The Cleveland Browns designed the offensive game plan to keep Colts’ QB Peyton Manning off the field and limit the possibility for mistakes for their own signal caller, Derek Anderson. They indeed kept Manning off the field and the vaunted Indianapolis offense was held to just one field goal. As for keeping Anderson error free, he made just one mistake.
Unfortunately, it was a fumble that was returned for a touchdown, the deciding score in the 10-6 loss at the Stadium on Sunday. What’s worse is that Anderson was injured later in the game, leaving the quarterbacking chores to Ken Dorsey probably for the rest of the season.
This game was another reason Romeo Crennel will lose his job at the end of the year. The Colts are one of the NFL’s better teams, and the brown and orange showed the ability to play with them. Remember, the Browns beat the Giants, and hung in against the Steelers and Redskins. They have some talent, but they are poorly coached and/or motivated.
When Crennel goes, likely offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski could be going with him. Jamal Lewis popped off about not getting the ball last week against Houston, so someone made the decision to keep giving him the ball, despite the diminishing returns. Lewis averaged just 3.2 yards per carry, yet the Browns kept running the same plays which after some initial success, kept getting stuffed at the line.
Jerome Harrison touched the ball just twice. Josh Cribbs only once. Cribbs lined up in the shotgun on a 3rd and 2 situation in the second half, and was stuffed. Because the Browns only run out of this formation, the Colts knew Cribbs was going to run. Once again, I will write it. The former Kent State quarterback has thrown just one pass in almost four complete seasons.
It looked to me like the Browns were feeding Lewis the ball to prove a point, not to win a game.
On defense, the Browns played well causing three turnovers, and forcing Manning to throw short time and again. They also seemed to blitz more, which made Manning rollout a little. In this respect, the offense worked. They kept the beleaguered defense off the field and kept them rested. Perhaps that strategy should be used more often.
If you aren’t going to make the playoffs, the best thing to do is get a good draft pick. As of right now, only six teams in the NFL have records worse that the Browns. With the injuries at the quarterback position, the prospect for any more wins appear to be slim, so Cleveland should be in the top ten of next year’s selection. There’s looking at the bright side.
ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, who I have a lot of respect for, said his source told him it would require a miracle to save Crennel’s job. I don’t think you need to be an NFL “insider” to know that. The Worldwide Leader treated the information like it was a big scoop. Romeo Crennel will not be the Browns’ coach in 2009. That is hardly inside information.
With the Titans on the slate next and Dorsey at quarterback, it will be a miracle if the Browns are in the game at halftime. Once again, it’s time to play Harrison, Beau Bell, Martin Rucker (who caught a pass yesterday!), etc. This season is lost. It has been for several weeks, and now that Brady Quinn is out, it’s not even watchable.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 