If I were a Cleveland Browns season ticket holder, I would seriously think of asking Randy Lerner for a refund for yesterday’s 14-0 debacle against the Cincinnati Bengals. The coaching staff didn’t appear to make an effort to win the game, even though they were playing a team that came into the contest at a robust 2-11-1 record.
I understand the Browns are down to their third quarterback in Ken Dorsey. But that doesn’t excuse a game plan from the Stone Age and a defense that refused to recognize the Bengals did not want to throw the ball by putting more men in the box. As a result, Cedric Benson, cut by the Bears early this season, ran for over 170 yards against the Browns, easily the best day of his career.
The shutout brought the Cleveland streak of not scoring an offensive touchdown to an embarrassing five games. Not even the 2000 Browns, quarterbacked by Doug Pederson can make that claim. That’s why using Dorsey as an excuse is lame.
Also, stop telling us about the “flash” package that features the best player on the team, Joshua Cribbs. Every week, Crennel talks about using Cribbs to take snaps, but once the game starts, he is ignored. Cribbs carried three times in the first quarter, but touched the ball just twice thereafter, and of course, did not throw out of the formation. Cribbs commented after the Eagles’ game that the Browns have weapons, they just don’t use them, he is correct, at least where he is concerned.
Defensively, was Mel Tucker that afraid of Ryan Fitzpatrick’s arm that he didn’t want to put more defenders near the line of scrimmage? CBS analyst Rich Gannon couldn’t fathom why the Browns allowed the Bengals to run the ball without making adjustments.
By the way, for those who think the Browns’ defense is good because they don’t allow that many points, they rank 27th in the NFL in defensive third down conversions. How many times do they get the opponent in third and long, and then allow the first down? They can’t get off the field. Of course, that may be a good thing because it would put the putrid offense on the field.
Yesterday in The Plain Dealer, Mary Kay Cabot wrote a story which was very pro-Crennel, and discussed the disconnect between the coach and the general manager. This is exactly what happens when you don’t let the GM hire the coach.
First, Cabot cited Beau Bell as an example of how Crennel and Savage are on different pages. One of Savage’s jobs is to bring in talent. If he thinks Bell is the most talented player on the board, then he should take him. Is Bell not playing because the coach didn’t want him to be drafted in the first place? When Savage was hired here, the cupboard was basically bare in terms of talent. However, the fact that the coach and GM aren’t on the same page is a result of how the hiring of the two positions took place.
Second, the article talked about the make up of Crennel’s coaching staff, and how Savage hired most of the assistant coaches. However, Crennel lost this power when he was so slow to change offensive coordinators when Maurice Carthon was calling plays. Does anyone else think Carthon would still be the coordinator if it were up to Crennel? The head coach was so stubborn, Savage had to step in and make the changes.
Whatever happens after next week’s game against Pittsburgh, it should start with letting the general manager pick the new coach. If that is Phil Savage, okay. If Savage is going, then hire the new GM first, and allow him to pick the new coach. These two leadership positions must be on the same page if the organization is to thrive and succeed. Randy Lerner got it wrong last time, he can’t afford to repeat his mistake.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 