of the blame for Cleveland's offensive woes certainly rests on the defensive line. The line was shaky going into the season, and injuries have only exacerbated the situation. Pass blocking has been poor, resulting in 24 sacks despite Frye's excellent scrambling ability. Droughns has found few rushing lanes opened up by the patchwork line, in many cases being hit behind the line of scrimmage by unblocked opponents.
The coaching staff deserves a large part of the blame for the poor start as well. Head coach Romeo Crennel walked into a tough situation with Cleveland two years ago, and has shown limited success in turning the team around thus far. Furthermore, the offense did not respond to offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon's guidance, and the offensive ineptitude cost Carthon his job last week.
It remains to be seen whether new coordinator Jeff Davidson will be able to raise the offense to respectability, but he took a step in the right direction last week by pounding Droughns into the Jets. If Davidson can add more variety to the playbook, the offense may be able to overcome its problems. Adding a few more bootlegs and screens would reduce the problems created by the poor offensive line and allow Frye to take advantage of his scrambling ability.
The news is not all bad, though. Players from this year's draft, including D'Qwell Jackson and Kamerion Wimbley, are already making an impact, and second year veterans Frye and Edwards are continually improving, both in skill and chemistry together. The defensive unit has already taken large steps forward and is beginning to show the poise and precision reminiscent of Crennel's defenses with the New England Patriots.
One positive across the board for the Browns has been the near elimination of penalties this season, as they have committed just 24 infractions this year, the fewest in the league. This represents a complete turnaround from Browns teams of old, where penalties were both frequent and game-killing. Crennel has done an absolutely amazing job in not only fixing but almost completely removing this problem. Finally, Cleveland fans can say that at least the Browns made the other team beat them instead of beating themselves on costly penalties.
