First some good news. Unless the NFL schedules the Browns on Monday Night Football in 2007, they cannot ruin Clevelanders’ Christmas Eves in 2007. Of course, that has more to do with the calendar than any improvements this team will make over the off season. Sunday’s embarassment against a horrible Tampa Bay team puts the capper on a season of disappointments and question marks. Thank goodness, the brown and orange have only one more game because some guys might have to play both ways if the campaign lasted one more week.
After another 3rd and 1 where Derek Anderson threw a long pass, I decided that Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage should fire every offensive coach on the staff. Jeff Davidson’s play calling is just as puzzling as former coordinator Maurice Carthon’s, because the Browns were actually gaining yardage on the ground. I watched some other games on Sunday and wondered allowed how their receivers could get that wide open. There must be some scheme that allows that, but the Browns’ coaches don’t know about them.
Jeff Faine was a bust here, but now is a starter on a team heading to the playoffs. Melvin Fowler couldn’t see the field here, but starts in Buffalo. Shaun O’Hara starts for the Giants. Maybe bad coaching is the reason these guys did not produce for the Browns, because it looks like they are not complete stiffs.
It will also be interesting to see what the team does with Braylon Edwards. Edwards was apparently late for another meeting and did not start on Sunday. Edwards’ tired act made us more weary when he dropped two more passes. If he did indeed hurt his thumb in practice last week, he shouldn’t be out there. Toughness is one thing, stupidity is another. Anyway, Edwards appears to be a me-first type of player and generally you do not win with those guys. If Anderson had any guts, he would have ordered Edwards off the field after the second drop. If a player isn’t helping you, he’s hurting you.
Also, get ready for a new kicker in Cleveland next season, because Phil Dawson will not be back. Crennel showed what kind of confidence he has in Dawson when he eschewed a 44 yard field goal attempt in the first quarter in favor of a pooch punt. It might have made sense if there was bad weather, or a strong wind, or it was five yards further back. If your kicker can’t make 44 yarders consistently, you need a new one.
Anyway, there is one game left and apparently Ken Dorsey will start since Anderson separated his shoulder in the fourth quarter. That should be fun to watch. Especially if you like horror movies. I still maintain Crennel should remain the coach next season, but another performance like this one against the Texans could seal his fate. At the very least, Savage and Crennel have another roster change over during the off season, because this team has more holes than a sieve.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 