It is remarkable how Browns fans get so delusional about their football team. After last week’s win over Miami, the talk was how Romeo Crennel’s squad had turned the corner. Today, after a 24-12 beating at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings, the squad is again terrible. How can two games so decidedly different be played by the same team? Two reasons…the Cleveland Browns are young, and not very good.
It is quite obvious the Browns do not know how to play on the road, a trait of young teams. After winning the road opener against a horrible Green Bay team, Cleveland has lost five straight, mostly in dismal performances. Yesterday, the defense really couldn’t stop Minnesota, and the offense made too many mistakes including turnovers, to move the ball effectively.
I realize that 21 of the 24 points scored by the Vikings came as the result of turnovers, but the defense had a hard time stopping the pass against Minnesota. The weakness of this defense is its secondary, especially after losing cornerback Gary Baxter to injury. Coordinator Todd Grantham’s defense is based on not giving up big plays, but a quarterback that is patient can expose the holes that are there. There is no question this is an area of need heading into the 2006 NFL Draft. Just think what Grantham and Crennel will be able to do with more talent on the defensive side of the ball.
On offense, Trent Dilfer showed why he is a journeyman QB. He fumbled twice in Cleveland territory, and threw two interceptions as well. He is not the only reason the attack sputtered, however. Wide receivers Antonio Bryant and Braylon Edwards dropped catchable balls (Edwards’ drop resulted in one of the picks), and the offensive line seemingly took the day off. The play calling was questionable as well. Reuben Droughns, the team’s best weapon, carried the ball twice in the last 22 minutes of the game.
Crennel decided to play Frisman Jackson at wide out after Bryant’s drop, which could signal that the former Biletnikoff Award winner will be wearing a different uniform in ’06. Edwards was frustrated that he was not in the game with the Browns having the ball in the red zone. Dilfer was hobbling noticeably during and after the game.
This team is still evolving. Most of the better players on the team are very young and haven’t learned to win on the road yet. The Browns aren’t the first team to have this problem. Football fans in Cleveland are not a patient group, but this team will get better. Even though Jacksonville is a quality team, look for the Browns to be more competitive next week at home.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 