The Cleveland Browns are a .500 football team through the first six games of the schedule. Since these games included contests against the Steelers, Ravens, Bengals, and Patriots, that mark might come as a bit of surprise. It certainly is to me. However, when you think about it, the Browns are the epitome of a team that wins as many as it loses, because one of its units, the offense, is productive, while the other, the defense is not.
Any playoff aspiration this team has is tied to whatever improvements can be made to stop the opposition for the final ten games of the season. A look at the NFL standings shows Todd Grantham’s guys are allowing a league leading 183 points through six games, an average of just over 30 points per game. So, the offense better keep piling up touchdowns and yardage if Cleveland wants to stay in the playoff hunt.
Derek Anderson’s play continues to keep the name of Brady Quinn silent. I’m sure the front office wanted the rookie to observe the action for as long as possible, and Anderson is allowing that to happen. He fired three touchdown passes yesterday, all to Braylon Edwards, and led the offense to a 41 point day. Even with Jamal Lewis out with a foot injury, the Browns rushed for 140 yards using Jason Wright and getting second year man Jerome Harrison out of mothballs. Harrison had some key runs in the fourth quarter and caught the ball out of the backfield in his most impressive day in the professional ranks.
It’s incredible the transformation that the Browns’ offense has made under Rob Chudzinski. Phil Savage overhauled the offensive line, brought in Jamal Lewis at running back, and all of a sudden this is one of the best attacks in the NFL. The play calling is much improved, and Chudzinski calls the plays trying to score rather than “managing the game”. When you have the ball, the goal is to score, not to run the clock. Also, Edwards and Kellen Winslow have grown up and become playmakers. I have been critical of Edwards in the past for being a selfish player, but he has emerged as one of the best wide receivers in the league. He now appears to be worth the third overall pick in the draft. As for Winslow, if he’s only 85%, just think what he would be if he were completely healthy. He’s a beast right now.
Hopefully, the coaching staff can use the bye week to fix the defense. The Dolphins’ Ronnie Brown had the usual 100 yard game against the Browns, and outside of the turnovers, the defense could not stop the Cleo Lemon led Miami offense. Outside of Kamerion Wimbley, no one is putting consistent pressure on the quarterback. The line is horrific in stopping the run. The secondary is improving at the corners where rookie Eric Wright continues to improve, but the safety play has regressed from last season. It would not be a shock if many personnel changes are made up front between now and October 28th, which would be the game at St. Louis against the Rams.
After the Steelers’ game to open the season, the Browns looked like a hopeless cause. In just five weeks, the offense gives the Cleveland fans a reason to think things are getting better. This team should end its streak of not being able to win two in a row, which has extended over four years, by beating the Rams. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Sorry, Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage critics. I’ve seen enough progress to merit keeping these guys and continuing the rebuilding process. The Cleveland Browns are most definitely headed in the right direction.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 